Scalefour Forum

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

Yep. I did an article for update a long time ago.

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

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

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

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

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

Pete

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

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

We use a very heavy Heljan Cl 47 on Balcombe!

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!





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 ...)

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