bogieman Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Can anyone advise me on making or purchasing a rolling road test bed for 2mm FS locos. I've tried one sold for N gauge locos and although it's fine with wide N gauge drivers, my 2mm scale loco has wheels that seem too thin to stay on the rollers. Any bright ideas? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I use a length of track with a lump of wood at each end, and just run the loco along it, sometimes run it skidding into the buffer. Since getting into DCC and rail electronics, this is now augmented with sensors which will auto-reverse the loco. ( and why has RMWeb shrunk the font size ??) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium CF MRC Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2012 ( and why has RMWeb shrunk the font size ??) Because of the smaller scale, 2mm posts should take up less room? Tim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
richbrummitt Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Any bright ideas? Turn some wide rollers with grooves to accomodate the flanges and an insulating centre? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2mm Andy Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I've heard good things about the Bachrus range - linky thing here. (no connection to manufacturer or trader). Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanLister Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I've heard good things about the Bachrus range - linky thing here. (no connection to manufacturer or trader). Andy I've got a set of the Bachrus saddles...seem to work perfectly OK with the Assn drop-in wheelsets, but haven't tried with a steam loco yet. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tequila Sunrise Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 A friend bought some roller bearings on ebay and made his own - but for 4mm scale. I have some now, but have not had a chance to put all the pieces together yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogieman Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 I've got a set of the Bachrus saddles...seem to work perfectly OK with the Assn drop-in wheelsets, but haven't tried with a steam loco yet. Ian Yes I've tried the Bachrus and fine for 7mm, 4mm and N but not too happy with finescale 2mm drivers, keeps falling sideways and off, that's why I asked really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2mm Andy Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 That's odd - Aside from Ian's experience, I've heard of others who use them on 2FS track with no problems. Is it worth trying to set them to a slightly narrower gauge to mitigate against the wheels falling sideways? Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dorset Wanderer Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 No problems with mine provided you use the same track you are going to run on-Trouble may occur when using coarse scale track with fine scale drivers. Just a happy user. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHS Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I have a full set if Bachrus saddles and stirrups and have never had a problem with them. You need to gauge them accurately for 9.42mm and then set them at the exact wheelbase for the loco in question. Even my rewheeled Farish steamers with old Ballantine wheel sets (which are somewhat wobbly!) are ok in the saddles and will run-in happily for hours without de-saddling. Edward S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 65179 Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2012 Another vote for the bachrus saddle (40 series). I've set mine up on a small bit of board with two thick strips of nickel silver acting as the rails just to make a more sturdy base. Edward's comments about gauging and position definitely apply, but I too have had my two steam locos working happily on them for hours at a time. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogieman Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 I've taken all advice given and tried Bachrus again and yes they do work on fine scale 2mm locos. I've discovered the problem though, the rollers sit about a mm higher than the plain unrollered piece so that my 0-4-4T that has the bogie sitting on the plain fitting, is tipped back so that the front driver doesn't sit on the roller, hence the problem. Has anyone else checked with a steel rule along two sets of rollers to see if it's the same height as the plain fitting? No problem if the plain fitting is holding a tender, but in the case of the 0-4-4T it appears to be. I guess a strip of metal attached to the top of plain fitting will solve the problem, but interested to know if it's just mine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EHS Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 All the trucks/bogies on my locos have loads of vertical travel and so are self adjusting. I have never noticed a height difference 'twixt saddle and stirrup but will check next time I have them out. Edward S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogieman Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 I've always found that a problem with rolling roads is that it doesn't "exercise" the bogie and tender wheels, and on handmade 2mm models they can sometimes be a bit tight at first. I find a shuttle with electronic control of reversing does a good job. And it looks more interesting as well as enabling you to run in a wagon or coach. About 40 years ago I had a shuttle cotrolled by a beam of light each end but it got broken when I lent it to someone. It could be used on any scale and any length of track as it was portable. I then used a commercial system that depended on a loco crossing some sort of isolated section which was a bit dodgy plus timing controls within the electronics and as a result fixed to a piece of track on a board. That seems to have gone past it's sell by date. So my question is (as I know nothing about electronics) where can I get a really simple shuttle control that's portable onto any length of track. Plus can you shuttle a DCC loco given that the track is AC (I think). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 So my question is (as I know nothing about electronics) where can I get a really simple shuttle control that's portable onto any length of track. Plus can you shuttle a DCC loco given that the track is AC (I think). Yes to both. With DC, there are several makers of such devices. With DCC, its more complex and a "it depends" sort of answer.... a) Digitrax, ESU and NCE command stations, there are reasonably cheap add-on bits of hardware which will do it. b ) Any other command station with an interface to the JMRI software running on cheap computer can do it. (So that's most of the market in the UK except for Bachmann Dynamis and Gaugemaster/MRC Prodigy). c) Any command station, no computers, but have to use Lenz silver/gold decoders. Trouble with ( c ) is that they are not the best decoders for 2mm locos, so I would discard it. - Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogieman Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Yes to both. With DC, there are several makers of such devices. - Nigel That's interesting to know Nigel, it's just that when I "Googled" I didn't find any although I have since found that Gaugemaster do one.. With DCC it sounds like it might be too complicated although worth looking into. Is there anywhere that one can read up a bit about it. But until then I'll just run locos in DC before fitting decoder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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