Dummy diesels and R/C for n-scale

[jagged ben]

As far as the rolling resistance of trucks, you'll find that Atlas SD50 trucks won't roll unless you remove all the idler gears.   The same is true of most other Atlas trucks.

Kato trucks are generally much more free-rolling, although you'll find there's quite a lot of variation.  Some will roll well without the idler gears and some will be more fussy.

I would probably just remove all the idler gears myself because it'd be more time consuming and bothersome to experiment with each loco in a train, etc...

[peteski]

I have few  Kato dummies (P42, E8 and one of the AC units). These are the units with a video camera mounted inside.  The chassis is hollowed out for the electronics but there is still plenty of metal left.  I removed the all the gears from the trucks and the are very free-rolling.  Never had any problems with them being pushed in the front of the train (or even being pulled at the tail end (the camera facing backwards).

[drgw0579]

a couple years ago I retired some of the older Kato-built Atlas locomotives that had the older style trucks, kept the shells, and purchased new trucks and frames from Atlas.  The original intend was to use the "dummies" as sound cars.  Then I became aware of ESU LokSound decoders , Knowles Foxes, and John C. 

I still roster several unpowered units to fill out locomotive consists.  One interesting development I am watching is that Jamesn320 has put a couple sets of trucks on Shapeways, for instance to convert all those unemployed C-630 shells, into unpowered units.  I hope he continues this and maybe offers the same for for other EMD and GE prototypes.  I can make a frame of any length, just need the free rolling trucks.

Bill Kepner