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How to build a neat Critter for less than $50 (lots of pictures)

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  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Monday, February 17, 2020 10:51 PM

Wonder if we can get an interpetation of that Japanese website/info on those motorized trucks?

  • Member since
    June 2005
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Monday, February 17, 2020 10:59 PM

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  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 917 posts
Posted by Southgate on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 8:25 PM

Hey, Darth, it's always a pleasure to see you tackle these little critter challenges. This one is a GEM!

 

Those little Japanese power trucks look to be very high quality. I could see getting lost in the shop for a few weeks playing with the possibilities!   Dan

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 10:43 PM

That power truck looked a lot like the dual motor spectrum 44t trucks.   One of those might work as well for small motor applications

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 917 posts
Posted by Southgate on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 2:06 AM

That's what he used.Cool

I just realized this thread was started 8 years ago. Still, good stuff  brought out. Dan

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 12:28 PM

Is this the 44toner Bachmann truck motor that's been referred to?

Looks like a 3 pole motor? Could it be run by a decoder?

I think I have a pair of small On30 diesel switchers that were kit-bashed up utilizing these power units. I'll have to take a couple of photos for ID purposes.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 5:45 PM

railandsail
Is this the 44toner Bachmann truck motor that's been referred to?

Looks like it.

Note that these motors are very delicate. Make sure everything turns easily. I don't recommend trying to see how many cars your critter can pull.

They work fine with a decoder. I built a copy of Darth's switcher and it worked quite well. I used a non-sound decoder. Fitting in a sound decoder and a speaker would be a bit of a challenge but where there's a will.....

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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