Fantastic Darth! You’re a genious! -artguy
Dear Darth, I just bought a Jordan, 1922 “Mack” railbus. I just can’t seem to locate anyone who has it powered. You seem to have the knowhow and talent to do this. I would gladly pay you to build this “powered” railbus for me. I was thinking about powering the 2 REAR spoked wheels which are plastic. (I have 2 “metal” spoked wheels and axle to serve as the electrica pick up, now). Obviously a gear mechanism would have to be attached to the axle. Maybe I can build it myself with your advice? I’d rather have you build it for me, though. Please let me know what you think. Thanks! -artguy
My Email address (for the Mack railbus ) is: artguy@frontiernet.net
Artguy:
NWSL (North West Short Line) has a power kit called the “Flea” which is ideal for your situation. Unfortunately the website says they are undergoing a redesign and are not currently available. You might find one if you watch eBay, although there aren’t any currently listed there.
Here is a thread with a couple of similar projects. The rail truck is mine made using a really old motoring kit that I came across on eBay. Further down there is a Mack Railbus using the Flea drive:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/217595/2397429.aspx#2397429
Here is NWSL’s website:
http://www.nwsl.com/Home_Page.html
Dave
Applause!!! [bow][Y][tup]
Awesome ingenuity there!
Darth- always ahead of the curve! Great work- the paint job looks like it was factory-made. What an artist! Cedarwoodron
That’s some cool stuff. I do love me some critters.
Hmm, perhaps I should build something small, model just one industry, that uses some small critters for intra-plant switching. Thus all I need is the ‘interchange track’ with the big railroad, and a critter or two, just swap them out when I get bored with one.
Hard do justify critters on the big railroad, even though PRR had a bunch of 44 Tonners, as did New Haven - but those are downright huge by the standards of a little 10 ton Mack
Oh yeah, also gives me something to use those Atlas #4’s from the current layout on, since I won’t have anything less than a #6 on my ‘big’ layout, and they will be Peco.
–Randy
It returns! Glad to see my work is appreciated![:D]
artguy, I also have one of those Mack railbuses I’ve been planning to build, but haven’t started yet since the new FLEA is still in development. I’ve been checking with NWSL now and then, and progress has been slow due to a lack of funds, but they’re really working to make it the best version yet (metal bearings finally!). I’m sort of past my project finishing window for now since the weather’s cooled down over here (can’t paint properly when it gets cold), but I’ve looked over the thing and can at least offer advice for now. Or, if you don’t mind me not painting it, you can send me a PM about at least partially building it with a custom made drive unit.[:)]
(to send a PM, click on my name and then look for the “Start Conversation” button)
Darth Santa Fe:
Being a devoted fan of your engineering skills I would be very interested in seeing what you come up with. And, if I can really go out on a limb here, I would love to see an explanation of the process that you use to design the drive system. In my wee brain I can see a logical format for the arrangement of the parts but how the heck do you decide on gear sizes and ratios? I have glanced at NWSL’s charts but I’m afraid they make my eyes glaze over.[D)] I would love to understand the process better!
Dave