Large Scale Central

Powering a custom railcar?

Modeling
#1

A couple weeks ago I bought a kit on ebay for a 1912 Model T Ford “station hack”. It’s mostly metal with some plastic detail parts. Anyway, I was thinking it would make a great railcar, with maybe a small four-wheel truck under the rear. Haven’t decided yet on how to power it. One thing I was considering was maybe using the hardware from a toy R/C car. If I went this route with battery power, I could run it independently of the track-powered loco. Might have to re-gear it though to get the speed down to something more realistic, since those toy cars are usually made for fast running.

Another thought was to use one of the motor and gear sets from NWSL. I’m also considering a power block from a small loco, if I can find one that’s small enough.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

#2

If you can find some old GR magazines they had articles about “stompers” that they used to power such vehicles. My recollection was they used motors from model cars. By old, I mean 15 years.

#3

Ray,
Not sure if this is what you’d want…
If you have a General Dollar Store near you, in their toy section they have little battery power cars(screamers?) that might provide what you need. Price $2 or $3. I’m going into town later this morning & will get the toy name… they have a button on top that activates the motor & noise maker…
I bought one a while back and removed the body and electronics, installed a on/off switch and replaced the drive wheels with plastic wheels that were cut from either lgb or b-mann axles, they fit the drive alxe quite nicely after triming the frame a little to allow clearance for the wheels, only needed a minor adjustment in width for 45mm track. The front axle required removing the two wheels, an lgb or b-mann plastic axle/wheel set to drop into place, then replacing the keepers (after a little cutting & filing) that held the front wheels in place. You have to remove the speaker for the front axle to fit.
Haven’t put a body on it yet, just a wood platform. (a self powered flatcar?)

Dave…

#4
Ray Dunakin said:
A couple weeks ago I bought a kit on ebay for a 1912 Model T Ford "station hack". It's mostly metal with some plastic detail parts. Anyway, I was thinking it would make a great railcar, with maybe a small four-wheel truck under the rear. Any thoughts or suggestions?
HLW make a two-wheel motor unit that I am considering for a similar project (I picked up a couple of 1:25 plastic kits for the Beverly Hillbillies -- Model A? -- truck, cheap, not eBay)
#5

Ray,
the item that I mentioned is called the
" Kool Kustom", price: $2.00

Chris’ idea about the HLW motor/gearbox/wheel set
may be what you’re looking for, tho’…
Available at HLW website, specials page-$25.00

Dave

#6

Aaron Loyett had a custom built truck using a Stomper drive mechanism. He had taken one of the axles out of the mechanism to give it a single axle look. It provided a great power source, with purely a pressure fit into the wooden body of the truck frame. I didn’t get a picture before he took it home, my loss, but it was a beautiful model.

#7

HLW sells what your looking for , its the drive they use for the Woody. check there website under parts specials section.

You’ll have to register to get access to get access to the specials section, its free and boy its worth it!