I will also need this little engine. Will there be a version with sprocket wheels ? Or a possibility to adapt ? Lajos, could you please also provide the scales in mm
Bring it over and we can make a ghost wagon out of it! haha, we could put it in a caboose, and have a train break-away at the show, and the caboose drive off onto another track with the train in tow going backwards! What great fun! OK, I'm sold!
Or the engine break away and the train trying to catch up to the engine... I am waiting for the kit version too... I'll want more than a few.. Kim
It's close enough, because of the small flange, it looks more like 36" (actually 38"). Now, about the deliveries. We're so far behind, from the projected one work week we'll be behind two. Unfortunately (actually fortunately, because it happened before shipping) we had a few issues discovered during random test runs, they have been taken care, now every gearbox has to go through a time consuming bench break in,... they're smooth... We'll sqeeze out as much as we can before Wednesday, then I'll be in Miami 'til Sunday. Generally the output will be higher, more and more assembly fixtures are completed, so in a few weeks every order will be shipped from stock.
Lajos, Once we get our little engine, is there a recommended burn-in time over and above your bench break in? Also, would your chassis design be able to be squeezed to a 9mm wheelbase? I'm asking since some of what I would like to model has a 6'-6" full size wheelbase. Thanks, James
Lajos, good to hear you have full order books! My question: can you already share what's next on the agenda? Not to push you, you know I like you work and have built heeps of your SW1 and logging cabs; I just want to know if there is something more interesting for me in the pipeline coming soon?
Anyone.............................. This thread has gone cold!!! I check my mail box every day after work!!! Still no package!! For those who have received the first run, please post comments and possible photos too!!! Look forward to your responses! Hobo Tim
It's a bumpy start with ups and downs and unfortunately a bumpy ride for a few, still too many (almost) ready to go chassis. But because of a new discovery, we have to deal with all the orders before they're moving to new homes. We already sent e-mails to the recepients of the already delivered chassis, so there is no need for a recall. The problem is fairly simple, but not easily recognizable. The bottom plate of several chassis is not firmly attached, so the vertical play of wheel axles can exceed the calculated and proven working limits, then occasionally the worm pushes the wheel axle gear to a "jump" or "near jump" position. That condition combined with the flexible nature of phosphor bronze plate rails creates a "bumpy ride" motion. To learn what caused several bottom plates "loose" attachment was a big puzzle, a huge lesson for myself, and unfortunately an undeserved delay of delivery for most of our supporters. Finally the roots of this major problem are identified. One is several slightly larger over etched "countersink" holes on the bottom plate, another is the inconsistent threading of the 000-120 screws near the head. The screening, the fix, then the additional testing, touch ups / re-finishing is a time consuming procedure. We will do our best to break down the batches to as small as reasonable, so the older orders can be satisfied early next week. Sorry guyZ for the delays, for us, looks like there is still lots of things to learn.
Great!!!! Thought the mailman might be an avid Z scaler too and swiped my package before I could get to it. Thanks!! Hobo Tim
A quick update, then back to work. There is no shortage of assembled, blackened chassis bodies. The assembly fixtures make wonder, the etching quality is second to none. But, there are serious problems with a fairly large inventory of components we have no control over. The only parts manufactured per specifications are the brass gears and the motors, the rest (15 critical parts per chassis) have some percentage of defects. The worse (without naming it) is a crucial component with about 50% faliure rate. While we're struggling with checking each parts, the whole assembly process slowed down so much, it can't be called production anymore. Obviously we're working on much better quality replacements, but to receive them takes time. Orders are shipped behind schedule, but at least shipped. We're asking every customers with active orders, be patient, they're going to receive their chassis shortly. When the new components arrive, the speed of asssembly going to be up to the originally planned, so a healthy inventory can be built, also there will be room for a long list of new, exciting products. Again, thanks for your support and patience.
Lajos... THANK YOU! I already have my chassis. My thank you is in regards to your constant and consistant updates. My thank you is in regards to including photos of your works in progress. My thank you is in regards to your openess and honesty through-out the process. THESE above mentioned things are what will keep customers interested in your products, and willingness to wait. Nothing being kept in the dark here. I understand your difficulties in trying to assemble many tight tolerance parts from different sources. While every supplier might be making their product within specifications... a .0001 here and a .0001 there, can soon add up to an out of tolerance condition. How do I know? It's my job. Again... thank you, Lajos. I wish you success as you go forward. And, I'm looking forward to your future projects.
Lajos gave up being at the BTS in Ontario today to work on these things. We had his modules to use. Enough to have 21 modules with 6.9 scale miles of track in each loop. We had 4 trains on one loop and 3 on the other at one time. I will be shooting video tomorrow and try to get an overall view like I did at NTS in 2008. We were really impressing the large scale guys with our layout - wait a minute. Every other scale is bigger than Z (not mentioning that T stuff).
Boy that is a lot of chassis! I got mine in the mail, but haven't had time to play yet. It does run as good as the videos showed. Even though it was never said, I assumed these were being hand built and it would be a while before it showed up. Showed up quicker than I expected.
See this engine in action here: http://vimeo.com/24149593 Later there will be a video of it pulling 8 small tank cars.