I’ve had one of the first Wrightlines ‘spud – u – like’ motor bogies for a long time which I used to write a review for the 7mm NGA magazine ‘Narrow Lines’ way back. As my O14 layout ‘Tony’s Forest’ started to come together I thought I should put a body on it. I have had a Nonneminstre Battery Mine loco body for a similar length of time, so I thought I would put the two together and this is now part of the Battery Mine Loco page.
My stock of kits is a bit like fine wine – they have to mature for a considerable length of time before use!
I have all of the Nonnemistre kits in a build queue with the Hudson-Hunslet next.
The Hudson may be on another Wrightlines bogie – I bought enough to do the three Nonneminstre kits some years ago in anticipation of the O14 layout.
Component parts of the motor bogie kit
This time however, I have departed from the standard Wrightlines instructions as I wanted to solder two lengths of ‘L’ section brass towards the top of the chassis block to locate on the footplate. This prevented the fitting of the pick-ups at the top (as originally designed) so I have moved them lower down. The still seem to work as intended, in fact this chassis runs a bit better than the battery mine chassis!
Modified bogie with ‘L’ section strips soldered near the top upon which sits the body. The pick-ups had to be mounted lower down but work just as effectively.
Footplate fitted and gearbox placed on top of the motor.
Progress to date. The cab front and sides needed some slight adjustment to suit the slightly higher protrusion of the motor bogie above the footplate.
The body needed some small adjustment as the top of the motor bogie sits a bit higher than the Tenshodo SPUD unit for which the kit is really designed. Body assembly will follow the instructions although I may choose to fix the motor bogie top cover to the body rather than to the bogie itself.
I haven’t decided whether to use this bogie yet as since I started the project Mark Clarke (Locos n stuff) brought out an etched Universal Power Bogie which has a better gear ratio and will fit under the two remaining body kits that I have. I may try both to see which one I prefer, though I suspect (purely on control-ability) that it will be the Locos n stuff bogie.