Anyone put 33" wheels on a Tomytec drive?

[wcfn100]

Tread width .077 from wheel to back of flange; flange width .015, so .062 width.

Thank you for those measurements.  So what's the back-to-back measurement of the wheels? 


Jason

[Chris333]

FWIW I shortened a Bachmann doodlebug so I'm guessing it could be lengthened.

[wcfn100]

FWIW I shortened a Bachmann doodlebug so I'm guessing it could be lengthened.

I have three doodlebugs that I've been keeping to use for an Interurban project as the wheelbase is perfect and they are easy to shorten.  It's the wheelbase of the drive truck on this particular project that I'm trying to iron out.  It looks like I can go ahead and get one of the TM-01-04 drives as all these numbers aren't too far out of line.  I do worry a bit about the wheel gauge with such wide wheels.  This is when I don't like axle cone pickup systems.


Jason

[Chris333]

The only Tomytec chassis I have is for my Erie boxcab project. The way the axle cone pick-ups are you can adjust the wheels without worrying about the side frames pinching too tight. These side frames clip on and aren't what holds the whole thing together like Kato/Atlas trucks.

[randgust]

Randgust,

Do you have a recommendation for powered boxcars, something I am looking at doing, for 50ft Micro-Trains.

There's nothing out there that has a freight truck wheelbase.   Early on I compromised on the 50' MT express reefer idea as it had longer trucks and could run either in a freight or passenger train.  I have a frame that uses Tomytec trucks and components in a frame that precisely fits in either an MT reefer or an MDC reefer.  See http://www.randgust.com/prod04.htm and my YouTube video demos of this chassis under "randgust".

You could probably put it under a boxcar body if you don't mind the trucks.

[randgust]

Back to back measures .288

[cjm413]

I have three doodlebugs that I've been keeping to use for an Interurban project as the wheelbase is perfect and they are easy to shorten.  It's the wheelbase of the drive truck on this particular project that I'm trying to iron out.  It looks like I can go ahead and get one of the TM-01-04 drives as all these numbers aren't too far out of line.  I do worry a bit about the wheel gauge with such wide wheels.  This is when I don't like axle cone pickup systems.


Jason

I presume you are doing this with the Tomytec drive?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/McKeen/Chicago+Great+Western/mckeen+1428.jpg

[wcfn100]

I presume you are doing this with the Tomytec drive?

https://s3.amazonaws.com/McKeen/Chicago+Great+Western/mckeen+1428.jpg

That's what I'm looking at.  I've slowly worked on it over the years and I'm finally where it's time to look at the drive.


Jason

[cjm413]

There's nothing out there that has a freight truck wheelbase.   Early on I compromised on the 50' MT express reefer idea as it had longer trucks and could run either in a freight or passenger train.  I have a frame that uses Tomytec trucks and components in a frame that precisely fits in either an MT reefer or an MDC reefer.  See http://www.randgust.com/prod04.htm and my YouTube video demos of this chassis under "randgust".

You could probably put it under a boxcar body if you don't mind the trucks.

If it will fit under a 40' box, here's a Modified 1937 AAR (Intermountain model plus Des Plaines Hobbies Viking roof):

http://www.cnwhs.org/memberphotos/displayimage.php?album=6&pid=634#top_display_media

[randgust]

It will not fit under a 40' box.  By the time you put drive shafts and a universal on it, you have no room left for a  standard Atlas or Tomytec motor.  The 50' is enough of a squeeze.

I did a test of putting a Bachmann 44-tonner chassis under a 4-axle USRA tender (Rivarossi, Kato) and it worked.  Just sayin'.   That's one of the best robust short 8x8 drives out there.

[cjm413]

It will not fit under a 40' box.  By the time you put drive shafts and a universal on it, you have no room left for a  standard Atlas or Tomytec motor.  The 50' is enough of a squeeze.

I did a test of putting a Bachmann 44-tonner chassis under a 4-axle USRA tender (Rivarossi, Kato) and it worked.  Just sayin'.   That's one of the best robust short 8x8 drives out there.

Now that you mention Bachmann and aftermarket mechanisms, I think I found a "fix" for the Bachmann GP7 "step blobs" 

http://www.tcawestern.org/images/kusan27.jpg

[randgust]

That would be actually funny if it weren't for this:  http://www.railpictures.net/photo/565695/

Hmm.  need a three-axle, off-center gear tower....

[cjm413]

That would be actually funny if it weren't for this:  http://www.railpictures.net/photo/565695/

Hmm.  need a three-axle, off-center gear tower....

Con-Cor SD40-2/SD50 had offset gear towers (and pizza cutter flanges)

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/ccsd.html