CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Help and advice for those starting in, or converting to P4 standards. A place to share modelling as a beginner in P4.
PeteScR

CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby PeteScR » Wed May 15, 2019 11:02 pm

Has anyone ever converted a CMX Track Cleaner to P4? I will be interested to hear how you did it. I have one and would like to convert it to P4.

Pete

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jim s-w
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby jim s-w » Thu May 16, 2019 6:15 am

Yep. I did an article for update a long time ago.
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!

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barrowroad
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby barrowroad » Thu May 16, 2019 11:20 am

I've just done a conversion to P4 using a pair of Masokits freight bogies and lowmac Alan Gibson wheels.
The bogies I 'beefed up' by soldering 0.45 wire along the back of the bogies to deal with the 300g weight of the tank. I also fabricated buffer beams using double sided copper clad to replace the KDs.
I'll post some photos later.

Works well on Barrow Road.

Robin

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Re6/6
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby Re6/6 » Thu May 16, 2019 12:32 pm

We have one for 'Balcombe'. Rod successfully converted it using (IIRC) Brassmasters CCUs. I'll ask him for some pictures when he's available.
John

David Thorpe

Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby David Thorpe » Thu May 16, 2019 1:59 pm

There are cheaper alternatives to the CMX model, eg the Sharge cleaners - same principle, but £79.50 as opposed to £149.95 - http://www.model-trainstrack-cleaner.co.uk/. I note that one purchaser of these had it modified for EM by the seller at no extra cost and there is a suggestion in the review for the Esso model that there should be no difficulty adapting it for P4.

DT

Philip Hall
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby Philip Hall » Thu May 16, 2019 3:36 pm

I was staggered by the price of the CMX cleaner, and if the Sharge is as effective and cheaper, it seems an interesting way to go. Regarding conversion, the bogies look like Bachmann GWR 9ft bogies; if so, slipping in P4 wheelsets should be no problem. If more weight is needed there looks to be plenty of space around the tank for some lengths of lead.

Philip
Last edited by Philip Hall on Thu May 16, 2019 3:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.

PeteScR

Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby PeteScR » Thu May 16, 2019 3:39 pm

Thanks Jim, I'll take a look at the digest and see if I can find it

Pete

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barrowroad
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby barrowroad » Wed May 22, 2019 2:30 pm

Some photos as promised. I'm aware the oval buffers have rotated.
IMG_20190517_102949557.jpg


IMG_20190517_103021801.jpg


IMG_20190517_103155351.jpg
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Paul Townsend
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby Paul Townsend » Wed May 22, 2019 4:13 pm

I have done a similar job to Robin's but 3links instead of AJ Coupler.

It does work well on level plain track but potential users need to be aware that the considerable weight and large pad causing substantial friction drag put a heavy demand on the hauling loco.

I had to introduce a diesel with all wheels powered to get it up my 4ft radius 1:40 hill.

Even on straightish level track there are challenges crossing a double slip or barrow crossing due to the extra drag.

Initially I had a level crossing with Slater's plastic cobbles and the machine stalled there. By the time I arrived to nudge it on, the IPA had softened the plastic and "welded" the pad to it.

Like many of our hobby's good ideas there are downsides too!

I now need a version to cope with mixed 7ft and standard gauge track :geek:

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Re6/6
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby Re6/6 » Wed May 22, 2019 4:48 pm

We use a very heavy Heljan Cl 47 on Balcombe!
John

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Rod Cameron
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Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby Rod Cameron » Wed May 22, 2019 4:55 pm

Re6/6 wrote:We have one for 'Balcombe'. Rod successfully converted it using (IIRC) Brassmasters CCUs. I'll ask him for some pictures when he's available.


I did a cut-and-shut and carve-up on a Brassmasters bogie and using 10.5mm (IIRC) Kean Maygib wheels. To be honest there wasn't much left of the bogie frames, and no room for the ends for the torsion wires, so at just one end I soldered a wire in the shape shown. Works well enough. A pleasant surprise was that it clears the 3rd rail!

image001.jpg


image003.jpg


You lose the Kadee coupling option, but mine gets pushed anyway using a block of foam glued to the tank end as a buffing plate (by a loco with clean wheels ...)
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Rod

PeteScR

Re: CMX Track Cleaner P4 Conversion

Postby PeteScR » Fri May 24, 2019 10:12 pm

Many thanks to everyone that responded to my original post. Lots of food for thought, much appreciated
Pete


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