Suggest a 16.5mm gauge good quality motor bogie please

[chaz]

I have no very little knowledge of OO, my modelling is usually 7mm/1ft (O gauge) however I have need of a four wheel motor bogie to run on OO gauge track. Can you suggest a good quality bogie that is DCC friendly? The wheel base is unimportant but it must run well, smooth and slow. It doesn't have to be RTR - I am quite happy to put a kit together. Or I could buy a RTR diesel and steal the bogie from it - but there the price might become a factor.

 

Chaz

Edited October 18, 2017 by chaz

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

The RTR specimens from twin bogie traction will usually have traction tyres, not so useful for running solo.

 

Hornby's 4W Sentinel diesel has had good reports, and that's essentially a motor bogie. Good offers on price ATM.

[chaz]

Black Beetle, Bull Ant and Tenshodo spring to mind, but the latter isn't really DCC-friendly. The others are made Down Under with the BA build to order and spec. and the BB available in various sizes. For kits, there's High Level Kits.

 

HTH!

 

 

The RTR specimens from twin bogie traction will usually have traction tyres, not so useful for running solo.

 

Hornby's 4W Sentinel diesel has had good reports, and that's essentially a motor bogie. Good offers on price ATM.

 

Thanks for those suggestions , chaps! I told a slight fib, I am familiar with the Tenshodo SPUD and am not a big fan. The Hornby Sentinel sounds interesting - but will it pivot as a bogie should? I suppose one could fit it with a stirrup of some sort with a pivot on its top? Seems to sell for around £50 - would that be the going rate?

 

I should have said I want to use it as a bogie, and have a number of bogies already that can do the unpowered end of this planned doodlebug.....

 

I definitely don't want anything with traction tyres - reliable pickup is more important especially as this will be a single car on two bogies, so no great haulage powers are needed.

Chaz

Edited October 17, 2017 by chaz

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

That opens a lot more options, if the driven bogie doesn't have to have the motor on it, but can instead be shaft driven from a body mounted motor? If the motor must be on the bogie then ignore what follows.

 

Hattons have been giving away the Heljan parcels car for example. http://www.hattons.co.uk/83443/Heljan_8920_Class_128_DPU_55991_in_BR_blue_with_yellow_ends_Parcels_Service_/StockDetail.aspx

Essentially an all wheel drive and pick up BR mk1. These drives are eminently choppable for length, or for the cost of an additional motor provides two driven bogies

Edited October 18, 2017 by 34theletterbetweenB&D

[hayfield]

Have a look at Highlevel kits, not used their bogies, but their gearboxes are stunning, the owner is so helpful. I have a Pacemaker to fit into an old MTK railcar, not quite the same but the quality is exceptional

 

http://173.254.28.51/~highlev3/chris/Pages/bogiepage.html

[chaz]

That opens a lot more options, if the driven bogie doesn't have to have the motor on it, but can instead be shaft driven from a body mounted motor? If the motor must be on the bogie then ignore what follows.

 

Hattons have been giving away the Heljan parcels car for example. http://www.hattons.co.uk/83443/Heljan_8920_Class_128_DPU_55991_in_BR_blue_with_yellow_ends_Parcels_Service_/StockDetail.aspx

Essentially an all wheel drive and pick up BR mk1. These drives are eminently choppable for length, or for the cost of an additional motor provides two driven bogies

 

 

Hmm, tempting, £59 and two powered and pick-upped bogies (?) - might well be just the thing. 

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Chaz

[chaz]

Have a look at Highlevel kits, not used their bogies, but their gearboxes are stunning, the owner is so helpful. I have a Pacemaker to fit into an old MTK railcar, not quite the same but the quality is exceptional

 

http://173.254.28.51/~highlev3/chris/Pages/bogiepage.html

 

Thanks for that. I did have a look at this site yesterday. A problem is that they don't give any info' (or at least I couldn't find any) on their LoRider bogie - which does look interesting.

 

Chaz

[hayfield]

Thanks for that. I did have a look at this site yesterday. A problem is that they don't give any info' (or at least I couldn't find any) on their LoRider bogie - which does look interesting.

 

Chaz

 

I think the owners name is Chris, just give him a call, he is extremely helpful (think there is a competition between him and Dave Ellis of Southeastern Finecast for the most helpful model railway trader) and will be able to advise if it will suite your purposes  

[chaz]

I think the owners name is Chris, just give him a call, he is extremely helpful (think there is a competition between him and Dave Ellis of Southeastern Finecast for the most helpful model railway trader) and will be able to advise if it will suite your purposes  

 

 

Thanks for that John. 

 

I decided to get a Heljan parcels car (cheap as chips and RTR). The body will be discarded and the chassis chopped about ready for it to be popped under an On30 doodlebug. I may well scratch build the body - or it could be a kit-bash. I need to see the Heljan unit to decide what shape the body will be and how it will be attached.

 

Chaz