dmir
Trainmaster
Posts: 111
|
Post by dmir on Oct 4, 2014 12:17:32 GMT -5
One of the locomotives I am modeling has had its traction motors removed and I'm researching how difficult it would be to model this as the underbelly of the locomotive is exposed (no fuel tank). The gear housing of the powered trucks I have looks blah. Trucks are GE FB-2 Phase II. So far I have come across a few issues: 1. Any idea where I could find a gear (brass) similar in scale to this Picture? 2. I would need metal wheel sets (insulated and preferably scale) to match the 40" wheels of the prototype. Would Northwest Short Line be my go-to for this? I'm debating if this would even be worth the time/cost to do but I think it may help if I take it to a judged meet. Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
Post by slowfreight on Oct 11, 2014 13:03:51 GMT -5
If you've already done this, I apologize, but I'd suggest checking photos of prototypes to confirm whether the gear is still in place. Unless the traction gear is shot I think railroads often use idler axles without the gear. Even for the prototype, that gear is really expensive and worth reusing just like the traction motors.
|
|
|
Post by iomalley on Oct 11, 2014 16:32:07 GMT -5
I did a bunch of wheelsets for display around the shop, and I used the igniter wheel from a bic lighter, cut it in half to make 2 bull gears. They were static models tho, and not used on anything that moved. Maybe casting one of the bic gears in resin would make it adaptable to use on a model. I would suggest finding OMI trucks as they can be stripped of their driveline and look see thru. If you've already done this, I apologize, but I'd suggest checking photos of prototypes to confirm whether the gear is still in place. Unless the traction gear is shot I think railroads often use idler axles without the gear. Even for the prototype, that gear is really expensive and worth reusing just like the traction motors. RRs don't typically stock wheelsets that fit locomotives without the gear. Slugs travel on geared wheelsets. Are you building one of these?
|
|
dmir
Trainmaster
Posts: 111
|
Post by dmir on Oct 12, 2014 13:47:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies! Yes, I'm modeling UPY162 (A CCRCL built from ex-SP GE B23-7 #5107). I found some photos on RRpicturearchives.net which show the geared wheelset in place. I lighter's flint wheel just might work. I've been searching the net for brass / plastic gears but haven't found the best match yet. Thanks for the advice!
|
|
spike
Chairman
They say I can't be Spike anymore, so Mr. Burns it is!
Posts: 561
|
Post by spike on Oct 12, 2014 17:25:06 GMT -5
I recently had a unit where the traction motor support bearing went bad. The shop supervisor said that they used a crane to put in a dummy wheel set, in order to get it to the shop. I don't know if it had a bull gear on it. If I see him, then I'll ask.
|
|
|
Post by PVRR 2647 on Oct 18, 2014 23:16:35 GMT -5
Ben~ There is a channel on youtube by a retired railway car knocker called pwalpar he has a series of videos of Hulcher Services changing traction wheels out to idler wheels on a NS GP50HH. The video shows the wheel sets with gears and have IDLER painted on the face of the wheels. I think the bic lighter gear is an excellent idea.
Sean S~ Not to call you out, but all slugs have geared wheels, becasue they all have traction motors that utilize power supplied from the mother unit.
PVRR2647
|
|
|
Post by iomalley on Oct 19, 2014 18:31:40 GMT -5
Sorry, I meant sleds, not slugs...
|
|