Well, I finally will have a couple of locos to call my own.....that is when they arrive and I build them Shipping to me shortly will be two MDC kits - an old time 2-8-0 and a 2 truck Shay. I am also getting the Shay book thrown in. My question is: does anyone have any tips for a first time loco builder on these MDC locos? I want to put decoders in both of them, equip them with Kadees etc. Any gotchas to look out for? Any tips to get them running like clockwork? I'll be starting with the 2-8-0 first as I suspect it will be easier than the Shay. Cheers
NO NOT FILE THE AXLE SLOTS. Use an Xacto knife blade to make a small chamfer on the outter edge of the frame. File the front and back of the side rods to remove the burr caused by them being stamped. Also use a round file and give it a could LIGHT turns in each crank pin hole in each of the side rods. file any burrs off the front and back of each driver, only the metal center driver will have a burr if there is one. Check the gauge of all the driver sets before you assemble them. If they are out of gauge DO NOT TWIST them to gauge them, you will not only throw them out of quarter, but you will also strip out the center hole in the plastic driver because the end of the axle has raised splines so the driver won't slip out of quarter. If you you need to widen the gauge of a driver set, use a small punch (blunt nail works) and tap the end of the axle. Get yourself some 2-56 screws and a 2-56 tap and tap all of the screw holes and use 2-56 screws instead of the self tapping screws that come with the kit. If metric screws and taps are easier to get where you live you can use those instead of the 2-56 screws. If you use the gears that come with the kit, check them for molding flash and remove it. There is only two gears in the kit so take your time and get them perfect. When you assemble the kit check the gear mesh and shim the motor plate and / or motor to get the gear mesh just right. I like to add extra electrical pick up to all of my steam locomotives. If you have it, check out the May 2002 MR to see how I added extra electrical contacts to the insulated side of MDC locomotives. Otherwise, take your time and have fun.
For the shay, the handbook tells you to get some new wipers from Echo Mountain Models. They are worth the money. Get them!
For the 2-8-0, go to the following site: Assembling the MDC 2-8-0 I have built the shay, Sn3 conversion. Do not open the box until you have read and understand the book. The new wipers are a must. The NWSL gears and new driveshafts are almost a must. You should also use NWSL parts to connect the motor to the gearbox. I even added a flywheel to mine. Had to move the motor back for it. Use silicon to mount the motor. I had to use a DZ121 decoder.
Thanks All for the info - good stuff. I am really looking forward to building these, it will be a good experience. I haven't got that 2002 MR so I'll see if I can find it on ebay - thanks for the headsup Coaltrain Cheers
