LGB's new 'high end'* Shay IS 1/20.3 scale after all!

tac foley said:
None of my other Bachmann geared locos have needed anything, except the 'secret' tweak to the Heisler drive-train. The ALL get run around - a lot.
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Hi Tac,

what's the "secret tweak" needed for the Heisler drive train? I have read through George's page on this engine and not quite sure what you are referring to - the chuff switches in the cylinders?

(I remove these and set the chuff rate on the ESU 5XL decoders I use - seems good enough for the average viewer).

I ask, as I've picked up a near new Heisler which will, in due course, get converted to RC/DCC/Battery Power.
 
maxi-model said:
I 2nd all Tac has said. To my mind the Bachmann "Spectrum" range 1:20.3/Fn3 scale products cut it as well detailed and functional scale models of actual prtotypes. Tread wearily though with older examples, they tend to have transmission issues of some sort or another, rectified where 2nd issue releases were made. If you find yourself delving into the realms of older 2nd hand Bachman locos, and other garden railway kit the good Mr Schreyer's pages are well worth bookmarking. Yes, they may be have been written some 25 years ago but it all holds true to this day. All good basic advise. Large Scale Tech Tips Max
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And whilst on the subject of older models - run away from the first series Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn (Southern on the side tanks) unless you plan to use it as a source of parts for a kit bash.

The plastic motor block and wheel to axle mounting are absolute rubbish - second batch is much improved but Bachmann are out of stock for the 2nd series block on the spare parts site.
 
tac foley said:
The Accucraft model 12-ton Shay is a real sweetie. Reading reports on MLS, especially from self-builders, it can be a bit of a pain to get running without sounding like an air-raid siren, but apart from that, it's a lovely model. One interesting tip was to put a washer between the burner body and the jet-holder - seems to work.

View attachment 342879
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One of chaps in our group has one, and indeed it is a beauty. It certainly doesn't look out of place on the 16mm setting we have. He does have a small binding problem on very tight curves, but that may just be stiffness as it is new.
 
David Price said:
And whilst on the subject of older models - run away from the first series Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn (Southern on the side tanks) unless you plan to use it as a source of parts for a kit bash.

The plastic motor block and wheel to axle mounting are absolute rubbish - second batch is much improved but Bachmann are out of stock for the 2nd series block on the spare parts site.
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One of my first purchases when I got into this hobby 22 years ago, bought from GRS (sun damaged box and glazing):D Mine worked fine, my real issue was with it's somewhat abitary scaling and proportions when put up against my first, Accucraft, live steamer version. Sold it (you can't have 2 Lyns on one line) just before the Mk2 was announced, when you could still get good money on Ebay for them. Got what I paid for it. Result ! Max

Those 2 little bright green conifers are waaay bigger these days, like 20 feet bigger !
Railroad 001.jpg
 
David Price said:
And whilst on the subject of older models - run away from the first series Baldwin 2-4-2T Lyn (Southern on the side tanks) unless you plan to use it as a source of parts for a kit bash.

The plastic motor block and wheel to axle mounting are absolute rubbish - second batch is much improved but Bachmann are out of stock for the 2nd series block on the spare parts site.
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...and likely to remain so for the immediate future. I've been waiting for a main gear set since 2019....................................
 
tac foley said:
I bought three of the Bachmann 3-truck shays for $900. I kept the Oregon Lumber unit for myself, and sold the other two for a thousand each, and laffed all the way home.

I like your idea of a teeny Shay, although I'd like to see a model with just a single cylinder, for a laff. If you wanted teeny shay, I'm sure that our genius builder, Peter Angus, would view your idea with great favour! However, it will be a steamer, not a sparkie like your choice. V. cute, though, and given the very small production run, something of a bargain even at $2K.
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Hello from Canada. I too bought a Bachmann 2 truck Shay. It is ok but has it's problems. Due to a simple part like a washer on the axle sets it would short the supply. Some of the detail part will come lose and get lost on the trip around my large out-door layout. To get all the details and to have them firmly attached, I build my own 2 truck Shay. All Brass and it sits on sprung trucks. Due to its very high weight it pulls like the Dickens. In fact I had club members interested in the model before I started the building process and consequently I had to build 4 of them. Have a look at the pictures.
 

