The Lionel 400-type RDCs have no problem with O27. However, at 60 feet, they are shorter than the prototype--85 feet, or 74 feet for the RDC-4.
Bob Nelson
Yes, the shorties can. The scale ones - I think MTH has done a series - do not. The Buddies (by RMT) certainly can too.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
If the Budd cars are over 15 inches in length, not including couplers, they probally won't handle 027 track. I have a set of Interurban passenger cars that are 18 inches long and work well with half curves & a small section of straight track in between in 031 track.
There are a couple of things that you can do to open up the track. First is to go with half curves in 027 and put a half straight in between each curve or use four half curves, second you could go with Gargraves 031 curves as they are closer to 32 & a half inch curves. Lionel used to make 027 curves in 42 inch radius and that might work for you as well.
Lee F.
TaranwandererDoes anyone know offhand if Budd cars can navigate 027 curves
The Lionel 400/404 Budd cars, & dummies, and their descendants, have no problems with O-27 track and switches. My second layout(O-27), still standing since 1971, was built using the Budd cars as clearance guides for all adjacent structures & accessories, poles, uprights, portals, tunnels, etc. If the Budds made it through, anything else I had at the time would too.
Rob
K-Line sets of Interurbans are nice but can get pricey if you go for the newer versions, have seen some listed for more than $320.00. The K-Line Interurbans are nice for the money, need some oiling to keep gear noise down. K-Line made interurbans in three different sizes, 15 inch, 16 inch and 18 inch versions.
The first production of the Heavyweight passenger cars by K-Line had a problem with the truck(wheel assemblies & couplers) castings, they would fall apart even in the box! K-Line used very cheep pot metal for the castings. I had one that did that to me, but K-Line said to ship them the part for replacement at cost to them, they replaced the part free but I had to pay shipping. Also the K-Line semi scale GG-1 had the same problem with the truck assemblies falling apart.
The new RMT Buddies are very high in price for some reason and I think that is what somebody has listed on ebay. I have an older RMT Buddie, about three years old, that I paid about $60.00 for and it runs very good and will pull an extra two unpowered cars at a decent speed.
I have had quite a few K-Line castings fall apart from zinc pest.
Being that a lot of stuff is made in China, the problem could be the metal wasn't heated up to a high enough temparature(the smelting kiln wasn't hot enough) or they left pieces of debris in the metal before it was formed, or they cooled the metal too soon after casting.
Here's a link to some lo-priced "Buddies",
http://www.justrains.com/RMThmpg.htm
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Zinc pest is caused by impurities, usually lead. Here is a lot of information about it: http://www.boland-devries.nl/dinkies/metalandfatigue.htm
I have 2 RMT units that were $60. each. They run fine hooked to each other (no dummies are available), and they have a blinking light as well as directional lights. Due to the motors inside, the windows are frosted. They can be set for F-N-R, or forward only.
lionelsoni Zinc pest is caused by impurities, usually lead. Here is a lot of information about it: http://www.boland-devries.nl/dinkies/metalandfatigue.htm
Bob,
While lead or other impurities can cause metal fatigue also improper cooling or other handling of the metal can cause almost the same bad results. Zinc is a lower priced metal and doesn't have great strength. My dad was a metalergist, and also worked in hot finish, with Carpenter Steel in Reading PA for 30 years.
Also in todays market companies don't care as much about quality control as 30 years ago, especially China, so a lot of mistakes can and will get through more often.
TaranwandererThanks for the link on the "Buddies." That's not too far away from me, I might just have to take a trip down there at some point. Also, I see that Williams makes an RDC-4 Budd, has anyone used those? Seems that Williams has a good rep for quality at an affordable price, this might be my chance to buy my first Williams product, just wondering how they'll handle the 027 curves.
Go ahead and buy the Williams set of Budd cars. You won't be disappointed, you will only wish that you did it sooner! Williams uses sheet metal and not zinc, so you won't have the K-Line problems.
As for running on 027 track go to the Bachmann website and check out what they claim it runs on for minimum track size. www.bachmanntrains.com Just seen that Williams has new Canadian Pacific set out, look at the back page of this month's CTT mag.
For what it's worth:
The Postwar Lionel Budds are beautifully made and run very smoothly and have good power. They are probably worth the price premium over the others (though I've never seen any of the later Budds). I suggest you check out the Postwar Lionel Budds in person, ie- see, touch and run them, before you decide
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