Large Scale Central

One BIG loco from Accucraft

General Discussion
#1

Tac wrote in previous post:
“Wendell - AccuCraft are about to produce a 7/8th scale US-outline ‘plantation’ loco - I think an 0-4-2 live steamer, unless I’ve got all my wires crossed.”

He is accurate! Check the TRACK SHACK site or Accucraft web site for a pix of this giant 7/8ths scale loco.

If you want a BIG locomotive try this one which will be available mid 2013:
ACCUCRAFT 7/8ths Quarry Hunslet 0-4-0 - live steam.
Scale: 1:13.7 (7/8ths)
Track: Runs on our standard track now considered 2 foot width.
Loco is:
– 12 1/2 inches long
– 7+" high
– 4.5" wide

That is one BIG loco. If it will handle my 2% grades, I’ll easily pretend our entire garden layout is 2 foot guage to run one. My Ruby can’t handle those grades.
Wendell

#2

Here’s a picture of it from the Accucraft website…pretty cool!

(http://www.accucraft.com/img/model/S78-1B.jpg)

#3

A good basis for all sorts of follow up models.

#4

Wait til you see the US-outline loco!

tac

#5

Here is the 0-4-2 that is being talked about. Talk about big 15" long 8" tall and 5 3/4" wide. Truly 7/8ths. Photos of the sample will be shown in the next couple weeks.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vigXoiX0M6g/UOWEqZslWTI/AAAAAAAAFJY/k7w3SHWQ02M/s640/web%20FM.jpg)

#6

I have ZERO desire to get involved with 7/8ths!
.
.
.
Until now!

#7

… The guys who are already involved with 7/8ths are very good people and excellent modellers. All these things are temptations, but I shall discipline myself, for now, and stick to the main thing. I still have a railroad to build. In this hobby I find it’s awfully easy to get distracted, because I’ve seldom seen a lokey that I didn’t fall in love with. That little plantation (?) lok. is sweet, but I’ll just force myself to settle for and stay loyal to my Chloe and Olomana, at least for now… They also are very sweet.:slight_smile:

#8

Jason-
THANKS for the tempting–yes, please follow with the photos.

John-
Your wanting to “discipline yourself for now” risks a short time table! Hoooow true, “all these things are temptations!”
Me? I’d love to have one of the BIG locos to run – only if it can handle the blasted 2% grade. Otherwise, some heavy remodeling will have to follow.
Meanwhile, I wait for the photos from Jason and…gulp…the price.

#9

Meanwhile, why not join the Seven Eighths Lounge website? Sure, it’s mainly UK stuff, but there are already a number of 'mercans and maybe Canuckians on it to share the interest.

Lool - http://www.7-8ths.info/index.php?PHPSESSID=b7bj4tstmn7nkstfhvj2mun6i3&

tac

#10

That looks similar to Ward Kimball’s Chloe. but its smaller if anything.

(http://www.oerm.org/sites/default/files/additional_car_images/Chloe_side_view_sm.jpg)

#11

Except the Chloe is a 3’ gauge and would be a 20.3 loco…Hahah all these scales for the same model track gauge. : )

#12

Two things that are keeping me away from 7/8ths is the price and the amount of work that I would have to do to converte my live steamers into 7/8th. The Forney would be a project and then the rolling stock would have to be hudge (Like the Maine 2 footers- I would love to model the Maine 2 footers) I cant have two scales, it has to be one or the other.

#13

I think that if you can resist the many temptations and distractions and stick resolutely to your main thing, you have a chance of ending up with a railroad.

If you allow yourself to be tempted by all the pretty distractions in various scales, you’ll likely end up with a collection of interesting models.

I think it’s fair to say I regret not having had the self-discipline to stick to the first strategy long ago. As a result I now have oodles of models in several scales that I know I’ll never use, and at some point I suppose I’ll decide to take these treasures out of storage and sell them off.

A few years ago I resolved to concentrate once and for all on an operators’ backyard railroad.

Nowadays, strong as the other temptations may be, I follow the first strategy above. I have found that any regrets at not having made some seemingly irresistible purchase do not remain at high strength for very long.

Nowadays, every effort I make with each relevant purchase and each purposeful build project is solidly in the direction of that one railroad I’m building. The railroad becomes just a little better, a little more engaging operations-wise, with each improvement, all of which are aimed at the same object.

'Nuff.
…my 2 cents.

#14

John, I agree. Lots of really cool stuff that I could get into, but having a specific theme for the railroad keeps me from getting too far afield. (But even then, there are excursions.) Of course, having a wife who told me early on “you bring one more scale into this house and it’s the couch for you” kinda helps.

I do like the 7/8" stuff, though I’m more of a Maine 2-footer fan as opposed to the plantation-style 2’ stuff. I think that’s probably my saving grace there, as well. The Maine stuff is BIG, so it keeps me from being tempted. If I’m gonna run equipment that large, it’s gonna be such that it’s pulling me, which is a whole new ballgame.

My couch ain’t that comfortable.

Later,

K

#15

Hey Kevin. So how about this pretty little 2-8-2 then for 7/8n2:

(http://narrowmind.railfan.net/282CMdN.JPG)

I know it is 30" gauge but the Hornos had an almost identical one in 2’ gauge.

#16

Nice, but I’ll wait for the 7/8ths scale Big Boy. :wink:

#17

Tony,

I’ve got a question for you. When the gauge of these locos gets so narrow (like 2 foot) don’t these locos get rather top heavy? I mean would they tend to tip on curves if running a little fast?

#18

Joe, do you mean in real life or the models?

Either way they are very low slung and mostly outside frame to make them more stable.
But yes if too fast into tight curves the real ones would be a handful.
They are by no means big for 2’ gauge. The South African Railways had 2’ gauge Garrats bigger and heavier.

#19

The Garrats advantage had is the boiler (which is a good part of the weight) suspended between the two drive units would move to the inside of the curve, partially offsetting the forces pushing the locomotive to roll to the outside of the curve. Plus the lower center of gravity the Garrats by design also helped.

#20

There was an interesting drawing in the Narrow Gauge Gazette a while back that compared the relationship between the boiler and the drivers of a typical Maine 2’ gauge Forney to that of a “typical” standard gauge loco. They were surprisingly similar.

Tony, buy me a new couch, and we’ll talk. :slight_smile:

Later,

K