Scratch Built Loco Chassis

[robbieg96]

Hello All,

Has anyone ever made a loco chassis from scratch? If so how and where did you locate the motor?

I'm currently re-building an old loco, to make it more like the prototype. I'm using LGB Toytrain wheel sets and motor, with a chassis from an old Bachmann 2-4-2 (to make an 0-4-0, the Bachmann chassis gives the perfect distance apart for the wheels).
I am then thinking of mounting the motor to drive the rear axel, either at a horizontal or diagonal axis. Good plan?

If anyone has any experience or tips for doing this then any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

Rob

 

[dunnyrail]

I have built quite a few, mostly in O gauge it has to be said. I found that for me the best thing in getting a reliable chassis was to use a Gearbox Motor. JH (there were some on sale at Reading last weekend) do some really chunky ones that are more than adequate for G Scale. With a well drilled chassis (use a vertical pillar drill) with the con rods drilled at the same time you should not go far wrong. If you do not have a pillar drill then an old trick was to sellotape two mirrors together, have them at 90 degrees behind what you are drilling as an aid to getting the drill vertical. I have used this method in the past and it does work. But you do need to be very patient. Also start with small drills then build up to the full width for the driving axles.

I would also suggest a good loco building book "Miniature Locomotive Construction by John. H. Ahern" I got mine many years ago for 75p and it has repaid its investment many times over. Try Amazon or possibly even Humm at Stamford.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
JonD