Fig. 269.—Pattern for the Sides and Ends of the Car.
The car is now ready for testing, and when held in the hand so that the wheels are free to run, two cells of dry battery should be found all that is necessary to drive them at a fair rate of speed. The two wires leading from the battery should be connected to the bearings, one wire leading to each bearing. It will require more than two cells, however, to drive the wheels properly when the car is on the track, All moving parts should run freely and smoothly. The car may be used just as it is, but if fitted with a body and a top it will present a much more realistic appearance.
The sides and ends of the car body are made of sheet-iron or tin. Figure 269 shows the pattern and dimensions for these parts. They may be made from one piece of metal eighteen and one-half inches long and three and three-quarters inches wide. The doors and windows are cut out with a pair of tin-snips. The small projections along the top are bent down at right angles and the roof is fastened to them. The dotted lines indicate the places for bending these projections and also the sides and ends of the car.
Fig. 270.—The Roof of the Car.
The roof is made in two pieces. It also is sheet-iron or tin. The roof proper is eight inches long and four inches wide. It has a hole five and one-half inches long and one and three-quarters inches wide cut in the center. A number of small projections are left and bent upward to support the deck and to form imitation ventilators. The deck is six inches long and two and one-quarter inches in width. It is placed in position on the roof and fastened by soldering. The roof is fastened to the sides and ends of the car by soldering. It must be bent slightly to conform with the curve at the top of the front and the rear of the car.
Fig. 271.—The Completed Car.
The car when completed will appear as in Figure 271.
The track is made of smooth spring steel, one-half inch wide and either No. 20 or No. 22 gauge in thickness.