Dave... Thanks for your keen insight. I, too, have been debating converting the Climax to S or Sn3. The Backwoods Miniatures kit is sounding better and better after your observations. I should'a bought that one on eBay last spring.
The Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is another tempting conversion to S or Sn3. It has to run better than my old V&T kit "Sampson" conversion of the Mantua HO engine. Bob Hogan --- In S-Scale@yahoogroups.com, "David Heine" <davesn3@...> wrote: > > Brooks, > > I bought one of these with the thoughts of converting it to Sn3 as a way of > obtaining a larger Class B Climax. The only S scale Climax is the out of > production etched-brass kit from Backwoods Miniatures. I didn't disassemble > it, but these are my observation and thoughts on an S scale conversion of > the Bachmann model. > > The drive train is similar to a real Climax with a central drive shaft with > universals and each wheelset driven by a bevel gear off the shaft. For this > reason, it is easiest to use as much of the Bachmann mechanism as possible. > The truck bolsters are too narrow for S. It looks like the easiest way to > widen them would be to insert spacers between the bolster and the > sideframes. I couldn't tell from just looking if the axles are stubs into a > center piece holding the bevel gear, or if it is one axle with a sleeve > holding the gear. You will probably need longer axles. (For Sn3, the > easiest approach would be to file the truck frames narrower and regauge the > wheels narrower.) > > The brakes beams on the trucks are actually too wide for the 0n30 gauge but > not wide enough for 0n3, let alone S, so you would need to redo these or > just cut them off. You might be able to reuse the shoes if they can be > separated from the beams. > > The cab and tender are too big. The walkways is wider just in front of the > cab, but a cab the main walkway width should be OK. I think the cylinders > and cranks would look OK in S as they are, which is good news. Headlights, > etc. can be changed. Mine did not come with an air compressor. > > My main issue with using this model is the trucks. They are too big, even > for standard gauge. It seems that Climax used the same size trucks on many > sizes of locomotives. The Bachmann truck looks very correct for 0 scale, > which means that it is too big and the wheelbase is over 5' in S, plus the > sideframes are too tall. Some plans I have for a much larger 75 ton Class C > Climax have the common 51" wheelbase. The wheels would also be too big for > my use, approximately 36" in S. I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be > happy with the trucks and would have to rebuild the whole lower drive train > and trucks. However, if you are happy with the regauged 0 scale trucks, I > think it could be a believable model, and probably only Climax aficionados > would notice the difference, especially running on standard gauge track. > > This is really the only option, other than scratch-building, for a S scale > Climax. I did manage to pick up an unbuilt Backwoods Miniature kit used, so > it looks like that will be my first Climax, although I really would like a > larger one. I managed to pick up a set of PSC Climax sideframes at some > point in the past, but I don't think these are available either. The PSC > sideframes and the ones in the kit are the same size and are roughly S scale > versions of the Bachmann 0 scale ones. > > If you need more information on Climax locomotives, the book "The Climax > Locomotive" by Thompson, Dunn, and Hauff has some plans, patent drawings and > lots of pictures besides a complete production roster (as known). Plans > have also appeared in the model railroad press. > > Brooks, one comment since you use hirail track/wheel standards. The wheels > use HO standards, which are actually compatible with S "scale" and Sn3 > standards, so I don't know it that will be an issue for you if you use the > stock wheels. > > Dave Heine > Easton, PA > Who rode behind a real Climax out of Durbin, WV on Sunday. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: S-Scale@yahoogroups.com [mailto:S-Scale@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of > bcgsteam > Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2012 9:45 PM > To: S-Scale@yahoogroups.com > Subject: {S-Scale List} Bachmann On30 Climax Conversion to S? > > I see that you can now buy a Bachmann On30 28T Climax (DCC ready) for under > $100 from Trainworld. Has anyone ever attempted to convert this engine to S > by regauging the wheelsets? The cab would have to be 'downsized' and > depending on the engine size being modeled, other parts may be required but > the wheelsets/drive mechanism would be the challenge, I would think. I'd be > eager to hear if any one has experience with this conversion. Thanks, > Brooks > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > ------------------------------------ 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: s-scale-dig...@yahoogroups.com s-scale-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: s-scale-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
