I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might be 
fun to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale capitalist 
running dogs off the motherland of the layout:
http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-Leningrad-railroad-car-UMT604.html

For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to represent 
1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any suggestions for a 
suitable motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, but also to be small and 
*cheap*. I once used a tram motor bogie in a model, but I understand 
they are out of production now.

I'm thinking of seeing what can be done with a Bachmann "Gandy dancer", 
if I can procure one, but anyone know of any other options? Black 
Beetles are bit expensive for something which will hardly ever be run.
-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK

Arthur Figgis wrote:
> I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might be 
> fun to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale capitalist 
> running dogs off the motherland of the layout:
> http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-Leningrad-railroad-car-UMT604.html 
> 
> 
> For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to represent 
> 1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any suggestions for a 
> suitable motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, but also to be small and 
> *cheap*. I once used a tram motor bogie in a model, but I understand 
> they are out of production now.
> 
> I'm thinking of seeing what can be done with a Bachmann "Gandy dancer", 
> if I can procure one, but anyone know of any other options? Black 
> Beetles are bit expensive for something which will hardly ever be run.


Toby the tram engine? Made by Hornby for UK (44GBP), Bachmann for 
elsewhere $45.

-- 
Wolf Kirchmeir

"Arthur Figgis"  wrote

> I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might be fun 
> to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale capitalist running 
> dogs off the motherland of the layout:
> http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-Leningrad-railroad-car-UMT604.html
>
> For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to represent 
> 1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any suggestions for a suitable 
> motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, but also to be small and *cheap*.

Difficult to make suggestions without knowing the size of the model.  Wolf 
has suggested 'Toby' and if its chassis is small enough then that would be 
an ideal option.  Another possibility is to use the two axles from a Hornby 
'Pacer' fitted to a scratch-built (very basic) chassis, but that of course 
would mean finding one to break for parts.

John.

"John Turner" <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote in message 
news:NrKdnUnoLa0lf13VnZ2dnUVZ8sednZ2d@supernews.com...
>
> "Arthur Figgis"  wrote
>
>> I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might 
>> be fun to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale 
>> capitalist running dogs off the motherland of the layout:
>> http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-Leningrad-railroad-car-UMT604.html
>>
>> For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to 
>> represent 1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any 
>> suggestions for a suitable motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, 
>> but also to be small and *cheap*.
>
> Difficult to make suggestions without knowing the size of the model. 
> Wolf has suggested 'Toby' and if its chassis is small enough then 
> that would be an ideal option.  Another possibility is to use the 
> two axles from a Hornby 'Pacer' fitted to a scratch-built (very 
> basic) chassis, but that of course would mean finding one to break 
> for parts.
>

If you're going down that path why not something like a DS10 (or 
similar double ended motor) with a couple of those cheap etched 
'gearboxes'? I assume that by "4 wheels" the OP means 2 powered axles.
-- 
Wikipedia: the Internet equivalent of
Hyde Park and 'speakers corner'...

"Jerry"  wrote

> If you're going down that path why not something like a DS10 (or similar 
> double ended motor) with a couple of those cheap etched 'gearboxes'? I 
> assume that by "4 wheels" the OP means 2 powered axles.

I'd have thought one powered axle would be perfectly adequate to move this 
thing.  The only reason I suggested using a Pacer driven and non-powered 
axle is that the motor & gearbox are already built and thus it would be much 
easier than having to mesh a DS10 (no longer available either as far as I 
know) with a worm & wheel.

John.

"John Turner" <nospam@nospam.invalid> wrote in message 
news:QdqdnfeknM3FvVzVnZ2dnUVZ8sjinZ2d@supernews.com...
>
<snip>
>The only reason I suggested using a Pacer driven and non-powered axle 
>is that the motor & gearbox are already built and thus it would be 
>much easier than having to mesh a DS10 (no longer available either as 
>far as I know) with a worm & wheel.
>

Yes, I'm not sure if the DS10 is available anymore but other 'double' 
ended motors are (and is why I said "or similar"), as for coupling the 
motor to a worm gear or two (the worm to wheel meshing is taken care 
of by the etched 'gearbox') is the least of the issues if one is going 
to scratch build a chassis I would have thought. Obviously different 
peoples mileage differs as do their skills.
-- 
Wikipedia: the Internet equivalent of
Hyde Park and 'speakers corner'...

John Turner wrote:
> "Jerry"  wrote
>
>> If you're going down that path why not something like a DS10 (or
>> similar double ended motor) with a couple of those cheap etched
>> 'gearboxes'? I assume that by "4 wheels" the OP means 2 powered
>> axles.
>
> I'd have thought one powered axle would be perfectly adequate to move
> this thing.  The only reason I suggested using a Pacer driven and
> non-powered axle is that the motor & gearbox are already built and
> thus it would be much easier than having to mesh a DS10 (no longer
> available either as far as I know) with a worm & wheel.

