MINITRIX's FM switcher

Anyone here have any ideas on what wheels and gears fit a MINITRIX FM switcher other than NWSL? I would like to replace the deep flanged wheels.

Tom

 

Only ones I've ever heard of are NWSL or cut them yourself.Feel lucky that you CAN get wheelsets for such an old loco..

 

I see them on the Bay quite a bit...........................but you are going to pay a premium price for one.

Although, I know where there is 3 of them sitting in different states of repair that someone that I know VERY well will never do anything with them.

Ryan

 

Seems to me that one of the other switcher mechanisms - the Life-Like SW8, or the Kato NW2 - something like that - has been proven to fit in the shell.

Since slow speed is also a problem with these, that's probably worth mentioning. The one I did the body on for John Sing has been repowered a couple of times.

Wow, this was now almost 10 years ago? http://home.comcast.net/~j.sing/Santa_Fe_FM_H12-44_Zebra_Stripe.htm

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=29041

Anyway, you get the idea.

I've seen some great deals on Ebay for these when people had no idea what they were and mis-listed them in with a bunch of other stuff, got the name wrong, etc. The paint and handrails on these were about as bad as it ever got, but the basic shell itself is quite useful.

 

I have heard the Life Like SW chasis fits the old Minitrix shell.

 

There's a guy out on Ebay selling the shells only for $3.59 each. Wow, what a deal!
4 available, $4 shipping, expires in a day.

 

Randy,these locos,and for that matter,any TRIX loco,can have the slow speed greatly improved by moving the magnets.Work them loose,and move them all the way back,away from the brushes,and glue them back in.This decreases the field strength,and makes the motor less "cammy"..

 

Just curious,why don't you like the NWSL sets? I've put them on many of my TRIX locos,I really like them.Not only smaller flanges,but smaller wheels altogether.The actual tread diameter is smaller,which looks better,and actually lowers slow speed performance..

 

Minitrix FM Switcher

Another solution possibly. One of the members of my club in Australia is fitting an Atlas VO1000 chassis under his FM shell.
Will have to see if I can get some photos of the progress.
Gary

 

This is NOT a Minitrix engine but it is built with the VO1000 drive.

I still have handrails to install and a few little things , then I can build the other 14...


Randy

 

That looks strangely familiar,LOL!! Also cut down Atlas FM shell with a VO drive.The other is a modified TRIX,Atlas Baldwin cab,sill,railings..Both not quit finished,still got some touching up,railings,ETC,decals not finished..

 

I see what you did there... trying to sneak a H20-44 in on this thread. Pretty nice!!!

 

Jerry,just had to have something cool for Wilkes-Barre Buttonwood yard,LOL!! Actually,it's WAY nicer than it is is the pic.Amazing how bad a little dust looks to a camera..