Aussie Fred Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 May be off subject, but I am about to motorise a Corgi Diecast Double Deck OO tram in DC and wondering if anyone has any ideas. I have motors from KW Trams, but not sure whether to use the 2 motors or just the one. Any suggestions, especially from anyone who has done it, so I can avoid my usual mistakes, would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What About The Bee Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Hello Aussie FredI assume you have seen this?https://www.gordonstrams.net/MCTpage1a.htmNo idea if this works or not.Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Fred Posted January 3 Author Share Posted January 3 Yep, I have a copy of the second article, "Motorising a Corgi 1/64th scale tram" and I have already got one, it is a Belfast tram, but under rule no 1, No-one will read the small print or I might paint it out. I have even ordered the screws, etc they require to put it back together, online as no-one local has specialised screws that size, but I am not sure about cutting the hole in the diecast bottom to install the bogie and whether one will be strong enough (total flat surface). Hoping someone has had experience with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Not a Corgi tram but an Atlas magazine cheapie, using BEC motor bogies from KW Trams. It was a fiddly job but the tram runs on a DC shuttle line alongside my DCC trains.I also have a Tower kit still to be made up and motorised again using kit from KW, who is a nice reliable guy to deal with. His site has download guides for motorising most statics telling of which motor bogies are required.There is a previous fairly recent post on here about motorising static trams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 I have got one of these modified Corgi trams I bought off the web, I will see if I can get some photos and work out how they did it. A word of warning, my one is incredibly noisy, I don't know if it isn't fitted properly but it definitely is very loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Fred Posted January 3 Author Share Posted January 3 Thanks Rob, I tried to join that Tram Forum you mentioned there, but they are only of FB and I don't do FB, X or any of the such-like. I initially got the KW Trams kit along with the 2 motors couple of years ago, but I have had so many hassles with moving, setting up my layout, then getting kicked out of the dining room by SWMBO, so setting up in garage now, that I just haven't had time to assemble it, so thought I would take the easy way out.Colin, does it have just the one bogie motor or 2? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 It only has the one bogie, from what I can remember it is in the middle. I thought it was a good way to get a nice motorised tram but in the end it was so noisy so I bought a couple of Bachmann ready made ones. The Bachmann ones don't have the detail of the Corgi ones but another issue with the Corgi ones is the weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Try these previous postshttps://uk.hornby.com/community/forum/blackpool-balloon-trams-357840https://uk.hornby.com/community/forum/powering-an-articulated-unit-373215 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 I took mine apart first time I have ever looked at the conversion. I think I have found why it is so noisy, not a particularly brilliant job, but perhaps that is why it was on EBay. Anyway make of it what you will. This conversion chopped the chassis so that the motor would fit, I think if you are going to chop it you need to add some bracing of sorts otherwise the front and back sections that are halved swivel on the rivets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 I have a mechanism "kit" like this waiting to go into a Dapol Rail bus - I wonder how noisy that will be!However, I am toying with the idea of using "rubber band" drive similar to that used in a rtr Piko starter locomotive but reducing it in size and possibly using a large traction tyre, but have not got round to experimenting with it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 3 Share Posted January 3 Use press studs is a standard tram bogie mounting/pivot method usually to an arch bridge off the chassis much like railroad diesel chassis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watto Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 I’m still somewhat surprised that Hornby hasn’t made the Corgi trams available as motorised RTR models, in a similar fashion to Bachmann’s motorisiation of the EFE tube stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 I have tried to get Hornby interested in modern trams initially as tram-sets to get folk started but falling on deaf ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Fred Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 Ah, the plans of mice and men. After all that planning ang getting advice, i forgot one thing. Tha tram has to go under a rail bridge and it is about 9mm too high to go under. I can't raise the bridge and lowering the track won't work, so that is it. Thankfully i haven't modified the tram, so it will make a nice display piece. This is a 1:74 model. My only hope is if a 1:76 tram might get under it, or maybe a HO one. Or maybe i have to lower my ideals and have a single deck Tram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 I planned ahead and made the entrance to the underground car park and tram station (arrowed) high enough. More by luck than design to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Spare Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 EFE produced 1:76 scale models of Leeds Horsfield trams and Corgi chose the London Feltham tram as well as the Blackpool balloon tram for their OOC range, all double-deck. I do not know their heights but being to the smaller scale, they might just fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony57 Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 HiIf it is any help the Atlas Feltham tram is 64mm highThe Atlas Blackpool Balloon tram is 65mm highBoth are in the 1:76 scale range. The atlas version may be the better conversion job as the base is plastic in a metal shellThe Corgi Richard Kerr enclosed top deck models are 74mm high and are more like 1:72 scale.I ask some time ago about motorising trams in a thread. I am only just now getting a Atlas Blackpool Balloon tram finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 @tonyYour previous thread linked to in page 1 of this discussion.The screw holding the Atlas Feltham together hides under the central headlight at each end. I destroyed my lamps removing them and replaced them with craft shop jewels.I have found the max traction power bogie (large + small wheels) do not handle Hornby standard points very well, so my 2-trams auto-passing loop master plan went down the river in favour of a straight shuttle run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Fred Posted January 5 Author Share Posted January 5 Thanks Tony, but my max height is 60 mm, so I guess that definately means a single height tram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 The Bachmann Birkenhead Corporation double decker tram is 60mm from flange on wheel to the top. This does not include collector pole which is about another 4 mm. It might work. Really nice tram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Do you have enough overhead if you 're-profiled' the tunnel arch, depending upon thickness of roadbed on the top track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Spare Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 And/or set the rails in to the road surface? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 5 Share Posted January 5 Could you saw-cut either side of the track and then cut across track under the bridge, next bend down the track board to give clearance. You would likely have to cut back about 300mm either side of the bridge for room to get the transition, however trams are pretty good climbers when on the move so gradient doesn't have to be so gentle as for trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Fred Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Thank you Colin, RAF and GS for your advice. I have managed to source a Bachmann Tram Car 69 Birkenhead Corporation from the UK. I asked the supplier for a very accurate height measurement just to be sure, to be sure and he just got back to confirm height is 60mm plus 4 mm for the collection pole (which could be removed at a pinch). As suggested, i will cut out 5mm depth to bring the tram line down to ground height, which will help as I planned to use that bridge as a static roadway as well and that will have the rails at roadway height. It is a lot more work but isn't that all part of the fun of railway modelling, the fun of creating the problem and then, with advice from the forum solving the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Fred Posted January 22 Author Share Posted January 22 Update - New tram has arrived anf it fits! Done the sawing part now have to chisel out and lay track. This will be the hard part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now