LOCOS

I always find pictures of locos with their tops of chassis inspiring, so I have included some of mine.  I hope you find them of some interest.

My early locos from the mid 70's are but a memory. In those days one had to scratchbuild the chassis.  I have few photos of locos in bits in those days.  1/16" brass was used for frames with Airfix or Romford 5 pole open frame motors, Studiolith wheels, wiper pickups.  Gradually the early etched brass frames became available.  I remember getting excited about the frames introduced by Maygib for the 94XX pannier, which I was able to use under 57XXs.  

As my standards improved, I was using wiper pick ups, "flexichas" with Portescap motors, but moved onto split frames, springing, can motors and flywheels when I got fed up with the lack of inertia in my locos. More recently, conversion to DCC has resulted in more Portescaps being removed.  

One thing I have kept for some years is a log book for each engine.  As improvements are made, or faults arise, they are entered in the book  This means that when patterns occur, I can see what improvements need to be done.  It also records when locos were last oiled.

	I thought I would start off with my oldest model.  5532 was originally constructed in OO from a K's kit in 1975 just before I started in P4 in 1976.  It was converted to P4 in the late 70's.  A runner, but currently in need of refurbishment and a repaint.
	The current chassis was built in February 1987.  A standard Churchward (currently sold by Modellex) chassis with Ultrascale drivers but the original Studiolith truck wheels.  Note the top acting wiper pickups on the rims, not the treads.  Standard Flexichas bearings. A Portescap 16:16 sits in the frames.  This would have been state of the art in the 80's.
	Same chassis, but after conversion to DCC, fitting a Mashima 14mm can and small flywheel.  Wiper pickups were retained.  I wasn't going that far with the improvements.  Loco fitted with a Lenz LE1025A decoder (with feedback).  Being a steam loco, nothing for the accessory switches to run, but I keep having ideas.
	I thought you might like to see a much older chassis for the 55xx, this photo is dated 09/79.  This also predates the loco log.  Chassis was 1/16" brass, with Studiolith wheels throughout, bottom wipers, Romford 5 pole motor on its side, driving through a Studiolith flywheel, step down gearbox (without the small gear) onto a Studiolith gearbox on the axle.  Did it run? Badly I seem to remember.
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