LGB 2085 Mallet wanted for project

maxi-model

maxi-model

UK/US/ROW steam narrow gauge railways 1:1
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I've decided to re-activate my L&B "Mad Mallet" project after a frustrating false start trying to convert 2 Annie chassis to provide the power.

The LGB 2085 Mallet looks like a good base to work from now. It will be converted to battery (or initially remain DC track powered), so a DCC decoder fitted product is not essential nor will any accessories to work with that, if fitted, be needed. If a decoder is fitted it must be back convertible for DC use.

Condition - just so long as the motor blocks are working, the motions are complete and undamaged, has a straight chassis and it runs cleanly then that's all I need. Most of the superstructure, ex' boiler and smokebox, will be surplus to requirements. Likewise any original packaging is not required but it must be sensibly & securely packed for shipping. In fact if you want to keep some components from it for spares for other locos on your roster we may be able to agree that too. Any suitable candidates, at a very good price, out there ? Max
 
maxi-model said:
I've decided to re-activate my L&B "Mad Mallet" project after a frustrating false start trying to convert 2 Annie chassis to provide the power.

The LGB 2085 Mallet looks like a good base to work from now. It will be converted to battery (or initially remain DC track powered), so a DCC decoder fitted product is not essential nor will any accessories to work with that, if fitted, be needed. If a decoder is fitted it must be back convertible for DC use.

Condition - just so long as the motor blocks are working, the motions are complete and undamaged, has a straight chassis and it runs cleanly then that's all I need. Most of the superstructure, ex' boiler and smokebox, will be surplus to requirements. Likewise any original packaging is not required but it must be sensibly & securely packed for shipping. In fact if you want to keep some components from it for spares for other locos on your roster we may be able to agree that too. Any suitable candidates, at a very good price, out there ? Max
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Max you have now done some Battery Conversions so why not a DCC Battery one? Fosworks or Revolution Train Engineer both do DCC Battery Systems.
 
Thanks for the thought Jon but no. While I can see the potential for DCC on my 009 layout with multi loco, sounds, speed and point control, if it ever develops beyond the basic oval with a passing loop, I do not envisage any way in which it will be of use to me in the way I run in the garden or when visiting other 16 mm NGM member's lines. :) Max

However do you have, or know anyone, with a suitable candidate for my project ?
 
maxi-model said:
Thanks for the thought Jon but no. While I can see the potential for DCC on my 009 layout with multi loco, sounds, speed and point control, if it ever develops beyond the basic oval with a passing loop, I do not envisage any way in which it will be of use to me in the way I run in the garden or when visiting other 16 mm NGM member's lines. :) Max

However do you have, or know anyone, with a suitable candidate for my project ?
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No sorry you ain’t getting my Black one that is an early project for Conversion and yes it will be Battery DCC as well.
 
You will be lucky to find one of these at a low price, even the tatty ones seem to sell for over £200. Have you considered 2 Piko 0-6-0 chassis as a cheaper option?
 
funandtrains said:
You will be lucky to find one of these at a low price, even the tatty ones seem to sell for over £200. Have you considered 2 Piko 0-6-0 chassis as a cheaper option?
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I appreciate it may not be cheap, I tried that and failed :D. I figured this - 1) LGB has a reputation for quality and robustness, ok it'll be old, tired and a bit knocked around the edges. 2) I'm looking for a base loco that is already a "Compound" Mallet/Meyer config', so no faffing around making new cylinders and it's already got a nice chassis with the 2 motor units yolked together in a compact and geometrically correct formation. A base ?-6-? + ?-6-? loco with the wheels inside the frames and motions outside would have been preferable but these seem a bit thin on the ground. So LGB 2085 it is.

Cosmetically the only important bits are the motions. There is always the option to trade off the bits one does not need - e.g. Cab, tanks, lights, buffer beams, small ancillary components (yes, I've downloaded a manual ;) ) to possibly offset costs. But thanks for the thought. I did Google the Piko 0-6-0 but it does not look like it will really do the job. Max
 
Max, the size might be a bit big but Bachmann have their Mallet bogies available as spares on their US website. If you sign up, several times a year they send you a 20% off coupon (usually to coincide with major US public holidays) which makes the parts a lot more affordable. The next one might happen for Labour day on 2nd September. These chassis have high quality fly wheel motors and gearboxes so good for slow speeds.

