I am in the planing stages of building a Class A Climax this winter. Im going to use a HLW flat car and possibly the boiler etc. from a Bachmann Big Hauler (if its not too large). For trucks I have a few options. I can either go with a set of HLW trucks or the Bachmann Shay trucks. Both seem to be about the same price. My question is is their something else that would work like Aristo or USA trucks? If so what would work?
I am looking at the Class “A” - 2 vertical cylinders, 2 trucks, horizontal “tee” boiler.
Mik do you have any good pictures from your files?
Shawn, looking at the Shay trucks I’m thinking they are not right. They have a lot of moulded-on details that are not there on a Climax - remember that the Shay drives outside the truck and the Climax inside.
tac
www.ovgrs.org
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund
Somebody made a “kit” for one of those a few years ago…I’m thinking it used USA trucks?..lemmie go look.
good thing I had it bookmarked, I’d never found it:
http://www.nemodel.com/shop/agora.cgi?cart_id=103413.11261*n50xr6&p_id=2119&xm=on&ppinc=search2
cale
edit for url
I made my own about 15 years ago. At first it used Stomper mechanisms, then I got some small Hartland blocks. I made up some sideframes and cast them. Not real accurate, but worked for me.
(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/jerrybarnes/Climax%20Photos/CmxPhotoShootSm.JPG)
(http://gold.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Class%20A%20final%203.jpg)
(http://gold.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Class%20A%20Climax%20Vertical%20painted%2002.JPG)
HLW gondola body, Aristo centercab bricks w/ HLW sideframes, horizontal boiler used from LGB porter, everything else is scratched
OK, Shawn… you simply just HAD to wait until 3 days AFTER I moved all my climax pictures to a cd to ask, din’t ya? rofl!
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/tigerlillie06/His%20Stuff/class-a.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/tigerlillie06/His%20Stuff/03.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/tigerlillie06/His%20Stuff/01.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/tigerlillie06/His%20Stuff/dbs__l_co.jpg)
(http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/tigerlillie06/His%20Stuff/105.jpg)
A big part of anything else you probably need is here: http://www.climaxlocomotives.com/catalog/ Thoughts: 1. The Climax engine doesn’t look anything like a Shay one. It has only a passing resemblance to the ‘Climax’ engine from Ozark as well, but the Ozark one is at least closer and could be used to MAKE a realistic Climax engine. 2. The Bug Mauler boiler is HUGE, and only half there - the rest is part of the chassis. Consider talking to the Delton parts guy on Feebay. Get a c-16 smokebox and stack (and maybe a cylinder set, headlight, and 2 cab roofs to splice together) from him and fab the rest of the T- boiler from PVC pipe. - if you decide to go with the later boiler, get the firebox section too. – Or possibly a Botchmann Porter smokebox or whole boiler to modify. 3. The Aristo Centercab bricks are probably almost perfect for what you want to do… but good luck finding them at a reasonable price. Anything else you’d need? lol.
On third thought, what about a Kalamazoo/HLW smokebox or boiler?
Good stuff so far. Now at least I have a good idea where to start and start collecting the parts I need. Im going with the first climax you posted Mik as well as the the first climax picture vic posted. How detailed im I going depends on how smooth the project goes. Since the KMRR has no prototype and they tend to build whats on hand just about anything is fair game.
Shawn said:Bitting lip.......Beak (fixed Randy)
I am in the planing stages of building a Class A Climax this winter.
Jeez, roosters don’t have lips!!! 
Randy McDonald said:Hes just trying to fit in with the rest of us. Have to give him a little credit for trying. LOL I get the feeling that bird has no faith in me. I cant blame him LOL :-)
Jeez, roosters don't have lips!!! :)
Nope…got plenty of faith in your work …it’s the title that I’m biting the lip on…You should know me well enough by now!
I have built 2 Class A Climax locos, one from NE Models and one from Ozark. I used USA powered trucks on one and Aristo powered trucks on the other.
http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/ClassAClimax2.htm
http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/ClassAClimax.htm
Video of both running:
http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/class_a_climax2.htm
http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/videos/ClassAClimax2MorningRun.htm
http://timothydehan.com/redmondcreekrr/class_a_climax_first_run.htm
David Russell said:I dont understand, whats wrong with the title? Plese explain? :-O LOL
Nope...got plenty of faith in your work ...it's the title that I'm biting the lip on....You should know me well enough by now! ;)
Maybe David doesn’t remember what it is like to have a Climax!!!
TonyWalsham said:LOL I think you are right. LOL
Maybe David doesn't remember what it is like to have a Climax!!! ;)
Back to the Climax topic (That is locomotive Mr. Rooster) I ordered the aristo trucks. Next is to try and find a boiler. I might take apart my old LGB Porter and use that boiler. Seems to be about the size I need. Once I figure out what I want (Im going along the lines of the T boiler style) I will order the detail parts from ozark. Im even thinking of making this engine battery powered since I might be able to put batteries in the back tank. I also want to leave the option of using electric. I will have to put a switch in.
A dpdt micro switch will work for to make it batt/track convertible. Get one from Radio Scrap about $3 … or Botchmann used them just about everyplace, sound, smoke, reverser in the transformer, etc. if you’ve got junkers laying around.
Speaking of junkers, if your porter runs, you might want to price the burnt up shitboxes on feebay before you start cutting (or send me the drivetrain, I’ll put it under my Falk!)
I used a Porter boiler, but its not a T boiler, be easy enough to scratch up a T boiler to spec
I need to go thru my junk box, see what I can find for you…
Vic do you still have yours your built as shown above?
cale
Yep, still gracing my shelf