[modeleng] Re: Beginners loco`s
- From: "Pendragon" <idpriest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 09:30:50 +0100
Greetings ~~~Still here in sunny Kingswinford !
In my opinion its all horses for courses but I'd personally stay away
from 31/2" as this gauge of loco can be a little fiddley and has to be
well made to be any good on the track.
Also there is the cost consideration you will find that many of the
castings for an LBSC or Martin Evans designed loco tend to be a little
cheaper ~ probobaly because everyone in the world supplies the castings
for them.......Also many of the LBSC locos were designed with the
beginer or 'Tyro' as he used to say, in mind, as such many model
engineers have cut their teeth on these engines and it follows that
there will always be somebody who knows where the pitfalls are.
My advice would therefore be to build either an LBSC or Martin Evans
lcoc in 5" gauge.
Regards, IP
-----Original Message-----
From: modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:modeleng-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of alanjstepney
Sent: 15 August 2004 04:08
To: modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Beginners loco`s
Where is everyone?
No messages for over 24 hours!!
When you say "passenger carrying", do you mean pulling you and a couple
of children, or hauling several trucks full of people around your club
track?
Also, what gauge(s) are available at your local club?
Assuming that you just want a small beginners loco, and that your club
has all three gauges available, then what size items are you happiest
making? As a wild generality, the smallest bolts on a 3 1/2" loco will
be 9-10BA, on a 5", 6BA, on 7 1/4" 4BA. If you don't like working with
the very small, then go for a larger gauge.
At the same time, the weight of a loco for the larger gauges will be far
more than for the smaller. About the lightest 3 1/2", = 50 lbs, 5" = 100
lbs, and you wouldnt want to carry around a 7 1/4" loco.! Even lifting
the latter from the track to your car might be a problem, or else
require some engineered lifting table.
Personally, I think that 5" is probably the best gauge, but that is
purely a personal view.
As for the ideal loco, I don't think there is one.
Do you want something that is prototypical or freelance?
Among the most popular beginners loco's, are, for 3 1/2" gauge, I would
suggest Juliet. A simple well proven design. Rob Roy, Molly, William
are three that are popular for beginners. Note that I have omitted Tich.
In my view, this is too small for serious passenger hauling, and unless
built really well, will barely pull itself. When well-built, they are
OK, albeit with limited hauling capacity, but there is no room for error
if they are to work.
For 5", many people like Simplex although I feel that there are others
that are better. Speedy, Boxhill, Scamp, & Ajax /Achilles are worth
considering.
In 7 1/2", Butch or Chub are good choices.
Sweet Pea and its derivatives are also worth considering. Some people
say that the marine-type boiler is easier to make than the conventional
boiler.
Whichever loco you choose, make sure that it is one that YOU like. That
will help maintain the enthusiasm when problems occur.
I am sure that other list members will have their own views.
Good luck.
alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.alanstepney.info
Model Engineering, Steam Engine, and Railway technical pages.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald" <Ron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 10:31 PM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: Beginners loco`s
Nothing to do with VOHC`s
What is the ideal gauge for passenger carrying? and what is the best
loco. in the appropriate gauge
R.G.S.B.(Ron)
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