Black Beetle drive bogies

[David Foulkes]

Contrary to rumours, Black Beetle drive bogies have been available continuously despite Mashima closing down, it's just that they needed to be ordered direct from Steam Era Models in Australia.  However, things have changed and with the availability of 12mm diameter coreless motors Black Beetles can once more be ordered via Branchlines in Westbury, UK. 

The coreless motors are very robust and powerful, producing more power and more torque than either of the Mashima 1220 or 1224 motors, at a speed slightly faster than the 1224.  The availability of a 12mm diameter x 15mm long motor means that Black Beetles can now be made with wheelbases as short as 21mm with 15:1 gearing.  The current situation is that coreless 12 x 15 mm motors are used for BB with wheelbases from 21mm up to 25.75mm, then remaining Mashima 1220 motors from 26mm wheelbase up to 29.5mm, with coreless 12 x 20mm motors from 29.75mm up to 38mm wheelbase.  The last of the remaining Mashima 1224 motors are being used for Black Beetles with wheelbases from 38.25mm up to 40mm, while stocks last.  Injection moulded spacing pieces are being used to compensate for the smaller cross section of the coreless motors, so the overall dimensions of the Black Beetles remain the same, although wheelbases from 29mm up to 33mm are now assembled as per arrangement B of the attached sheet and then arrangement C for wheelbases longer than 33mm.  http://steameramodels.com/documents/BBdata.pdf

Edited March 18 by David Foulkes

[Michael Hodgson]

Thanks for posting that.  They are an excellent range, but the cost of dealing with Australian postage and customs had stopped me looking for these products when I have a potential project that would want one.  Good to know they are back.

[Richard_A]

I have been deliberating about buying two for my kitmaster Midland Pullman but as above, I have been putting it off because of postage. 

 

I should order some now.