The SSP Slomo

C

Chris Bird

Steam,gardening, photography
Hi folks
It is rare that something revolutionary is launched for our hobby, but I genuinely think that the Small Steam Performance Slomo falls into that category. Some of you will remember Terry Robinson's incredible film of his super slow Roundhouse Billy at the end of last year and he has been busy since then. The Slomo is a gear driven inertia device that is chain driven from the driving axle of the Roundhouse 0-4-0 Classic chassis or in a close coupled tender. It gives ultra slow starts and stops and irons out much of the gradients in a track.

I am not commercially involved with the Slomo, but I was lucky enough to be the first UK customer and have been involved in the testing.

I was so impressed that I have made six videos (Katie, Edrig and tender and 7/8ths Dennis) which you can access from this page on my website:
http://www.summerlands-chuffer.co.uk/#/ssp-slomo-1/4585810685

or you can go straight to Terry's Australian website:
www.smallsteamperformance.com.au

Cheers
Chris
 
Yes Jon - that Darj is incredible, though I would like to see it storming a gradient!

Incidentally, my apologies that the link to my site didn't work - in my enthusiasm I forgot that I couldn't link to second tier pages. There are links from the Chuffer News, My Projects and Other Stuff pages.
Cheers
Chris
 
one of the reasons i never went live steam was the fact sometimes it was like watching benny hill on speed,,,,

really impressed with how these locos run,,, be nice to see them in a drgw mikado to see how they run
 
Very impressed
Do they make any noise - I thought I could detect a whirring?
How much are they?
The only one of my engines that comes close for slow speed good behaviour is my RH Charles
 
owlpool said:
Very impressed
Do they make any noise - I thought I could detect a whirring?
How much are they?
The only one of my engines that comes close for slow speed good behaviour is my RH Charles
Click to expand...

Hi Paul - there is some noise, though they are now fitted with rubber mounts that reduce this. It is way less than the sound of most burners and for slow running, not really noticeable. It makes the loco very controllable down hill which might be good for your line!
The Slomo to fit your Katie is $353 Aus shipped which is around £190. You need to budget for the Vat and possible admin charge from Royal Mail - so £240 max.
Cheers
Chris
 
Hey Paul, who ever let a little detail like that get in the way of garden railways? ;)

For those who never made it to my website with all the videos, here is an early prototype Slomo that I mounted in Edrig's tender:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSVsm1SCHSk

Cheers
Chris
 
At last!
A steamer which runs and sounds(with the Summerlands Chuffer) like the prototype.
I esp' like the Billy/Katie combination. Which one has the chuffer?
 
railwayman198 said:
Interesting product but it seems to be only for locos with uninsulated wheels.
Click to expand...

?? ?? ??

Explain please. Surely if the wheels are insulated, so is the axle.
 
bobg said:
?? ?? ??

Explain please. Surely if the wheels are insulated, so is the axle.
Click to expand...

From the S.S.P. website "kits for locomotives" page:
The list of locomotives below applies only to locos` with “un”insulated wheels. Insulated wheels have larger hubs which interfere with the fitting of the Slo-mo.
Click to expand...
 
Hmm! Ta, I didn't spot that.
 
Yes - I discovered the problem with the insulated wheels when I came to fit the Slomo to my Katie - the big, plastic bosses at 32mm gauge meant that there was no room. I managed to get away with just changing the rear wheels and shortining the grub screws on the front ones. If on 45mm gauge I think the fronts may be OK.

In that great little film, Billie has the Chuffer. I must try a double headed one soon!
Cheers
Chris
 
I have been doing some more work with the Slomo and have mounted it in a heavy wagon (1.9kg to get adhesion). With the gearing I have, it only really works for heavy locos (3.3kg+ also to get adhesion) but I hope to try it with a smaller sprocket which will also allow both to be lighter.

Anyway, here is a video of a test behind a 7/8ths Quarry Hunslet. The Slomo is noisier than it should be as I did not have the sound insulation in place due to trying different weights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn8eEu_OkDs

Cheers
Chris
 
Hm tricky, would love one of these, I have 3 Locs that could do with one but I use all Insulated Wheels to run with DCC as well. Shame, I do not like 4 Wheel Loco's with Tenders and a Van or whatever would not work as I need the Slow Speed for Running Round.

Wonder if some Development Work could produce a Thiner one to go inside the Insulated Wheels.

Or course I guess I could think about a revision of how Roundhouse Wheels are Insulated?

Food for thought.
JonD
 
Jon - all might not be lost! Terry has only worked on non-insulated wheel locos and it was only when I came to fit a Slomo to insulated 32mm that I found it was not possible. I changed the rear wheels (as there was just not room for the sprocket) but I only needed to shorten the grub screws on the front wheels. It is possible that with 45mm (if that is what you are) that the Slomo will fit. It is just that nobody has tried it yet. And if the bosses are a tad too big, a little trimming in a lathe would be easy.

Cheers
Chris
 
Might be OK then as I rarely convert my Loco's to 32 these days. But would need to know before I splash out over 200 UK sovs. Before you changed your wheels would have been a good time to try, but then why would you have? Never mind. Thanks for the info though.
JonD
 
dunnyrail said:
Might be OK then as I rarely convert my Loco's to 32 these days. But would need to know before I splash out over 200 UK sovs. Before you changed your wheels would have been a good time to try, but then why would you have? Never mind. Thanks for the info though.
JonD
Click to expand...

OK Jon - you have spurred me into action! I have just put Katie on her back and adjusted the wheels to 40mm back to back. With that back to back, the Slomo will fit with the insulated wheel hubs that I have (15.9mm diameter x 122mm deep). I know Terry has not been able to get hold of a loco with insulated wheels so I will let him know.
The non insulated wheels (rear at least) are essential for 32mm.
Cheers
Chris
 
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