One of the NWSL Stanton drives would be perfect for this. Just need to fabricate a floor for the body as the drive is self contained. Jeff Lemkee has seveal of these hard to find drives on his website(google is your friend). I know where there is an O gauge trolley similar to this, but slightly different that is for sale at a shop in Indianapolis, even has its original box and massive open frame motor. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
emdmikeOne of the NWSL Stanton drives would be perfect for this.
Hi Mike,
I actually have several Tenshodo 'spud' drives that I scored years ago for precisely such an occasion. However, first I will see whether or not the original drive is viable. I can't tell if all the necessary mounting parts are present, but there are some obviously structural bits included. The motor configuration is a bit unusual but I think it is just a variation of an open core motor. It looks like replacing the magnets would be fairly straight forward if necessary. The commutator shows some wear but according to the seller the motor runs fine.
We shall see!
Thanks for your suggestions.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Dave, congratulations on the successful bid. A Japanese internet auction had a record of $ 425. I think Tenshodo's SPUD is a good choice for smooth running. Is it possible to modify the wheel-base of the truck from 30 mm to 31 mm? Please note that SPUD wheel diameters are 10.5mm and 11.5mm. If you add a little weight, the current collection will be stable. By the way, just this year, Tenshodo released new SPUDs with coreless motor under the name "C-Power" series (photo). However, the 31mm wheelbase version has only 11.5mm diameter.
BN7150A Japanese internet auction had a record of $ 425.
Wow! Now I'm even more certain that I will rebuild the trolley as a working unit. Wait 'till I tell my wife! Actually, she fully supports my investment in the hobby.
BN7150Is it possible to modify the wheel-base of the truck from 30 mm to 31 mm?
I'll have to check the SPUDs I have. I'm not even sure where they are right now. I'm not going to fuss if the wheelbase is off by a bit, but I will first attempt to use the original parts. I may replace just the motor. I have a ton of spare can motors on hand.
Thanks for the information.
The trolley has finally arrived!
It is cute but it needs a lot of work. There are a couple of broken solder joints in the shell which look like they were 'cold' when assembled, and there are a couple of very shoddy attempts at repairs:
There apparently are some parts missing. There isn't anything to mount either the motor or the wheel wipers on. The commutators on the motor were pretty black so it has been used. The motor is huge so I am likely going to replace it with a small can motor so I can install an interior. The roof is wood and it doesn't look like the trolley poles have ever been installed because there are no holes in the wood and no marks on the brass mounting platform. The trolley poles seem to work fine. Some of the suspension springs are messed up or missing so I will have to find a set of new ones.
I asked this question in the Diner but I will ask again here: Are there any dedicated trolley modelling websites? I'll do a search myself but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Update:
After spending a couple of hours searching the net I haven't been able to find any sites that show detailed photos of a two axle trolley drive system. Therefore, it is time to invoke my Darth Santa Fe creativity skills and see what I can come up with on my own. This will take some thinking! I'm hoping I can still think!
Hi Hon30criter
Almost certainly there are trolley modelling web sites, and clubs as well I would not mind betting.
I would sugest using model Trams or simillar as a search term as well as many country's call them trams.
regards John
John BusbyI would sugest using model Trams or simillar as a search term as well as many country's call them trams.
Thanks John,
Good suggestion!
I spent about 20 minutes searching using the word 'tram' and I did find some information about using Tenshodo Spud drives for power. I have several Spud drives on hand, but I think I'm going to see what I can do using the original wheels and chassis. I seem to want to do things the hard way with this project!
Thanks again.
Dave, look for the "Trams & Tramway Modelling" section of the British rmweb.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Tinplate ToddlerDave, look for the "Trams & Tramway Modelling" section of the British rmweb.
Thanks Ulrich,
I have asked to join a Facebook group that focuses on Trams. Hopefully I will find some information there, although I'm getting the impression that getting detailed information on the drive train mechanisms is rather like searching for a needle in a haystack. (I never liked that image! I always imagined myself getting poked by the needle!).
Cheers!!
Glad that you got the trolley .. it will keep you busy for quite a while ....
I'm not a trolley modeller, doesn't fit my locale. But I sure can see the attraction. What a cool little model. You will of course, keep us posted on building progress?Also on the tyco diner... Dan
Ulrich is my hero!!!
I joined a Facebook group called 'Tram Modeling' and posted my little story. In less than 10 minutes a gentleman in England (I believe) sent me pictures of a working model of exactly the same tram! (The wonders of the Internet!!).
The pictures show that I do indeed have the motor/wheel wiper mounting frames but mine were so badly bent out of shape that I couldn't figure out how they would fit in. Also, he informed me that the wooden roof is original so I will keep it.
Turns out the needle in the haystack was easy to find thanks to Ulrich's suggestion.
I just chickened out! I have been contemplating rebuilding the trolley using its original drive system but after studying the parts I was concerned that it would be hard to make it a reliable runner. The drive system seems to be a bit crude, and the original motor takes up almost 1/3rd of the interior space. That makes a detailed interior hard to do.
So, I have just ordered a North West Short Line Stanton drive that matches the wheelbase perfectly and will leave the interior almost completely empty. The Stanton drive will fit inside the existing frame. It will also make the conversion to DCC easy should I ever want to go that route. I will keep the original drive parts so that the trolley can be returned to its 'as built' condition. I have a Stanton drive in my McKeen Motor Car and it works beautifully.
The purists may cry foul. I have lots of Kleenex!
Cheers,
A wise decision, Dave! A nice model that doesn´t run spends its life in a box, one that runs nicely on the track!
I'm a "purist". I'm purely about models that run well first before anything. Echoing Tinplate Toddlers comment, I have some great looking locos rotting away in boxes cuz they don't run smooth enough for me. Some are gonna get weathered and put on the "dead line".
I purely applaud your efforts to make her run and look like it deserves to. Dan
SouthgateI purely applaud your efforts to make her run and look like it deserves to. Dan
Thanks Dan!
I have to say that I felt much better after I placed the order for the Stanton drive. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to get the trolley to run properly using the original rather worn and crude pieces, with the result that it would end up back in its box just as Ulrich said.
BN7150I think Tenshodo's SPUD is a good choice for smooth running.
Hi BN7150,
I decided to leave the Tenshodo drives in their boxes and spring for an up to date Stanton instead.
If you can't get it to run well and have fun with it, there isn't much point in having it. That's why I just put a can motor in a Mantua ten wheeler I have. I think you made the right choice in going for the modern drive. By the way, what exactly is a SPUD drive? I'm unfamiliar with how they work. It sounds like it runs on a potato!
Wolf359By the way, what exactly is a SPUD drive? I'm unfamiliar with how they work.
A motorized truck of various lenghts and different wheel diameters, made by Tenshodo/Japan.
Tinplate Toddler Wolf359 By the way, what exactly is a SPUD drive? I'm unfamiliar with how they work. A motorized truck of various lenghts and different wheel diameters, made by Tenshodo/Japan.
Wolf359 By the way, what exactly is a SPUD drive? I'm unfamiliar with how they work.
Interesting. Thank you.