Talking T Gauge

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

The Budd RDC has been mentioned more than once as a likely prototype body to model on the class 103 chassis. I think that I've read that an F-7 could be likely as well.
What other possibilites are there? I was over at the Grand Canyon Railway today and was looking at one of their F40's. I thought the angular body might be easier to reproduce than the rounded body of the F-7/9's

Ian

michael

As I haven't received my order yet I'm unsure if you can shorten the cars - how possible is this? I presume you could more easily shorten the unpowered cars. If that was the case, I could see modeling F40s as unpowered units propelled by some budd cars or the like.

In any case, your suggestion of the F40s has me thinking about possibly modeling a VIA lashup.

David K Smith · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:38 am Post subject:

The overall length of the mechanism is approx. 26.5 mm, from the back of the motor to the end of the gearcase. You'll need at least some frame for the other truck, so that's your limit. Not short enough for an F unit, that's for sure. Maybe an E--I've not measured one. But then for an E, you'd need to dummy up three-axle trucks.
_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

DanMacK · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:53 am Post subject:

Well, an F7 is 34mm long in 1:450 scale, so it's possible... an FP7 is 36.5mm long. This is basing the calculation 0n .677mm/ft

An F40PH is 37.9mm long, so given a mechanism length of 26.5, it's entirely possible to model one of these units. Best option may be to orient the gearbox toward the rear to give space for the nose and such.

Michael, I love the idea of a VIA consist. Being Canadian myself, I'd love to see some blue cars behind an FP7 as well Wink

That interchange layout on your website offers some neat possibilities for T gauge. CNR F7's on freight and an FP7 on a VIA train? Very Happy

FPA4's would also be an interesting choice as they're the same length as the FP7.

Regards,
Dan MacKellar

David K Smith · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject:

DanMacK · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject:

That could definitely pose a problem, plus the fact the trucks have too short a wheelbase. The 4.5mm truck spacing works out to just over 6.5 feet, the wheelbase on a Blomberg truck is 9 feet or 6mm in 1:450. 1.5mm may not seem like much, but it adds alot whn you're only talking 29mm between truck centres for an FP7.

The entire truck would need to be cut apart and redesigned if you wanted an accurate looking truck and truck spacing. It probably would be better to have the unit as a dummy and power the coaches. Possibly design your own bolster and sideframes and just use the Eishindo wheelsets if you wanted an accurate EMD truck.

Brass etchings anyone?

Also, one thing I've been looking for and can't find. What is the width of a standard EMD hood?

David K Smith · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject:

DanMacK · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject:

Yeah, sometimes the time is scaled to 1:450 as well.

Checked the diesels shop (Awesome site), but they didn't specifically list hood width. So 6 feet eh? that's what I was thinking. So a scale width hood is 4mm wide. Defnitely too small for an Eishindo motor and mechanism.

I would assume the locomotives would have to be weighted somewhat to prevent derailments, even with the magnetic wheels?

michael · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject:

DanMacK · Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:45 pm Post subject:

Biggest problem I can see is with the trucks. T gauge trucks have a wheelbase of about 6 feet. good for passenger cars, freight cars and RDC's, but way to short for a diesel locomotive. A 9 foot wheelbase truck would have to be scratchbuilt. This may be possible with a brass etched sideframe and styrene, but an E unit may also be possible if one adds the extra axle with an extended sideframe.

Can't wait to see what's forthcoming.

TBA · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Massachusetts

I have an idea the trucks will be short for most subjects. I'd like to see 7' trucks. Maybe there will be more variety by the time I get a set.

Very Happy

DanMacK · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

Well, current trucks are 6.5', and with 6" a whopping .385mm in T, it's probably not that noticable Wink

but as I said above, a standard EMD road truck is 6mm spacing, 1.5mm wider than the current size. That's definitely noticable.

Still, it would be interesting to see the new cars mechanisms and see if they're any different.

The 4mm width of a road switcher hood pretty much quashes the idea of using the mech for a hood unit unless you use a very thin styrene wrapper with a hole in the main assembly side. Even then you're a bit wide, but it's doable.

Maybe if we had a good shot of the power truck and a dummy truck it would make things easier to propose Very Happy

Regards,
Dan MacKellar

David K Smith · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:10 am Post subject:

The problem for hoods isn't so much the motor (there are some as small as 3.5 mm dia), but the gearbox, which fills one end of the shell.

Here's the power truck:

And here's the gearbox. It looks like it's part of the shell, but it just slides inside:

_________________
—David

http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/

DanMacK · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

The main gear could possibly be positioned inside a cab, but the rear would have to be narrowed considerably and a new drive train assembled.

Using a 50' boxcar is looking better all the time... lol

TBA · Joined: 08 Sep 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Massachusetts

Oh I thought I read the trucks were 6 foot WB. Either way I was only haf-seriously commenting on the difference.

What kind of plastic is the chassis molded in? Can it be glued?

Can pager motors be modified into the double-ended style often used in the larger gauges?