Lovely trams. I am looking to buy a motorised 16mm or G Scale for a new tramway. I don't really want to buy a kit. Has anyone any ideas/advice to offer please ? Thanks
What trams are available.
- Thread starter Lavandines
- Start date
Second hand LGB Trams can be had for quite sensible prices at the moment. They are great runners and well worth seaking out. New LGB ones are silly money these days.
Many also use the Bachman ones that look nice but I have found them to be suspect in the running department. Though it is quite simple to replace the power unit with an LGB Motor Block.
Have you done the conversion from Bachman to LGB motor blocks? If so a "How To" would be spiffing...
I think the USA Trains* 'block is probably easier?
YMMV of course.
*There was a time when it was nigh-on impossible to get a LGB motor-block..
YMMV of course.
*There was a time when it was nigh-on impossible to get a LGB motor-block..
Not quite available yet..
Mamod are bringing out a battery electric tram-loco in the near future..
Mamod are bringing out a battery electric tram-loco in the near future..
The LGB motor block has a different wheelbase to the Bachmann tram. Also it is much higher & needs the floor of the tram cut away. The USA motor block, as used on NW2, is the same wheelbase & is much easier to fit.
The biggest trouble with some Bachmann trams was splitting of the gear wheels.
The biggest trouble with some Bachmann trams was splitting of the gear wheels.
I put my name down for one at the show yesterday. The one on show at the Mamod stand looked very good.
One of the Hartland motor blocks may work as well. Best to contact them for details because I don't think they are listed on their website.
No sorry but I have seen plenty at shows and indeed the wheelbase being shorter is an issue. All of my former Bachman Trams have now become non powered Trailers!
I have seen them remotored with 2 motors 1 on each axle using a brushless motor and OTS gears. I fiddled around with mine and put a 16V 1 farad capacitor across the brushes. It acts as an electronic flywheel.
I built my own.... I tried an 0-4-0 live steam chassis and boiler but could not get it to run at slow enough speed. They came in quite a variation of styles.Argyle Loco will soon have a 1:32 tram and trailer with live steam and electric versions available.
Got some of the Aristocraft original PCC cars a few years ago but only run then on analogue (at the Romney Marsh MES) and not yet got round to converting them to dcc.
Bachmann have also done some bogie De Witt tramcars of which some of the originals are still running in Milan and in San Francisco.
Bachmann have also done some bogie De Witt tramcars of which some of the originals are still running in Milan and in San Francisco.
Here's one I found with the LGB motor block. The wheels don't line up & half the motor is in the saloon.
For those that are offended by the lack of match on the Chassis Parts it is relatively easy to cut them up as seen here on a Van that uses Bachman Chassis bits for a Tramway type of wagon.
This one of course has been lengthened a little but not much problem to shorten them either.
Do you run DCC in the garden, I ask because on starting in the larger scale I thought battery would be the most reliable way forward for me.
I'll be using a combination of steel and nickel silver rail, It would be interesting to hear what others do?
David