Coreless motor compared to old 3-pole iron core motor will provide excellent running results which iron core motor in most cases is not able to match, under condition the rest of drive mechanism is in perfect condition.
Luckily, now there are cheaper alternatives to Maxon or Faulhaber coreless motors. On ebay there are several sources, one that I have used is here. I installed two motors like this one in small HO locomotives, and both locomotives perform as I never thought it is possible. Seller even offers 3 years guarantee on this motor. Offered are motors with 6, 7, 8 and 10 mm in diameter.
Motor installed:
Video 1
Video 2
Hrvoje
I’m not familiar with the Rivarossi N scale locomotives but the HO articulated are very well engineered and that goes all the way back to the 60s.I also have used the Faulhaber motors, the 2224RS being the best direct replacement.Many years ago I stumbled onto a Rivarossi Cab Forward on eBay advertised with two motors. That got me going. I ground up several Rivarossi Cab Forward metal frames installing dual Canon EN22 motors. That worked very good but I wasn’t happy with the Rivarossi frame being reduced to an ⅛” thick in the middle. I still have three operating without any problems.https://melvineperry.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-9-2014-remotoring-rivarossi-cab.htmlThe fix was to build up a new frame that was strong enough to be long lasting under heavy duty conditions, i.e. sturdy enough to not break when tossed around a bit.I have since built many of my brass frames for the Rivarossi Cab Forwards using a pair of Canon EN22 motors and recently found a Mabuchi FS-266SA motor that is equal to the Canon EN22. The FS-266SA is readily available on eBay for under $4.https://melvineperry.blogspot.com/2019/11/rivarossi-cab-forward-motor-replacement.html
For those with HO scale Rivarossi Cab Forwards the brass frame with dual motors is the only way to go. The dual motors make the locomotive run very smooth and makes it possible to add weight in the shell to improve pulling power. I add 10 ounces of weight to the boiler shells which increases the drawbar from 2.8 ounces to 5.8 ounces. I have 19 Rivarossi articulateds all but four have Neodymium magnet can motors and will pull the paint off the walls.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Marc_MagnusKATO offer numerous N scale exquisite Japanese steam locomotives models with perfect running qualities even in N scale
Kato´s newer genertion steam engines are very nicely detailed and excellent runners, yet still affordable, although produced in Japan and not in China.
My favourite:
followed by this one
Hard to tell that this is N scale!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
N scalers have the chance to have better running Steam locomotives since around 2000.
But past locos still remains and some of them are no more offered; so may be we can give a chance to some of these before 2000 models to run again, but run them with good or perfect mechanism offering slow speed, details and good electrical contact, course with DCC.
Rivarossi has offered a whole family of US steam locomotives in N scale and also in HO scale
The family include models of Pacific, Mikado, switcher, Y mallet, Big Boy, Challenger and numerous variations of these models.
In N scale, basically they all have the same mechanism and a weak 3 poles motor, electrical power is transmitted by locomotives and one side of the tender, the electrical connection between locomotives and tender is not very effecient.
Even if the boiler are well detailled, most of the details are included in the molding of the boiler, a very few are added; they are no hand wire in 3 D.
But these boilers are easy to rebuild with added details, like wire handrails and available castings of mechanical steam parts; wire can easily make tube which are numerous around a boiler.
The plastic used by Rivarossi is easy to glue, styrene glue and styrene can be used easily to modify these boilers.
When it comes to mechanism, the first option is to use a new motor; can motor are today standard, the Rivarossi 3 poles can be easily substitued by can motors from Faulhaber or Maxxon ( the ones I use often.)
The results are directly visible, more slow speed and more torque, a better puller in most of the case.
The Rivarossi mechanism are well engineered, most of the models have brass gears including the worm gear on the motor shaft.
Unfortunately the speed ratio of these mechanisms are not good for slow speed
Re-gearing a N scale locomotive and specially a steam one is a difficult task because of the concept of these locomotives.
One way to go and often used in N scale is using can motor with gearhead; the 4.1 ratio is well suited for the Rivarossi - Atlas model and is offered by Faulhaber and Maxon but also on other can motor line.
Many of these can motors have a diameter nearly identical of the Rivarossi ones, the Rivarossi frame need just a little filling and adjustement to put these new motors; electrical contact must be modified but in most of the case it's not a hard way.
The only trouble when changing motors is the necessity to reuse the Rivarossi worm gear because as far I'm concerned, this kind of worm gear is not offered anywhere.
One rule the bigger motor you can put the better is
The second way to upgrade a N scale Rivarossi - Atlas model is to put the boiler on a better mechanism and a finer looking one, this work also with other brand of N scale models.
This is the way, I go here for a first example of a kitbash frame, with Rivarossi - Atlas steam boiler.
If you are looking for 0-8-0 N scale locomotives Rivarossi Atlas has offered a model of a big switcher of the 0-8-0 Indiana Harbor Belt; Life like has offered the jewel model of a 0-8-0 USRA switcher , but unfortunately, when Atlas buy the Proto 2000 N scale series locomotives, for unknow reason the tooling of the 0-8-0 jewel has disappear in China; the 0-8-0 will be probably never produced again unfortunately for N scalers.
