Hey everyone! I'm new here, and have a question about Bachmann conversions. Does anyone here know how to convert an N scale Bachmann 4-4-0 to Nn3? Any help would be appreciated.
I think that conversion is mentioned in the Nn3 Handbook, but am not sure as I haven't got a copy yet. But I'm glad to see another Nn3 modeler here and I'm sure someone will be able to answer your question. I'm interested in how it could be done as well. Regards, Cody
urbanex12- Welcome to TrainBoard! Please post some photos, when you get your project started. Boxcab E50
Yeah, its there. I wrote it. I will see if I can dig out my photos. Edit: All I can find is the article in the book right now.
Thanks guys! And I will post photos if I ever do get this project started. I've been trying to do it for a while now but just haven't had the time or resources to do so.
Welcome and I agree...nice to see another Nn3 fan here...I have always loved it and nearly converted...again! Russell yer the best man...
hi all,now i know i seem to ask some duh questions on this board,so why change eh!!so here goes...Nn3(dont be afraid to yell at me if I am way off base)is this say like n scale run on ztrack?If this isnt so could someone take a deep breath and explain?While we are at it what about Hon3,On3?? Thanks Stu:tb-cool: urbanex12...Sorry for hijacking your thread.
Nn3 is indeed N scale trains running on track gauged the same as Z scale track. Some use Z track. Others make their own.
From my experience dabbling in N-Scale for about 5 years, all the Bachmann offerings in that scale are horrendous performers, and the 4-4-0 tops the list. You're going to need to do way more than cosmetic work to get it functioning well in Nn3 - and my first suggestion would be to add weight to the tender as well as electrical pickup.
Note that HOn3, Sn3 and On3 all use special gauges of track not generally used for standard gauge in other scales. Nn3 isn't actually 3' gauge. N on Z track scales closer to metre gauge, and Europeans call it Nm. HOm is HO on TT track, and scales to 3'6" gauge, as does TT on N track. Going one step down on the scale sequence produces 3'6" or metre gauge.* Going two steps down produces 2'6" gauge. This makes things easier for Europeans, but harder for North Americans who want to model 3' and 2' gauge. *As an aside, this is how G was created. Gauge 1 is 1/32, correct standard gauge. G was made so it could represent metre gauge correctly on Gauge 1 track, thus its 1/22.5 scale. Bachmann's G, sometimes called F, is 1/20.3, so the same track represents 3' gauge. But confusingly, all of thes are often called G, including Gauge 1 and 1/29, which uses the same track to (incorrectly) represent standard gauge and has eclipsed 1/32 in popularity.
True. Z scale track is actually around 40 or 41 inches scaled out if you think of it as N scale, but it still looks very good.
I've seen those conversions, but I was fearful of it for the exact reasons you've mentioned. Thank you for confirming my suspicion. I'll wait on the sideline until I acquire a suitable Marklin chassis for a RLW kit. ...must resist urge to use my meager hobby funds on Nn3 stuff... Michael
Russell Straw here could tell you all about that conversion. I read his article, though at the moment I cannot recall whether he said anything about re-motoring or otherwise improving the Bachmann's performance.
The Bachmann 4-4-0s are not the best performing locomotives around. However, they are relatively inexpensive so you might not feel as apprehensive about cutting one up. Some improvement in running can be gained by scrapping the whole electrical pickup system from the wheels up. I built up my own "all wheel electrical pickup" trucks out of Microtrain Nn3 frames and Marklin wheel sets. I used the same method that Kato did for their tender trucks with the needle point axles in the cone shaped bearing cups pressed into brass side frames. Not really hard to do if you have the patience. I ran wires from the side frames up to the motor contacts in the tender. The latest production locomotives from Bachmann use their standard five pole skewed armature motor that is really pretty decent. The older models used a motor that was acctually built into the tender shell. Those were pretty bad.