A few years ago GR had a short article on a homemade radio controler for a live steam engine. They promised to do a more detailed discription of the conversion. Do you know if they followed thru on this promise or did I miss it? Thanks…Jerry
Jerry,
Can’t answer your question but it is my understanding that one could simply attach servos, either continuous ones or ones that make quarter turns, to the controls, throttles, etc, and control it with receiver/transmitter. Since each steam locomotive is different, I don’t think that one article could cover it all. Also, there are so many R/C systems. I could (and have) rig one up for about $50 using a standard 2-channel transmitter that includes 2 servos.
Having said that, an article would be nice for people totally unfamiliar with R/C. I just wouldn’t want to see a particular product pushed at the expense of other good R/C controllers.
It just so happened that the steamer that they converted was the Ruby,one of the most popular brands. I bought the steamer not realizing it was no good on grades. If I gave it enough steam to get up the grade it would race down the downgrade & derail on the curve. Put it back in the box & waited for the promised article…still waiting. jerry
GardenRailways Oct 2005 has R/C controll servo in the product review for the Ruby. If you go to the website it goes for around $125.00
I just could not see the worth of steam at all and radio control also seemed a waste but i have had a bit to do with these little monsters and i just love them what a buz and how realistic. Ladies even seem to get a kick out of watching them go round.
Rgds ian
There was an article at mylargescale.com and someone was even offering a kit for the Ruby. A friend with a metalworking shop helped me convert a Mimi, the 2-4-2 version of the Ruby that comes with a tender, to radio control using a Futaba transmitter and receiver set made for radio control cars. The radio set was $30 and came with 2 servos, but they were too big so I had to change to micro-mini servos. Two servos allow you to control the Johnson bar (forward and reverse lever) and throttle, which is all you really need to control on the Ruby or Mimi.
If you do attempt to R/C one of these locos, you must use a ground control R/C set and not one made for aircraft frequencies.
Thanks for the info. Looks like they haven’t printed the article yet. It was supposed to give a descriction of all parts used etc. Jerry
Jerry- I was in your same situation. I had purchased a Mimi and had to be waiting with a catcher’s mit at even the slightest down grades. GRR gave a good review a while ago for RC-Steamers.com. They have a Ruby friendly kit that is relatively inexpensive when you consider the fun you will have running live steam. I, among many others just use one servo to operate the Johnson bar. Since you do not have a perfectly level pike, you may also need to do other tweaking to improve power i.e. changing the admissions and going with an adjustable pop off valve. You can get more info on largescale.com. There are lots of folks monitoring the forum like Kevin Strong, that know more on this topic than me. I just wanted to say it was worth the frustration to get the Mimi going over my terrain. Hang in there and I’m sure you’ll agree.
Rich F.
I’m curious…
Did you try doing anything in your train handling to make the locomotive not race down hills so badly? I’ve got no experience with live steam, I’m just curious.
This is something that I would love to try for my Big Boy. Controling that thing can be a handfull when it weighs 110 pounds dry and is traveling at 70 scale miles an hour.
I’m not sure what you mean by " train handling" but the problem is that it doesnt keep anywhere near a constant speed on inclines or declines. If you adjust the speed to just a craw it will race on a decline. I wish the review in GR mentioned the fact that you need an almost level RR to run steam. The electrical powered trains have some rolling resistance because of the gearing, but steam doesn’t use gears. HO locos slow down on a hill & speed up downhill, but not near as much as steam. Jerry
What I mean was as you start to crest the hill do you back off the power to slow it down a bit so it won’t race downhill?
This may be one area where a model’s reaction to the physical world is totally different than the real thing.
Well I might be able to try this out sometime.
That is my point. You don’t have control over live steam unless you have radio control. I cant run alongside of it & constantly adjust the throttle. I was looking for an article on adding RC to my engine. Jerry
Ah… I understand now.
Hi Puckdropper
You have to drive a Live steam loco just like the real thing and it is not always practical to have a manual loco.
There are only two alternatives if a manual loco is not practical
1 radio control or 2 don’t buy or build one.
You have to watch and adjust for track conditions all the time just like a full size one.
regards John
I agree.
I can’t say much, but those who have RC controled steam seem to have more fun. AND, you can run it on most RRs w/o jumping over trees and buildings tring to catch it.
Shays I can see w/o.
But most others. Go for the RC
I bet a shay would be sweet. Is there a LS shay operator out there that can elaborate. Good point that a shay would not require R/C.
Rich F.
That would be pretty cool.