Improving the running qualities of locos especially
steam.
In
I
would like to improve the running qualities of some of my steam loco's. In particular, by adding
extra pick ups,and some
weight. The locos are: Trax 12 & 20 classes.
Any
Information or Help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Max.
Terry
Flynn replied:
All
the models you mention are small and therefore improving draw bar pull by
adding mass will be limited. Try gluing a thin piece of lead in the cab roof
and using a white metal crew. The easiest method to increase draw bar pull is
to remove the spring from the leading bogie of the
12 and 17. If they tip forward remove weight from the smoke box.
Usually
this increases tractive effort. If it does not work
it's easy to put it back to original condition. The next options are more
difficult to do but will improve the tractive effort
more so again.
If
your tender has inside bearings replace these with pin point outside bearings.
Finally if you still want more draw bar pull make the tender so the only the
rear axle or bogie of the tender takes weight. Modify the draw bar so the front
of the tender has all of its forward weight supported by the locomotive. Do not
use electrical pickups made of wire rubbing on tender wheels or axles as this
decreases draw bar pull. Picking up through the bearings is preferable in this
case.
The
easiest method to improve pickup is to use oil on the track that makes the dust
and dirt conductive I use a product called Inox.
http://www.inox-mx3.com/inox.htm
After saying the above all the models you mention are small and the respective
prototypes could only pull short trains, as short as 4 bogie wagons in some
cases where steep
grades were involved.
See
Terry’s web site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html