@Tom Stoltz posted:So make it with 60" and call it good. Only a rivet counter would claim to notice, if they could tell.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
60"??? That's 8 prototype inches, almost a full 1/16" larger that would be on an S Russian. It's easy to get away with slightly undersized drivers, but harder to get away with oversized ones.
Stretched out over 5 driver pairs that's an extra 5/16" on an S scale model, not counting some additional spacing needed between drivers. I'm not sure the selective expansion over the length wouldn't be noticeable. Might as well just drop the trailing truck, add another driver to the Mikado's frame and plop the Pacific/Mikado boiler back on it, then call it done.
Maybe Lionel should have used two Mikado drives under the Y3... After all, 63" drivers are close to 57" drivers...
Rusty