I've now put up a video of the Shay!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKrl8cGrVbU
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Very nice Darth! I particularly like watching the "sidewinder" mechanism in action.
Joe
Great video, Darth.
I've been following this thread, and think you've done a great job on that shay. The video was a real treat!. Keep up the good work.
Have Fun.... Bob.
Darth - congratulation on that super job you did. The loco is a jewel! And the video a joy to watch!
The Bachmann 80 ton HO shay is in point of fact an almost perfect model of the Cass WV shay no 5. This is not really a west coast shay but is one built I think in about 1905 (I would have to look the exact date up but it is over 100 years old as a book about it was called 100 years against the mountain)
It did get rebuilt with a new more modern looking cab and this is why a lot of folks think it is a model of a west coast shay
Doug M
Very nice work. And it seems to run very smoothly too.
Darth, Hey Fantastic job on the Shay. But I was wondering is there a good RTR Shay?It seems like a sad state of the hobby when you buy a kit and half of the parts aren't usable. I'm adding another 8' to my layout and looking for a new theme. Manipulating small parts is hard for me to do so I am better off buying RTR.Enjoy your Shay.
Lee
Way to go!
You have put together what many consider one of THE most difficult kits ever produced. I often say if you can put one of these together successfully, you should automaticly get an NMRA Master Modeler certificate.
Have fun with your trains
Thanks everyone for your comments.
yankee flyerBut I was wondering is there a good RTR Shay?It seems like a sad state of the hobby when you buy a kit and half of the parts aren't usable. I'm adding another 8' to my layout and looking for a new theme. Manipulating small parts is hard for me to do so I am better off buying RTR.
Bachmann's Spectrum Shay is an excellent RTR model. They're very smooth and quiet runners with a LOT of detail. Their only problem is that many have had a problem with split line gears. NWSL makes metal replacement gears for the ones that have that problem.
A friend of mine mentioned my old 'Keystone Shay tips' was mentioned here, so I figured why not join as well? Each of these make a difference in running quality, as we all know it's a kit not designed to be powered.
http://www.mrollins.com/keyshay.html
As you can surmise, this kit is a bear, but if you go slowly one has a fantastic small shay, at a fraction the price of a brass model.
http://www.mrollins.com/keyshay1.html
I also scratchbuilt an HOn30 Shay, albeit the gearing does not work
http://www.mrollins.com/Shay30.html
I also put together an MDC Shay years ago, and as some noted it's a noisy, lumbering brute.
http://www.mrollins.com/myshay.html
Note a couple of tips on extra details if you want (note I like unusual color schemes):
Add a rod for the sanding dome, this is how the sand is dispensed onto the rails
I mounted the air compressor more forward, but these usually have a blow off hose that goes up by the smokestack
Chains were hung to secure the trucks in many cases in the event of a derailment
Get a Shay builders plate, print one or buy some; I printed some Climax plates for a kit I sell and they look pretty good
http://www.mrollins.com/Images/nameclimax.jpg
Add a rear handrail on the water tank
Add a coupler lift bar to the front and back
Of course, if you want a new project, check out this guy's page
http://www.nelsonslocomotive.com/Shay/shay.htm
Geared steam, how we miss you...
Thanks for the tips on details. I may have to add some of those to my Shay.
You're right about the MDC Shay being noisy! I've tuned every little thing in mine to run as quietly as possible, but that gearbox will always have a good whine when it runs. I'm actually trying to make the trucks run more quietly now by adding NWSL bronze bearings and steel shafts. I found the stock MDC design to be extremely sloppy, which may be causing unnecessary noise and even a little roughness. I don't know if it will make things any quieter, but I do at least know it'll make things last longer!
I've gone ahead and made all your links clickable:
http://www.mrollins.com/keyshay.htmlhttp://www.mrollins.com/keyshay1.html
Well congratulations as there cannot be all that many folks who got their Keystone Shay kit to actually be an operating model. You have every right to be proud. I suspect the slight noise will ease up over time
As to speed, at one time the Illinois Railroad Museum had an operating Shay and I remember the time I was down there when more than one steam locomotive was running (those, as they say, were the days). I was off in some corner and not paying attention when I heard what sounded like the New York Central's 999 breaking the 100 mph barrier so I rushed trackside with my camera -- and waited, and waited, until 'round the bend came their Shay loping along at maybe 10 to 15 mph but sounding like the fasting thing on wheels.
Dave Nelson
Very nice! I checked out your links (btw, thanks for letting us know about that copper-colored disk, I'm not sure I've ever seen one of those before ) Your shays look marvelous! I hope you don't mind, but I saved the pictures for future inspiration. You did a great job-- on all your shays.
John
You've done a great job with this kit. Congratulations!
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
Darth;
I am glad that you (or anyone else) will be the guinea pig! I'll keep tabs. That shay looks like a million dollars, and I bet it will run even better. I bought mine about twenty-five years ago from Valley Hobbies, up in Simsbury, Ct. I would like to pick up another if I can find one. The shay caught my eye in a Walthers catalogue, and I was enamoured by it's diminutive beauty.