N scale steamer help

[bikerraypa]

I'm just getting into N scale, and I have a very nice Atlas Mikado. It runs great on a straight piece of track, but then it runs for crap over turnouts and through some curves. Anybody know how I can wire this thing to pickup power on more wheels? Thanks!


Ray out.

[Bikerdad]

Best place to ask this would probably be over at the Atlas N Scale forum, www.atlasrr.com. Click on the Forum tab at the top of the page, then drill down into the N scale forum. Another good option, not as heavily trafficked, would be www.nscale.net

Hope to see ya there...

[Anonymous]

Ray I've a bit of N gauge experience bought my first in 1968!! is your mike picking up on just the Drivers?? or does it have additional tender pickups or pickups on the leading and trailing truck? if so check that the additional pickups are 'Springy' enough and not losing wheel contact as the wheels take a curve. Also check that if the loco only picksup on the drivers that the trucks are not causing the drivers to lift as the loco passes over the points(sorry turnouts!) I only tend to buy steam locos with multi wheel pickups in N gauge I find KATO are brilliant!! Steve

[bikerraypa]

QUOTE: Originally posted by steve p lewis

Ray I've a bit of N gauge experience bought my first in 1968!! is your mike picking up on just the Drivers?? or does it have additional tender pickups or pickups on the leading and trailing truck? if so check that the additional pickups are 'Springy' enough and not losing wheel contact as the wheels take a curve. Also check that if the loco only picksup on the drivers that the trucks are not causing the drivers to lift as the loco passes over the points(sorry turnouts!) I only tend to buy steam locos with multi wheel pickups in N gauge I find KATO are brilliant!! Steve

Bikerdad: I went to nscale.net, thanks! It's a great site. I'm an HO refugee and new to N scale. I tried to register at the atlas forums, but it wouldn't let me. :-( I'll try again though.

Steve: it picks up the on the fireman's side through the drivers only, and picks up on the engineer's side through the tender only. I was thinking about just running a wiper to the drivers on the engineer's side, and to the wheels on the fireman's side of the tender.

It's a very nice little locomotive and I'd love to get it to run well. My trackwork is solid, soldered and secure. None of the diesels have any trouble at all, only this poor l'il Mike. Thanks both of you for the help!!

Ray