009 chassis

Is there a RTR chassis which people commonly use for 009 models of 0-4-0 steam locos these days? I've some photos of an old 2'6" (close enough to 2'3"!) loco I fancy doing, but wondered what a model could run on.
Are there any cheap N gauge locos which people sacrifice, equivalent to the Hornby 0-4-0ST which seems to be used for a variety of 0-16.5 models, or do 009 modellers use expensive N gauge locos or kit-built chassis these days? Google finds references to using Ibertren or Bachmann chassis, but they seem to be no more.

"Arthur Figgis" wrote
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A local professional modeller who works almost exclusively in OOn9 uses the Bachmann USA 0-6-0ST but you are correct in saying that these are not currently available. That doesn't mean they won't reappear at some stage.
John.

"Wolf Kirchmeir" wrote
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I doubt it Wolf - the 4-4-0 has the motor in the tender and drives the loco wheels through a carden shaft. It would be fairly impractical for Arthur's needs.
John.

Arthur Figgis wrote:
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Arnold did a very nice 0-4-0t and there's a very similar Fleischmann 0-4-0t which is definitely available. IMHO building a model on a cheapy chassis just isn't worth the trouble.
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I never tried the Ibertren, but the Bachmann chassis is rubbish and geared way too high.
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Gregory Procter wrote:
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Ibertren "cuckoo" chassis are OK. Good ones run well, but there is some variation. There are very similar to the Arnold 0-4-0 tank chassis of many years ago. Both are difficult to find these days, though do appear from time to time.
There will be some chassis under Kato/MicroAce/Tomix locos which could be useful. Worth scouring the Japanese specialists to see what you find.
The Backwoods Miniatures site (probably the best 009 kit maker in the UK?) makes reference to a Tomix 0-4-0 chassis for underneath a limited run of loco kits.
Backwoods Miniatures have their own chassis kits within most of their locos. They list an 0-4-0 tank chassis with cylinders and valve gear for £40 (goes under their Bagnall tank). If you are up to a bit of soldering this is going to be as good as any you'll get from hacking a N gauge loco.
Its not that hard to scratchbuild four wheeled chassis. See 2mm website below, essentially a similar process for a 009 loco. Your biggest challenge will be getting a source of wheels (and axles) to run on the N track.
- Nigel

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The Fleischmann chassis is very similar dimensionally to the old Ibertren 0-4-0 and may well fit many of the kits designed for the Ibertren. I have used it in the Roxey Kerr Stuart with a small amount of modification of the body. The Fleischmann chassis is superior in it's running qualities, and to my mind looks to be better constructed. Chris Nevard has used this combination on his "Arne" layout - see http://www.nevard.com/modelrailway/arne_wharf.htm for details. The Fleischmann model number for the loco this chassis is used on is 7000.
Hope this helps.
Stu

Wolf Kirchmeir wrote:
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The cheap locos do gain by having a heavy whitemetal body placed on them.
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I fully agree!
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It's rubbish, and it has a tender mounted motor driving the loco through a cardan shaft.
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Those are all rubbish - they get worn out just sitting waiting for you to finish building the new body!
Regards, Greg.P.

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 23:00:18 +0000, Arthur Figgis
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Thanks for the suggestions. My interest in cheap rather than quality is that if it is, say, GBP20 I might bother doing it, but at GBP50 I'd lose interest!
(Now I just need to find a model show which isn't on the wrong side of a serious fire which has caused the complete demise of the train service...)

Arthur Figgis wrote:
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You might be better to buy second-hand quality than new crap.
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Salvé
diskussionsgruppsmeddelandet: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...
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The Fleischman 0-4-0 goes rather nicley I thought and I think rather better than the ibertren cuckoo...... Beowulf

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 02:29:30 +0100, "Beowulf"
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Next question - who sells 'em cheap! (before I go for 0-16.5 instead, using a Hornby "Smokey Joe" wot I've got spare)

Salvé
diskussionsgruppsmeddelandet: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...
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better
ah cheap....thats a word that tends not to be associated with quality , and the fleischman locos are well made and run as well :) Beowulf

On Sat, 15 Jan 2005 17:37:22 +0100, "Beowulf"
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I'm British - investing a little bit more now to get better perfomance in the future wouldn't be prototypical! :-)

Arthur Figgis wrote:
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In that case, buy the Bachmann 0-4-0 and later you can publish the article on how you remotored and regeared, made a replacement etched frame, fitted better pickups, replaced the cylinders and valve gear and weathered the original! ( pity about the wrong wheelbase )^:
Regards, Greg.P.

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 09:54:58 +1300, Gregory Procter
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Someone's beat me to it! http://www.hon30.org/engtune.htm#bachhints

Gregory Procter wrote:
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Or, roll your own :-) .....
http://nigelcliffe.photobook.org.uk/c397992.html
37mm long, 19mm rail to top of bonnet. 7mm dia drivers. Cab clear of obstructions for interior, cab roof is removable. Plenty of space for a DCC decoder. Draws 5mA on the track. Cost of chassis parts under £50, the largest expense being £25 for the motor.
- Nigel

Salvé
diskussionsgruppsmeddelandet: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...
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and
Im British too :) Roco do a class 80 (german!!) with full heusinger valve gear (or waelshaerts if you prefer!) which is also a good little runner and occasionally is sold off very cheaply, no idea why.... you should also consider looking at the Fleischman cl 53 which is also a wee wonder:) but tender drive. Beowulf

replying to Beowulf, John Varley wrote: Have you ever tried improving the pickups on Ibertren or Fleishmann 0-4-0 chassis? Although I can get them to run very smoothly, after a while, one pickup will intermittently lose contact with the wheel, and the loco judders. I have some phosphor- bronze pickup strip from another job. I wondered if I could improve the wheel contact in some way.

"Arthur Figgis" wrote
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Arthur - if you want a considered opinion, then can I suggest that you try to find one (some) of the Bachmann USA outline n-scale 0-4-0ST locos and use the chassis from those. If you dismantle these and re-assemble carefully, then, used in OO9 locos with additional weighting they do run acceptably well.
I pointed out much earlier in this thread that a friend who builds OO9 locos for a living has built numerous narrow gauge locos over the years using this particular chassis. Most OO9 layouts seen on the exhibition ciruit include one or more of his locos as the staple motive power. The Bachmann chassis can be made to work nicely.
Having said all of that the problem currently is finding them, but they have been made in VERY large quantities over the years so it should not be too much of a problem. Expect to pay under GBP20.00 for an unused model, far less than any of the continental alternatives which have been suggested.
John.

On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 11:52:25 -0000, "John Turner"
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Are they of the sort which I've seen in a glass case by the front door of a certain East Yorkshire model shop? Rather nice.
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Thanks - I'll keep an eye out. I think I have seen them on sale at shows in the past, and they sound the sort of thing I'm after.
The prototype I have in mind is a 2'6" gauge Henschel 0-4-0 used in Kabul(!). If I'm going to build one, I'd want it to be able to "go" up and down a bit of track, but not much else, as I'm not planning a layout. I once motorised a 1:35 Revell armoured railcar kit using bits from a Formula 1 car kit I found in a pound shop. It now moves back and forth across the floor, and that's all I really wanted from it!