N guage questions

Code 55 holds a curve better due to the friction of the rail embedded in the base.

In fact, I say the opposite, with tight curves a transition curve is even more desireable and is easily achieved with flexitrack.

MBQ

Spent the evening looking at possibilities for New Zealand Railways models :-) The two different lengths of EMU match quite well to a parcels van and the 1940-60

Greg.P.

Flywheels gain their energy storage ability at the rim - it doesn't scale down very well. Also there's never much empty space in an N gauge 0-6-0. Having said that, I modified a Roco 0-6-0 for HOe and mounted a 19mm x

Greg.P.

Which wheel is in the dead bit ? Would be tempted to open up the top of the hole for axle vertically for centre wheel by about 1mm.

Dont think you would lose anything by doing that.

Cheers, Simon

The problem with any loco with all rigid drivers (0-4-0, 0-6-0, 0-8-0 etc) is that they sit on three wheels most of the time. (that's a fact of geometry and physics) enlarging the center axle slot only ensures that the 3 points of contact are on the outer axles. That can be an advantage where, like old Tri-ang/Hornby, the pickups are only on the outer axles. Plastic frog turnouts are never 100% level, generally the plastic frog is higher than the rails by enough to ensure one wheel is higher than all the rest. (a moment when your loose center axle helps as there are then only two power free moments instead of three as the loco passes over!) My solution is to run my big sharpening stone gently over the turnout (fine side) until the plastic frog is level with the other rails. (Peco turnouts have those pegs on the throw bar that need triming first) Free slop is never good in a loco mechanisim and 1mm is far too much in N scale.

Greg.P.

Wouldnt suggest anything for N, but know Martin is talking about Hornby OO (with his not level turnouts). :-) :-) :-)

Cheers, Simon

I got rid of one turnout that was badly distorted, but I still have the problem as described by Greg. I tried weighting the loco chassis down at the front to improve contact; it helps but doesn't cure it. Hornby's older design with a floating axle works better.

Yep, the idea is to create a floating axle. Can be free floating or solder couple of phosphor bronze wire to either side of small metal plate, glue it to the chassis. Wires press just inside wheels by modest amount. Admit 1mm vertical movement is too much, should be about the depth of frog so modest fraction of mm :-)

Cheers, Simon

I'd be OK with that for a while if I knew more was on the way. Not planning much shunting with the N scale possibility. More interested in the scenery aspect (Columbia Gorge) and passenger train roundy, roundy.

Thanks for the links. The Diorama is pretty neat, but more in the novelty family.

I've seen that one. There's also one driven by air. I think the one with the slot has a chain driven pin keeping things moving, but I don't spend enough time with the novelty stuff to be sure.

Thanks for the link. Free card station kit must be about the size of a postage stamp!

The narrow gauge possibilities in other scales might be quite interesting! Have to get out the calculator for that.

It gives you the possibility of having a working model railway in a model railway - in fact, it's better than that, as it gives you the possibility of having a model railway containing another working model railway /of the same scale relative to the background railway/..

In Gauge 3 (or G-scale), 3mm scales out as very close to 63.5mm gauge, which is Gauge 3...

Now, doesn't /that/ have a certain level of Geek-chic?

This discussion rang a bell in the dusty recesses of my memory - and I even managed to track down the relevant article in a couple of minutes.

See the article in September 1974 issue of Model Railways - a chap had made electrically driven steam outline locos in 1/480 scale (a tad smaller than T gauge but close enough not to show). Most were large US types, but one was an LNER N2 tank engine.

The same chap even made 1/240 scale live steamers!

David

This the guy?

Yes; the Model Railways article was about Arthur Sherwood (i.e. the real ones, not the fakes).

David

I remember reading that article before. It fairly boggles the mind!

Planetary alignment!

Wow!

Folks who can do this always seem a bit elsewhere ...