Richard Gawler
Western Thunderer
When I joined the local society of Model Engineers, I expressed an interest in their table-top layout with its 45 and especially 32 mm dead tracks. Very casually but quite convincingly, it was pointed out that if I was thinking of getting into NG live steam, then I could buy a battery-powered loco for five-inch gauge for the same money.
I had a think about which would give me more fun, and have made a start with a (roughly) 1:5 scale loco from Maxitrak.
This should give me a diversion from the Heybridge Railway, which is now nearly three years underway and where the sample diorama and one of the locos have become wearying.
The procurement process was for me to buy a car battery from the local Halfords. Then it was easy to buy the loco, because without it the battery had no purpose
There are four colour options. I chose blue because it goes best with the decor in the living room, and this is the only space in the house to keep it.
The Planet has four motors, two per axle. If I have to justify this any more, I will say this is the largest loco I can lift in and out of the car on my own, and the smallest able to haul me up the gentle but finite gradients on the club’s track.
There are two sprung subframes, one for each axle.
I have some ideas. The loco needs a dead-man’s device or provision for a safety chain (yuk) for use with public running. I need to make up a coupling bar to bring it closer to the club’s trailer, so I can reach the controls better.
Access for fingers to lift out the battery is really tight, so some kind of cradle with a handle for the battery; and a quick-release connector for battery connections would be good too.
Then there might be better cab glazing, a headlamp, nameplates. And some less municipal-looking rolling stock.
I do not however need to add a cup holder. This is already here.
I think this will be fun.
I had a think about which would give me more fun, and have made a start with a (roughly) 1:5 scale loco from Maxitrak.
This should give me a diversion from the Heybridge Railway, which is now nearly three years underway and where the sample diorama and one of the locos have become wearying.
The procurement process was for me to buy a car battery from the local Halfords. Then it was easy to buy the loco, because without it the battery had no purpose
There are four colour options. I chose blue because it goes best with the decor in the living room, and this is the only space in the house to keep it.
The Planet has four motors, two per axle. If I have to justify this any more, I will say this is the largest loco I can lift in and out of the car on my own, and the smallest able to haul me up the gentle but finite gradients on the club’s track.
There are two sprung subframes, one for each axle.
I have some ideas. The loco needs a dead-man’s device or provision for a safety chain (yuk) for use with public running. I need to make up a coupling bar to bring it closer to the club’s trailer, so I can reach the controls better.
Access for fingers to lift out the battery is really tight, so some kind of cradle with a handle for the battery; and a quick-release connector for battery connections would be good too.
Then there might be better cab glazing, a headlamp, nameplates. And some less municipal-looking rolling stock.
I do not however need to add a cup holder. This is already here.
I think this will be fun.
