The first decent mass-produced steam in Z?

[David K. Smith]

IMO, Tenshodo has a real winner with their new Z scale D51 Japanese Mikado. 16-wheel pickup, a smooth drive, great detail, fine flanges (.020, versus Marklin's .030, except for the pilot wheels, which are .025, likely for more reliable tracking), and the best valve gear I've seen in Z. Plus, the motor is in the tender, and reports indicate that it pulls quite well in spite of the fact that it has no traction tires.

I think the bashing potential for it is enormous. With a new shell it becomes a small, early American Mikado, or any variation of X-8-X. Lose the leading and trailing trucks, and you've got the start of a USRA 0-8-0. Lop off a set of drivers for an X-6-X. And it looks like the mechanism would be relatively easy to work into an articulated.

They've been selling like hotcakes at Hobby Search, selling out twice already before being restocked. I think it would be worth it for Tenshodo to look at the American market.



Robert Ray has good technical review of it here: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=117124&page=3

[tom mann]

You forgot to mention that it is only $85!

[David K. Smith]

You forgot to mention that it is only $85!

You're right! Brain fart.

Yes, hard to believe that one of the best Z scale steamers is also alarmingly affordable.

[hegstad1]

Too bad it doesn't have spoked drivers.

[Philip H]

I'm lovin the streamlined bump for the smoke stack

[Shipsure]

I'm working to bash mine into a British Super D  http://www.modelfair.com/acatalog/31-477DC.jpg  I've been trying to squash a Marklin Mec into this for a year and the frustration level is very high.  Now that we have an engine with the motor in the tender, the sky is the limit on what we can do with this.  Love the price too!

Joe

[Pray59]

When I get some time I'll look into conversions for mine. I have 3 at home and 4 more in transit. The 8 wheel tender pickup is excellent.

I measured between the drive rods and the drivers, and there is room for a .004" peel and stick spoke driver, I just have to draw up. Yes Andrew... It will be a G-2 Class NP when I am done! 

[Iain]

I'm thinking I can easily do DS RR steam (narrow gauge N).

[SquirrelHollow]

I didn't see any in the threads I've found so far....

Does anyone have pics of the mechanism up yet?

[bsoplinger]

You forgot to mention that it is only $85!

I looked at the Hobby Search Japan link in the article and it's $105 + shipping. How is it only $85?

[Chris333]

It was on sale for a while.

pics:
http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=117124&page=2

[David K. Smith]

I didn't see any in the threads I've found so far....

Does anyone have pics of the mechanism up yet?

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=117124&page=2

[SquirrelHollow]

Thank you. 

I looked through that thread, but seem to have skipped the page I needed.

I looked through that thread, but apparently skipped the page I needed.

[David K. Smith]

I think I've identified my first two Z scale D51-bash projects.

First, an 0-8-0. These happened to have the same size drivers (52-inch)--
 
http://www.railarchive.net/rlsteam/nyc7718.jpg

http://www.railarchive.net/rlsteam/nyc7912.jpg

Then... I'm sorely tempted to make a Consolidation. Specifically... BR&W #60. She has 51-inch drivers (close enough for me), and the wheelbase is off by about a foot (I think I can live with that).
 
http://www.brwrr.com/brwsp60.htm

Ed K. eat your heart out.

[Chris333]

I don't have one yet, but I'd like to make a 2-8-0 outta one. Erie had some with 56" drivers so it wouldn't be that bad. Most of their 2-8-0's had 63" drivers.