I came by one of the subject kits & dusted off the lid recently- the kit is missing a few cosmetic & essential parts, such as a 28107 Universal link.
I understand the kit is out of production, but has anyone stepped into the breach with some cottage industry parts for this kit?
Thank you
Tanked
18L = Climax.
The universal link in question is also used on the boxcab.
The chain drive conversion article in the July 2008 issue of Model Railroad News might be of interest.
Thanks for chain drive ref.
I meant to put Climax in the subject line.
Its the one that looks like 3 porta loos daisy chained.
Tons of character.
I think NWSL used to do a few pieces for the kit - but they were sold?
Anyone know if the new owner still offers the Climax parts?
Tanked
Tanked,
NWSL was sold to Oso Railworks, Inc of Hamilton, MT. From what I have read is that the move will be ‘staged’ and some items may be in short supply over the move time(no dates given). NWSL has lots of parts and rebuild/repower kits for the Roundhouse line of engines(they really need it).
Horizon purchased MDC/Roundhouse and moved all 33 pallets of tooling/inventory to their Athearn division several years ago. They have been slowly retooling/upgrading parts of the line(‘old timer’ cars, some freight /passenger cars, the RS3, and a few of the small steamers.
The ‘Climax’ was just a new body shell over the Ingersol-Rand boxcab switcher. The drive is very noisy, and could use an upgrade with NWSL parts. I have not seen either engine released by Athearn, and I suspect they may be on the ‘back burner’ for a long time. Even getting parts may be an issue. Email them and see if they still have any parts.
Jim
At one time, NWSL looked into a regear kit for the Roundhouse Climax/Boxcab (identical chassis). The report and info in the last NWSL catalog was that regearing was uneconomical. I can easily believe that a regear kit would cost close to double the original cost of the locomotive (around $20).
In trying to figure out what to do with my Climax (bought back in my days of protoype ignorance), I’m up against the following:
The model has great grade climbing ability and pulling ability due to its very heavy chassis, and low speed gearing. That same chassis causes the boiler to be absurdly high, and the drive train is very noisy. The motor shaft is not at the same level as the flywheel or 1st gear, necessitating a universal type coupling - my model uses a “flexible” clear tube. The flywheel is cast, and not balanced. And it is the wrong shape for maximizing momentum (diameter counts more than length).
Lowering the boiler to a reasonable height will involve removing much of the frame weight. Ideally, the motor should be lowered to align with the gear (or a chain drive or similar replacement installed). The flywheel needs to be remounted to be align with motor shaft, decent bearings installed on the flywheel shaft, and the flywheel balanced, if not replaced.
Besides the high boiler, the other obvious visual problem are the truck wheel base and side frames. The trucks and side frames come from the box cab diesel prototype and have about 7ft wheelbase, IIRC. Looking at plans of a smaller class B Climax pulbished in MR (1960s), I see 3.25 ft wheelbases. Looking through the NWSL catalog, the best idea I could come up with is a “bare” Keystone Shay drive kit (minus motor and Keystone parts). This has a much more appropriate wheel base and overall length for a Class A Climax, but would be a significant kitbash from the Roundhouse - probably closer to mostly scratchbuilt.
Bottom line: This can be quite a project if you want a realistic Class A Climax. Or it can be
Thanks Fred W. for some head scratchers there.
I am probably more in the ‘a simple tune-up of existing parts’ camp.
I wonder what brand/models of motor have been successfully used to replace the original Open Frame item where others have tweaked the kit??
Tanked
I have the 18L-2 and it is very quiet but a lot of work was done to achieve this. Here is a link to a book for the two truck Climax overhaul. NWSL gears, flywheel and a can motor of off ebay. I bought mine done by the author of the book. I also have the book.
Inside with a SoundTraxx Micor-Tsunami decoder
Ron LaFever Climax site.
Just a WAG, but he might have a Universal coupling. He answers phone and email.
Rich