Mehano RSD-15 Part Request

[Doug G.]

Would anybody happen to have any junk collections of Mehano parts out of which they could sell me a part? What I need is the left half of the front truck. Not the side frame, the inner part that the axles go through.

It's a bit embarrassing but here's what happened. I bought this SF low nose unit many years ago and I took it all apart to clean it. I was scrubbing that half of the truck in the sink with detergent and a toothbrush. It slipped out of my hand and down the drain it went. I know - dumb.

Anyway, it has sat all these years and I would just like to get it going again. I have tried ebay with no luck.

Thanks.

Doug

[peteski]

I've done that myself once. Can't you open the trap and retrieve the truck?  Drain traps either have a drain plug in them or are made to be disassembled.

[nkalanaga]

After "many years" it has probably worked its way through the tap and out to sea...

[Doug G.]

Yeah, actually, it was at work and I did remove the trap but it was too late. The piece was gone and I wasn't about to call the city to have workers be on the lookout for a Mehano half truck in the sewers.



Doug

[peteski]

Sorry, the way I interpreted your post was that you bought the model many years ago but the washing and lost part just happened today. So, right after it happened, you posted your plea on TRW.  I didn't realize it was lost years ago.  And just to complete my reply: Sorry I don't have that model or any spares for it.

[Jamesn320]

Hi Doug,

If you have no luck getting a spare part I have one of these locos so I can measure it up accurately and make it available for 3D printing?

James

[chrismears]

I'm sure I have several of these complete chassis around. I'll go take a look and if I do I don't mind sending you the part (no charge).

/chris

[Doug G.]

Hi Doug,

If you have no luck getting a spare part I have one of these locos so I can measure it up accurately and make it available for 3D printing?

James

Thanks James. That seems like an awful lot of trouble for a lowly Mehano.

Doug

[Doug G.]

I'm sure I have several of these complete chassis around. I'll go take a look and if I do I don't mind sending you the part (no charge).

/chris

Thank you very much Chris.

Doug

[Jamesn320]

Thanks James. That seems like an awful lot of trouble for a lowly Mehano.

Doug

Hi Doug,

Looks like you have got it covered

As its not a big parts it would not take long so not a problem, even for a Mehano.

James

[Iain]

You know, with just a little work, you can make Atlas' C630 trucks work in an Atlas B23-7 mechanism, which gives you the perfect (and modern!) replacement mechanism.

[Doug G.]

Thanks John. That may be a project for the future. Right now, I guess I just want to get it going so I can double head it with another one I have just like it.

Doug

[chrismears]

Hello

I've dug around in my parts box and I've found three chassis from RSD15's in varying states per:

Chassis 1
This is not stamped Mehano but Yugoslavia is stamped on the base of the trucks. This chassis is complete including motor and weights. It has been a while but I believe it works. There are some variations among these chassis as documented on the Spookshow site and this chassis is the one with the open frame motor and the proper universals from the motor shafts to the gear towers. The trucks are complete and equipped with truck-mounted Rapido-style couplers.

Chassis 2
This one is stamped "MRC Yugoslavia" on the bottom of the trucks, so would be a Mehano-made one for MRC as opposed to those they made for Life-Like, AHM, or Model Power. Both trucks are in place and are complete. The gears are still in the gear towers and the coupling to the plastic universal is in place. The motor is missing as are the weights. Otherwise, this chassis could be considered complete. The trucks are complete. Though designed for truck-mounted couplers, the couplers are missing so just the bracket remains.

Chassis 3
This is the most sparse of the three. It only includes one truck. The truck appears complete (I've not opened it up). The Rapido-style coupler is in place on the one truck that remains.

None of these chassis have ever been painted or weathered. They've not been cut up. I'm a big fan of the RSD15's and used to have a habit of picking them up at shows. Over the years I've been giving away the parts to help others with these models keep them alive and I'll extend the same to you. If you'd like I can send you any of the above - just PM me your address if you're still interested.

Cheers


/chris

[Mark5]

Here's an RSD15 mechanism that I stretched for a C630 project that I never finished back in the late 1970s:

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I never even got around to starting the C630 shell ...

Luckily, now I have Atlas C630s.

Mark

[randgust]

Mark, I started chopping up Mehano mechanisms like that back in the 70's as my very first attempted kitbashes.   Not that it worked very well, but it does look familiar.

It never hurts to have some extra RSD15 parts hanging around if you're going to use the Mehano stuff.    Also remember that the wheels, gears, contacts, and some other pieces are shared among multiple mechanisms like the GP40 and C420.   The only thing that I think is really hopeless is the motor - find a modern five-pole that will fit.   The trucks can be rebuilt to work much better, and removing the traction tires cures the wobble, if you can find some unbent plastic axles.

The biggest reason I still keep my Mehano chassis is that they pull so hard, and run smoothly, if a little noisy.   I had John Sing's rebuilt Atlas mechanism one on my layout for testing, and while it was a lot better than I expected, it still was about 20% less for pulling power.   If that's not an issue, then by all means, the Atlas mechanism trick with the C630 trucks is a far better design.  I also have C80 and Peco C55 rail, and these beasts are now the ONLY units I have on the roster that require those kind of flange clearances at frogs.  You could turn those wheels in a lathe though, if you wanted to bad enough.