Vision Line Big Boy Hyper-articulated

I wouldn't think you would have any issues at all on 0144 curves (that is what 72 inch radius come out to). However, if you really mean 072 DIAMETER 3-Rail track, THAT would be a whole different situation what with the massive swing-out of the smokebox front on the 4-8-8-4 model.

are both screws in place that hold the steam tubes in place from boiler to frame?

measure from center rail to scenery walls whatever allow 5" and all should be good.

I put the BB at the correct spot, then push the boiler over as far as it will go, that determines how far it'll swing.  I can't imagine it swinging farther unless something breaks.

Don't have one. But, apparently this loco DID "hyper articulate" (he said that it had run well before on the same layout) and went "past center" (my term). I imagine that, if indeed you cannot find breakage or missing parts, it is a design issue when running these locos on

such small curves, as 072 represents a tiny curve in the real world.

I you can gingerly make this loco do this by hand at the workbench, it should not be too hard to determine/design some sort of "stops" on the loco frame (etc) to limit its craziness.

Better yet, put in bigger curves if you can - but these locos look pretty silly on almost

any curve that any layout is likely to have.

My VL Bigboy looks better (to me) on the 084 upper level track, being on the upper track, it is all you see, on the lower level, there is always the question, is it going to hit this trestle or maybe the next one? Usually there are 3 more trains running close to it, so it shares the attention.

A friend and his Grandkids were over before the 084 level was working, he and the kids were amazed at the BB and how the front end moved going around curves , thus the attraction.

Hopefully this articulation is a minor adjustment and the fun continues.

Brent

What exactly do you mean by "hyper articulate?"

I'm guessing he means it swings out farther than the design is supposed to allow.  We had a bunch of pictures in another thread here on how far the front swings out.  I'm hopeful that we can finally finish the few remaining places on the club layout that it hits so I can run it there.

I have a Rail King 2-8-8-2 which runs good on O-31 track.  Both engines swivel like the N scale articulateds (and perhaps others).  It may sound funky to think that allowing the rear engine to swivel, but it looks better than the boiler swinging out half an inch or more.  I also have a scale Challenger from Williams that I have had for 25 years.  It runs on O-72, but the boiler overhang doesn't look very good.  It has one other oddity:  The engine number is 3958 instead of 3985, an obvious mistake but one that is not easily fixed.

That would mean it's broken.  It's not like it really can swing farther as the boiler is ridged to the rear driver set.  If they were still on the track, and it's really on O72 curves, 3.5" is the most I think I've read anyone measured it off of center.  I guess it's one of those you have to see it to believe it things.

I agree, if it swings out farther than the design, something is obviously broken.

Thank you everyone for your responses! I have been examining the Big Boy closely since the incident and found some scratches on the backside of one driver that might indicate it hit a screw or other object that drove the front driver truck and pilot to the over extended articulation.  This close examination looking for broken or missing parts has raised a question that those of you who have one may be able to answer for me (as Lionel conveniently does not have any exploded drawings or parts list). Looking at mine from the front end with it fully articulated (boiler to the right and pilot truck to the left) the three steam tubes are visible. The large center tube appears to be only connected on the boiler end by the large silver spring and just floats up against the left steam tube. There appears to be no cam / pin or other attachment point on this end. Nothing appears to be missing or broken and the large center steam tube can be pushed under tension from the spring to the side. This is different from its JLC predecessor version which had a pin cam arrangement on the boiler end. If you have time would you look at your vision line Big Boy and let me know if mine is correct or missing parts.

Thanks!

Mordrid...   yours is correct no missing parts I looked at mine that center tube is connected up front but the spring end just floats being held only by that spring.

when you move the front engine assembly side to side it should have a positive stopping area where it will not pivot any further.

Just a thought put BB on your work bench or? and then pick an area to use a tape measure and pivot the front engine assembly as far as it allows now write down how many inches from whatever point you choose and write that down.

now pivot that engine assembly the opposite way and again using same area on other side of BB see if those measurements are Identical if not you need an RA#.

hope this helps you

Thanks Paul! Your input was a big help and brought a sigh of relief on my part! The measurement symmetry idea was great and my BB checked out fine. Now that I have a reasonable idea that my BB is OK I think my conclusion of some foreign object causing the front drivers and pilot to jump the track is correct and the BB performed according to spec.

I really appreciate all of you who took the time to respond to me on this! This forum is great!

So, was this 72" RADIUS or DIAMETER? 

He said "72 inch radius fastrack". OK, he should have said "diameter", or just "072".

Horrible sin. 

But just how much 0-144 Fastrack does Lionel make?

Sheesh; give him a break.