I P Engineering Wickham Railcar Kit

[TONYWARD50]

Just taken delivery of this kit, and if it is anything like their coach kits then I shall be very pleased indeed !

Looking at the underfloor made me think (a dangerous practice I know) "There is room here for a small decoder....."
Before I get carried away ( and I know I should be carried away by men in white coats) has anyone made one of these, are there any problems, and does it work well on just 3 volts ?
I know that if I were to try and go digital there is the problem of a short wheelbase, so the pickups might be a problem on points, the voltage would have to be regulated carefully.......hmm, maybe I shall leave it as battery.
I would be grateful for any info on this.

Thanks, guys

 

[whizzo]

Hi please can you say if the coach kit wheels go through lgb points ok please thanks Dave

 

[garrymartin]

In my limited experience the wheels are the weak link in IP kits. Mine go through the points (Aristocraft) fine, but they do not like sharp curves, popping out of the axel boxes. I intend to replace these as soon as I find an alternative.
I have an IP Mandie railcar too, the drive wheels on this, which have to be taken apart to fit the gear, are forever dropping out of gauge, the motor is so noise is very loud & it would deafen the occupants of the railcar, it's strength seems feeble. I would not get too excited about chipping it

 

[ge_rik]

I've made the IP Engineering wheels more compatible with LGB R1 pointwork:

http://youtu.be/oI2ACndwMAQ
Disks of 2mm thick plasticard glued behind each wheel to increase the flange width

See - http://riksrailway.blogspot.fr/2012/08/how-i-made-ip-engineering-wheels.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...ngineering-wheels.html

Rik

 

[whizzo]

Thanks chaps, for the replies regards Dave

 

[bobg]

The problem is likely to be that the flangeway on the points is too generous, and adding a strip to the inside of the check-rail would give the same result, as might closing the back-to-back slightly on the wheel-set.

These type of problems will persist anywhere there are multiple manufacturers involved.

 

[TONYWARD50]

The message I am getting is that the wheels may be a problem.
I shall not be using R1 curves, only R2 with (mainly)R3 points.
I think I will assemble the chassis first and try that out before completing the bodywork.
Many thanks for your input

 

[Rhinochugger]

If I remember rightly, the Wickham railcar is something that Iavn from IP has taken on from another producer, so it may not have his wheels.

IP wheels run through LGB R3 turnouts OK, and Aristo #6 - I'd swapped the wheels by the time I bought my USAT #6 turnout

 

[Doug]

The Wickham railcar comes with the standard IP wheelsets. The bearings are inside the wheels. It runs well on 3v with the supplied motor. Will pull a fairly heavy truck with no problem.