Frédéric Zamit – Page 16 – Concerning Hobbies

Road to the Prime Lens

Over the past few weeks I’ve spent more time using my camera. In the same time a good friend of my came up with the wish to buy himself a new lens for hiw own camera. He wants an 18-200 zoom to have on the camera most of the time.

When you’re looking up optical performances, prices and functionality for somebody else, you’re inevitably starting to think about your own material. Now I’m wondering: What do I want to achieve with my photos?

Since I don’t have money to waste and I dislike to buy on the first notion, I’ve set up a little challenge for myself, including a goal:

He who takes a picture of 35mm focal length every day and still has fun doing so after 100 pictures, may buy himself a 35mm lens.

What about this silly line?

I’d like to take photos regularly. Practice, practice, practice.
I want to know whether a prime lens suits me better than a zoom.
I need the time (slightly more than three months) to save up enough money for a decent lens.

Nikon AF-S DX 35mm 1:1,8G
(Copyright Nikon)

So from now on, every day I’m going to set my kit zoom (18-55mm) to 35mm focal length, choose a motive and try to take the best picture I can.

And since for some reason (that I absolutely don’t understand) one tends to be more focused when there’s a goal to pursue, at the end of the road there beckons a 35mm prime lens.

By the way: I chose this specific lens because of a recommendation found at gwegner.de.

New type of posts: Photography

From now on I’d like to to document my first steps as being an amateur photograph.

Hence, a new category and a new post.

Spring Suspension

After a long, long break I’ve found some time to work on my locomotive. In order to finally construct the drivers’ axle bearings, I need to be sure about what the springs’ suspension is going to look like.

Trailing Wheel Axle Bearing

Trailing Wheel Boom - Long Version — Trailing Wheel Boom – Long Version

Today I focused on the Axle Bearing of the Trailing Wheel. I’m currently wondering which would be the best length for its boom. Right now, I’ve got the choice between two versions: the originally drawn, long version and a new one, which is considerably shorter.

3D-Drawing Revision

A few weeks ago, I re-read my construction diary over at the railroad-line.com forums. Doing that I noticed that I failed to implement all of Thayer’s suggestions into my drawings. Most importantly the stack’s dimensions were too big while the boiler was too small in diametre.

Correcting the Frame

Why do I always notice such things afterwards? There I was, building the smoke saddle with trouble and care, brazing the bracket to the frame, attaching crossbeams… and then the bracket is misplaced and the whole saddle sits lopsided on the frame! -___-

3D-Planning: Axle Bearings

Tonight I finally could make progress on the axle bearings. Until now I scratched my head on how to realize the bearings and especially the connection between the leaf springs and frame in a way that supplies both prototypically accurate and solid results – without purchasing a lathe and mill.

Still around

Hello everybody,

just a quick still-alive-update. Things are changing around here, new job (again!) and a new home.
I don’t think I’ll be able to make any progress with the locomotive before november.

Just wanted to let you know.

Saddle Construction

Hey everyone,

got some progress and some pictures!
I started constructing the smokebox saddle. Since I own neither a lathe nor a milling machine I’m trying to make virtues out of necessities and hone my manual skills. The first step was to make a gauge for the saddle’s curves, so I could construct two symmetrical and identical parts.

Trailing Wheel Revision

Hello everyone,

here’s what happened the last few days.
First off, I constructed a simple tablet-like working space, so I can work on small parts in the living room without having to clean up everything afterwards. In the future I will saw new parts in the workshop, then take the half-finished parts and the fine tools to the living room, combining the best of both worlds, so to speak.