I'm working on two more to sell - one's a presold commission job even with the roadname specified, which is fun. But what's really cool is what they look like with the cab weights pulled. That big empty cab looks as cavernous as the real A. One of the reasons loggers liked them was everybody had a dry place to ride. It's amazing that the stock Kato motor shaft is this low. I wish it was a little more reliable electrically with the cab weight out, because it sure looks cool. They say Climax never had more than five locomotives under construction on the shop floor at one time. I'm trying to beat that record!
Thanks for that info. I'm interested in a couple of the Kato Chasis. If it comes with the trucks it would be a good starting point for a static model of the Climax B. Contact me at craigolio@sympatico.ca Craig
Randy, How does it pull without the weight? If it pulls OK, I'd consider a cheater car behind it for electrical pickup.
There's two sets of weights. The wood 'bins' beside the boiler are loaded with squarish-lead weights, and are directly over the power truck. The cab weight is centered, which pushes all four wheels down equally; i.e. creates as much drag as it does traction. I'm still tinkering with doing a cast-metal boiler, haven't given up entirely yet. THAT would be just perfect.
Are you still offering these little gems? I'm gathering parts to model a local logging line that ran 'til about 1920. They did have shays but no climax however it will be my model. I think this would be a great contrast at shows to what the other guys are running (mostly modern diesels) Brady
I got some drawings for dimension checks - and so you know where "Muppet Labs" is headed (I resemble Professor Milton (oops, that's Bunsen) Honeydew, if you remember that show) I got a successful operating prototype of a vertical-boiler version to work yesterday. At this point it's an operating prototype. The 'catch' is that until I prove I can cast the vertical boiler in metal, I'm not about to show a lot of pictures or announce it for sale - not just yet. Without the weight of a metal boiler it's not feasible, so I've got to beat that. But practicing on casting cab weights has me reasonably optimistic. The cab will be 'wide open' and I've made a full-floor cab with some rough-looking cylinders covering up the rear motor universal. The driveshaft is right on the floor. The prototype runs as least as well as the existing 18-ton horizontal boiler A.
This was great fun. I actually got commissioned to weather this one. It's a matter of personal taste, but man, I'd sell all of them this way if it were me! That's the way God intended a Class A to look.
OK, here's some news. It will be a little bit before it's ready, but I've prototyped a vertical-boiler version with the boiler and 'woodpile' done in cast metal. It works. The castings came out quite well and the locomotive runs just as good as the 18-tonner. I'm expirimenting with putting the cylinders in the cab on this one too, as the cab is much more open. Not quite ready for photos yet. I'll be making 'new' resin sides that are wood frame instead of steel, and the longer roof. The way Climax did things, this will allow a lot of 'mix and match' for older versions of the 18-tonner round-tank as well. So this will add one more version to the 18-tonner as well, making the total list something like this: Vertical boiler, wood frame, open cab, round tank, long roof 18-ton horizontal boiler, open cab, wood frame, round tank 18-ton horizontal boiler, closed cab, steel frame, round tank 18-ton horizontal boiler, closed cab, steel frame, rectangular tank. I don't think there ever was a rectangular tank with a vertical boiler. I can't find any photos of that. So the vertical boiler one is limited to the original Kato motor. And if you want to DCC you're on the bleeding edge there. No place to hide. So keep scarfing up Kato chassis, this should be ready this fall.
