Stewartstown 10 (was "Stripping Bachmann 44 Tonners")

[Jim Starbuck]

Cool to see this one progressing Ed!

[Jbub]

I didn't. I made it using the Bing AI image generator.

Ah! Now the alien hands on the kid near the left edge of the picture and the 3 rail track with a train that run on the center and outer rail instead of both outer rails makes sense.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ah! Now the alien hands on the kid near the left edge of the picture and the 3 rail track with a train that run on the center and outer rail instead of both outer rails makes sense.

Don't get him started with his other generations! Lol

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Cool to see this one progressing Ed!

You made it all possible. Well, worth doing anyway.

[JMaurer1]

Hey, let the kids play with trains as well. Looks like the adults are enjoying it as well. I assumed the dual gauge track is for O AND G gauge so both scales can be run.

[OldEastRR]

The NH 44T I got (way back when they were cheap*) was in the red-black scheme, with the handrails cast in red plastic. I backdated the scheme but the green paint easily flakes off the plastic handrails.
But I must say it's a nifty little runner. I enlarged all the windows like Ed did, reducing the upright parts to thin strips, discarded the black box interior, kept the decoder but stripped off the extra electronic bits (like the static inhibitors) that weren't needed, and with them out of the way you can see straight through the cab. I also put panels over the vents that run down the center of each hood.

Keep those little contact points between the trucks and the chassis clean and shiny and she'll even run over turnouts w/o stalling. Haven't seen how much it pulls on the flat, I use mine as a transfer loco that runs interchange cars (4 max) out of a hidden track and then new cars in.

You can change the speed steps, huh? Please tell me how (I've got NCE DCC).

*JEEZ!! They now list at $170???? Mine was $45 new! With shipping!

[Chris333]

It doesn't matter how much they cost when they are all sold out everywhere.

[OldEastRR]

Still get them on eBay -- some for less than $170.

[peteski]

Keep those little contact points between the trucks and the chassis clean and shiny and she'll even run over turnouts w/o stalling. Haven't seen how much it pulls on the flat, I use mine as a transfer loco that runs interchange cars (4 max) out of a hidden track and then new cars in.

You can change the speed steps, huh? Please tell me how (I've got NCE DCC).

Yes, those little contact do have to be kept clean, but they can also be improved upon by making them more springy.  As I see it, as they are they are to short (stiff).  I made them more flexible by lengthening theme making 2 cuts using a cutoff wheel in a Dremel tool as shown here.



Fresh cutoff wheel's diameter is too large to make this cut. I first reduced the diameter of the cutoff wheels by grinding it down until it was small (to be able to make those small cuts).



I also polished the contact surfaces on the springy contacts and on the chassis using polishiing compoint and a felt wheel in a Dremel.

As for the decoder, it is a very basic decoder, but it does recognize 14-28-128 speed steps.  The selection is done the same way you do it with all your other DCC locos you own.  You set CV29 to the appropriate speed step setting, then you also set up the Power Cab thrttle for the matchign speed step setting.  It is all described in the manuals.

I'm attaching the Bachmann manual to this post (it is not specifically for this decoder, but this decoder has identical functionality to the one described in the manual).

[wm3798]

So, I've browsed through this thread and the other one linked back a page or two, and I don't see this question posed...

Is there a way to modify the truck mounts so this little guy can navigate the sharp curves of the typical industrial tracks it would have served?  Say, at least a 7.5" radius such as the old Trix snap track?  I've tried running the little bugger on my Trix switching loop and she just walks all over the the place.  It's not a matter of weight or traction, the trucks just don't pivot enough to do the job.

I'd like to do some sort of diorama or TTrak module of Pratt Street with sidings curving off into the News American, Candler Building and other warehouses... my 0-4-0 T works fine but of course has issues with insulated frogs, so I'd like to run the 44 tonner as well.

Any thoughts on how to make her a bit more nimble?
Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So, I've browsed through this thread and the other one linked back a page or two, and I don't see this question posed...

Is there a way to modify the truck mounts so this little guy can navigate the sharp curves of the typical industrial tracks it would have served?  Say, at least a 7.5" radius such as the old Trix snap track?  I've tried running the little bugger on my Trix switching loop and she just walks all over the the place.  It's not a matter of weight or traction, the trucks just don't pivot enough to do the job.

I'd like to do some sort of diorama or TTrak module of Pratt Street with sidings curving off into the News American, Candler Building and other warehouses... my 0-4-0 T works fine but of course has issues with insulated frogs, so I'd like to run the 44 tonner as well.

Any thoughts on how to make her a bit more nimble?
Lee

***** man, even the prototype had to use horses and chains to serve those industries! lol.

[dem34]

***** man, even the prototype had to use horses and chains to serve those industries! lol.

I like the one Conrail inherited industry that had a conga line of 20ft flats that were supposed to be handles to back single boxcars in and out of a loading dock that featured #2 switches.

[Missaberoad]

I like the one Conrail inherited industry that had a conga line of 20ft flats that were supposed to be handles to back single boxcars in and out of a loading dock that featured #2 switches.

Is there pictures of this monstrosity?

[dem34]

Is there pictures of this monstrosity?

Think it was in the CRHS barbeque video if anyone has it.

[jwaldo]

So, I've browsed through this thread and the other one linked back a page or two, and I don't see this question posed...

Is there a way to modify the truck mounts so this little guy can navigate the sharp curves of the typical industrial tracks it would have served?  Say, at least a 7.5" radius such as the old Trix snap track?  I've tried running the little bugger on my Trix switching loop and she just walks all over the the place.  It's not a matter of weight or traction, the trucks just don't pivot enough to do the job.

I'd like to do some sort of diorama or TTrak module of Pratt Street with sidings curving off into the News American, Candler Building and other warehouses... my 0-4-0 T works fine but of course has issues with insulated frogs, so I'd like to run the 44 tonner as well.

Any thoughts on how to make her a bit more nimble?
Lee

I ran into the same problem with the 70-tonner; the trucks barely pivoted, and the loco relied mainly on its tiny wheelbase to get through curves. What I did was to slightly trim the front and back edges of the tabs on the trucks that snap them to the frame. I'm not cool enough to post images yet, but you can see the tabs in the first picture in Pete's post above. Making the tabs narrower lets the truck pivot a little further in its slot in the frame.