Skytrex Y6 Tram Chassis

[mike lee]

I have just purchased a Skytrex Y6 'Tram' engine body shell SMR401K. I know they recommend the ETS r-t-r power bogie 247 but I have read that this has coarse wheels? I have emailed ETS a couple of times asking what the gear ratio is and also the shaft diameter of the bogie, to see if the wheels could be changed, I have not had any reply?

 

I have had a search on the RMWeb to see if this topic has come up before but have not located anything, if something exists could you please point me in the right direction.

 

If not, my questions are, please:

 

- has anybody built the Skytrex Y6 using the ETS 247, if so, was it OK?

 

- has anybody used the ETS 247, and modified it? If so, do you have any details please.

 

- has anybody used a different chassis and if so, which, and do you have any details please.

 

- has anybody scratch-built a chassis, and if so, do you have any details please.

 

Whilst searching for information I did come across the article by Jim Read: "Making a 7mm O Gauge LNER Y8 side tank loco from card for about £30" which I found very interesting and has certainly given me food for thought.

 

Hope somebody can help, Regards Mike Lee

 

[NeilHB]

Hi Mike, 

 

I have one of the Skytrex kits which I've mounted on a regauged Bachmann 0n30 streetcar chassis - surprisingly easy to do, and it's a nice sweet running chassis. 

 

I'll take some photos later when I'm home and pop them on here for you. 

 

Regards, 

 

Neil

[NeilHB]

I’ve taken a few photos of my Skytrex tram for you Mike -

 

 

Underneath showing the chassis in place

 

It’s just held in place with some very snug plastic strip - means I can take it out easily for maintainance but it won’t fall out of its own accord (hopefully!)

 

The chassis itself - I will admit that I bought mine ready converted, however the job doesn’t look too difficult at all, and appears to involve opening out the gear on the axle slightly to accept the slightly larger diameter axle for the Slaters/Peco wagon wheels. Pickups adjusted to suit and away it goes - it’s a nice smooth chassis, not sure of haulage capacity yet as the layout isn’t finished.

 

 

Hope these are useful for you.

 

Jim - your card Y6 is exquisite!

Edited March 13, 2018 by NeilHB

[Metropolitan H]

Going back to Mike's original e-mail, I recommend getting in touch with Paul Lumsdon at www.wjvintage.co.uk. See:

 

Address:      WJVintage

                    29 Wood Road

                    Kings Cliffe PE8 6XF

 

Telephone:    07711 092497

Email:            wjvintage@outlook.com

 

Although WJVintage specialises in models of the "Deliberately Old Fashioned" variety, Paul is an ETS stockist and has good links to them.

 

You should be able to purchase one of the ETS mechanisms - which are good - with less coarse wheels. Talk to Paul.

 

An alternative mechanism - which will run on 0 FS track is the old Lima motor bogie - I have one under my 1970s built "Highfield" kit based exGE tram loco. But you would need to modify the Skytrex boiler moulding.

 

Regards

Chris H

[mike lee]

Thanks for all the replies everybody.

 

Neil, I have a couple of the Bachmann 0n30 streetcars, that is certainly an option. A similar approach I was thinking about was to use a Hornby chassis with a better motor and extending the axels. There was also an article in Railway Modeller, June 2104, on improving the gear ratio, called ‘Taming ‘Smokey Joe’.

 

Jim, thanks for the PDF’s files and the info on the motors you emailed me. I am certainly considering this idea for the chassis although I will probably use plasticard. Nothing against card, I used it for the buildings on my OO gauge layout and was amazed at how strong they were, for me I just think working with plasticard will be better, though I will probably have a go at making one with card. I also think I might have a go at an LNER Y8 side tank, that’s a lovely model you made. Also that’s a lovely model of the Y6 Tram.

 

I have sent for the following motors, from tinternet, from ‘surever9’, a few people sell them but ‘surever9’ were the cheapest. Jim gave me the type he had used #1 below, plus details on another #2 below, I added #3 the Mabuchi, these are so that I can have a good ‘mess about’ for this project and other things, can’t fall off, three motors for £8.15 including postage.

 

#1, Carbon Brush High Speed DC12-24V 5 Pole Rotor Compensates Mini Micro Motor 

#2, DC 12V 24V Strong NdFeB Magnetic 5-Pole Rotor Micro Mini Carbon Brush Motor

#3, DC 6V-12V Mabuchi RS-385SA Carbon Brush Motor

 

Now I just have to wait until the motors come.

 

Not come across this before, but, one site sold all three motors, was cheaper, showed the prices in £ sterling, then when I went to pay using Paypal they then showed the price in dollars, they then did a dollar conversion on my credit card and came out more expensive, 0.70p on £8.15. (0.70p not much, but why should I have to pay it?)

 

Regards Mike

 

[Markeg]

Hi Jim, Mike and others,

 

I have purchased the Skytrex Y6 Tram Engine kit when they were recently produced.

 

I will be building a chassis out of Styrene/Plastic with Alan Gibson OO gauge wheels, etc.  I have plenty of these spare at the right size.

I was wondering what you did for conrods.  Did you buy some or have you made them?

 

Thanks for you help in advance.

Photo of my little O gauge layout. Filching Rd Yard.

 

Mark in Oz.

 

 

 

[mike lee]

Sorry for no update but I had to finish a layout that was booked at a show and this took up a lot of my time. I received the motors OK plus I found a couple more I had stored away. Have also bought and acquired a load of cogs and gears. However an imminent house move has now got in the way, so by the time I build my railway room in the spare bedroom of the new bungalow it will probably be after Christmas before I can get round to doing some proper modelling. Will update when I have something to write about! In the meantime if anybody has any further suggestions just keep them coming.

 

Regards Mike