Tonight, a review by Kiwibonds.
Bogies. (Not Nostril Nuggets)
Your intrepid correspondent has often wondered if there might be other bogies, or ‘trucks’ for the sensitive, that might work well in NZ120. For years, the ubiquitous Microtrains items have long been the gold standard in N and in NZ120 with their free running wheels, nice small coupler and decent looks, even if they are a little small for our scale.
Recently I stumbled across a Japanese website and managed to order a couple of Kato ‘Taki’ tank wagons. Much to my surprise, they arrived within a few days and even more to my surprise the bogies look pretty good. They have a longer wheelbase and a nice open look to them. As Japan is mainly 3 foot six, most of their commercial models are made to 1:150 rather than 1:160, so this might be a contributing factor. They also have nice blackened metal wheelsets.
Bogies. (Not Nostril Nuggets)
Your intrepid correspondent has often wondered if there might be other bogies, or ‘trucks’ for the sensitive, that might work well in NZ120. For years, the ubiquitous Microtrains items have long been the gold standard in N and in NZ120 with their free running wheels, nice small coupler and decent looks, even if they are a little small for our scale.
Recently I stumbled across a Japanese website and managed to order a couple of Kato ‘Taki’ tank wagons. Much to my surprise, they arrived within a few days and even more to my surprise the bogies look pretty good. They have a longer wheelbase and a nice open look to them. As Japan is mainly 3 foot six, most of their commercial models are made to 1:150 rather than 1:160, so this might be a contributing factor. They also have nice blackened metal wheelsets.
Kato on the left.Now for the downsides: they have Rapido couplers, but for those modeling pre 1990s this might be a positive as they can be coupled directly to 4w peco chassis(-es? chassi?) so you can mix bogie and 4w stock in trains without having to have transition coupler wagons everywhere. You could always body-mount a Microtrains…. If you get your magnifying glass out, they do have elliptical rather than coil springs, but these are barely noticeable and the pointy bit could be cut off if desired.
Anyway, although they are still a smidge small, they are another option. I’m going to see if they can be ordered more economically in bulk (and without the wagon attached).
Anyone else have nice bogies? So to speak?
Further to this post, here's a side by side of Kato and Atlas older style (1950's) trucks.The Kato ones on the left are the correct scale, and the Atlas ones again are a bit on the small side.
2 comments:
A bit of a heads-up on wheels and bogies . . .
Farish (as of late 2008, early 2009) have been changing their wheels a bit on their UK models. Recently I bought an OCA 4 wheel open wagon that has 6.5mm diameter disc wheels (don't think you can buy them separately though a joint approach to Farish might secure some ?) and it seems the standard Farish wheels are now going from 6.2 to 6.3mm in both spoked and 3 hole disc wheels. This is a shade off 2'6" in TT (a 2'6" wheel is 6.35mm).
Further, they have now released a few wagons including a coal hopper and steel coil carrier that have a decently hefty US style cast freight bogie of 12.5mm wheelbase (a shade under 5'). This comes with 6.2mm plain disc wheels.
Coaches have not been immune to the change with newer Farish coaches having 7.4mm dia disc wheels. All these wheels look very nice indeed, chemically blackened with fine flanges.
An eon away from the horrible wheels Farish used to use.
More on trucks/bogies...
I have used MicroTrains 1017 Passenger trucks for LSM and Vb wagons I am building. To my NZ120 eye they look fine, the wheelbase being 15.3mm (14.2mm) a mere 1mm too long.
Wheelsize is 5.7mm (6.3mm) -slightly small.
The most obvious anomally is the incorrect suspension, but they are readily available for about $18.00 a pair.
I also have several pairs of nice cast brass bogies (finished in matt black) of the correct NZR coil spring suspension with a wheelbase of 13.3mm .
I'm not sure where they came from (Dynamic Diesels?) as I have had them for 10 years or more.
A supply of these would be nice, so I would be prepared to give anyone interested in production a set to use as a master !
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