Large Scale Central

Anyone built a 1/20.3 Rotary as a rolling model?

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

GME has made both types, ones that function (plows snow) and ones that don’t. I believe I was told a few years ago that they now only sell non-functioning kits.

One of the older 1:20 builders who passed away a few years back (he lived in Colorado and also made the Bear Wiz models - his name escapes me… Jim maybe?) - he made a few rotary units as custom orders - though they were VERY pricey.

I’ve seen a few other one-offs… I think George Konrad built one, and there are a few live steam ones running in Germany.

There have also been some attempts to “upsize” or kitbash other units into 1:20.3 stuff.

Final thought - at one point I read that RGMUK was going to offer a model. I think David has his own model but never offered them for sale - if you email him, there’s a chance he might sell you a kit, or partial kit… If you’re lucky you might be able to get the “box” as a kit, and then you’d just have to build your own shroud.

Hope this helps.

#2

Grizzly Mountain Engineering offered one:

http://www.g-m-e.com/snowplows.html

#3

look up Sean…http://largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/18183/2013-winter-run-photo-thread/view/page/2 his working one…have seen a photo step by step on one of these forums of his build…really a nice piece of work…if your interested in wedge plows at all, feal free to check out my albums for some ideas

Hope this is some help…later All…Gerry

#4

Boomer Keel said:

Steve

That is one heck of a model but it is a little out of my price range.

Maybe I will make a run up to Chama for pic and measurements this summer.

Way out of my price range also. If I could just figure out the winning lottery numbers! :slight_smile:

#5

Grizzly never came through with the project.

#6

Not exactly… I know of at least 2 “complete” units that shipped before they had delays. One of those as I heard hit a rock or chestnut or something and caused some damage - hence the “non plowing” versions going forward.

(At least one other made it to Dean Lowe out in SoCal. The old 1:20me website had tons of photos. If I remember correct it said Dean spent more money on detailing and fixing the mistakes on the model than the original price of the model from GME!! Ouch!)

I’ve heard rumors of a few other guys having their units shipped - but never met or have seen any.

More recently, GME started shipping the “kits” - I’ve seen a few since late last year, both in the US and in Europe so I know first hand that, though slow, he is at least getting some of the kit orders out.

#7

Not 1:20.3, but I use a USA Trains rotary.

I had it converted to battery power and the rotary motor was replaced with an Accucraft K-27 motor. Lots of power and torque. I also added Phoenix sound.

I kitbashed an Aristo C-16 tender and coupled it to the rotary with a drawbar. Adding a tender really improves the look of a USA Trains rotary.

(http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/4299/snowplowing1.jpg)

(http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/1246/snowplowing2.jpg)

#8

You can pick up a quick pic book on the rotary. It has pictures of just about everything.

Sloan’s “century” book has a complete set of dimensions as well.

http://quickpicbooks.homestead.com/files/drgwrotaryombook.html

http://www.quickpicbooks.com/files/2ndcent10/2ndCent_10.html

I used the one on Derrick OP when I built my model of it. Came in real handy, showing close up detail.

#9

…grinning…

#10

If you don’t need a working model, it seems like it wouldn’t be overly difficult to scratch-build one.

#11

I built a rotary last year. I started with a kitchen car from USAT, added a cupola from a caboose and built a custom shroud for the 5" vacuum impellar blade which is turned by a battery powered drill. This year we have actually received plowable snow and there has been alto of fine tuning to get the rotary to throw just right.

A photo.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/capecodtodd/_forumfiles/RotaryGP38Bridge.jpg)

Since you don’t want a working rotary I bet you could build a nice model of one. There are plenty of videos on youtube that will give you lots of ideas. Rotarys are a lot like other pieces of specialised equipment where in the RR’s would customise them to fit their needs so no two are alike.

I think you should make a working rotary just in case. It is fun to be out there freezing your butt off playing with trains in the snow.

#12

Grizzly Mountain Engineering is making & delivering 1:20.3 Rotary OM kits. I just talked with Randy Lee - owner and purchased a kit that will ship next week.

Here is the link: http://www.g-m-e.com/snowplows.html

I just learned that GME also makes a number of horse drawn wagon kits in 1:20.

#13

Geoff, Whats the deal with the OM? I remember that the main issue was the tender and it was going to be a giant block of resin.

#14

Guys,

If anyone is looking for plans, in the 1999 Nov/Dec Gazette M H Farrel started a five part story on the Rotaries. there are plans for RGS, Om, and the Jull plows and their tenders and water cars. Also Carsten’s Slim Gauge Cars has a nice write up on OM w/plans in both issues. There was also a scratch build on G Scale Central if you can find it.

Chuck