Benny I could but the idea was to use these $30 engines to create this creature. BB style BTW: It will be about 85' long. I compared it to a passenger car. [ April 16, 2005, 10:06 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Are you looking to do something like this, which I did about ten years ago? Given the old mechanisms, I couldn't put in a center power truck. I could put in a center power pickup truck, with a sliding mechanism, but never needed it. I built this as an April Fool's joke. Pulled apart it looks like this: Given today's LL FA mechanisms, I doubt you could swing the end mechanisms (without a hinge in the middle) or slide the center trucks enough to make a reasonable curve.
Thanks for sharing. Pete, Yes, that was pretty much what I have in mind. It will look like the version 1a as shown in my previous post. Are you saying you expect trouble with curves if I only do the BB version, (that is with a powered truck at each end), as shown in the pic above? I'm not sure what you mean by "end mechanisms". The hope was to have the 2nd set of trucks unpowered loosly attached to the powered ones for looks like these: Trucks B and C are dummys. They are attached firmly enough not to derail too often. That Is what I hoped for. I doubt it will happen. Basicly this is for practice but If it works you will se more of it. (unless it is banned) [ April 16, 2005, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
If the trucks in the center of the beast won''t allow for curves, you could somehow rig up a drawbar like stated, to pull the trucks behind the driven trucks. It would have the U50 look, less hassle, and pull a house. It would look a lot like the pic you posted with the GN color shceme.
Hemi, It will require messing with the stuctural and electrical system. I am confident but if the BB version works I'll probably stop there and use it for practice adding details. Once the details are on I think I'll have it painted in GN EB. As it is the only parts left to do are: Get and use the epoxy Test Snoopy Dance (and get my layout up and running)
Steve, I don't think you will have trouble with the curves if you have 15" radius, and keep it B-B trucks Rodney
Grey One, The center truck(s) will have to slide side to side unless you are running huge curves. Take an 85-foot passenger car and put it on an 18-inch radius curve. Hire an N-scale helicopter and look straight down on the middle of the car. I'll bet you can see the inside rails at the center of the car. That's how much a truck(s) is going to have to slide if you have a rigid body. If you are going to articulate your beast in the middle, then it's much easier. Weren't the Centipedes articulated?
Constructed Now it needs putty, sanding and paint. I understood you all the way. I was just making sure I did understand you. So, nope, no center trucks since the fuel tanks are part of the structure holding the two halves together. Sorry about the picture qualty it was taken with web cam. [ April 17, 2005, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
Hemi, now that you ask, (and I think about it: 1) Strech the cab foward and tail backward and stick them under that. 2) find an old motor and power a cheater car 3) Drop them into my parts box till I think of something
When I built this monster I attached both trucks to a single frame. Each truck swings independently and the frame itself swings allowing it to articulate around a fairly sharp curve. Still be a bit of engineering if you manage to power all wheels.
John, what an idea. 1) Find a couple of motrs with screws on them 2) Extend the cab and the tail 3) mount the trucks in and motor in a swivil 4) and and and, hmmm, I wonder.
It looks like a possibility. A special order tonnage mauler from Schenectady. Either that or GN packed off an A-B pair to SP's Sacramento Shops for a proto-bash (SP's Sacramento Shops were more noted for their creativity when it came to steam or electrics, but....) If possible, I would leave all trucks driven. If that is not possible, I would at least leave the electrical pick-up in all of the trucks intact. It has been my experience that hardwiring cab units together does improve their performance. You can allow the frames to touch each other on the same side: starboard-to-starboard and port-to-port. DO NOT allow contact port-to-starboard.
brokemoto, Thanks for the idea to give this a "background" The management of the Grey and Grandure felt that the "Grandure Car Works" needed experinace in refurbishing locomotives. A pair of cheap units from the LV became avaialble. Once the frame and shell are finished new fans from BML horns, and lights will be added. This is inpreperation to acquiering a pair of M4D shells. There is a chance the body will be elongated in the far future to accomodate using the remaining trucks. "The Beast" will most liikely be painted in GN Empire Builder colors by a secret "Skunk Works" west of the Mississippi.
Steve, Rumor has it that a pair of large GE's have arrived at Skunk Works for a top-secret project...
No, the BB version should work fine. A "B--BB--B" version, with the trucks as is in the frames, probably wouldn't work, as building sideways play into the two end mechanisms (that are now in the center) would be problemmatical. A "BB--BB", in which you move the trucks to the end (and probably have them as dummies) might work--you should be able to figure out a way to keep the contact strips in place. What I was trying for was a "B--B--B." I cut one frame behind the front truck--actually I didn't, because I made a frame from styrene, but that's what I'd have to do with the LL FAs. That way, one unit would remain intact, and the second unit would lose a truck. I'm not sure that surgery is possible without a lot of effort. One truck would have to slide horizontally, and I think I couldn't keep it powered--though it could have electrical pickup. My goal is to build a Baldwin Centipede--a D-D-D-D--sixteen axles per unit, two units. The UP unit is actually a B-B-B-B, isn't it? But the Centipede means building D trucks--not sure I can do that and maintain any type of running quality! I enjoy your "beast." May it have a long career!
Thanks Pete, Here is where I am at the moment: I can "stretch" the front and read as much as need be and give the trucks lots of latteral movment.. Easy to type and draw. Can I pull it off? Hmm Anyone know where I can find 1 inch long can motors with the gear driving screw on?
Have you considered shortening the beast like this: That is, cutting the LL frame on one unit? Sorry for the primitive cut-and-paste! Edit: replace image with one from the Grey One [ April 21, 2005, 09:54 AM: Message edited by: Pete Nolan ]
