Dear all,
I am looking for a HO Shay locomotive
There are two possibilities:
Keystone or MDC from Wiesmann
But they don’t have motor
Are there other solutions if not is it possible to motorize there two ?
It is my first post on MR’s forum and I am coming from Belgium …
Hi
I would bypass those 2 options and go with either a Bachmann HO Scale Shay (if you can find one online to purchase, or purchase a brass Shay on Ebay (United/Pacific Fast Mail brand)
The MDC “Wiesmann” is simply an MDC/Roundhouse with an aftermarket boiler to backdate the loco. If you have time, patience, mechanical know how you can make them run fairly well.
The Keystone is a static loco but does have a “motorizing” kit made for it. The problem is the gears, lineshaftsamd crank are made of soft metal, and won’t last long. The other downside is the price of the motorizing kit and supplies.
My 2 cents
Welcome.
Here is a link you might like.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/165811.aspx
Bachmann Trains use to sell a three truck HO Shay but some experience a cracked gear. Many online stores still list them
Yahoo Groups has an mdcroundhouse Group with discussions of the mdc shay. One fellow still has parts I think.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mdcroundhouse/info
Rich
The Bachmann 3-truck Shay is a great RTR model. Some have issues with the lineshaft gears splitting, but NWSL makes steel replacement gears. Installation is somewhat difficult, but it’s easier than building either of the kits.
If you don’t mind a bigger challenge, the MDC Shay kit can be a very nice runner with tuning (and some NWSL gears), and the Keystone shay can be a very nice runner if you can find the NWSL powering kit. Or if you’ve got money to burn, the brass ones are likely the best of all (with minor tuning, I’m sure).
LeBelge
It appears others have answered your question. But I do want to take a minute and say Welcome to the MRR and to invite you to join us in Jeffries Diner. Come on in and join some good conversation.
YGW
Bonjour LeBelge,
I have built both the MDC and the Keystone shay (with the motor kit). Both were challenges, but I managed to build two nice running models. I agree that the Keystone is fragile - I rarely run it and I bought some spare parts just in case. For the MDCs, Jeff Johnson actually wrote a book on how to assemble them (The MDC Shay Handbook), which is worth acquiring if you go that route.
Is it worth the trouble? Yes, if you like kitbuilding and logging engines in general. It helped me understand how these models work, and that knowledge was useful when I went to brass (2 shays and 1 climax, that I managed to get running very smoothly). Otherwhise, if you don’t want the trouble, the Bachmann is a good model. I have one and the gears are fine. You can also look for a brass model, but you won’t find anything cheap without having to put some work on it.
Bonne chance.
Simon (du Canada)
My impression is that the OP wants a very small Shay, much smaller than the Bachmann model. The suggestions above are fine, but it might be worthwhile to consider the used brass market and look for a Katsumi 2-cylinder Shay, once imported by Balboa, or one of PFM’s very small Shays.
Tom
Bonjour Simon
Mounting kits does not give any problems.But where can I find motors and steel gears for MDC and Keys models ?
For Balboa they doesn’y exist !!
And I can’ found a Bachmann machine
Thank you every body for your help
Have a nice day
Baudouin
Baudouin,Here’s a thought…I would look for a United Models Class B two truck shay-usually around $300-350.00 USD.
A word of caution…These are brass Shays that was released in the late 50/early 60s and has a open frame motor and thus is not DCC ready if that matters. They are however beautiful models.
In the what its worth department. I had one of those Shays in '60s and loved it…I would not hesitate to buy another today.
Le belge,
Just my observation: I recently built the MDC HO scale 2-truck kit that I had sitting in the drawer for many years. I utilized The MDC Shay Handbook by Jeff Johnson, and had purchased the NWSL replacement gears and motor years ago when those parts were more readily available. I had the Weisman back-date boiler available, but once I got into the project and saw how much additional work that would entail (quite a bit of fitting), I decided not to use the back-date boiler. I did end up with a nice and slow-running model, but it was not easy (for me, might be for others).
I have two Bachmann 3-truck shays that have been re-geared with the NWSL metal replacement gears and they run great. The MDC Shay is on the display shelf, while I trust operations to the Bachmann 3-truck.
Bill
THe Katsumi is one of the best running shays I have ever seen out of the box. The MDC can be made to run even better but it takes alot of time and is not as rugged so if you take it apart to say paint it, you will have to re-tweek it some.
Hi. The MDC kit will include a motor, but you can order one from NWSL. NWSL made a kit to motorize the Keystone, but that product is out of production. They do pop up on ebay from time to time.
The Katsumi brass really runs well. The one I have has 8 wheel power pickup. The older PFM shays are also good runners (although there are lemons), but only have 4 wheel power pickup. You can add other pickups though.
Simon
And what about ?
From Schurhammer ?
Looks like a nice model. Not DCC ready, of course. You might have to change the motor for that.
Oil burners were more prevalent in Western US, if that matters to you…
S.