I recently was planning a mining area w/ HOn3 attaching to a main line of HO normal gauge and I plan to use 21’ ore cars and 2 consolidations mainly roundhouse products that i can convert down to the narrow gauge; any suggestions on how to convert the trucks adequately with out problems.
MDC Roundhouse used to make an HOn3 consolidation kit. Two in fact. One outside frame and one inside frame. Although out of production, these can still be found at train shows and on Ebay (which is where I got mine).
Good Luck,
George
Check the Walthers website for HOn3 rolling stock; they have some from a number of manufacturers. http://www.walthers.com/
On the right side of the screen, click advanced search. On the pulldown menu that says ‘All Categories’ select Freight Cars and the menu that says ‘all scales’ select HOn3, then click Search. You should find all the rolling stock you want all with the correct trucks and the correct narrow gage size. WHen I did the search, it returned almost 100 products.
Anyone know what the normal minimum radius for HOn3 is?
Based on the track guages offered by Ribbonrail; between 15" and 48"
Blackstone lists 18" min radius for thier K-27
Just like any scale/gauge, it depends on the equipment you intend to run, and prototype and era you are modeling.
There is the LDSIG rule of thumb which recommends a minimum radius 3 times as long as your longest car or locomotive. D&RG passenger cars were often about 50ft or 7" in HOn3. By LDSIG guidelines that is 21" minimum radius if you intend to run passenger equipment. Depending on underbody detail, 18" minimum radius may work here.
That is the catch with narrow gauge. Many cars sit quite low on their trucks, with the wheels actually running between frame members instead of below them. See some of the skeleton frame log cars as examples. Full scale underbody detail with car bodies at scale height will restrict the ability of the trucks to swivel in many cases.
Prior to 1905 (or so), narrow gauge locomotives were generally quite small and freight cars were in the 28-32 ft range. A minimum radius of 15" will usually work if you don’t run 2-8-0s or passenger cars. Some 2-8-0s will go around 15" radius curves, many need 18".
In the first years of the 20th century, narrow gauge locomotives grew larger in an attempt to keep up with their standard gauge brethern. Outside frame 2-8-2s (K series) were recommended to the D&RG, which allowed close to standard gauge (of the time) boilers. The White Pass and Yukon, and EB&T also purchased larger 2-8-2s. Minimum radius for models of these locomotives has historically ranged between 18" and 22", with a few brass models needing the full 22".
Something else to keep in mind is that the outside frame locos and standard gauge conversions (think Roundhouse Shay) need a wider clearance than the NMRA HOn3 gauge provides. The WP&Y used a wider and higher clearance from the beginning than the earlier 3ft gauge l
Fred is right on with his remarks about the White Pass. On my HOn3 WP&YR layout, I’ve laid a good deal of my flex track on standard gauge HO cork roadbed and I use an HO Athearn GP-38-2 to check clearances. If you plan to use the MDC consolidations keep in mind that these are big locomotives for narrow gauge.
On my layout, my minimum curve anywhere is 20 inches. Most of my mainline curves are 24 inches or greater.
-George