Does anyone out there know were I can find a SHAY loco in HO (preferably unletered) for under $135.99
MDC Shay Kit. $69.95 from http://www.horizonhobby.com
Gotta build it yourself though.
look for the bachmann 3 truck on Ebay. There are lots of them closing around that price.
Guy
Trainworld currently lists:
Scale, Category: HO Scale - Steam Locomotives
Item No.: 81901
Name: 70 Ton, Three-Truck Shay
Roadname: Painted, Unlettered (wood cab)
$129.99
Good luck!
Bob Boudreau
Canada
1stplacehobbies.com has the assembled MDC Shay kit for $128.39. They are currently out of stock at this time.
Unless you’re prepared to invest at least $100 more in regearing and remotoring, the MDC Shay kit is not worth the price. You can get a Bachmann or MDC pre-assembled Shay for the same investment as what you would need to modify the MDC Shay kit. I have a 100 page document explaining how to get the MDC kit to run. Unless you have a fully equipped workshop with drill press, etc., don’t waste your money on it.
I would agree with cacole. If you want a smooth running Shay you probably won’t be happy with the MDC kit built following the assembly instructions.
I built a 2 truck MDC Shay per the instructions and Jeff Johnston’s MDC Shay handbook and wasn’t happy with it.
I finally just tore it down and rebuilt it.
Here’s a link to show what was involved.
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=7559
It runs like a swiss watch now.
I’ve got the MDC 2-truck shay as well, I couldn’t even get it to run until did some regearing with the Northwest Short Line partial regear and bull gear sets. I also noticed that the fill ports are on the INSIDE of the gearbox, so make sure you get those smooth, too. And I’ve also found that running it on DCC with its full-voltage pulses works better than DC power, but switching to DCC will never fix a poor-running locomotive. Plus, I understand MDC switched over to can motors.
Anyway, it runs passably now, it’s no finely tuned swiss watch, but it’s no worse than most Athearn untis I’ve used.
Thanks for the help!
I don’t think I will get an MDC shay.
I will keep an eye on Ebay, but I will not bid until there is anything under $100.00 and then I will go with the cheapest that is in good condition.
I’m still looking into that one.[:D]
Does the MDC Shay work at all without modifacation?
Get the Bachmann Spectrum 3 truck Shay! Its a real nice peice! Got Model of the year in 2000. It has detail at the same level as brass and it runs just as good!
Trainworld has them for sale for $130
http://www.trainworld1.com/bachmann/bachmann%20HO%20STEAM%20LOCOS.htm
its in the middle of the page
to get pictures click on the Image
wjc09a.
A stock (kit)MDC shay will run, But it will sound like a cross between an electric pencil sharpener and a coffee grinder due to the design of the semi open primary gearbox and the fact that the electrical pickups create so much drag that the motor strains to turn the wheels.
Then if you don’t get the drive and dummy drive lines in sync , it will wobble and shimmy down the track.
Most of these problems can be corrected if you have the Patience to make the modifications.
I don’t have any experience with the MDC RTR Shay.
I plan to get this Cass Scenic Railroad, 70 Ton, Three-Truck Shay (steel cab)
I was on this train during a visit to Cass, West Virginia. (they have some interesting tours)
One more question:
When I click on the picture on the trainworld site why does the price double ! ?