Re: Ruby mod I'd like to see...
In a message dated 01-02-27 23:55:14 EST, you write: I don't have the funding, or the time, but I'm suprised no one has done this yet. It seems like a natural conversion. :) As one of my mentors once told me, " whatever you do to it it is still a Ruby" I think it would be easier to build something like this from parts from the various manufacturers. But then what do I know-- :-)
Re: Ruby mod I'd like to see...
I think that the notion of "...it's still a Ruby" has proven to be something akin to "it's a Baldwin." Anyone who has looked at Vance's Ruby bash page can see that folks are indeed flexing there creative muscles with this little gem. At DH, the only Rubys that looked anything like each other were the ones which were fresh from the box. That, I think, is reflective of exactly what Accucraft was trying to do with this project. While, you can put all the gift wrapping on the locomotive you want, it still has the same performance. The good news is, the performance has thus-far proven to be quite solid. And if Accucraft is as good about standing behind its products as Roundhouse and other quality builders, I don't think we're going to have to worry about hanging our heads when we say "it's still a Ruby." Later, K
Ruby mod I'd like to see...
I don't have the funding, or the time, but I'm suprised no one has done this yet. It seems like a natural conversion. :) http://www.coyotes.org/~trotfox/pix/american.gif Of course, I have an american fixation. ;] Trot, the idea-throwing, fox... /\_/\TrotFox\ Always remember, ( o o ) AKA Landon Solomon \ "There is a \./ [EMAIL PROTECTED] \ third alternative."
Re: Ruby mod I'd like to see...
There's just one problem: note the wheel spacing. That one will require a new frame and rods, in addition to the other obvious stuff. Also, to my taste, an American has to have much larger wheels that the Ruby's. Americans were passenger engines, with big drivers. Even the smallest of these little critters (I think that would be the Mt. Gretna 4-4-0) had 32" or 33" drivers and most had 45" or larger (I'm thinking of the UdeY's famous 3'-gauge 4-4-0s), while Ruby's are only 28". But the frames are the biggest problem. I think it would be easier (and more satisfying IMO) to add a third driver under the cab, to make a 0-6-0 or a Mogul than to completely recut the frames and rebuild it from the ground up. This is not to say that I wouldn't love to see what someone could surprise us all with. regards, -vance- Vance Bass Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA Small-scale live steam resources: http://www.nmia.com/~vrbass
Re: Ruby mod I'd like to see...
The wheel spacing is the same as stock... Same frames, just moved back under the cab. Same rods, just configured differently. I definately agree with the wheel size, though I have seen some narrow-gauge locos with tiny drivers that make the Ruby's look semi-normal in this configuration. However, the main reason I don't care for most of the American's that are currently available is the driver size/spacing. I like the look of the mainline locos much better than that of the wide-spaced narrow-gauge locos. The frames would have to be chopped in the middle and new mountings for the through links (valve gear rockers) would be needed. While I admit it would be more mifty to add drivers for a Mogul that would require more drivers which are not supplied when one buys a Ruby. ;] It is much easier to find small wheels for the leading truck than compatable drivers without buying a second Ruby. These are just my thoughts though and like I said, I have a thing for americans. Trot, the fox who doesn't always make sense... On Tue, 27 Feb 2001, VR Bass wrote: There's just one problem: note the wheel spacing. That one will require a new frame and rods, in addition to the other obvious stuff. Also, to my taste, an American has to have much larger wheels that the Ruby's. Americans were passenger engines, with big drivers. Even the smallest of these little critters (I think that would be the Mt. Gretna 4-4-0) had 32" or 33" drivers and most had 45" or larger (I'm thinking of the UdeY's famous 3'-gauge 4-4-0s), while Ruby's are only 28". But the frames are the biggest problem. I think it would be easier (and more satisfying IMO) to add a third driver under the cab, to make a 0-6-0 or a Mogul than to completely recut the frames and rebuild it from the ground up. This is not to say that I wouldn't love to see what someone could surprise us all with. regards, -vance- /\_/\TrotFox\ Always remember, ( o o ) AKA Landon Solomon \ "There is a \./ [EMAIL PROTECTED] \ third alternative."
