I took the leap of faith and changed scales from HO to On30. I scored 2 new MMI 2-8-2s (K27 & K28) off evil-bay for a very good price. Trying to locate other On30 engines, other than Bachman, for a reasonable price is proving to be difficult. On3 engines are more readily available, but obviously have the wrong wheel spacing.
Assuming Precision Scale (MMI) has a few spare On30 wheel sets, how difficult would it be to change the wheel sets on their K series from On3 to On30?
Thanks,
Wazzzy
Wazzzy Assuming Precision Scale (MMI) has a few spare On30 wheel sets, how difficult would it be to change the wheel sets on their K series from On3 to On30?
And I was always under the impression that On3 locomotives were considerably more expensive than their On30 mass-produced counter-parts. No matter.
To answer the question - changing the gauge of the drivers on a steam locomotive has the added complexity of adjusting the valve gear and cylinder heads to the new gauge. How hard this will be is difficult to say without seeing the model itself. However, an outside frame, such as a K, should be considerably easier than an inside frame model. If the model is a relatively simple outside frame design, it should be possible to just narrow the drivers on the axles. This assumes you want everything to be the same as On3 except the track gauge.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
I think this depends on whether they used the same frame for both gauges or not. If they did, then it shouldn't be too big a deal other than getting the parts and getting them quartered properly, etc.
If they used different frames, then there like isn't room to narrow a loco from On3 to On30.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
On3 is indeed far more expensive than On30! Most On3 locos are brass! It would be a bit of a travesty to cut one of those superlative locos up to squeeze it into the more modern and popular On30 (On21/2). On30 is all the rage now as it can run on HO track. (big deal)
On3 and Sn3 are real specialty gauges where brass motive power is the norm. The air in the playrooms of these gauges is thin and specialized with very discerning and usually well heeled modelers
The relatively recent rush to On30 is somewhat of a novelty that seems to be catching on due to the low price point for a number of engines, putting some at the same price level as the better HOn3 locos.
I would not really considered cutting up a nice On3 loco to effectively downgrade it to On30. Taking a cheaper On30 up to a On3 would make more sense.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Precision Scale had a set of K-36 drivers on hand and I made the purchase. When they arrived, I was stunned and the highest quality of the product. Pilot, drivers, trailing and tender wheels for $100 + shipping! A quick swap of the drivers, after checking the guage and quarter, rendered a ON3 to ON30 conversion.
After looking the conversion process, this is the obvious approach to the job.
Thanks for the advice.
Shows what I know about it. I thought they were the same! So, On3, means 3' wide track, right? so On30 means 30' wide track? Oh wait!! all of the sudden it switches to inches! So why isn't On3 called On36? I don't get it.
So, I was given a set that the previous owner ran on HO track, and I want to do a new Christmas layout, and I wanted to get the right track, so which one do I have? On3 or On2.5 ?
Mike.
My You Tube
narrow gauge nuclear The air in the playrooms of these gauges is thin and specialized with very discerning and usually well heeled modelers
The air in the playrooms of these gauges is thin and specialized with very discerning and usually well heeled modelers
I didn't realize we had "snooty" scales in model railroading.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared Steam narrow gauge nuclear The air in the playrooms of these gauges is thin and specialized with very discerning and usually well heeled modelers I didn't realize we had "snooty" scales in model railroading.
You haven't met the Proto:87 guys ?
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
You got it -- scale O, HO, etc, followed by gauge 3=3 feet; 2=feet. For some reason the manufacturers picked 30 to mean 30 inches = 2 1/2 feet. The n implies narrow gauge. So On3 = O scale models of equiment than ran on 3 foot gauge track. On30 = An O scale model running on 2 1/2 foot gauge track. But the trick is, the model could be a model of a proper 3 foot engine or a 2 foot engine compromised to run on what is basically HO gauge track. Typically you wouldn't see a 2 foot gauge equipment and 3 foot gauge equipment running on the same railroad so one thought is to pick which gauge you're representing and stay within that genre.
I do think the On30 is very interesting and if I had the room I'd like to represent the Maine 2 footers with it. But that's just me. I can accept the compromise with scale to get the price.
As for the MMI engines, the only difference between the ON30 and ON3 versions is the wheel gauge. Everything else is the same: size, weight, etc. I chose the ON30 version because the middle drivers are blind and a tighter radius can be acheived if needed. After a quick radius test session, the MMI K-27/28s will handle 30" just fine; MMI K-36/37s need 35". My goal is 40" for appearance and reliabilty.
I have purchased several ON30 RTR cars from AMS, San Juan and Bachman. The Bachman stuff is a tad smaller in size compared to AMS and San Juan, but they are for the testing of new track and for the kids to run.
PS - Proto Guys: Its my pike and I am having fun.
Richard,
On30 has been around since the 1950s.The very first model railroasd layout I ever saw was a dual gauge O scale it was standard gauge and On2 1'2.This was in 1957 and I was a whole 12 years old.
Persinally I would take the On30 over On3 simply because it runs better,and costs conciderably less.(or as much depending on how much you have to spend)
Before you convert that engine to On30, consider changing what you have already to On3. I'm not in O scale anymore, but my understanding is all the Bachmann On30 equipment is designed to easily be converted to On3. If you already have an extensive layout, it could be a hassle to convert all your track to On3 of course.
mbinsewi Shows what I know about it. I thought they were the same! So, On3, means 3' wide track, right? so On30 means 30' wide track? Oh wait!! all of the sudden it switches to inches! So why isn't On3 called On36? I don't get it. So, I was given a set that the previous owner ran on HO track, and I want to do a new Christmas layout, and I wanted to get the right track, so which one do I have? On3 or On2.5 ? Mike.