(yet) Another way to convert a Baguley

[ianfolland]

Having got back into 16mm modelling after a long break I bought an Accucraft Baguley to get something running, but was suprised to find how toy-like the mechanism was. It didn't work particularly well, and was allocated the number 2......

To try to improve matters I built a new chassis using an ABC Gears motor and gearbox originally intended to go into a 7mm scale 9F, modified to take a 5mm axle. All axles run in Slaters axle bushed drilled out from 3/16 to 5mm. As the coupling rods now had to do a proper job they were strengthened by making brass rods and gluing the plastic rods, suitably thinned and profiled, to them.

A Brian Jones speed controller was fitted, with a 2.4GHz radio receiver, and a Strikalite battery pack. The whole lot was wired as per the wiring diagram that came with the speed controller. There's no sound, yet, but it's something I'm looking into.

The motor is relatively small (a Canon I think), but the gearbox is quite efficient and allows the small motor to produce a reasonable amount of power at the rail (it's not a worm drive). I would imagine ABC would make a gearbox to suit a 5mm axle as they're built to order I believe.

Running isn't perfect but reasonably smooth and slow speed running isn't too bad.

I also modified the couplings to an H shape to allow a hook to be used to couple to slate wagons/skips etc.

[Endless, Nameless]

That's very impressive, easily the best engineered solution I've seen.

Missed opportunity to make it jackshaft drive though

[ianfolland]

Thats an interesting point re jackshaft drive - I hadn't even considered it! It would have needed a hole in the cab floor for the top of the motor but would drive onto the centre axle which might be better.

[ianfolland]

After a 18 months or so of hard work the gearbox wore out! Or rather it did, but in one direction only.

My line is end to end, mostly on a a falling gradient in one direction only, and I always run locos the same way round. And one day, having gone down the line the Baguley wouldn't come back up again. The gears would no longer mesh in that direction on account of the wear induced by grit, the odd leaf and dragging heavy trains up the hill.

So a new Accucraft metal chassis was ordered, and now belatedly fitted, having had battery powered r/c etc fitted, and the buffer beams modified as per the old plastic ones.

But! The wheels are a different profile and it will only rather drunkenly amble along and the treads don't sit on the rail head! Gauge is OK, but the flanges are rather chunky at the radius between flange and tread. Suprisingly it does negotiate points ok. And I didn't notice until after I'd altered it!

Has anyone else found this, or is it a one off?

I've emailed Accucraft to see what can be done.

[hussra]

But! The wheels are a different profile and it will only rather drunkenly amble along and the treads don't sit on the rail head! Gauge is OK, but the flanges are rather chunky at the radius between flange and tread. Suprisingly it does negotiate points ok. And I didn't notice until after I'd altered it!

Some discussion on another forum - see http://www.gscalecentral.co.uk/f/m209617.aspx - apparently the majority of the batch are being re-manufactured...

[robc_wa]

I find this thread somewhat disconcerting. Not having been a member in 2010 I did not see the original bit of it until now, but it seems to me that a simple electricly powered loco that sells for an RRP of 300 quid should not require an immediate upgrade to its chassis. (or am I being naive) I get the impression that there is now a new version and it also has some problems. This does not say much for Accucraft’s QC etc. I am soon going to be making my first non-oscillating steam loco purchase and have been swithering between an entry level Accucraft and an entry level Roundhouse. I was tending to Accucraft on the basis of RC reversing, but now I am not so sure!

I don’t want to start an Accy vs RH flame war, but is Accucraft’s QC on their steam products any better? I do need a bit of reliability, since I live in the most isolated metropolitan area in the world and just popping round to the dealer (nearest is Melbourne) for support is not an option!

[ianfolland]

Having bought the original loco I was somewhat surprised by the toy-like mechanism, which didn't work properly either.

The replacement gearbox (along with brass rods and bearings hidden by the plastic ones) gave me the running I was after. However, the rods etc were only really a temporary arrangement and once the new metal chassis was announced I ordered one.

I hadn't seen the comments regarding quality of the new version until today, having been tipped off, so was unaware of the various problems. Accucraft however have emailed me to say they'll send a new set of wheels to replace the present ones which are unsuitable for 32mm gauge.
I'll have the inconvenience of taking it apart again to fit the replacements of course. There were a few screws missing as well.

Maybe a little more attention to detail, and design, wouldn't go amiss but generally it seems Accucraft stuff is OK. You do get quite a lot for your money. I did cancel my NG15 order on the basis of my Garratt experience (its currently stopped yet again for attention), but do have a 7/8ths Hunslet on order - perhaps though they could use a Roundhouse gas tank, jet and burner on it!

Ian