Its ok Jeepy84. I had the link at one time from last year. Now i can't find it but 1st quarter of 2016 is the latest date.
I make two Climax A's, a 13-ton vertical boiler and an 18-ton horizontal boiler. Both have cast metal boilers now. The trick of a good Class B is having working jackshafts. A shay may be almost too tiny to see moving, but the jackshaft operation on a B is right out there. At least three modelers have copied my mechanism approach - I share it freely, as I have no hope of accumulating these parts to do a repeatable kit. I had a wonderful time scratchbuilding mine, still runs great, but if ever there was a locomotive that was so difficult to get right that I've told my wife - stick it in my shirt pocket, I'm taking it with me - that's it. I'm intrigued by the Showcase approach, the castings look fantastic. But my little 28-tonner with a planetary gearhead now in it runs great. The real flaw in these tiny ones is electrical pickup, and I'm rather skeptical on that Powermax approach with only one-truck pickup. Figure out how to do the front truck, you might have a winner. Kato chassis is $25, GM15 planetary gearhead on robotshop.com is $14.25. The little locomotives are far more typical than the 'big guys' in the east. A 'normal' eastern Shay was 42-ton, an 'normal' Heisler or Shay was also in the 40-45 ton range. Remember, for weight, that's equal to a GE 44-tonner. Small! Atlas' Shay is a Pacific-coast, oil-fired 60-tonner, late build.
Is it based on the Kato chassis as well? Modern style pickup cups for metal wheels with flexible wire running back to the bunker would be my best guess at an approach worth attempting. I've seen a few Atlases(?) with the cab opened up and the bunker converted to coal or wood. The size might be off but the look is far closer to eastern prototypes.
Yeah, that's what I did to mine. It's still 'big' but the looks is a lot more Eastern: The Class B Climax mechanism: Video in operation: My own little scratchbuilt 28-ton Shay (8 wheel pickup, front truck drive, gearhead motor)
There is a very good article of the Showcase M. Class B 30-40 ton shay in Nn3 (narrow gauge) by Tom Knapp in the July/August N-Scale Mag. The N scale kit is probably similar constructed with the PM in 9mm. Tom mentions that he will improve the reliability through turnout frogs by adding electrical pickup to the front truck. Cheers, Franz
One of the really oddball things about little Shays was that they were generally designed for 36" gauge. If you put them on standard gauge trucks, they had to pitch the cylinders out to compensate. I had to do that on my model. I 'generally' followed the dimensions of a couple small Shays, including Rayonier 3 and the Dixiana Shay at Roaring Camp. http://www.shaylocomotives.com/data/lima2399/sn-2305.htm http://www.playle.com/pictures/SUNSHINEPCS60548.jpg The Showcase Shay looks really promising - like all their cast metal work it is really excellent. But I'm not sure how you top the Kato mechanism with a gearhead motor on it for a Shay or a Climax, you get a top speed of about 10mph, along with a traction tire and 8-wheel pickup. But if anybody can figure out how to do it, it's Tom. Those of you that remember the old A-board followed the construction thread on that, including my long battle to spin the crankshaft. It is made out of metal, and does turn, but powering it from the wheels, or internally using watch gears, did not work and I finally gave up. I was well on the way of making a Heisler conversion out of Atlas Shay parts until I found out that all the mechanism parts are changing in this next release, so I'm waiting to see what they have done like everybody else.
I picked up a Climax kit from Randgust earlier this year. Great little kit. I still have hte final details to finish, but it runs great. It's my first try at a kit loco. The Kato mech is great, but the next one will definitely get the planetary. Now that I have made the attempt at a kit, I have the bug. I also have one of his Whitcomb and 70 tonner kits for starting this winter. Great work. Trey
Well, my two kits from Republic Loco Works came in today. Now the kiln and tramway will be under way! I may start one of the kits tonight but it won't be finished for a few days. Be glad when i get them done to see how i am going to get it to fit in the space i have. I also saw in this coming months MRR that the shays Will be here the 1st quarter of 2016!! I have one other box heading this way from Fifer Hobby. Should get here by Saturday or Monday. Not sure yet what is in that one as i have three separate orders coming from them. I am going to be busy this winter for sure. Later all, Dan
Actually there were many Shay locos out west which burned coal and had open cabs. More than the style Atlas has produced.
I plan to do some Modifying of the cab area and it will be open. I have the colors i need for the company colors and mine will both be wood burners. Already have the wood loads for the shays. I can wait a little longer for them. Hope to have my little 18 ton Climax done before then. I like the looks of that little critter. Anyway looking forward to getting to our new home for us and see that area. Never been to Orange, Texas. I last went thru the area on I-10 in 1999. Am going to get what i need to start the build on the drying kiln tonight. Will show it off later, Dan
Thats why we cut them up and get them the way we want. On top of that, I have to dcc both of them and that little 18 ton climax. Fun! Hiding them chips is a trip for sure. Have fun, Dan
I did start on the Kiln Drier last night. I got the frame done. Nice kit as always from Republic loco works. One shot from last night, Dan
Hey OleSmokey did you ever get your log loader finished and if so is there any chance you could post some photographs of it? I've been looking at those on Shapeways for a while now and I'm curious what they look like finished. Thanks!
I got the Kiln done. Its painted and stained and weathered so I have one issue. It shows that you need to build up the area around the kiln so the tramway will work right. It calls for 3/8" but when i set it there the thing looks to high. Gonna have to wait till i get some of the tramway done to see if i goofed or they did. Most likely me. Anyway its all good, Will post a couple of shots later. I was working on the truck today and i want a shower before dinner. Later all, Dan
