RE: conversation..... Hello,
Now that is an interesting website. I love the pictures you've got on there. The 8-coupled - what track is that displayed on? It looks like SHS flextrack, but I can't tell. Regardless, it does look good. Now, are these conversions from AF to Scale then or just from nonworking AF to working whatever? *idle curiosity* Either way, a very well-laid out website. um.... which begs the question of where you get your replacement drivers from? :) - Brian Hi Brian, Thanks for looking at the NEW web/blog site, The engines are AF junkers/not restorable to original condition. I am experimenting with what can be done with existing stuff be it scale/highrail/AF. I try not to place much emphasis on the destinctions of ONLY one or the other. They have a ways to go, the Atlantic is going to get some modified O spoked drivers that work out to around 82" in S. On all Items that I modify I will be turning down the flanges to close to S-Scale code 110. See why below! The 2-8-4 will need a motor mount and smoke/choo-choo addition, and a couple of double compound pumps on the side, and a feedwater heater, probably on the brow. The basic mmechanism and drivers are from a junked Nord 2-8-2, modified to take an AF 4 wheel trailing truck. All the flanges on AF/Lionel/K-line etc. are far to big and totally unnecessary for great operation on FLAT topped rail. The wheel/flange designs are carry overs from toy train "O" ga. round top rail from the early beginings of Lionel, AF and others, probably from european influences.. The so-called "fast angle" designs allows for in-precise track gauge and wheel slop as was common with most O toy trains before WW2. And alows the wheel to "find" a spot on the rail to ride as it slides on the angled face of the tread and flange In todays world of greater precision and fixed wheel mounting on an axle (not floating, as was common practice pre war), combined with original 2 rail AF flat top track and SHS, AM, etc. etc. precisely gauged track...one could use scale sized (or close to it) flanges and have the same thrill of high speed running that some toy train enthusiasts enjoy. It is one of my biggest peaves with Lionel/AF and K-Line etc. that they persist in this completely stupid, outdated and unnecessary persuite of pre-WW2 wheel designs, without any inteligent thought. Indeed if you look closely at Lionel/AF the flange depth has actually increased since Lionel has been in China. No one gets it neither the Chinese or Lionel! It is really stupid, hello, lights are on, any one home? Just think about the increased sales for all if the current scale standards for wheel design were THE standad for all items produced in S...now we are talking bigger numbers and larger market and much broader appeal to new people/entries....What is wrong, does no one SEE this! Well enough for now, Thanks for looking Brian, S Gaugingly yours, Peter http://www.trains-4-u.blogspot.com ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