Since Atlas is the owner of the Nscale Life Like Proto 2000 steam locomotives, none of these models were reissued, like the Y 3 2-8-8-2 and the Berkshire, forget for ever the 0-8-0.
So if you find some on EBay or on the second hand market, buy them they are the only one still available.
The N Track association steam book is very helpful to such re-motoring of Rivarossi - Atlas N scale early steam locomotives.
For this kitbash I go to use a stock frame KATO or Micro Ace frame steam locomotives with a US boiler; in N scale such conversion has been done a lot.
KATO offer numerous N scale exquisite Japanese steam locomotives models with perfect running qualities even in N scale
Most of these N scale Japanese models are crawler; the mechanism are far the best on the market for N scale steam locomotives, these mechanism are powerful and are offered with flywheel and excellent stock motors.
I's important to say the Japanese steam locomotives models are in 1.150 scale but the wheel diameter are for the most a perfect match of US and specially USRA design locomotives, these wheels are fine scale ones with low profile.
Some Japanese boiler could be modified to look some US boiler but this is a long way to go.
Below I share with you a chart of the Kato models wheel diameter and some of the most used USRA locomotives design, most of these locomotives exist also in the Micro Ace steam models line in N scale.
One perfect kitbash for a 0-8-0 is using a Kato frame of a 2600 0-8-0 Japanese steam locomotive serie.
This is an extremely fine crawler, the mechanism include a Kato motor and a flywheel, a Rivarossi boiler is quiet easy to put on this mechanism and the use of a N scale Bachmann USRA tender give you a perfect 0-8-0 locomotives powerful and a very fine runner.
Other frame of Kato Japanese models can be used to obtain a perfect running Pacific or Mikado using Rivarossi boiler; most of the time only some filling and the scratch of small support are enough to put Rivarossi boiler on these frames.
The Rivarossi boiler are easy to find on EBay and are easy to detail with wire handrails and some added details; other N scale used boiler are also offered time to time from Life Like or Bachmann they are also a way to go with the Kato or Micro Ace mechanism.
The use of Bachman tender from the N scale Spectrum line are perfect for such kitbash, they are all full wheel electrical pickup on both side; different models and length of USRA tenders are offered.
If you ask to keep the stock Rivarossi tender, truck of Kato Mikado tender can be substitued or the "T " contact I will explain later.
Kato or Micro Ace mechanism married with a Bachmann Spectrum tender give you full bullet proof electrical locomotives since all their wheels keep electricity on both sides.
Steam piston need to be filled and rebuild to look US, or with some modification, the stock Rivarossi ones could be used on the Japanese frames..
The lack of N scale small US steam locomotives and switcher is an evidence in N scale;
The biggest offer is USRA design, but with the lost of the Walthers Life Like 0-8-0 switcher in the Proto 2000 line, no more good running steam switcher are offered in N scale.
The Kato frame kitbash is a way to go until a model appears
In the Shapeaway catalog, some N scale 3D printed N scale boiler are offered .
On EBAY N scale boiler from numerous source are often offered for a few bucks.
Kato and Micro Ace locomotive are easy to find on EBay even in US, Japan of course is the best source.
Following are some data about wheel diameter from real USRA basic design and scaled in N scale. The diameter in the 1/1 scale are generic since many companies have changed some diameter from the original USRA design to their own use
(Sorry I'm a metric man, so 1000 mm are a meter or 39,37" and one inch is 25.4mm)
Same sort of kitbash with US boiler and Kato frame are possible in HO scale
Wheel diameter from Kato Japanese 1.150 scale model and USRA design in N scale,
1. USRA design:
1/1 1/160
USRA Pacific 1.854 mm 11.58 mm
USRA Mikado H et L 1.600 mm 10mm
USRA Switcher 0-8-0 1.295 mm 8mm
USRA Y 2-8-8-2 1.448 mm 9mm
2. Japanese locomotives
D 51 2-8-2 1.400 mm 8,75 mm
D 61 2-8-2 1.400 mm 8,75 mm
C 11 2-6-4 1.520 mm 9,50 mm
C 50 2-6-0 1.600 mm 10,00 mm
C 57 4-6-0 1.750 mm 10,93 mm
C 58 2-6-2 1.520 mm 9,50 mm
2600 0-8-0 1.340 mm 8,40 mm
All these Japanese steam locomotives are offered by Kato and for the most by Micro Ace; both mechanism are first rate quality; these models are also offered for the most in HO scale.
One of my on the way kitbash of a 0-8-0 Rivarossi (Indiana Harbor Belt) on a 2600 0-8-0 Kato frame to obtain a big switcher; I hope to have a serial of them, around 10 to use as switcher on my layout with the few Walthers LL 0-8-0 switcher I have had the possibility to buy.
I would make family of locomotives for my roster like a real company.
1. the Kato 2600 0-8-0 serie steam locomotive
2. The Rivarossi 0-8-0 from the Indiana Harbor Belt
3. both mechanism
4. Kato frame and mechanism
5. wheel spacing between the two models and look of the wheels ( left Kato, right Rivarossi frame)
6. first test fit before filling and adjustments
7. some N scale steam boiler buy on EBay for a very few bucks
8. the defunct Walthers Life Like Proto Heritage 2000 series 0-8-0 switcher in N scale
On the run whith my Maclau River RR in Nscale