Questions on IP Engineering locos

Mobi

Mobi

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I am interested in this one.

http://www.ipengineering.co.uk/page...le_16mm_Garden_Railway_Electric_Railcars.html < Link To http://www.track-shack.co...Electric_Railcars.html

Does it mean it is not available then?

Does it use same motor as of this one?

http://www.track-shack.com/acatalog/Ezee-Rapier-Locomotive-Kit-EZ007.html < Link To http://www.track-shack.co...omotive-Kit-EZ007.html

1. How difficult is the construction process? What glue and paint I have to apply?
2. How much weight they can pull?
3. Is the motor single speed only?

I am interested in them because pricing seems right (although construction seems bit shoddy).
 
I think it maybe just that Track-shack doesn't list/stock the entire IP Range.

IP are usually pretty good at withdrawing items from their website when no longer available (at least in my experience anyhow). May be worth completing the Order Form instead, or giving IP a quick telephone call to check (or as Ross suggests calling Track-Shack).

The railbus you're interested in is part of their easy ("Ezee") build range so construction should be pretty straightforward. I've built their coaches in the past which weren't too difficult, and their latest kits are quite an improvement on the coaches that I built. As I understand it, the latest kits are easier to assemble than their predecessors. The body should got together with waterproof PVA or a similar wood-glue. The chassis basically bolts together and there is a little soldering involved in wiring up the motor, batteries and switch, but nothing that the average modeller couldn't cope with.

I think this will probably use the Budget chassis. Not a great hauler, but there is an optional 4-wheel drive kit to give it a bit more pull. Yes it will likely be single speed with a centre-off DPDT switch for forward/reverse. IP do however supply an optional speed controller for £14.00 which could be fitted.

I have one of their early Punch loco's which tootles around at a nice sedate scale pace and comfortably hauls a few skips, even without the optional 4WD kit.

Hope this helps.
 
IP Engineering is in Lincolnshire..
Track-Shack is a 'shop' on the Isle of Man..

No idea why there should be a link to it on the IP page like that??
No doubt someone who has been here longer will explain in a minute!

There is an 'order form' link at the top of the page.. I would use that.
IP are at (nearly) all the shows. They are very helpful, in person, by phone or email.

These are 'basic' little kits.. They are small compared to the likes of LGB etc. and being mostly of wooden construction quite light in weight. - This will limit what they can pull.
They are 'designed' for small field / estate railway duties.. The railcar might have had a single van for goods / milk / what-have-you behind it.. The small outline diesel would have been used for a few wagons, or tubs, on an estate railway. - Or a sand quarry perhaps.

Using triple A batteries, there is not much capacity to pull very much for any great length of time. if you make sure all the stock is from similar ranges, then you will be fine. - You may find a couple of hours of these pottering about suits you.
People tend to fit either two switches. - On/Off, Forward/Reverse. Or a single centre-off DPDT switch to control both power and direction.
So yes, single speed. - get slower as the batteries run down! ;-}

They are a basic kit.. The finish obtained is really down to you..
If you want o spend the time on filling in grain, the odd blemish in the laminations, and applying a mirror-like gloss, then go for it! Same if you want to distress and weather them.

Not really enough space for any sort of remote control.. You would have to heavily modify things to make them track-power to control speed that way.

If the overall outline of either (or both!) appeals, and raises a smile (always a good sign, I think). Then I would buy one, and just enjoy it pottering around.. The lack of control will also show if your track is 'off' anywhere, as if it derails at a certain point then that bit of track needs some attention.

Bang something down, and get something running before the weather gets too bad to be outside!
Enjoy!!
 
I've not constructed this kit but I'd imagine it's similar to the Lollypop Railcar which I constructed recently. My blog posting gives an idea of the construction techniques needed.

http://riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/how-i-constructed-ip-engineering.html < Link To http://riksrailway.blogsp...ed-ip-engineering.html

As others have suggested, it's not likely to be a big hauler but will provide something to potter around the line.

Rik
 
Ivan at IP Engineering is in the process of moving location and I think in the interim Trackshack is handling the online sales.

You will find the Ezee railbus listed with the rest of the Ezee range on the Trackshack website under 16mm rolling stock kits, not under locos.

All the Ezee powered models use the same motor and gears. The gears are a bit vulnerable to rapid wear if they aren't aligned properly during construction, as these kits don't use a gearbox as such. They are light, so current consumtion is low and you'll get at least a couple of hours running out of rechargeable AAA cells.

They make up into cheap and cheerful rolling stock about the same loading gauge as Mamod/MSS models, so are noticably smaller than the general run of SM32 stock.

Graeme
 
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