2-6-6-2 Locomotive : Bachmann Trains Online Store!

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estore.bachmanntrains.com
 
As to outside frames, almost all mallets have inside frames for at least the front bogie, some narrow gauge ones had out outside frames for the fixed rear chassis.
 
funandtrains said:
Max, the size might be a bit big but Bachmann have their Mallet bogies available as spares on their US website. If you sign up, several times a year they send you a 20% off coupon (usually to coincide with major US public holidays) which makes the parts a lot more affordable. The next one might happen for Labour day on 2nd September. These chassis have high quality fly wheel motors and gearboxes so good for slow speeds.
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I'd thought about that, I have one of their 2-6-6-2's, it would be quite simple to make a Baldwin "Mallet", an elongated Lyn out of that. It would not look too nice to my eyes though. But what I really want to make is one of these -

mallet_m.gif

54m.jpg

More a Manning Wardell on steroids ! I love its looks and proportions, never mind its backstory given by those who built it in 009 from modified Backwoods Miniatures MW kits (I have past permission to use this image from the builder of the amazing 009 "County Gate"layout).

Problem is even with the supposed 20% discount's availability, to offset the VAT that will be levied on import those units get expensive. By the time you have added USPS shipping and Parcelfarce's handling fee at the UK end you are still looking at the best part of £370 for a pair. You can get a goodish 2nd hand 2085 for that and have the benefit of its useable chassis, boiler and smokebox in situ + the opportunity to sell off all the surplus bits (and box) to offset purchase costs. I shall bide my time :devil: Ebay search parameters saved. Max
 
What you have drawn wouldn't work as a Mallet as the cylinders should be further further forward or the tanks stopping further back to allow for the larger low pressure cylinders to fit. The front bogie should have inside frames as outside frames would hit the rear cylinders when going around a sharp bend if the pivot was in the correct position. Also the tanks are too far forward as they would cause the loco to tip off the track if full and going around a curve, that is why all tank Mallets other than a few compact 0-4-0+0-4-0 locos have the tanks stopping behind the smoke box. You would be better off raising the cab and making it a Meyer.
 
I think you are taking things little too literally here and missing the point - its "prototype" is an imaginary "freelance" loco that an 009 operator dreamed up. I am not even trying to recreate an exact replica of that, more's the pity. Hence the LGB donor, or for that matter one using Bachmann 2-6-6-2 units as its base, then I will keep to that arrangement - 'cos it's proven it works on a 45 mm gauged track. I do not have anything below a 4 ft dia curve'. Flimsy plastic is not going too make much difference to weight distribution. Lets face it the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is billed as a Mallet but is in fact, with 2 articulated "bogies", a Mayer. I'm not stickler for detail in this instance I just like the look of what somebody else has created and to have my own.......only bigger a lot bigger. The original plot was to make it live steam using RH components, but that would just be asking for trouble.....and bankruptcy. :) Max
 
maxi-model said:
I think you are taking things little too literally here and missing the point - its "prototype" is an imaginary "freelance" loco that an 009 operator dreamed up. I am not even trying to recreate an exact replica of that, more's the pity. Hence the LGB donor, or for that matter one using Bachmann 2-6-6-2 units as its base, then I will keep to that arrangement - 'cos it's proven it works on a 45 mm gauged track. I do not have anything below a 4 ft dia curve'. Flimsy plastic is not going too make much difference to weight distribution. Lets face it the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 is billed as a Mallet but is in fact, with 2 articulated "bogies", a Mayer. I'm not stickler for detail in this instance I just like the look of what somebody else has created and to have my own.......only bigger a lot bigger. The original plot was to make it live steam using RH components, but that would just be asking for trouble.....and bankruptcy. :) Max
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Looking at the Model and Drawing it appears to me that the Low Pressure Pistons are at the Rear. Unusual but I do not see this as impossible. With an extended rod the Regulator could be towards the front of the Engine for the High Preasure Steam then passing along Joints to the Low Preasure ones at the rear. On the Prototype (If Built) this would have resulted in less possible Steam Loss via High Pressure Joints.
 
Just remember if all else fails, rule eight, if you like it its all that matters :)
 
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