Would love to see how it was done
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
In what scale? G scale it would be pretty easy. O scale wouldn't be too hard. HO could get interesting. N? Good luck. Z? If someone has done it in Z scale and it actually runs - I would pay to see that.
I could see a possibility in HO using the Kato powered trucks that use the coreless motors. The only saving grace is that your typial speeder has the raised housing down the center where the drive train and controls are on the real thing, which means there is space for a motor and gears.
Actually, Bachmann did an HO one, though it may be a tad large - but then speeders came in all sorts of sizes. They aren't all the smaller models you often see people restoring and running.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
C&O FanWould love to see how it was done
Me too. It would be difficult in HO without some kind of very specialized electronics and motor.
I imagine if one could be done in HO, it would need keep alive or it would stall frequently. Of course where are you going to hide a motor, decoder and keep alive circuit?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
A NWSL Stanton drive might be a possinbility, check starting at page 6
http://nebula.wsimg.com/02d6e40c2d04190212ed400d3ccb2472?AccessKeyId=08BEE66B97B387F20C0D&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
RR_Mel I’m waiting for Dave (hon30critter) to chime in, he is the King of itty bitty stuff. Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951 My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Second that. Mechanical wizard Dave.
Patrick
Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb
Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.
Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.
My 1:1 Fairmont MT-14 is powered by a 23 HP Ingersoll-Rand Generator Gas Engine.
http://www.friscotwentygrand.com/
Ray
I'm not exactly sure what it is you're looking for but years ago someone added DCC to a speeder.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/744/t/194557.aspx
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
This thread reminded me of an HO DC powered handcar I acquired long ago, pretty much a novelty on a modern era layout, unless one were modeling handcar races. It was out of scale, prone to stalling and had to be run at high speeds, but was fun and can't recall a layout visitor who wasn't tickled to see those little guys pumping away like mad at the handles. Now with a DCC layout the handcar has long been relegated to a crowded display case, and those little guys whom were once so energetic now stand frozen in time.
Sorry for the off-topic, regards, Peter
did one in HO a while back, used a Stanton drive for power ..
working arms that moved up and down ...
no DCC, not much room for extra weight, had to run pretty fast to stay powered up, too light, went in the display case, then to another home
Hi guys:
Thanks Mel and Patrick for the compliments. You made me blush! However, I have to give part credit where credit is due. Many of my critter projects were inspired by Darth Santa Fe. I think he is the real master because he can do the design work using available gears and other components, usually from NWSL. I can copy his designs but I would have a hard time figuring out exactly what components would be needed.
The late Wolfgang Dudler was the one who got me on to the BullAnt drives from Hollywood Foundry which I used in my Grandt Line 23 tonner and box cab. Unfortunately the BullAnt drives are temporarily unavailable. Geoff Baxter, the maker, has had some health problems, but I believe he promises to be back.
I have had some success using Bachmann 4-4-0 N scale drive systems and building the bodies like the one in my avatar. The Bachmann N 4-4-0 mechanism could be used to build a speeder but the wheels would be oversized. Here is the Bachmann locomotive:
https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H1.XBachmann+4-4-0+N+scale.TRS0&_nkw=Bachmann+4-4-0+N+scale&_sacat=180250
Bachmann did a 'speeder' in HO a few years ago. It is not exactly prototypical but it does bare a reasonable resemblance. There are a few on eBay right now:
https://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2499334.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XBachmann+speeder.TRS0&_nkw=Bachmann+speeder&_sacat=19128
Here is an active link to the DCC conversion that Tony mentioned:
I have the decoder and the speeder but I have never gotten around to installing the decoder. I need to make up a model of Busrter Keaton to go with it.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
wvg_canot much room for extra weight, had to run pretty fast to stay powered up, too light,
That is a problem with the Bachmann speeder too. The only way I could see to make it heavier would be to scratchbuild the body out of 0.050" brass or lead. The lead would have to be handled with care to avoid bending the shell.
The speeder comes with two flat cars which have metal wheels. If you were really tricky you could install 0.010" phosphor bronze power pick up wires and use magnet wire to get the power to the decoder.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HtaOFIInWQ
Progress up date
Just a suggestion, in addition to having power pickup on the trailers perhaps (if you are successful in powering a speeder) do another and couple them together, you could increase electrical contact by having twice as many wheels and the trailers could have increased weight to aid in contact, just a suggestion, sounds like a cool project!
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
JD of TCS has been watching my progress and promised to send me Some SM keep alive Capacitors
Yes, i've got one of those little handcars - - made by Bachmann, as I recall. Bought it at a train show (overpaid for it IMO, $15.00), over 20 years ago. My young sons were interested in it so I bought it mainly to please them. They lost interest in it very quickly. You're right, a rough runner at best.
"Speeder", like a Fairmont Speeder? I've thought of trying to power one of those before. Durango Press makes some cheap ones in HO that could be a good base for this.
_________________________________________________________________
Yes go to the You Tube video for a look
Bachmann UK has actually done a speeder, powered and also available with DCC. Granted, it’s OO, but the things are small enough that the scale discrepancy shouldn’t be all that noticeable.
http://www.hattons.co.uk/60850/Bachmann_Branchline_32_993_Type_27_Wickham_Trolley_and_trailer_MPP0007_in_BR_engineers_yellow_with_wasp_str/StockDetail.aspx
Andre
andrechapelonBachmann UK has actually done a speeder, powered and also available with DCC. Granted, it’s OO, but the things are small enough that the scale discrepancy shouldn’t be all that noticeable. http://www.hattons.co.uk/60850/Bachmann_Branchline_32_993_Type_27_Wickham_Trolley_and_trailer_MPP0007_in_BR_engineers_yellow_with_wasp_str/StockDetail.aspx Andre
Hi Andre:
I really like the 'open' look of the Bachmann OO speeder vs. the North American model, but where do they suggest putting the decoder? The gondola obviously contains the motor. Is there any room left in it for a decoder?
