I am just getting back to building an MDC 3-truck Shay. I have the NWSL Bull gear and re-gear parts. Both refer to instructions in a 1985 MR. Beyond searching down and old Model Railroader, are there instructions for applying either on my Shay?
I have 3 of the original MDC 2-truck Shay kits. I assembled one according to the instructions provided with it, but never could get it to run more than a couple of inches without derailing. The other two are still in their boxes unassembled.
MDC came out with a pre-assembled 2-truck Shay that runs smoothly, and Bachmann has their Spectrum 3-truck Shay which is far superior to anything made by MDC.
If you really want to assemble a smooth operating MDC Shay, try to find a copy of the book entitled, The MDC Shay Handbook by Jeff Johnston. It was first published in 1954 with a second printing in 1998 by Oso Publishing Company, Incorporated, 31328 N. Brooks Creek Road, Arlington, Washington 98223. ISBN 0-9647521-1-5. This is a 96 page book with detailed instructions on assembling the MDC Shay.
Thanks for the help. I will track down a copy.
It is easy to get the shays to run but you have to be very!!! careful when you cut the gears off the sprues and most gears need alot of fileing to get rid of flash. Most people who try to build these think of them as any model and the gear triming is not, thats one of the reasons people like the nwsl gears. Got my shay to run at about one tie per min., buddy who is a mecanic did even better with no gear slop, I had to modify one off my gears.