I just got back from a job interview in Reno and I had a chance to visit Virginia City. I fell in love with the V&T all over again. I found an old O scale Rivarossi V&T Reno kit on Ebay and now I am the owner. It should arrive any day. I know this is 1970’s technology but what can I expect from this kit? Can it be build into a smooth runner? Is is easy to remotor and regear? Can I use the flanges to slice salami or are they of reasonable size. Does it make into a reasonable representation of the Reno? What kind of radius will ti take? Is anyone making O scale V&T equipment these days? It seems like there is more N and HO scale stuff available recently. Thanks for any advice. - Nevin
I never built one but I was in O scale in that time (1970’s). IF memory serves, it will take a 24" radius curve (AHM and Atlas made 24" R O sectional track in the seventies. a lot of O stuff was made to take those curves back then). I think it could run OK but it uses an HO motor so is very underpowered, will probably move itself OK but that’s about it. Being O scale, should be plenty of room inside for bigger motor I would think??
Nevin,
I have the IHB 0-8-0 kit, and I’m currently searching out the metal wheels to complete it. I have everything else that came with the motorizing kit. Rivarossi notoriously underpowered these, and the motor for the 0-8-0 is the one they used in the old HO Big Boys & Challengers. The upside is that being O Scale, there’s plenty of room for a good sized can motor with virtually no modification, and the existing gears should be fine. I’m sure the same is true for your Reno. The Reno kit is truly beautiful when complete. It’s a shame Rivarossi didn’t produce a larger line of O scale kits, but I think they were ahead of their time. They’re in big demand now.
I think the flanges are larger than scale, but they’re not as out of proportion as the HO pizza cutter flanges. I haven’t heard any complaints of these not tracking on scale rail. Motorizing kits show up on Ebay from time to time.
Nelson
Well the kit arrived this week and it is definitely 1970’s technology but is extremely neat. The flanges are bigger than usually accepted now. Does anyone make replacement drivers for this engine? I went to the NWSL site but was unable to find any kits for remotoring. Any suggestions about what would fit? Gearboxes? Overall I am impressed with this model and I think an O scale V&T layout is certainly viable. I think I am going to pick up another one when it shows up on ebay. - Nevin