halfwit's fantastic workbench!

Looks lovely, Paul. It's 2-axle drive, isn't it?

 

I had a lot of trouble with my Impetus 48DS until recently (I'd bought it assembled from someone else in the club). Being single axle drive, it would hardly pull itself along, let alone the skin off any lurking rice puddings, despite having had lead added to every nook and cranny.

 

In the end, I removed the pick ups, which were back-wipers on the rear of the flanges, and made from fairly heavy gauge brass wire, and substituted new ones from 0/3mm N/S wire, with copper pads soldered on the ends, and which picked up from the top edge of the flanges. I was amazed by the improvement in the running, and rice puddings now run quaking from the room whenever it appears...

Nice work Paul. These are definitely 4w/2 axle drive CK (dad has one):

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/428/entry-10766-judith-edge-ruston-48ds-pick-up-brackets/

 

The principle problem encountered in trials is that the wheels, being very small, get rather grubby quite quickly and that does impair running...

 

Adam

 the wheels, being very small, get rather grubby quite quickly and that does impair running...

Thinking about it, it occurs to me that having the pick ups acting on the tops of the wheel treads might attract more dirt, Paul?

Thanks for the comments, and the 'likes'.

 

Thinking about it, it occurs to me that having the pick ups acting on the tops of the wheel treads might attract more dirt, Paul?

 

Yes, that's a possibility. There's not a lot of room for a wider pick-up, I did try 2mm strip but then I had problems fitting the wire to the motor, which I've run between the pick-ups and the chassis. If it is a problem I could solder pads to the ends of the phos. bronze strips to act on the flange edge, but for now I'll wait and see how it runs.

 

Paul.

Nice work, Paul. I think top-acting wiper are the only way to go with these little lovelies. Although Having an RT chassis spare, I am tempted to try split axles...

I think the "skin off a rice pudding effect" is one of their joys. A single 16T mineral or a 12T van will be the limit of mine. I eventually got and HL gearbox in mine, but the driver keeps getting his ears burnt by the flywheel... there will be cab sidesheets....

 

..two brake levers for the dia 108 bent this afternoon. A victory in my battles withe the Gods of Mojo....