maxi-model
UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
Let's start at the very beginning, 20 years ago one very enthusiastic newbie enters the fabled GRS store in Princes Risborough. He inevitably walks out with a purchace. He, I mean I, had bought a USAT motor block that was to be "inserted" into an OcCre Madrid tram kit, also bought at the same time. I did not complete this project until another 10 years had passed! (Needed to upskill on the wood kit building bit). The USAT block selected had a w/b very close to that of the tram's. One thing I did was to solder up all the brass rod buss wires in the USAT block, as supplied, as I found the conduction of electricity was not very reliable. This was in track power config' from the pick up shoes. Issue was probably age related tarnishing of the block's, as manufactured, non soldered linkages.
The block itself was a very simple fit into the tram and proved unobtrusive with a bit of disguising - Cut a neat appature in the tram floor to match that of the block's, that is above the tram's floor level. Add wood strip, matching the tram's flooring, to the protruding top of block to diguise it where it intruded. Then bond 4 tabs to motor block sides to provide mounts. They are set to give the correct ride height for the tram's body when attached to its floor. Then, just 4 short self tappers to secure. A fairly simple unobtrusive installation.
Now I am planning to convert it to battery/rc operation, like all the other electrically driven motive power in my depot. I can see one can feed power direct to motor and bypass all the old buss's. I now look and realise there is a lot more space to fit the exra bits in for rc/battery operation. So long as I keep to AAA batteries and use one of RCTrains nice compact Micron based combined RX/ESC''s. Might think about sound too. PhillP I think an order is incoming
Max
The finished Madrid tram. Stated1:24 scale, with Bachmann motorman at the controls.
4 mounting tabs, bonded to USAT motor block, with round head screws can be seen either side of pick up shoes. Original outputs for electrical accessories stil in place, on left of block. Easy to remove for maitainance. Plenty of discreet space for extra gubbins that can be screened if needs be ! Time to measure up.
With motor block removed showing cut appature. There was slight trimming of some seat frames to clear motor's intruding "hump".
Motor block with added mounts and "disguise". Screws to detach block's top access panel still useable.
Disguised top of motor block is hardly discernible from surrounding floor. Especially if veiwing from outside during operation.
Motor block showing added bonded on mountso, note longitudinal supports under mounts.
The block itself was a very simple fit into the tram and proved unobtrusive with a bit of disguising - Cut a neat appature in the tram floor to match that of the block's, that is above the tram's floor level. Add wood strip, matching the tram's flooring, to the protruding top of block to diguise it where it intruded. Then bond 4 tabs to motor block sides to provide mounts. They are set to give the correct ride height for the tram's body when attached to its floor. Then, just 4 short self tappers to secure. A fairly simple unobtrusive installation.
Now I am planning to convert it to battery/rc operation, like all the other electrically driven motive power in my depot. I can see one can feed power direct to motor and bypass all the old buss's. I now look and realise there is a lot more space to fit the exra bits in for rc/battery operation. So long as I keep to AAA batteries and use one of RCTrains nice compact Micron based combined RX/ESC''s. Might think about sound too. PhillP I think an order is incoming
MaxThe finished Madrid tram. Stated1:24 scale, with Bachmann motorman at the controls.
4 mounting tabs, bonded to USAT motor block, with round head screws can be seen either side of pick up shoes. Original outputs for electrical accessories stil in place, on left of block. Easy to remove for maitainance. Plenty of discreet space for extra gubbins that can be screened if needs be ! Time to measure up.
With motor block removed showing cut appature. There was slight trimming of some seat frames to clear motor's intruding "hump".
Motor block with added mounts and "disguise". Screws to detach block's top access panel still useable.
Disguised top of motor block is hardly discernible from surrounding floor. Especially if veiwing from outside during operation.
Motor block showing added bonded on mountso, note longitudinal supports under mounts.
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