LebryantJohnsonThe gs5 works fine on my curves.
I really figured it would. 31" is plenty for virtually anything you want.
I wish I had the room for a 30+" minimum radius.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
thanks everyone the gs5 works fine on my curves
Trainman440 this^USRA mountains (69") have relatively small drivers when compared to a northern, in particular a GS5 (80"). Its not about number of wheels but the driver wheelbase. A russian decapod has 10 drivers but only 52" each, it will negotiate curves about as well as that USRA mountain. Charles Thanks Charles. The GS5 does navigate my curves properly.
this^USRA mountains (69") have relatively small drivers when compared to a northern, in particular a GS5 (80"). Its not about number of wheels but the driver wheelbase.
A russian decapod has 10 drivers but only 52" each, it will negotiate curves about as well as that USRA mountain.
Charles
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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SeeYou190 LebryantJohnson Saw a brass gs5 (4-8-4 configuration) from key imports on eBay for a great price and was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if it would work on my curves (31"). I would be surprised if it does not. My Key Light USRA 4-8-2 will negotiate a 22 inch radius curve, unmodified. -Kevin
LebryantJohnson Saw a brass gs5 (4-8-4 configuration) from key imports on eBay for a great price and was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if it would work on my curves (31").
I would be surprised if it does not.
My Key Light USRA 4-8-2 will negotiate a 22 inch radius curve, unmodified.
But a Northern, any Northern, has bigger drivers and therefor a longer rigid wheelbase, longer boiler with more overhang, which means more drawbar offset at the tender, etc, etc.
Rigid wheel bases above 22 scale ft generally like something above 30" radius, especially brass.
I think it is likely to work, but 30" radius is not as generous as it sounds for that kind of loco.
Sheldon
LebryantJohnsonSaw a brass gs5 (4-8-4 configuration) from key imports on eBay for a great price and was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if it would work on my curves (31").
Brass 4-8-4s...Id say probably 30" minimum is likely. 35-40" is way more comfortable. Maybeeeee if youre trackwork is perfect it'll run on 28" at slow speeds. It ultimately depends on your trackwork quality and the engine though.
Saw a brass gs5 (4-8-4 configuration) from key imports on eBay for a great price and was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if it would work on my curves (31").
It ought to work. I will confess that I have never had my hands on a brass (or any other kind) of gs5, but I do run Mantua Mikados (2-8-2) on 18 inch curves on my old layout and very happily on the 24 inch curves of my new layout.
HO manufacturers work very hard to get their product to run on 18 inch curves, that's the trainset radius and every kid who got a trainset wants to get more stuff that runs on his layout. For stuff like 80 foot passenger cars and really big steamers that just won't run on 18 inch no matter what, the maker will put a small note on the box "Requires 27 inch radius curves". I never saw any manufacturer ask for more than 27 inches. So your 4-8-4 really ought to run just fine on 31 inch curves, which are considered to be good and broad.
If perchance your gs5 should derail on your 31 inch curves, get back to us. There are a whole bunch of different things I have done to various steamers over the years to make them stay on the track.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com