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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2009 20:10:25 GMT
Some of you may know that I have been testing one of these motor units and I have found very good results which I should pass on. I bought one Endo Motor unit from John Polley of Metromodels and I retrofitted a Harrow Modelshop all white metal standard stock DM. The Endo Bogie is the same wheelbase and wheel size as a Tenshodo WB26. Physically it is very slightly higher so some mods had to be done.
I run a four car unit with a Tenshodo motor bogie in each DM. With this configuration, the Tenshodo bogies would struggle and give out on a 2% gradient. As expected just running one DM and trailer, gives the same result. I found that the Endo Bogie has a little more than twice the power and has no such problems pulling the the same up a 2% gradient.
The Endo Bogies are quieter and smoother at low speeds, but having a "split" metal body, where each respective side of the housing carries current from the wheels, makes it a bit more involved to adapt for DCC operation.
My plan is to use these on the EFE 38TS conversions when more become available.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2009 20:45:24 GMT
Hi Cyberman. Thanks for the info. Although I haven't tested the stock on anything like a layout yet I am hoping that Tenshodos work for me as that is what I have put in my Ballast Motors. They will only have one trailer (a Railgrinder converted from a Radley 1927 control trailer) so, hopefully, will not struggle. It has to be said that my set is from the Radley Models range with resin bodies. A friend of mine uses Tenshodos with no trouble with two motor bogies each end of a four-car set. Having said that, his layout is level (give or take the undulations from his dodgy tracklaying) and he has replaced the Harrow whitemetal bodies on his trailer cars with the Radley resin ones.
Have you managed to fit pick-ups to the rear bogies on the DMs? I was daunted by this task but had a go anyway and was pleasantly surprised by the result. I bodged a set up with phosphor-bronze strip and plasticard and it seems to work quite well. If you like I will send you a couple of pictures.
My own EFE conversions use Tenshodos but with two in one vehicle. This avoids the task of fitting trailing bogie pick-ups as even my dodgy soldering skills can wire two of them together. I also use trailing wheels from Branchlines in Westbury, Wilts, for the other vehicles and make my own bearings from brass tube. As supplied, EFE vehicles don't even roll downhill! My plan is to use two motor bogies per four-car set and four per seven-car set.
Now all I need to do is build a layout.........
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2009 14:07:47 GMT
Hi Glyn. You should do well the resin body Radley models. A four car unit in all white metal is very heavy, approx 2lbs in weight and the poor little tenshodos struggle when hauling this thing up hill. As for the pick ups on the DM trailing bogies, I don't bother (except in the case of the battery loco). Instead, I substitute the carriage couplers with micro connectors and run power the full length of the train so there's a pick-up at both ends at the motor bogies. This allows power for lighting in each carriage.
The EFE stock is pretty grim as far as the wheels and bearings are concerned. Would be interested in learning more of your adaptations for the bearings on these. I'm about to undertake the same thing with a six car 38ts, where I'm planning to use 3 Endo motor units.
I built a Metromodels 92 stock six car unit a few years ago which has two tenshodos at each end and that really has reserve, no question it goes up gradients without any hesitation.
More later I'm sure.
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metman
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Post by metman on Jun 25, 2009 15:48:22 GMT
I'm very interested in these bogies. However, I mostly use surface stock and the endos are only available in 26mm base?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2009 16:04:42 GMT
Hi Metman. Yes, only 26mm and 10.5 dia wheels. That's what I'm told by John Polley, although you might consider Black Beetles for surface stock. I have used these and they are silky smooth at low speed and quiet.
Best, cyberman
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neilw
now that's what I call a garden railway
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Post by neilw on Jun 30, 2009 8:56:52 GMT
I have overcome the problem with the EFE bogies by using the plastic bogie mouldings available from Metromodels, and pin-point wheels from Branchlines (EM in my case). This gives an extremely free running basic bogie. To this I have grafted the EFE sideframes chopped off the bogie and thinned down. If the Metromodels bogie is used upside-down, there is room to use the EFE mounting arrangement cut off and glued in place. End result, the bogies look exactly like the original EFE ones, all ride heights are correct, and the running is superb. A non-motorised 3-car test train (a very powerful DM-NDM-DM!) passed the John Polley seal of approval when he visited me last Saturday. This arrangement works because the bogie side frames on the EFE models are slightly too narrow. On the real thing (measured in the garden!), the shoebeams are exactly in line with the body sides/solebar. The mistake on the model fortunately allows for the extra width to be inserted. Since EM can be accomodated, OO should be fine. If anyone is interested, I will try to write a short article/pictures. The next step is to try a motorising experiment utilising a Black Beetle, per the EMGS instructions. Then, of course there is the small matter of the layout........
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 14:27:37 GMT
Hi Neilw, John had mentioned to me that someone had come up with a scheme to modify the EFE bogies...you must be the man. And, yes an article of sorts would be most welcome. The Metromodels bogies are very good and I have had experience with both Romford and Black Beetle wheel stock which seems to work well. Of course you have the genuine article right there (he says with great envy).
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 20:10:03 GMT
An article would be very useful. Thanks for that. As for the layout, I can identify with that one completely!
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metman
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Post by metman on Jun 30, 2009 23:21:07 GMT
as can I.....
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neilw
now that's what I call a garden railway
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Post by neilw on Jul 1, 2009 9:11:06 GMT
OK guys, article to follow in a few days. As for the layout, at least the plans are done, baseboards done, track purchased, signals purchased, and a 1mm/ft model of the model built to check overall layout. House and garden currently taking priority due to fine weather, so expect modelling to recommence soon ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2009 10:16:53 GMT
You lucky soul. All that AND a tube car in the garden. I can see my wifes face now........
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mrfs42
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Post by mrfs42 on Jul 1, 2009 11:46:03 GMT
You've got it easy! We've got the WTT library in our bedroom!  Look forward to the article, Neil. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2009 14:13:00 GMT
Sounds good Neil! Have started to look at the Metromodels trailing bogies myself with great trepidation (I feel another trip to the UK coming on).
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neilw
now that's what I call a garden railway
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Post by neilw on Jul 28, 2009 10:03:03 GMT
Following his visit to me recently, John Polley has now introduced an upgrade kit for EFE models, to improve the running. The kit uses his injection moulding with the EFE side frames grafted on. He has taken some ideas from what I have done, plus input from others (cyberman?). There are detailed instructions on his Metromodels website. It looks a good and relatively cheap upgrade, well worth a try for those in need of improved running, IMHO.
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