Has anyone tried TGW(Tsugawa) powered trucks? I saw them at the Hobby Search website if anyone has any experience with them. TGW(Tsugawa) TU-7t TGW(Tsugawa) TU-DEKI 1 Andy Tetsu Uma
Do you know the measurements of it, mainly the distance between the axles? I am looking for a micro tender drive for a German steamer conversion.
The only information I know is what's on the website. I measured a piece of track with Japanese tie spacing and it was 5mm center to center. Do you really want a vertical motor for that? I would think one of the horizontal powered trucks or something like a Kato 11-105 or similar would fit better in a tender. Andy Tetsu Uma
The offset-motor one is really interesting because that's what you'd need to power a 25-tonner. The translation of the web page is really rough though, and the picture is even rougher. If I understood these right, they only have one of the two axles powered? Maybe somebody that can read the page in Japanese can report information better. If the offset-motor one had both axles powered, I'd bite. The 11-105 can pull OK if you can pile enough lead over top of the one powered truck, but the centered worm and the universal shaft prohibit 8-wheel drive in a tender-length package. It's pretty gutless unless you get a lot of weight (like a GE locomotive cab full) over top of it.
Well it offers some possibilities in the critter department, especially the offset motor version. They recently introduced a self propelled crane in HO and the offset might just fit in the crane cab. And you only need to pull and maybe push two gondolas or flats with the crane. Another possibility is a small railbus or truck where the centered motor or the offset version would be in the bus body or in the cargo box of the truck. Locomotive possibilities suggest either a T boiler or standard boiler Class A Climax logger.
For the TU-7T it is either two axle powered or it is referring to two axises. The problem is that the same kanji ("軸") is used in both "axle" and "axis." I'll see if I can get my wife to interpret. As an alternative to the Kato 11-105, Bandai has brought this out to power their B Train Shorty models which as I understand it, the Kato unit was originally developed for anyway. Bandai Power Unit 2 for B Train Shorty Andy Tetsu Uma
I bought two of those and they are "OK", but not great. The wheelbase on the trucks measures 7' 4" with 36" wheels instead of the 5' 6" with 27" wheels on the Kato 11-105 truck, which makes it relatively useless for both geared locomotive and critter applications. I've been studying it to see of there was any adaptation that could be made. The inside pickups work OK, that's what you need for a number of applications, but it isn't a major breakthrough.
I noticed that about the wheelbase - seemed large. I'm about the options and the info and I love to read about the brilliant things you guys do to these things. Andy Tetsu Uma
The home site of Tsugawa (the maker of those motors) has some more info. The offset motor is for their "7Ton Switcher", while the upright is for their "Deki 3" runabout: Here are the dimensions of the TU-2-11: That's 11mm between wheel centers. It looks like only the rear axle is driven. As for the guy's description on the HobbySearch website, he says it is a 4.5V motor, and that precision weight balancing is necessary when installing. If it is 4.5V, then both motors are, as TGW has a YouTube video showing both the 7T and the Deki3 on the same layout, controled by the same power source. (It's a "Layout in a Case") I searched all over the website, but could not find the voltage of the motors. Everything is for "9mm Rail", so I'm assuming it's all good for the same voltage. I could email the company if needed. Another interesting product they have is a motor attached to a single axle, which they advertise as being able to pair up and connect with a wire so that you can adjust the distance between powered axles: They also have a frame to hold two together: Not sure how good a motor, with what pulling power. I can search around some more, if there's anything specific people are looking for, or even email the manufacturer, but my Japanese is only so-so (only inherited 1/2 the language as well). I could have some relatives in Japan poke around some more. Hope this helps!
Tsugawa TGW also has this TU-1-21 motor: Sorry for the small pict. Best I could do. Both axles are driven. Distance between wheel axles: 21mm 36mm long 12mm wide 15mm tall None of the motors have traction on the wheel, it seems. But here's the kind of cars they sell for the 7T switcher: [7 Dwarves not included]
Andy/Randy/MC, help!! Sorry if this is off topic but you seem to have experience with the mini and micro chassis while I have none. I'm looking for a powered chasis for a two axle Buda track inspection car. My best guess about the required wheebase is 11' to 12'. I doesn't need to pull anything other than itself, but it needs to be smooth and relatively DCC friendly. Would the Bandai B be okay... I'm guessing it has anout 23mm wheelbase, good enuff for me. Thanks, Otto
Here's the Tsugawa home page. The first page is basically announcing the 7T switcher and the Deki 3 runabout. If you want to look at all their products, the second button on the left is "Topics" and will take you to a catalogue of their releases that have a bunch of pictures. I had trouble loading their YouTube video, so I've only seen the first 10 seconds or so. Their website seems a bit slow (or it's just that they're 17 hours ahead of us )
You would need to go to Randy for wheelbase info as he has first hand info with all these little power units. The other thing I can think of is power units for Japanese subway cars but I have no idea about mechanisms, wheelbase, and fitting them into a Buda car. Andy Tetsu Uma
I just got an e-mail from Hiroshi at Hobby Search and he says the TU-7t is "double axle drive." Check out this video of the 7t working some cars. That seems to have quite a bit of power unless they made the shell out of tungsten or something. Slow speed probably isn't so good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWp1sXGEy1s
well, tractive effort certainly isn't a problem! Speed control, however.... whoa. Literally. WHOA! There's a series of 3.5v motors out there (pager class) that are identical with the Kato 12v motor in the 11-105. Maybe a swap.... We'll see what ever arrives here. I'm still not sure I understand the description with what sounds like a 4.5v. motor and 'control issues'. There's a tradeoff in these itty-bitty ones in four-wheel drive. If you want good pickup and control, you need end-axle pickups, not wipers. If you don't want a stiff four-legged stool for good pickup then one axle drive is easier to equalize for pickup than two axle drive. If you want it to pull anything, both axles have to be powered. If you're willing to drag along a car for pickup purposes, and hard-wire it into the four-wheeler you can do almost anything by putting Kato caboose trucks under the pickup car. Mind you, my scratchbuilt 25-tonner works rather well. What I'm searching for is a four-wheel mechanism that works reliably enough out of the box to do N critter kits around. Sure haven't found it yet. The 'out of the box' four wheelers (up to this point) have had center motors, one-axle drive, or both.