If DIY'ing then something along the lines of the Branchlines 4-wheeled 
railbus chassis will do the job nicely.  One powered axle, simple worm/wheel 
transmission, Mashima 1016 open framed 5-pole. Optional flywheel on the 
other end of the motor.  The non-powered axle in a simple pivoting frame to 
ensure four wheels on the track for optimum pickup.

If not up to doing the sheet metal bits oneself, then the Branchlines 
chassis used to be cheap and would be easy to chop to required wheelbase. 
No idea if the new owners of Branchlines still have that item in production, 
but I'm sure they would answer email/phone.



- Nigel



-- 
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/

John Turner wrote:
> "Arthur Figgis"  wrote
> 
>> I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might be fun 
>> to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale capitalist running 
>> dogs off the motherland of the layout:
>> http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-Leningrad-railroad-car-UMT604.html
>>
>> For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to represent 
>> 1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any suggestions for a suitable 
>> motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, but also to be small and *cheap*.
> 
> Difficult to make suggestions without knowing the size of the model.

The body is a box roughly 60 mm long, 30 mm wide and 20 mm high. 34 mm 
wheelbase, but that is not too critical (how many J70 models have 6 
wheels under their skirts!)

   Wolf
> has suggested 'Toby' and if its chassis is small enough then that would be 
> an ideal option.  Another possibility is to use the two axles from a Hornby 
> 'Pacer' fitted to a scratch-built (very basic) chassis, but that of course 
> would mean finding one to break for parts.

Now *that* sounds very promising. I've even got one somewhere.

I don't really feel up to scratch building - I always have problems with 
  pick ups and things, and it just doesn't /quite/ work.

-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK

Would have thought just buy her some fish'n'chips, couple of bottles of 
stout and away you go..
Always worked for me.

Cheers,
Simon

On Sep 6, 4:16 am, Arthur Figgis <afig...@example.com.invalid> wrote:
> John Turner wrote:
> > "Arthur Figgis"  wrote
>
> >> I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might be fun
> >> to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale capitalist running
> >> dogs off the motherland of the layout:
> >>http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-..> >> For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to represent
> >> 1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any suggestions for a suitable
> >> motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, but also to be small and *cheap> > Difficult to make suggestions without knowing the size of the model.
>
> The body is a box roughly 60 mm long, 30 mm wide and 20 mm high. 34 mm
> wheelbase, but that is not too critical (how many J70 models have 6
> wheels under their skirts!)
>
>    Wolf
>
> > has suggested 'Toby' and if its chassis is small enough then that would be
> > an ideal option.  Another possibility is to use the two axles from a Hornby
> > 'Pacer' fitted to a scratch-built (very basic) chassis, but that of course
> > would mean finding one to break for parts.
>
> Now *that* sounds very promising. I've even got one somewhere.
>
> I don't really feel up to scratch building - I always have problems with
>   pick ups and things, and it just doesn't /quite/ work.
>
> --
> Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK

Athur I read your first post, but honestly - buy a Black Beetle and
save a lot of hassles. It's (sorta) cute enough to be worth it. :)

Cheers

Steve Magee
Newcastle NSW Aust

John Turner wrote:
> "Arthur Figgis"  wrote
> 
>> I've just acquired a model of a Soviet railcar, and reckon it might be fun 
>> to try to motorise it so I can chase any 4 mm scale capitalist running 
>> dogs off the motherland of the layout:
>> http://military.scale-model-kits.com/products/Armored-self-propelled-Leningrad-railroad-car-UMT604.html
>>
>> For practical reasons I can live with using 16.5 mm track to represent 
>> 1520 mm gauge in 1:72 scale, but has anyone any suggestions for a suitable 
>> motor bogie to use? It needs 4 wheels, but also to be small and *cheap*.
> 
> Difficult to make suggestions without knowing the size of the model.  Wolf 
> has suggested 'Toby' and if its chassis is small enough then that would be 
> an ideal option.  Another possibility is to use the two axles from a Hornby 
> 'Pacer' fitted to a scratch-built (very basic) chassis, but that of course 
> would mean finding one to break for parts.

Looking in a model shop yesterday I spotted an "Underground Ernie" 
maintenance vehicle at GBP15-ish, which looked vaguely promising. Anyone 
know what the guts of it look like with the body removed? It looked like 
the bogie could be quite promisingly small.

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/pr1.php?id=181 says
"Ernie 1 provides a really cost effective item of motive power for O16.5 
narrow gauge models, whilst the power bogie has been eagerly awaited by 
tramway modellers. We look forward to seeing some interesting conversion 
articles in the model railway press over the coming months."

The Underground Ernie models look a bit sinister to me - there is 
something scary about them. Though there would be something satisfying 
about making kiddies' toys into a totalitarian weapons system :-)
-- 
Arthur Figgis               Surrey, UK