John Donnelly wrote:I've opted for the High Level Models chassis for the Bachmann 03. Plan is to build it fully sprung...
Hi John,
as it happens, I have one on the 'shelf' that I bought with the same intention. However, Chris's intention was that it should be rigid, or if one is so inclined, it can be compensated between the leading axles. After careful study of the diagrams and the etches, it went back on the shelf.
There is no option in the kit to allow the driven axle to move vertically, nor for the crank axle to actually drive the wheels. I am guessing that Chris decided that given that the flycranks were castings, there would need to be very accurate compliance with the crankthrows of the chosen wheelsets for the chassis to work successfully. The clue is in the inclusion of only two sets of axle bearings and guides.
It is not impossible! My 'Husky' drives the fly through the rods, and that is driven from the rear axle, even though the flycrank casting included the crankpin. That required some unconventional 'adjustments' to get it to run smoothly. But the flycrank castings in the 03/4 chassis look much better, needing the usual crankpins, though I haven't yet checked that the throw matches that of my wheels. In your pic, they are hiding in a plastic bag under some etches that I don't have in my kit. (duplicate pts 25/6?)
For fully sprung, assuming the throws match, a way of springing the rear axle needs to be devised. CSBs? My idea is to fit a gearbox (somehow!) to the crank axle, and avoid the designed drive system altogether.
Perhaps a new topic for this?
Ted.