01-29-2009, 01:33 AM
Nice job on the frame, Kevin. With workmanship like that, you should end up with a good-lookin' and smooth-runnin' loco. 
I built both a two-truck and a three-truck shay for a hobby shop when the MDC models were first released. While they did take a bit of tinkering, they ended up running very nicely, even with the open-frame motors. One of the main reasons for poor performance was either excess play or not enough clearance in the driveshaft system. The male shafts that fit inside the square tubing were too long, limiting the ability of the trucks to pivot. Also, the drive gears liked to "walk" on their shafts,causing misalignment with the gear teeth on the wheels. There were some other issues, too, although my memory doesn't work too well back that far.
In the end though, both did run very nicely.
Wayne
I built both a two-truck and a three-truck shay for a hobby shop when the MDC models were first released. While they did take a bit of tinkering, they ended up running very nicely, even with the open-frame motors. One of the main reasons for poor performance was either excess play or not enough clearance in the driveshaft system. The male shafts that fit inside the square tubing were too long, limiting the ability of the trucks to pivot. Also, the drive gears liked to "walk" on their shafts,causing misalignment with the gear teeth on the wheels. There were some other issues, too, although my memory doesn't work too well back that far.
In the end though, both did run very nicely.Wayne