Articulation of model locomotives

[NW Modeling List]

That, and the fact that the Rivarossi articulateds ($32.95 for a Big Boy at 
every town's Woolworth's in the '70s when I was a lad) were likely designed 
for the common 18" radius trainset curves of the day.
Somewhere, I may still have MR's 1960's review of the new Rivarossi Y6b; it 
was considered state of the art at the time.

Andre Jackson and/or Lisa Burrows
Life is short; update your anti-virus software
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 5:00 PM
Subject: Re: Articulation of model locomotives



>I think one of the main reasons these folks make them articulate the way 

>they do is to simplify the drive train.  With a REAL articulated, they'd 

>have to drive the rear engine in the normal way and then run a drive shaft 

>forward to the front engine (some ingenious fellows put the motor for the 

>rear engine in the tender and the motor for the front engine in the normal 

>position, just driving the front engine through flexible couplings).

>

> They way these guys do it, they can use a double-ended motor mounted in 

> the middle of the boiler and run the front and rear engines like they 

> would a diesel.  Easier, cheaper, and WRONG.

>

> I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Bowser 4-6-6-4 and 4-8-8-4, which 

> do it right.  They're big engines, though, and are capable of sweeping 

> cars on outer curves off the track if you maintain normal track spacing. 

> But they will go through a #6 crossover, etc. . .

>

> Ed King

>

>

> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> To: "NW Modeling List" <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 5:03 PM

> Subject: Articulation of model locomotives

>

>

>> Since we now are on this subject, one that is close to my love of them, I 

>> have many locomotives that are articulated from many manufacturers( BLI, 

>> Athearn, Mantua, Riv, Life Like,Brass, and Intermountain).

>> Of the plastic/metal ones Mantua and Intermountain are correct in the 

>> articulation.  The cab forward from Intermountain has less over hang than 

>> the BLI and will work down to 22 inch curves, the Mantua one will work on 

>> 16 inch curves.  The problem I see is that these articulated locomotives 

>> had restrictions in the prototype and we do not place them on our models. 

>> These larger locomotives do not look very good on small curves and the 

>> front couplers cause problems when trying to push cars.

>>

>> As for the Riv Y, I converted one to articulate properly (article in the 

>> Arrow).  Once converted it would still work on an 18 curve without a big 

>> overhang.  Doing the articulation correctly is not a problem it is just 

>> easier to continue to produce locomotives as they have been done in the 

>> past. As for the size of the curve, my old layout had 39 and 41 inch 

>> curves and the BLI locomotives would knock off cars on the second track 

>> because of the overhang.  None of the other locomotives did this.  This 

>> is why I will not purchase any other locomotive from BLI that is 

>> articulated.

>>

>> Regards,

>>

>> Kurt S. Kramke

>>

>>

>>>From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>Date: 2008/01/22 Tue AM 08:30:58 CST

>>>To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>

>>>Subject: Re: I sure would like to see a 4-8-0

>>

>>>Mark,

>>>

>>>What size radius curves do you have? Some people don't have space for 

>>>huge radius curves and this method of articulation that you hate allows 

>>>them to run on the tighter radius curves. The overhang created by your 

>>>form of articulation would take out scenery on many layouts. Why don't 

>>>we just enjoy the locomotives.

>>>

>>>John Rhodes

>>>

>>>On Jan 22, 2008 8:21 AM, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 

>>>wrote:

>>>I have given up on the Manufacturers. Â The BLI Y6b, while it LOOKS good, 

>>>and RUNS GOOD, it articulates WRONG! Â The Powerhouse series of Y3's got 

>>>it right. Â So, what is BLI's excuse for copying Rivorosi's 55 year old 

>>>concept? Â Same for the BLI "A". Â That was a bad choice they made.Â

>>>

>>>Mark Lindsey

>>>

>>>

>>>

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>>

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>

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