locomad2 Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 Acquired a Playcraft 0-4-0 recently working and complete, I have a few bodies but never had a chassis Opening it up quite surprised with the size of the can motor, plus quite solid brass gears axles etc Wheels are good too, tyres are brass too Runs very well taking very low voltage 3.2v and very low amps 0.01, ok on peco 100 points and doesn't tend to stall on insolfrog. Considering its about 50 years old it's in good condition it's outlasted many more expensive and more detailed locos expect it will continue to do so, yet purchased at a very low price, seems no-one interested in them Remember well this loco causing quite a stir in the Model press in early 1970's in days before mass media, YouTube, Facebook forums, etc, they almost had a monopoly on reviews. Consumer magazine "Which" did a review on model railways and described it as excellent value for money and very realistic "British outline model". At the time my father subscribed to "Which" and promptly cancelled subscription. 6 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
33C Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 With a light oil and clean, shiny wheels, they can make shunting interesting! A nice, flywheel, action. I'm surprised the chassis does not appear under any scratch built, narrow gauge models? Or, with a change of body, more standard gauge loco's or railcars. Everyone should try one at least once! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Slough Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 I have a pair of these, one clockwork & one electric, also consider the electric chassis remarkable for its free running nature although mine is missing the spur gear so its 2-wheel drive.. Given that its based on a USATC 0-6-0 tank the accuracy is somewhat wanting.... If anyone wants them LMK.... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted March 5, 2023 Share Posted March 5, 2023 3 hours ago, locomad2 said: Acquired a Playcraft 0-4-0 recently working and complete, I have a few bodies but never had a chassis Remember well this loco causing quite a stir in the Model press in early 1970's in days before mass media, More likely the early '60s as Playcraft Railways ceased in 1969. After that it did reappear here as a Jouef model, I believe. It was, of course, made by Jouef in the first place. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neil Posted March 5, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 5, 2023 I have one of these too and the flywheel effect of the big motor and the crown and pinion gears make it a beautiful runner even if the appearance is a bit suspect. I've often wondered if it would be possible to build a more 'scale' body for it. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
locomad2 Posted March 5, 2023 Author Share Posted March 5, 2023 5 hours ago, BernardTPM said: More likely the early '60s as Playcraft Railways ceased in 1969. After that it did reappear here as a Jouef model, I believe. It was, of course, made by Jouef in the first place. I've done some research and your right it's early 60's, apparently sold RRP 35/- but often cheaper and in sets. Over 2 Million made. the motor is a M40 "large sausage" type (translation from French). As mentioned remarkable free running, hence doesn't stall on points etc like most 0-4-0 models, extremely low current, apparently could be run on 4.5v batteries, assume due to a large fly wheel inside the can. If you suddenly cut the current it still travels a few inches with the wheels revolving so stopping at speed is challenging. Grandkids will love it. Will be looking for a few more, 2 chassis without the connecting rods would make interesting bogies for Bo-Bo diesels with added weight 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dava Posted March 6, 2023 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 6, 2023 The diesel shunter was a good representation of a NBL loco as used by BR in Scotland. Dava 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
33C Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Snap them up quick before they become "L@@K!, RARE!"..... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 The 1960s version of the NBL Type 2 (later Class 21/29) also used a similar drive (to both bogies) with similar, free running results. I suspect it was used in a lot of 1960s Jouef models as the NBL bogies were French in outline. As an aside, that really was a 00/H0 model: H0 length and 00 width! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 (edited) I always thought they were a 'look alike, but not very' of something SNCF. I've a couple of green clockwork ones. Occasionally they get wound up and let go. Painting the buffer* beam red improves the appearance immensely. *I won't translate this! I've a Jouef French* Pacific with the flyweel motor in a drawer, in need of TLC, but way down the list. Elle marche, mais.... * As in she's clearly French, but of indefinite antecedents. EDIT This one: http://lestrainsjouef.free.fr/en/vap_fra/231c_sncf.html Mine is the black plastic effort. Edited March 7, 2023 by Il Grifone "thought" that got lost in translation (normal!) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, 33C said: Snap them up quick before they become "L@@K!, RARE!"..... Being curious, I had a look on ebay, a very clean electric one with "Hornby Dublo" coupling was listed for £12.50 plus delivery and was sold as I was looking at it! Two green clockwork ones are listed at £5 and £9.50, the cheaper has a rather bent Triang style coupling, the more expensive a HD coupling. Finally, Gostude has an electric one, with a missing central spur gear, so its 2 wheel drive and Triang couplings for £34.50. But thats Gostude for you*.... * See Ebay Madness passim.... Edited March 6, 2023 by Hroth Mechanical update... 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
