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Tower 55 my own version in O scale

S Scratchbuilder1-48OGR Forum Member

In the pictures below is my own fairly simple conversion of a China dive to a horizontal drive in an AC 6000 for my Union Pacific and BNSF modern 2 rail TMCC

Layout . I started this project years ago , and it laid in a box . When the new Lionel ES44 came out , the side frame for trucks is an exact O scale beauty . The pads for mounting to the original truck blocks match the holes on the Overland bolsters , like they were made for each other . I did have to install 2-56 Heli coils in the side frame holes so a small screw could pass thru the bolster and secure the side frames . I had purchased years ago surplus Overland gear boxes and the bolsters of _bay , I had Andre make 12 bushings to fit the holes in the back side of the side frames and to fit the new axle tips. Bolted together , these roll with a push of the hand. Now onto the stamped metal chassis , it was cut away in the mounting area of the old motors and brass plates shimmed to the correct ride height were the secured to the stamped metal frame , then the trucks attached . A slot has to be cut in the middle of the frame to let the Pittman ball bearing motor (Overland ) and flywheels ride low and line up with the gear towers . All coupler mtg heights , body ride heights are now correct . Stay tuned as I finish this nice loco . A nice feature is the non-metal axle bushings which will eliminate shorting possibility . This has been a slight challenge but all mods were done with a Dremel , and a 2-56 tap and a drill and scavenged parts . This engine is heavy and when you push it by hand all gear boxes turn effortlessly and sit level in a non binding manner.

Although the parts cost roughly $375 , motor and flywheels , side frames , Overland gear boxes and drive shafts and bolsters , plus $175 for a non powered loco.  However a similar brass model is way more , So a plastic body model and a brass model power set up makes for a nice project .

 

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S Scratchbuilder1-48OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by rheil:

Bernie,

Interesting that you have about $550 in the project. The newer Sunset diesels follow the same construction method of plastic body on a horizontal drive metal chassis and list for around $550-$675.

Well that is my point , modern diesels SD 90 mac , Es44 , SD60m , SD75 ,SD40-2 , SD45 ,  FP 45 , I had all these parts except side frames when the only thing going was the 2 of 3 axles powered with the plastic floater wheels which sucked .

A company could just make a drive to fit all the plastic non powered units , not all that difficult , no need for sprung journal side frames, you could even just have 2 gear boxes on the outer axles and a tungsten made center dummy traction motor for weight in the truck over the center axle . A Falhauber motor in the fuel tank , the whole inside of the shell for the electronics , cab interior , operating fans , opening side doors with a prime mover inside etc. With the alxes riding on ball bearings in the boxes and the large gears for a free floating drivetrain the amperage draw would be low .

But just truck assys and driveshafts and motor I am pretty sure 2 rail guys would buy them .

TS Ted SOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Yes but the Sunsets are what some folks call "tank drives," i.e., the driveshaft is visible where it emerges from the fuel tank.  This doesn't bother me and it's 100% better than twin vertical motors with self locking gears.  In Bernie's case the drive shafts are fully concealed within the body.  There are still a lot of worms and worm gearboxes with their attendant static friction.

 

IMO the best drive is what I call a "cassette drive."  This is what's in the Atlas switcher, and a lot of S-gauge American Models diesels.  These are great runners.  Yes it takes a large production volume to pay for tooling of the cassettes, and the frame has to have a stiff gantry built in for the pivot point on top of the gear cassette.  But 1,000,000 HO-scale railroaders can't be wrong.  IMO this is the best way to build a low-friction, large motored diesel drive.  I wish more of the high-volume O-scale manufacturers would follow suit.

Last edited by Ted S
R rdunniiiOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by nw2124:

I would be careful of using the term "Tower 55" as it is I believe a trademark by Overland Models, "Tower 55 Models", for the HO plastic models produced a few years back.

I am sure our host would frown on the use of trademark usuage. just my thoughts.

Stephen

No longer.  Long gone.  Brian Marsh said Tower 55 was the biggest mistake he had ever made and was happiest when it was gone.

S Scratchbuilder1-48OGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by nw2124:

Apparently all of do not remember the legal spat that Overland had with someone else using the "Tower 55" name. Stephen

 

Originally Posted by nw2124:

I would be careful of using the term "Tower 55" as it is I believe a trademark by Overland Models, "Tower 55 Models", for the HO plastic models produced a few years back.

I am sure our host would frown on the use of trademark usuage. just my thoughts.

Stephen

I was using "Tower 55" to refer to Overland Ho drives for plastic body , Stephen you never have anything positive to add on any post , it was a waste of time even posting anything on this forum . What a joke.

mwbmwbOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Scratchbuilder1-48:
Stephen you never have anything positive to add on any post .

He does provide a certain entertainment value at the correct price point - free.

Amusingly, he also raises this issue after posting a direct copy & paste from the Kohs web site in an obvious violation of copyright,

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