OK, I think I finnally figured this out, thanks for the help guys. These are scans of from the book I mentioned, I hope it's OK since I'm not posting these for any commercial purpose. I think they show a complete history in photos of NYC's 5344. Note the middle photo here has spoked drivers: If you look at the Marklin Z photo, it looks like they didn't bring the streamlining down enough to partially cover the front pilot wheel. The middle photo here shows it retrofitted with disc drivers before it was re-streamlined into a J3a: I think I feel ok with the spoked drivers now. But I still need scullin disc drivers for my Z J3a shown here, scratch built may years ago on a marklin chassie: Not the best photo, sorry. Robert, I etched some brass 2 layer inserts similar to what you described, plastic sounds better, but I etched a thru hole in the center of the first layer so it would not touch the center pin and cause a short circuit. One of these days I want to make a cast brass shell, the above was made with brass tubing, wire, etc. I wish I had lost wax casting skills when I made it, which I do now. Anyway, I hope this clarifies the history of the Commadore Vanderbuilt. Marklin is going to have to come out with the passenger cars for it as well, hope I don't have to scratch build them. All Z best, Michael
Michael, That steam kitbash looks fantastic! There was a write up on the Commadore Vanderbuilt in "Trains" about a year ago. It included sketches of the first few designs before it was finalized. Some day I will be etching a pair of boxpox drivers for my 4-6-2. Erie always replaced the middle driver when they were rebuilt with a cast frame.
