I want to build some HOn30 Equipment I have some info for cars but am Having trouble finding info on engines. How much of an n scale engine do you use other than the running gear? I know the cab is bigger, but is the boiler bigger and the stack and domes bigger?
Thanks for your help
Steve
Unless you are 100% freelancing, you will have to build a completely new superstructure. Depending on what you want to build, there are some European companies putting out small Baldwins in HOn30.
Shapeways has some stuff that maybe you can use.
https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace/miniatures/trains/?tag=hon30
Mike.
My You Tube
http://www.hon30.org/getting-started/
http://www.marshcreekmini.com/news/new-hon30-locomotive-kits
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
This is a comparison of a brass HOn30 SRRL locomotive and an MEC Mikado to give you an idea of realative sizes
About 18 months ago, I ordered an HOn30 short boxcab from Shapeways; I used a custom Bull Ant mechanism for Boothbay Railway Village
I also kitbashed a couple of critters from Athearn Hustler bodies and Bachmann N scale 44 tonner mechanisms
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
In the UK, this scale is called OO9, since they use the 1/76 scale rather than 1/87, where the "9" refers to the gauge in millimetres.
I think Bachmann Branchline in the UK now have a ready to run range of World War I locomotives and cars. Peco make track for this scale and sell kits of wagons and locomotives.
Bachmann have even introduced the OO9 scale into their "Thomas the Tank Engine" range, and have two locomotives already available. If you remove their "faces", they are scale models of Welsh norrow gauge locomotives.
These are generally of small prototypes, although I think one of the WWI locomotives is a Baldwin 4-6-0 tank. It might be possible to convert this to a locomotive with tender....
http://www.hattons.co.uk/stocklist/1000393/1000592/1000640/0/Bachmann_Branchline_OO9_Narrow_Gauge_Steam_locos/prodlist.aspx
Peter
Minitrains in Germany also makes a range of HOn30 (HOe) locos and rolling stock. Many are European designs, but a fair number are North American as well (or at least can pass for one). They have a "Technik" page that discusses adding decoders, but, due to the small size, it is a difficult project.
http://www.minitrains.eu/index.html
They have a list of companies in the USA and Canada who sell their models, however it may not be up to date - they stil list Caboose Hobbies in Denver which closed last year
http://www.minitrains.eu/sources/USA.pdf
http://www.minitrains.eu/sources/Canada.pdf
Last year, I bought one of their Forneys, that is why I know anout difficult decoder installs
Hey Steve:
I have built a few HOn30 critters using the N scale Bachmann 4-4-0 as a donor for the drive mechanism. I'm into diesel but the drives would work easily as well for steam. The Bachmann 4-4-0 has the drive motor in the tender. That leaves lots of opportunities for detailing the locomotive itself. The 4-4-0s come up regularly on eBay. Here is a donor locomotive:
Here is the stripped out drive mechanism that I use as a starting point:
The drive motor is in the tender so you will use the tender too. It's easy to file the details off of the tender body and then add the parts for the new body to the squared off tender shell.
Here is one of my 'critters'. The diesel engine that is visible in the locomotive is from a Life Like stationary generator. The body is scratch built from brass. The critter has 12 wheel power pickup:
Here is a picture of the power pickups added to the locomotive drive, and you can see the plug that will transmit power to the motor from the locomotive drive wheels. This drive will be used in a tow motor (donkey) which will be used to move parts from my machine shop to the roundhouse. If you look carefully you can see an 0402 LED which will light a flashing beacon on the top of the tow motor:
Here is what the tow motor will look like with the gondola (drive motor) attached:
You can do the same with pretty much whatever N scale donor locomotive you want. If the drive motor in the donor is in the actual locomotive you may be a bit limited by what you can do with the cab details, but not much.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I've done some freelancing using Kato four wheel chassis'. I built four electric boxcabs.
Size comparison with a MTD Plymouth HOn30 switcher.
That's Ted bending back the stirup tread. Those are scratch-built pantographs.
I also scratch-built a set of semipermenetly coupled diesel box-cab's using the trucks from a DD-40 deisel.
Bernd
New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds
protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com
Wow guys, George, Dave, and Bernd, those are some great builds!
paintman HOn30 I know the cab is bigger, but is the boiler bigger and the stack and domes bigger? Thanks for your help Steve
HOn30 I know the cab is bigger, but is the boiler bigger and the stack and domes bigger?
Just use your HO-scale rule. It may well vary depending upon which locomotive or mechanism that you use as a starting point. Many of the little (actual) Porter locomotives that ran on similar gauges had rather small diameter boilers. Pick out some photos of "critters" you like and work from there.
MinitrainS makes some passenger cars that follow US styling and are similar to some of the Maine 2-foot gauge equipment in appearance. They are hard to find. I have the #5173 F&C Combine in green - a combination car with 5 passenger windows per side. The baggage door on the side only scales about 5'2" tall, but the overall appearance is still passable.
Bill
Yes, Those are great looking models.
Thanks, I've looked at minitrains and they have some nice stuff. I have 2-8-8-2 drive componnets i want ot build into a HOn30 cab forward and standard mallet for the mining and logging sections on my new layout.
Thanks for your input.
Thanks George, I like what to did.
Thanks, Book marked both sites.
Thanks
paintmanThanks
Hi Steve
Just a small suggestion when you are acknowledging peoples' posts. Mention the name of the person, or add a quote to your post like I did above, so that each person knows whom you are thanking. You did mention George in one post but we don't know to whom the other thank you's are addressed.
Also, you don't have to post a seperate reply to each person. You can mention as many people as you want in one post. Your choice.
Please understand that I am not being critical. You haven't done anything wrong. In fact, taking the time to thank everyone is great!
Cheers!!
paintmanI have 2-8-8-2 drive componnets i want ot build into a HOn30 cab forward and standard mallet for the mining and logging sections on my new layout.
Those are interesting projects. They are way bigger than anything I have done. I'm kind of stuck on building 'critters', the smaller the better.