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Trains and More said:
Hello from Canada. I too bought a Bachmann 2 truck Shay. It is ok but has its problems. Due to a simple part like a washer on the axle sets it would short the supply. Some of the detail part will come lose and get lost on the trip around my large out-door layout. To get all the details and to have them firmly attached, I build my own 2 truck Shay. All Brass and it sits on sprung trucks. Due to its very high weight it pulls like the Dickens. In fact I had club members interested in the model before I started the building process and consequently I had to build 4 of them. Have a look at the pictures.
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Amazing! So impressive!!!
 
Trains and More said:
Hello from Canada. I too bought a Bachmann 2 truck Shay. It is ok but has it's problems. Due to a simple part like a washer on the axle sets it would short the supply. Some of the detail part will come lose and get lost on the trip around my large out-door layout. To get all the details and to have them firmly attached, I build my own 2 truck Shay. All Brass and it sits on sprung trucks. Due to its very high weight it pulls like the Dickens. In fact I had club members interested in the model before I started the building process and consequently I had to build 4 of them. Have a look at the pictures.
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Was there a specific prototype you used to model these? The fluted domes and wood burning stacks suggest an early build?
 
Trains and More said:
Hello from Canada. I too bought a Bachmann 2 truck Shay. It is ok but has it's problems. Due to a simple part like a washer on the axle sets it would short the supply. Some of the detail part will come lose and get lost on the trip around my large out-door layout. To get all the details and to have them firmly attached, I build my own 2 truck Shay. All Brass and it sits on sprung trucks. Due to its very high weight it pulls like the Dickens. In fact I had club members interested in the model before I started the building process and consequently I had to build 4 of them. Have a look at the pictures.
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Many of us here, me included, want to know a LOT more about these astounding Shays you've built, especially given that fact that none of us has ever heard much about you before now, given your presence on the forum since 2019, and I'm a life member of the Ottawa Valley Garden Railway Society, TAC, OVAR and other Canadian groups.

Such modelling skills as these are not to be hidden under a whatever, IMO.

We'd like to see the build process and how you went about it.
 
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My limited experience with brass locos has always been that they look great, and having running performance from ok to abysmal.

Im sure there are exceptions…aster, fulgarex, custom builds, but, im always sceptical.
 
stevedenver said:
My limited experience with brass locos has always been that they look great, and having running performance from ok to abysmal.

Im sure there are exceptions…aster, fulgarex, custom builds, but, im always sceptical.
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Korean brass models in the smaller gauges were aplenty back in the 80s and 90s - excellently made, beautiful runners.

In this country, once you'd bought your loco, you lined up one of the livery experts like Larry Goddard and took out another mortgage to have it painted.

There were a lot of HO US outline brass locos.

I have a couple of brass models - An Accucraft Goose, A Berlyn brass Goose - both fine >:)>:)>:)
 
Rhinochugger said:
Korean brass models in the smaller gauges were aplenty back in the 80s and 90s - excellently made, beautiful runners.

In this country, once you'd bought your loco, you lined up one of the livery experts like Larry Goddard and took out another mortgage to have it painted.

There were a lot of HO US outline brass locos.

I have a couple of brass models - An Accucraft Goose, A Berlyn brass Goose - both fine >:)>:)>:)
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I have a few brass Sunset/PFM and Tenshodo models - locos, cabeese and steam generator cars - ALL are utterly gorgeous in every respect - factory painted, too.
 
tac foley said:
I have a few brass Sunset/PFM and Tenshodo models - locos, cabeese and steam generator cars - ALL are utterly gorgeous in every respect - factory painted, too.
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Oh yeah, I knew there was something else - an Accu caboose :)
 
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