Has anyone on here tried the part-work Japanese D-51 by De Agostini ? It’s 1/24 Scale .
I’m in the process of making one with a view to making it run on a layout instead of it sitting on a rolling road as bought .
Currently it looks like it could negotiate a 25 yard radius curve . 2-8-2 with flanges on all drivers .
Mike
Pics?
(http://d51.model-space.com/images/gallery/8.jpg)
(http://d51.model-space.com/images/gallery/1.jpg)(http://d51.model-space.com/images/gallery/4.jpg)
Very interesting concept! Was it designed strictly for display? Will you have to make any modifications to run it?
Ray Dunakin said:
Very interesting concept! Was it designed strictly for display? Will you have to make any modifications to run it?
It is , as you say , very interesting .
As delivered , in easy stage construction kits , it will ultimately , without modification , run on the rolling road provided with the rest of it .
There is a thumping great drive wheel mated with the worm on the motor , but as yet I have not received the worm and motor so don’t know what voltage is required . I have a completed drive train and I think it will require a fairly substantial power supply . It runs quite freely , but the mass of the loco , all whitemetal and brass , means it may need some ooomphy supply .
It has lighting built in , a very nice scale headlamp with nicely cast-in detail , and there may be cab lighting . I haven’t got that yet .
The chassis is a straight copy of the real thing , a very impressive bar frame quite cleverly done out of six or so castings in Zamac (or some such) . it has spring detail and a compensated axle arrangement .
Above the footplate is mainly brass sheet ready rolled as necessary , with attached parts in cast brass . The brass is polished to allow for people who want it as a brass ornament . I’m painting mine .
Anyway , enough of that , I am not trying to sell them . But I have to say that as an instructional device for learning how a steam loco goes together , it fits the bill . The valve gear works , it’s a straight Walschaerts gear and has a working reversing gear , and this is the only part so far which is a bit disappointing , the radius rod is too long and to compensate , they have made the valve rod a sloppy fit . That will be sorted , I don’t like it .
When and if I master the art of getting pictures from Picasa to here , I will send progress reports .
By the way , I have bought two , and intend to modify parts to make it super scale .
A final point , I believe that if you buy in the USA , you get an instruction manual as hard copy (or a book , if you’re old enough to remember such things) .In the UK we have to go to the internet where you get a blow by blow account of a model in progress . I do not agree with the order in which parts are assembled , for example a rather nice brass casting of a pump is fitted at a stage whereafter it is very vulnerable to breakage . No , I didn’t . But you do have to think before fitting some of the bits .
It’s about 3ft long , and getting difficult for me to lift , worth bearing in mind if you’re disabled .
Mike
PS £36 a month , guaranteed to stay at that price through the whole 25 issues .
$61US a month at the current exchange rate .
Actually , now I have looked at the pictures at
as posted above , I don’t think I could do justice comparing them with my photographic skills .
Never mind , eh?
Mike
