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Thanks for the help with my corner track question. I just aquired "The Big Boy" UP HO. I have not yet received the engine, but I was wondering what turn/corner radius is best for such a big engine?
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It depends on who made it. But if its a Rovorossi Big Boy. I do not reccomend anyting less than a 22" Radius. And its going to look odd going over it I might add.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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I think the Riv BB has articulated trucks thus permitting 18" operating radius. Like Challenger said The 22" has a much better appearance.
On my Almighty-Powerful Allegheny I took a piece of cotton, rolled & stretched it. Spray it with hair spray. Died it black/gray and shoved it into the smoke stack with a 3" tail trailing.
[This message has been edited by Chuck Walsh (edited 05-02-2003).]
Posts: 213 | From: Grand Rapids Mi USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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If it is brass, we have found that there is too much overhang for 36" radius curves with adjacent tracks set on 2" centers! By the way that was with challengers not big boys.
Posts: 70 | From: Lakewood, California, U.S.A. | Registered: Mar 2003
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Even if the big boy makes it around the curves, the overhang will be excessive unless the radius is 30" or more.
Posts: 17 | Registered: Nov 2002
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When an articulated engine goes around a curve the front of the boiler will hang over the outside of the curve. The sharper the curve the more it will overhang. Also, Rivarossi, and Bowser Big Boys will have less overhang than brass because those two manufacturers put a pivot point directly above the center of each of the two sets of drivers in each locomotive. The brass manufacturers make them totally true to prototype including a single pivot between the two sets of drivers. When some visitors ran brass chalengers on our modular layout with 36" radius, we had to keep them on the outside main. If they tried to run on the inside main with a 36" minimum radius, the front of the locomotive would actually hang over the outside rail of the outside main. This is with the track layed on 2" centers!
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Another thing on overhang concerning Rivorossi Big Boys. I happen to be the proud designated maintaince person for my grandfathers layout. He has a big boy. When I am at home and it runs on my layout I have to plan carefully when I run it. It will negotiate an 18" radius curve. But it does a serous amount of thinking about it before it does and sometimes derails. a 22 inch radius is the minamum reliable radius I have seen it negotiate. However the overhang at both ends make the thing look like a full size bull elephent riding childs unicycle. For just having the dang thing look good, I would not go below 30" radius.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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It's good to find out about this over-hang issue. i have a Rivarossi challenger, along with the handful of Garratts ( 4-8-4+4-8-4 & 2-8-4+4-8-2) that I'm building from kits. the garratts require at least 29 inch raduis curves. I'll keep this post in mind when i finally get around to building my new layout . . . . one of these days. Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
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Maybe some of you big boy fans are interested in the Big Boy collection, #s 4000 to 4024. www.pentrex.com "Union Pacific Big Boy Collection" A 95 minute action video in some color, B & W, sound & narration. From the Wasatch mountains, Sherman hill and in Cheyenne. A collection of 35mm film, enhanced and converted over to video.
I have a copy if anybody has questions.
Posts: 213 | From: Grand Rapids Mi USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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I too have that video, though mine is the DVD version. When I found out they were going to make it, I had it reserved so fast the phone lines quivered in pain.
Also for the record, Pentrex makes the following Big Boy Titles.
Union Pacific Big Boys -- Video Rails title Last of the Giants. Last of the Giants. II Last of the Giants. III Big Boys on TV
As soon as these 5 titles come out on DVD I will be aquiring them as well.
Posts: 315 | From: Lander,WY USA | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by CG96: It's good to find out about this over-hang issue. i have a Rivarossi challenger, along with the handful of Garratts ( 4-8-4+4-8-4 & 2-8-4+4-8-2) that I'm building from kits. the garratts require at least 29 inch raduis curves. I'll keep this post in mind when i finally get around to building my new layout . . . . one of these days.
Please do! I am actually, like you, I am starting from scratch and I have not the faintest idea what I am going to do with the space. So many ideas, and so little space!
Actually, my wife let me have what was the "garage". This was a show home and I have the ability to make a layout the size of a 2.5 car garage. I don't have much time and I am going back to school to get my degree. So, time...that is the biggest challenge.
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