Large Scale Central

Krauss Maffei ML4000 Hydraulics

General Discussion
#101

Hi all.
The casters have just finished the last parts and taken payment so they should be here by the end of the week. I have also just got all the boxes and packaging too.
As for powering the kit, you can use a apir of 0-6-0 PIKO chassis which work out quite cheap, but The LGB option is a good one if you shop aroud to fing a good 2nd hand one. Scratchbuilding a pair of trucks is also quite easy to do without fancy expensive tools, you could use the “guts” from a USA trains or other type truck and alter it to fit the wheelbase! The wagon and carriage works in the UK do a good fold up nickel etched truck and can supply all the wheels and other parts quite reasonably.
I know it may seem expensive for all the parts to complete it, but it is a very rare kit and will only be in limited numbers due to the mold wearing out after about 40 bodies maximum and I don’t see me paying for a re-tool, so when they are gone they are gone, making any them increase in value! The trouble is that the only other large diesels we have to compare it with are so cheap due to being mass produced in the far east and this is NOT one of them

Thanks to everyone for the input and nice comments. I hope you have found it interesting to follow the development and enjoyed the pictures of this project, you guy’s have made it so much more enjoyable.
Thanks again
Rob

#102

I am new to the site and would like my first post to convey hearty Congratulations to Rob Fern on his outstanding Krauss Maffei kit. Mine just arrived here in California and I am very impressed, to say the least! The castings are awesome, as are the photoetched pieces and the directions are clear and straightforward. Thanks, Rob, for producing this most interesting item!

John Ford
Clovis, CA

#103

Welcome to LSC, John.
Post some pictures when you get the kit built.
Ralph

#104

Cool!

Welcome John
:wink:

#105

Welcome aboard John.

Rob that’s really sharp. Great job

#106

Hi all.
Just to say that I am looking at doing a second run of these kits as there seems to still be a growing interest in them. Everyone that has bought them in the UK and over here in the States was very happy with the quality and detail.
So I am looking for anyone that may want to be added to the list for the next small run to help build up the numbers and make it worthwhile.
Please either email me or reply to this thread.
Cheers
Rob

#107

Hello Rob,
I am interested in the models of the ML4000 you produced . is there perhaps one kit left that I could aquire??
Guenter

#108

An interesting side note on the KM locos, and totally off topic. According to a machinist at the D&RG Burnam shop, the KM locos came with their own specialized tools. One was an in floor lathe on which you would drive the KM, hook the axle that was on the lathe up to a hydraulic pump, and use the axles hydraulic motor to turn the axle and true up the wheels. It worked so well that when the D&RG got rid of the locos they kept the lathe and converted it to use electricity so they could true up wheels on the diesel electrics. Pretty common pieces of equipment now, I know we have one in the shop in No. Platte.

#109

That sounds like a great idea but the KM’s didn’t use hyd. motors…they used gear boxes on the axles driven via drive shaft from a big automatic transmission.

#110

Thanks Chuck, didn’t know that. Not sure how they used the in floor lathe, but I remember the machinist told me they came with the KM locomotives. Great models being built here, by the way!

#111

Fantastic looking work!

#112

He did the Baldwin Shark also, I got one of the 25 kits that he did. Wish Mark would do a B unit for it.

#113

In 2010 He stated he was considering a second run. Did this ever materialize? Greg

Rob Fern said:
Hi all. Just to say that I am looking at doing a second run of these kits as there seems to still be a growing interest in them. Everyone that has bought them in the UK and over here in the States was very happy with the quality and detail. So I am looking for anyone that may want to be added to the list for the next small run to help build up the numbers and make it worthwhile. Please either email me or reply to this thread. Cheers Rob

#114

WOW, this is an old thread…

I don’t think a second run ever materialized as I was on Rob’s list for same. I have three kits as mentioned these are well executed offerings. One of mine is partially completed, I hope to get back to these unique locomotives later this year. In the mean time I have several EMD projects nearing completion and am working with Dirk to produce several EMD SD40, 45T tunnel motors.

The KM ML 4000’s used a Voith 3 speed Hydro-Dynamic Brake transmission, much like an automatic transmission for vehicles. The drive train was called out as a diesel-hydraulic gear train. So I suspect as William alluded to the prime mover was powered up and the hydraulic transmission engaged to rotate the drive train for truing said drivers with the onboard lathe after the trucks were elevated lifting the drivers off the railhead.

Michael

#115

Michael, Anywhere we could see the pics of the EMD’s?

#116

I’m brand new to this site and from what I’ve read so far, you folks are good to hook up to. Anyhow, it’s along time since the Krauss-Maffei thread but I’m truly interested in trying to get one of Rob Fern’s kits. Anyone know how?

#117

Sebd Robb a message. click on his name above.