A Z scale decoder (and some are insanely tiny - they can fit in an N scale slope back tender alongside the motor) should fit up under the roof. Hiding the wires would be the hard part. There might be enough room in the cart along with the motor though.
hon30critter If you scroll down on the Hatton’s ad, you’ll find that you can get it already DCC equipped. I have no idea where they put it. Andre andrechapelon Bachmann UK has actually done a speeder, powered and also available with DCC. Granted, it’s OO, but the things are small enough that the scale discrepancy shouldn’t be all that noticeable. http://www.hattons.co.uk/60850/Bachmann_Branchline_32_993_Type_27_Wickham_Trolley_and_trailer_MPP0007_in_BR_engineers_yellow_with_wasp_str/StockDetail.aspx Andre Hi Andre: I really like the 'open' look of the Bachmann OO speeder vs. the North American model, but where do they suggest putting the decoder? The gondola obviously contains the motor. Is there any room left in it for a decoder? Dave
If you scroll down on the Hatton’s ad, you’ll find that you can get it already DCC equipped. I have no idea where they put it.
andrechapelon Bachmann UK has actually done a speeder, powered and also available with DCC. Granted, it’s OO, but the things are small enough that the scale discrepancy shouldn’t be all that noticeable. http://www.hattons.co.uk/60850/Bachmann_Branchline_32_993_Type_27_Wickham_Trolley_and_trailer_MPP0007_in_BR_engineers_yellow_with_wasp_str/StockDetail.aspx Andre
For those of you that are following the progress on this install/conversion
The
TCS Z-2 decoder Came today and it fits nicely in the cut out section i prepared
Now to Route the wires and figure where to put a keep alive
Hi Terry:
Nice small decoder! Does it stick up above the top of the shell or can you just cover it with a piece of flat styrene?
hon30critter Hi Terry: Nice small decoder! Does it stick up above the top of the shell or can you just cover it with a piece of flat styrene? Dave
It fits just inside the opening i cut so i can cover it with a piece of Styrene when i'm done
meantime ive added a Headlight making use of one of the 2 light functions on the Z 2
I used a Warm White SM LED for this
Think i will also add a tail light
C&O Fanmeantime ive added a Headlight making use of one of the 2 light functions on the Z 2
The lights look great!
There are two ways I can think of to add a keep alive capacitor. One would be to incorporate a pre-made keep alive in a gondola that is permanently hooked up to the speeder. Loksound makes the smallest that I am aware of. They call it a 'Power Pack'.
The other way is to build a capacitor array into the roof of the speeder. That would require you to mount a bunch of smaller SMD (Surface Mount Device) capacitors under the roof or wherever else you could fit them and wire them up so that they become one larger cap. If you study the Loksound manual for their Select decoders, there is an illustration of how to use a standard capacitor with their decoders to make a keep alive circuit. Hooking up an array would be exactly the same thing. We are talking about some pretty fussy work here. I have never done it but I know it can be done. I'm not sure if the SMD capacitors would be hooked up in parallel or in series. Maybe someone can answer that.
Here is a link to the Loksound manuals. Scroll down to the 'Loksound Select Diesel & Steam Users Manual' (1.87 MB). The information on adding your own keep alive is on page 16.
http://www.esu.eu/en/downloads/instruction-manuals/digital-decoders/
You don't have to have the exact capacitance that they recommend which is 2200 uF, but the more you can squeeze in the better. They must be rated for 25v. If they are smaller they might explode.
Something to note is that you cannot program the decoder with the capacitor array hooked up. You need to be able to disconnect it to do any programming. If you can, find a place to put in a micro switch or a connection that can be disconnected if needed.
Whenever I get around to working on my own speeder I will try to install a capacitor array, or at least try to. Like I said, fussy fussy work!
Liliput, which is Bachmann´s continental European brand, makes an Austrian prototype speeder.
Just take of the buffers, change the lights and add knuckle couplers and it´ll go for a US speeder.
Sound & Stay Alive by LeoSoundLab.at
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Hi Ulrich:
That is a neat little speeder, although it is a bit on the large side for a North American unit.
However, it would be interesting to take one of the Austrian speeders apart and see if the electronics could be squeezed into the Bachmann North American speeder. I'm guessing it would require a gondola to hold some of the components, but getting sound as well as DCC into one of those wee beasties would be something to be proud of! Hmmm.
Thanks for the video.
Ya know I was thinking it'd be kinda neat to take a model of an old tractor and maybe say a Bachmann 4-4-0 chassis, add a cab off an old semi truck and make a speeder/critter/switcher it'd be pretty cool.
NWP SWPI was thinking it'd be kinda neat to take a model of an old tractor and maybe say a Bachmann 4-4-0 chassis, add a cab off an old semi truck and make a speeder/critter/switcher
Hi Steven:
This would be a much better doner for the drive system:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/NIB-HO-Bachmann-46201-MOW-Pickup-Truck-w-Highrailers/390636973407?hash=item5af3c72d5f:g:d3IAAOxy9tpR-szO
Unfortunately they are getting pretty pricey but if you are patient you might be able to get one for a decent price.
Here is my high railer utility truck using the Bachmann drive, a CMW cab and a scratch built truck body. Please pardon the lousey paint job on the truck box: