There was even a few K-28's shipped over there

The How-to and the kit will be released publicly after beta testing

and here's a video of it in action, still needs some breaking in

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200382216052992

Welll, this has an H4 chassis, its not microace. It is a conversion kit I'm beta testing  right now, I will photograph the next conversion in detail once the kit is made public

I didn't make the kit, but because of it's production, it got me back into N scale because I love Rio Grande engines

I am creating a background layout against the wall opposite of my HO layout using forced perspective. Here's an engine I just finished among other projects I have going on

I wish the darned Rio Grande 4-8-2's would go on sale so I can buy a couple

one of my brass engines has someones Social Security number on the bottom, that used to be a way of identifying the original owner but I wouldn't suggest putting that, I would engrave my engines and take a picture of myself with the engravings and myself  in the picture, and then make a secret engraving on the inside of a boiler shell or tender shell, that way if they go past the first, they'll overlook the second(not to many people have the guts to go under the hood of an engine!

I have a seperate fanpage entirely dedicated for public use for my collection: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rye-Guy/186115988178828

I used spookshow back then, but I was 14 and couldn't afford anything I wanted like spectrum steamers were out of reach, but wiuth age came  the ability to actually earn money


I want a D&RGW 4-8-2 by spectrum , maybe two  of them and make them close to a M-78 or M-75 as best as I could,  too bad the eccentric is on the second set of drive wheels but I don't mind I guess it looks a chunky enough of an engine to me

LOOK the engine up on YouTube, plenty of videos showing it running

I have to say, for someone who stopped doing N scale because of how flimsy engines can be, I just  a 2-6-6-2 in the mail today and test ran it, and I was completely sold on its perfomance, nice smooth running, and quiet too.

I  had the older bachmann stuff like the 0-4-0, the old 2-8-0 and the 0-6-0 it was really saddening when they finally crapped out on me :/ But after 10 years of absence from N scale, I think I'm ready to come back.

I will say this engine is going to be kitbashed into a D&RGW locomotive, I can't say one just yet because it's a secret project in development now, but I'll definitely be sure to post it all when it comes out!

I'm also looking forward to buying the 2-6-0's and 2-8-0's

Quote from: Desertdweller on March 12, 2013, 01:46:36 AM
A nice thing about powering a tender is it is prototypical.  A lot of railroads used booster engines under their big locos, powering either the lead truck on the tender or the rear truck on the loco.

These were called franklin Boosters, I have a number of the little trinkets on my engines and continue to collect them.


NOW onto the topic at hand.

John Allen also made his trains usually and average of 10 to 12 cars per locomotive and he operated on 2% and 4% grades and his engines were Brass filled with lead weight for pulling power.

I personally tend to think along the lines of quality over quantity, I've focused my efforts on owning just enough rolling stock to make a consist of a few trains namely 13 cars maximum. Any more would look ridiculous on my road, it would seem like it didn't have a far distance to travel, and my layout is 21 feet long at the very moment under construction, but I would prefer if it took a while for my trains to reach their destination. To me my layout is humble  good for small trains. Plus if the trains were too long it would look weird. Like an engine chasing a caboose. And when the train got into the yard.... raise your hand anyone who has a 30+ car long yard? It can get overwhelming for operation to pull a freight train in.

Which is why at the local club I stopped pulling 20 car trains because on a point to point it was too time consuming and a headache to break it up when you have traffic on the main and in the yard waiting around for you to finish up. Overwhelming.

If you have a huge spaghetti bowl of track  where if takes 20 minutes to complete a circuit, maybe 20 cars might be appropriate. Its all in the Aesthetics.

Now realistically 2% grades were pretty steep on the prototypes. They Double headed, cut the train in half on a siding and double backed to pick it back up once the first half was over the hump. Or they used helpers.

I wouldn't expect a bachmann santa fe 2-10-4 to pull any more than 20 cars up a 2%. It doesn't have a gearbox and well the motor issues have been discussed. You can weigh down the engine with weights but that'll tax the motor. BUT also keep in mind that running that load it can't handle UP the hill will prove problematic going DOWN the hill, as it will still TAX the motor and create bucking problems  (not good for gear teeth)

Now one of my brass M-75 4-8-2's filled with lead and has a closed gearbox and a big powerful can sagami would pull 30 up that hill no sweat, but I am just satisfied with the 12 cars I put behind it and when I doublehead them maybe 20. It just looks better in my vision. But then again these engines cost me $350-$450 without DCC and sound and I bought them simply because I love their prototype. Brass isn't for everyone though.

THAT being said always keep in mind that this is YOUR railroad and what you like to do is up to you but it's always good to take care of your equipment to prevent damage from occurring.

I recently had my first car accident a few weeks ago, still in shock over it. And I used to be so proud that I never got into one. The thought that came into my mind after the accident is " you only think you're invincible until it happens to you."

I've burned out a dozen steam locomotives at least from over-exceeding their abilities, taught me a few things, it's good to learn from mistakes. Like here you're asking questions and talking about it and that shows responsibility for your stuff. My suggestions are just some advice.

that aside enjoy your trains

What about those of us crying for western road engines like UP, SP, NP, WP,, and DRGW?

I will say a B&O 2-6-6-4 would be an amazing model to own, and no I'm not talking about the 2-8-8-4 EM-1, I'm talking about a 2-6-6-4

I have a project Steam locomotive  I'm working on involving a Trumpeter BR-52 that I'm trying to make engine have actual moving drivers and made for G gauge track( it is 1/35 scale but I'm not trying to be a rivet counter, I already have freight cars of that scale gauged out to match)

so I need a set of 5 locomotive drivers that are an 1inch and a half or an inch and 5/8 in diameter

and if memory serves correctly the bachmann columbia 2-4-2 or the mining 2-6-0 had about that size.

Anyone here know where I can get just the locomotive drivers without buying the whole engine? Or have a few spares in their junk drawer? Or perhaps an alternative means of getting driver?

Thanks

Rye Guy

Quote from: nfmisso on March 02, 2013, 01:14:52 PM

Quote from: ryeguyisme on March 01, 2013, 07:29:52 PM
I already have a couple Aux. tenders prepared to be cut up for this project, I just need an actual scale tender to use for reference and size, so I can get the same results and they look the same. I need about 4 or 5 of these puppies

You are looking for Model Railroading March 1995; the article starting on page 23:
http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/379/27865/march-1995-page-23

well that sort of close to what I want, but I do have some ideas I'm cooking up now. I know I'm at least doing that configuration at least once or twice, I've seen that article before, And I want an E-3, its the only PRR loco I've ever liked because of the mods