Roller base

Ahitpy, there is an active thread "JAK Tool roller blocks still around?"  where JAK and Mark rollers are discussed.  Sadly I have forgotten the way to show the path to it.

But if you do a search on JAK you will find the thread.

Ron

https://ogrforum.com/t...-blocks-still-around

Here's a shout out to the company I bought from.  I must admit, other priorities have kept me from using them yet.

http://www.bachrus.com/runningstands.php

Bruce

Those are more for stationary running with a fixed engine.  The JAK and similar roller blocks just set on top of three-rail track and are moved to line up with the wheels.  I just use them mostly for testing locomotives, not display running.

You can use the JAK or Micro Mark roller blocks to create what ever type of dynamic stand you want.  You can make one for one specific engine or design it for a multiple of engines.

Back in 2006 I bought two sets of JAK rollers as basis of the design of "Senior."  I have the full length roller block area on one side.  And a near full length of track with an operating section on the other side.  With four different support track sections can support front pilot trucks, rear trucks and/or tenders.  Even one long support track with hot center rail.

This is Senior from 2006 with a MTH Premier Pennsy S1.

Here am using a short front and long rear support track both not having a center hot rail.  I have not yet snapped the other two support tracks.  As you can see if you place a mirror behind you can in fact observe action of both sides.  I uses a smaller 8-inch round makeup mirror normally.

Here is Senior with MTH NS OCS a-units.

This designs allows my to test any of my steam engines the S1 being the longest and any A-A unit including my Centipedes.

When I do shows I take this with with a Z4000 or Atlas 80, DSC and TMCC/Legacy units and a portable power supply so I can demonstrate anything I am selling works.

Last week needing an easier to handle test stand I put together "Junior."

Here it is with the infamous Atlas GP-35 I have.

  This one is easy to handle and can take any single engine up to my Lima Center Cab.

With this design I can safely run any engine at flat-out top speed.

Just yesterday traded emails with Jeff (JAKTool) and ordered another set of regular rollers.

Ron 

Earlier this year, rollers similar to JAK's were offered by Crest at a very attractive price and many here, myself included, purchased them.  A couple of members fabricated test stands incorporating them using on-hand lumber with excellent results.

Here's a link to one of those threads; and, if you scroll down you'll see a reference/link to a thread started by JohnS which supplies detailed information.

Regrettably, Crest no longer offers the O gauge rollers; but, continues to offer them in HO and N scales.

I also ordered some of the Crest rollers. Are the JAK's and/or Micro-Mark rollers all that much better or similar to the Crest's? I have used them a couple of times and they seem to work just fine, at least so far.

Wonder why Crest no longer offers the O gauge rollers? Sold out? Or did they just stop selling them in O gauge all together?

I had checked the JAK's site a few times (from reading others posts here about their rollers being in the works and becoming available once again). The site talked about offering them once again, but whenever I checked they were never listed on their website. I never did call them, probably should have, I guess?

The downside of the MicroMark rollers is you only get one center roller block with the set of four, the JAK rollers came with two center roller contacts for each four piece set.  FWIW, I have both the JAK and the MicroMark rollers, both work equally well.