12.00 - Locomotive Components and Gearboxes

MASHIMA 16 FLAT CAN MOTOR

This is not like any other springing system you have seen. I began to develop the system when converting plastic bodied locos to P4 using Comet Models chassis kits. Subsequently, etched loco kit chassis were also built. Although this has been developed to cater for a wide range of loco types and configurations, I have not built every loco or chassis kit that has ever been sold: far from it. The following chassis have so far been built using this system:~

• GWR Locos: 2251 (0-6-0 Tender Loco), 61XX (2-6-2T), 28XX (2-8-0 Tender Loco), 57XX (0-6-0T), 
  78XX (4-6-0 Tender Loco). · 

• BR Locos: Britannia (4-6-2 Tender Loco), Standard class 4 (4-6-0 Tender Loco). · 

• Others: Drummond 700 (0-6-0 Tender Loco), Midland 2P (4-4-0 Tender Loco).

Basically, the system uses the hornguide as the frame spacer. It all builds upon a "ladder" subframe and is designed to ensure that getting the spring foundations all at the same level and fitting the sideframes square and level is made as simple as it can be. The completed chassis is very strong.

The hornblock is a box section which houses both the bearings for the driving wheel axle. It is marked left and right and also incorporates a system of marking which axle is which. This means that you can always be sure that you get the homblock the right way round and back in its original homguide. The springs are guitar wire and axle position/alignment are by means of the usual jigs used in conjunction with the locomotive's coupling rods.

You will need to be able to use a fretsaw to cut slots in the cosmetic sideframes for the loco axles once they have been fitted to the sprung subframe and also to create an aperture for the gearbox. This does not have to be done to pinpoint accuracy. You will also need a 3 to 4mm tapered broach (available from Eileen's Emporium).

The following list gives more details of the system and also lists things it will do and accommodate and those it will not (please note that this is unlikely to be a finite list).

• Closest axle spacing possible is 5' 2" (21 mm in 4mm scale).

• The WIDE version is designed to be used with chassis kits that have single thickness sideframes up to 0.5mm thick each side and gives a dimension over the finished chassis of around 16mm depending on the actual sideframe thickness with an inside frame dimension of 15 mm.

• The NARROW version is designed to be used with chassis kits where the sideframes have laminated detail overlays where the total thickness of these laminated frames is 0.9mm each side. In this case the dimension over the finished chassis is also 16 mm. The NARROW version can of course be used with single thickness sideframes in which case the dimension over the finished chassis is about 15.2 mm depending on the actual sideframe thickness. The inside frame dimension is 14.3 mm.

• The parts from the narrow and wide versions ARE NOT INTERCHANGABLE.

• Cosmetic springs are included in the system. These are easily fitted and removed.

• Wheelsets complete with bearing blocks can be dropped out through the bottom of the chassis making it easy to remove and re-fit them.

• The functional wheel springs are easily removed. Because they are guitar wire, thinner or thicker springs can be fitted depending on the loco weight.

• The chassis must be evenly balanced along its length as there is no adjustment on the springs. If the chassis is unbalanced then different spring thicknesses can be used to deal with this.

• The system includes a variety of frame spacer sizes and shapes to cater for a range of loco sizes and configurations.

• Self-aligning mounting plates for loco bogies are included.

• The system includes parts which allow the loco body to be bolted to the chassis.

• The mounting ladder frame is long enough for locos such as 9F's.

• A fret for tender coupling is available as part of the system. The tender parts are sized to fit the Masokits sprung tender subframe.

• Jigs are included on the jigs fret to set the cosmetic sideframes at the correct level. These use the axle holes in the sideframes to locate them at the correct level. This does mean that the chassis sideframes should be etched so that they can be built as a rigid chassis ie etched with holes for the axles NOT slots for springing or compensation. The slots for the axles are fretted out after the sideframes are fitted.

• Now I know that there are a few kits around where the manufacturer has etched the sideframes for compensation. Details of how this is overcome are included in the instructions.
• Both wide and narrow versions will accommodate a Portescap motor gearbox.
• The wide version will accommodate the Masokits Romford Gearbox.
• The narrow version will NOT accommodate the Masokits Romford gearbox.
• It cannot be fitted to a chassis that has been constructed already. It needs to be built into the chassis at the time of construction.
• Hanging the tender on the back of the loco is not recommended when using this system.
• As yet there are no components for pony trucks.
• Inside motion it not possible.
• Plunger pick-ups cannot be used with this system.
• Split frames are not possible.

Now I do not believe that this is a difficult system to build It just need a bit of patience and care.

Sprung loco Bogie Subframe:
This caters for  wheelbases from 4' 9" upwards and wheel diameters from 3' 0" upwards, this is suitable for P4 only.  The design includes side control springs to lead the loco and it is important that the bogie takes some of the loco weight. Guitar wire is used for the springs. Bearings and bolts included.  Side frames from a loco kit are needed to complete.