I haven't checked the list in a while and discovered we have gone back to the 60's with the AF to scale conversion discussions.
I could still make most of the parts but is there really enough serious interest? Is anyone willing to spend at least $50 per axle for brass drivers with RP 25 code 110 stainless steel tires for AF? Bob,I have converted a Lionel AF Mikado to scale. In my opinion it was designed to scale and was made to work on AF track. I started with the intent of converting them or making kits to do so.The drivers are hub insulated with electrical pickup on all of the drivers.The pickups are part of each three piece bearing assembly.Two per axle. The bearing housing and bearing has to be shortened the allow NASG gauged drivers to clear. Drivers. I completely machined the driver centers down to accept my 63" SS tires including wheel thickness and hub length. The tires have to be press fit to the driver center to insure electrical continuity. The axles have to be shortened. Of course they all have to be reassembled and quartered.There is an insulating bushing in the hub and it's hard to reassemble without creating wobble but can be done. The pilot truck and trailing trucks are also used for electrical pickup but I decided it was not worth doing after adapting scale wheels. I also removed the smoke unit as I wanted to put a speaker under the stack.The engine has a good size can motor with flywheel. tried the engine on DC and it ran smoothly on my test track. There is a large pile of Lionel TMCC and Railsounds electronics I removed from the engine and tender. The tender should get a new floor. The tender trucks need new bolsters or be replaced. I modified the Lionel ones and it's more trouble than it's worth. After my conversion I decided not to make kits or do conversions.Too much involved and if any parts are damaged in machining you are up a creek as Lionel parts are near impossible to get. About six years ago I had tried Lionel's boiler and cylinders on my USRA Mike chassis I had under development and it was almost perfect. Lionel would not sell me parts.I shelved my Mike project. I came to the conclusion that the best alternative to a conversion is a completely new chassis based on the one I tried. My chassis is etched brass, sprung with can motor and NWSL gearbox.The chassis would also be usable under the American Models Pacific boiler. I have been busy making drivers for a short run of CN ten wheelers by Simon Parent and restocking my inventory. No, SSL&S is not back yet but I am actively working on it. Fred Rouse S Scale Locomotive & Supply 6721 East Blue Heron Lane Inverness, FL 34452 (352) 344-4654 [email protected] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
