MDC/Wiseman HO 2 truck shay kit

I was never able to get mine to run at 100% satisfaction. The delrin drive parts were hard to get them to run smoothly all the time. Still in its box 95% complete.

AMCDave posted:

I was never able to get mine to run at 100% satisfaction. The delrin drive parts were hard to get them to run smoothly all the time. Still in its box 95% complete.

That was one of my worries.  Although I guess there's an aftermarket set of brass gears available from other sources, for a cost of course.

I'm mainly getting it for the experience of the build, so if it doesn't run great I'm not overly worried since I mainly focus on O gauge.

Try NWSL they used  to stock a regear kit.

totrainyard posted:

Try NWSL they used  to stock a regear kit.

I'll take a look and see what they have to offer.

Thanks guys!

The first thing you need to do is buy one of Jeff Johnson's "The MDC Shay Handbook".  This will have tips, and things that work to make it work. They aren't cheap, but they are the bible for building and making run an MDC Shay.

Friend has used it to build one and refurbish others, and they are sweet running when he is finished with them.

Gene Anstine

grfd59 posted:

The first thing you need to do is buy one of Jeff Johnson's "The MDC Shay Handbook".  This will have tips, and things that work to make it work. They aren't cheap, but they are the bible for building and making run an MDC Shay.

Friend has used it to build one and refurbish others, and they are sweet running when he is finished with them.

Gene Anstine

Thanks for the suggestion.  I'll look that one up.

Yes I built it and it is a bit tricky but it runs great!

https://youtu.be/YkoPEBWBELs

Oh my, what memories this evokes!  I purchased and assembled a MDC 2-truck Shay kit in 1984 after I rode the Cass Scenic Railway with friends.  What a neat model.  It was no Kato diesel but it ran fine.  I sold it with all of my other HO scale equipment when I returned to O gauge in 2000.

Oh gosh I meant Cass Scenic Railroad!  As soon as I hit Enter I realized...

Yeah I purchased mine in 84 also got it on sale at my LHS for 44 bucks!I had to assemble and deassemble it 3 times and trim the brass couplings before it ran right.Since then it has run fine for well over 30 years with the only maintenence being periodic light lubrication.

I didn't realize these had been around so long.  They aren't too bad looking.  I'm looking forward to the challenge of building mine and hopefully it'll look good when it's done.  I have a G scale shay, and they're just so fun to watch run.

Yes they run well and the sight of the running gear spinning furiosly is quite entertaining.

Well, my kit arrived today, and I figured before I begin, I may as well order the NWSL replacement gear sets for it.  Those will be on their way shortly.  I'm also looking to upgrade some of the detail parts (number plate, dynamo, bell, air compressor, etc...) since a few of the castings are somewhat lacking in detail and quality.  I think this is turning into a long term project