They are definitely ST (Scientific Toys) turnouts. In fact, I have been searching eBay daily for any NB (New Bright) stuff and have never seen any turnout switches for NB. I have actually been in contact with ST's corporate office in Hong Kong and they sent me pictures of a "Super Deluxe Track Set" that includes two RH and two LH turnout switches, 6 curves and a crossover. But I have had very limited luck locating them from a dealer and ST has not referred me to anyone (probably a language barrier problem).
I recently got an Echo circus set, but have not checked it out extensively yet. I don't care for their cars, as I mentioned before the wheels are not tapered at the edges, but flat, and the trucks are very cheap. Not interchangeable with anything that I know of. In fact, you have to disassemble the chassis to remove the trucks. Heck, it's a stretch to even call them "trucks". I'll post some pictures soon.
What sort of modifications did you do to the #1 Walter E. Disney?
I agree that the NB engines are more detailed, and yet somehow they seem more like toys to me that the ST. Don't ask me why that is, I can't explain it.
Thanks for pointing out how the smoke works on the NB. I rebuilt one recently and found a tube that was open (it was apparently cut and I did not know it). Now I have an idea where to start looking to reconnect it.
My problem with NB switches is mostly that they seem to be worn out. I like the idea of being able to stop them with the track switch, but the locos tend to be intermittent from bad contacts on the switch board in the loco.
Guy
Thanks for posting back.
It could be that Scientific Toys has just recently made the turn out switches since I honestly have never seen them and this is the first time I hear of them. My layout is all NB track and I have two turn out track switches, one right and one left (NB turn-outs), so that I can back up the trains into two bays that lead to the mainline; the rest of the trains are stored in bays that are not connected to the main line, so the trains are rotated from bay to bay every so often. You know, back in 1989 the New Bright turn-out switches could only be bought with a super deluxe set called the Rolling Thunder. It seems since you talked with ST they will be doing something similar. The modifications that my Walter E. Disney received were to make it look as close as possible to the real Water E. Disney from the Walt Disney World Railroad by using the Scientific Toys prototype set they sell at Disney World. Some things could not be changed like the wheel arrangement and the sand dome/bell arrangement. Today, it looks nothing like how it was out of the box. I will post before/after pictures to show you. I removed the bars and switches on all my New Bright foward/stop/reverse tracks because my two Scientific engines would get traped with their cowcatchers. I began the modification on Walter in April of last year. The smoke stack was changed into a "ballon stack", the drive and pilot wheels were given a more accurate paint scheme, the cylinders were painted with brass bands, the top part of the cowcatcher was painted black, class lamps were added to the somkebox, some brass colored filigrees were added to the headlamp, bars from the smokebox to the top part of the cowcatcher were added, a cross head pump was added, green colored flags common to the Disney engines were added on top of the cowcatcher, brass colored bands were added to the boiler, a brass colored whistle was added to the steam dome, a brake pump was added, realistic gauges and a typical New Bright "furnance" were added to the backhead, the cab interior was painted seafoam green, the cab roof was painted pastel pink, the "coal" was removed from the tender (the real Walter is an oil burner), the 2-axle trucks under the tender were removed and 4-axle New Bright trucks and wheels were added. Is a crossover a crossing track? New Bright made a crossing track that has a post and lever with their Rolling Thunder set. When you say that the Echo cars' wheels aren't tapered, do you mean that they aren't flanged?
Rei.
I see what you mean about the ST cowcatchers. I had not ever run an ST engine on NB track before tonight. If you removed the bars and switches on the stop switches, they are essentially just straight track now, right?
It's ironic that we're discussing the Disney engine, because I just received one today that I got on ebay just before Christmas. So now I can see the model engine as well as the original (there is a photo on the box). Mine was made by ST, or at least it says so on the bottom of the track, which does look like the rest of my ST track, so I assume the rest of the set was made by ST as well. Although they managed to leave the mfr name off of the box.
Although there are some obvious differences between the ST set and the real engine, I don't think I'll bother rebuilding mine to original design.
When you put NB trucks on the ST cars, you have to cut off a piece on each side of the car to make the truck fit, right? Aside from that, are the cars at the proper elevation for the couplers to mate properly with non-modified cars?
I call it a 'crossover' but I think it's also called a 'crossing track'. No post or lever with the ST crossover, just a straight pass-through going each way. I have not figured out how to post pictures yet. I'll add it as soon as I figure out how.
The flange on ST and NB is tapered, and in addition the thickness of the flange is much smaller than the Echo. The Echo flange is so thick that it will not pass through the NB stop switch, and virtually derails when passing over the NB rerailer. Since I tested the rerailer by hand, I suspect that if I was actually running an Echo car on a running train it probably would derail occasionally.
I have pictures of the Echo wheels and flanges, but again I have not yet figured out how to upload them.
If you remove the bars and switches it is basically a straight track with a rail guide and your trains should go on without trouble. Now that you see the real Walter and the Scientific toys one you can see and compare all the differences. If the box has a picture of the real Walter then yes, the whole set is made by Scientific Toys, it's just that Scientific Toys doesn't put their name on the boxes, New Bright does though. And at the bottom of the locomotive and cars it says Scientific Toys. There was a Walt Disney World Walter set made by New Bright in 1988. When I change Scientific cars to put New Bright trucks wheels I do have to remove the pieces on each side because if you don't, the NB trucks won't turn and it doesn't look right. The NB trucks will couple okay with cars that have Scientific trucks and couplers but note that the NB truck has to have its hook to couple with the Scientific loop. I don't know much about the Echo trains since I have never even held any of them before, but aren't the Scientific trucks similar to the Echo ones? My tip is that if you want to use Echo cars with Scientific cars; you can take the Echo wheels and trucks off and screw on Scientific trucks and wheels on the Echo cars. That way they won't derail at crossovers and switches.
This is the final piece of my Walter E. Disney engine, nothing more will be done to it as I have done all the kitbashing I could possibly do. I think it is a good example for anyone who wishes to kitbash a Scientific Toys engine.
Before, the typical Scientific prototype:
Now:
The Scientific Toys turnouts are marketed under the EZTec Trade name. You get 6 curved, one 90 degree crossover and 2 right/2 left turnouts. Found the box at Publix just before Christmas.....and am now seeing the stuff on eBay. At Publix it retailed for $9.99......1/2 or less after Christmas.
Also.......if you need extra Scientific/EZTec track you can purchase it from eToys.com. A box of 6 curved, 6 straight and a 90 degree crossover cost $9.99. It's listed in their catalog under G Gauge Expansion Track for Coastal Express Train Set.
Hope this helps,
MOOSIE
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