Running on a "Magic Carpet"

Wow, cool. Keep us updated.

I also have a GP60 that I've contemplated switching to Proto 48. It is disassembled at the moment, and so is the small layout. (Moved about five months ago).

Sounds like an interesting project, keep us posted.

You may not be happy with the MG Carpet concept. your looking at 300+ bucks to get a sub par drive. These products were designed for the Trolly type models and do very well with that.

For your kind of model you will need about 3 pounds of weight to keep the model

on the track. MG tend to do wheelies when starting.

Might I suggest to look at he drive trains that Protocraft puts out, these are designed for Proto 48 types of models.

Look under Diesel drives

Marty

http://www.protocraft.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEEzbFxEbB8

Rick

I fLund the magic carpet drive in my GSB gas electric to be noisy.  Also do not like the exposed spur gears as over time they can pick up crud.

Ed Rappe

If I might interject something please.  I know a little about the Protocraft drive and my problems with converting some of the Atlas locos had to do with truck side frames with no journals.  In other words, the axles are flush and don't extend into the truck.  The truck is just suspended out there.  The few Atlas engines I've done required major modifications.  First of which is boring the back of the truck side frame to accept flanged ball bearings.  I suppose you could also do the same thing with a bronze or brass bearing.  Bottom line, I wouldn't just bore out the plastic side frame and insert the axles.  I'm assuming the shouldered axles would destroy the plastic in no time.

Not impossible but not a snap either.

As far as the Magic Carpet drive.  Way underpowered for this application and noisy (They use spur gears which are inherently noisy).

My 2 cents.

Jay

Thanks for all of the information guys, and thanks for the specific information on the side frames Jay.

Despite the drawbacks of the Magic Carpet, I plan to go ahead with my project. Instead of a GP-60, I am going to get an AtlasO switcher. (Someone snagged the GP-60 I was looking at on eBay   What I am going to build is a modified Time Saver layout in Proto48. Since I only plan to move at most 2 cars with the engine, I think I can get away with 2 Magic Carpets.

No Problem.  Good Luck.

Jay

Stewart,

What the fellows have told you about the MC drives is correct. They are just not designed for what you are thinking.

Since you are now changing to an Atlas switcher, go back and look at the NWSL catalog. You can swap out the wheel sets to P48 at about half the cost of one MC drive, much less work, and much better end result. You will still have room for a decoder.

Regards, Ben Brown

If I swap out wheel sets on an Atlas engine (I'm thinking an MP-15), would the gear box interfere with the Proto48 width standards between wheels, or is there enough wiggle room? How much adjustment would be required for the side frames?

Chess,

I can't speak to your specific engine with the NWSL conversion.  I say this because it is my belief their conversion kits only fit certain engines.  If they make one that fits I would go with it.  If they don't and you want to use their MC Drive then go for it.

I get the most pleasure doing things in this hobby that people tell me either can't be done or, at least, will be difficult.

The other item is, if it works for you then to h**l with the rest of us so called experts.

Again, good luck and have fun,

Jay

I used Magic Carpet for a mine locomotive I built. They were fine for that application, but I would not recommend foa a diesel.

Larry

the SW and the MP both have single motor drives and run very well, much better than the two motor drives that Atlas uses on its other engines.

I can vouch for the running qualities of the SWs.  I've seen many converted with the NWSL conversion kit and it seems fairly simple.  If what avel says is accurate (I have no reason to think he isn't) then I would go with the NWSL conversion.  I actually have one of the conversion sets in my hand right now but it's not the P48 version.  If it was I'd give it to you.

Jay

I agre with folks above.  I have installed these things in trolleys, and was not convinced that they would last all that long.  It took more than one to move a trolley reliably.

On the other hand, you are going to learn a lot doing it, so press on.  When you finish, your next diesel should follow the excellent advice above.

You will be way ahead of me - I have proven to my own satisfaction that I am not good enough at trackwork to ever consider Proto- 48.

Hey Bob, if I can lay track, anyone can lay track! I got some rail, some ties, a pair of needlenose pliers and just started on a test piece. It's was easier than I thought. Here are some pic's:

Go to the Proto 48 Modeler Magazine web site and ask for some alternatives.

The Magic Carpet has been redesigned.  Here is a review of the new Magic Carpet posted on the oscaletraction Yahoo group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/...action/message/18380

I ordered one of these to power a larry car for a coke oven scene I'm working on.