33C Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 The Jouef Nord Pacific with the big can motor is a lovely mover. Just bought 5 wagon lit sleepers to match for a "Night Ferry" vibe! Which reminds me, I must motorise my Kitmaster French mountain 4.8.2..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Slough Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 United States Army Transport Corps S100 class, also known as Southern Railway "USA" Tank 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 The SNCF had quite a few of them too, their Class 030TU. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 A tinplate style model of the SNCF 030TU was made by ETS: Regards Fred 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus1 Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 SNCB/NMBS had some yank tanks too! Jouef/Playcraft done some nice mineral water box vans in the late 1960's also reasonably priced. I've just found a couple of Playcraft BR open wagons in one of my "bitsa" boxes. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
33C Posted March 6, 2023 Share Posted March 6, 2023 9 hours ago, Captain Slough said: United States Army Transport Corps S100 class, also known as Southern Railway "USA" Tank You know how it is, you get a cheapo loco and then...... 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ngtrains.com Posted March 6, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 6, 2023 My first train set when I as four (1964) had one of them and the North British diesel. With the playcraft controller they were both quite controllable. A few years later Dad bought me a 2nd hand Triang Princess Elizabeth as compo for a hospital stay. It wouldn’t run with the Playcraft controller so it was another trip to Sheila Hames shop in Reginald Street, Derby for a second hand controller. Now the Princess ran but the Playcraft engines now had just one speed somewhere close to warp 10. I suspect the Playcraft controller current limited in some way. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leezer3 Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 You'll find there are various variations on this and the NBL & the 0-4-0 shunter chassis. These are what I know of: Large can, brass wheels & all wheel drive is earliest. Later variants have drive to one set of wheels only (bogie in the NBL case). Usually silver wheels, I presume Nickel silver. Final variants have a motor similar to the X04, shared with the Jouef Class 40. Single wheel drive on this. Silver wheels again. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 11 hours ago, ngtrains.com said: My first train set when I as four (1964) had one of them and the North British diesel. With the playcraft controller they were both quite controllable. A few years later Dad bought me a 2nd hand Triang Princess Elizabeth as compo for a hospital stay. It wouldn’t run with the Playcraft controller so it was another trip to Sheila Hames shop in Reginald Street, Derby for a second hand controller. Now the Princess ran but the Playcraft engines now had just one speed somewhere close to warp 10. I suspect the Playcraft controller current limited in some way. It will be the source resistance in the Controller, Tri-ang X.04s (etc,) draw somthing over half an amp on full load, whereas the Jouef motors require rather less, Their pulling power reflects this. The answer is a variable transformer controller or some complicated transistor device. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, leezer3 said: You'll find there are various variations on this and the NBL & the 0-4-0 shunter chassis. These are what I know of: Large can, brass wheels & all wheel drive is earliest. Later variants have drive to one set of wheels only (bogie in the NBL case). Usually silver wheels, I presume Nickel silver. Final variants have a motor similar to the X04, shared with the Jouef Class 40. Single wheel drive on this. Silver wheels again. There must have been a transitional phase, as the one I saw on ebay yesterday (before it went!) had the large can motor, the spur gear for all-wheel drive but it had silver wheels rather than brass. @33C Yours scrubs up well! Edited March 7, 2023 by Hroth 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
33C Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 23 minutes ago, Hroth said: There must have been a transitional phase, as the one I saw on ebay yesterday (before it went!) had the large can motor, the spur gear for all-wheel drive but it had silver wheels rather than brass. @33C Yours scrubs up well! Cheers! Paper clip handrails and a repaint lifts it up, and shunting is fun... 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 It would be fun to do one in the KWVR livery.... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
33C Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 2 hours ago, Hroth said: It would be fun to do one in the KWVR livery.... You read my mind..... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted March 7, 2023 Share Posted March 7, 2023 And for the first coach paint a Ratio Midland First in blue and white. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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