Hi All,

Do you have any experience with ACME locomotives and passenger cars?
I'm specially interested in knowing your experience with that material on R1 and R2 curves. The ACME catalog states that "All ACME models are built in H0 exact scale; they can run as well on minimum track radius of 450 mm."
Thus, such material would not qualify to run on layouts with R1 and R2 curves (360 mm and 437.5 mm respectively).

The cars are locomotives are true 1:87, like most of Roco's material that in general can handle R1 C track curves (with some overhang effect though but not derailing). Thus, I'm wondering whether the catalog statement is more a recommendation for the sake realism or a real technical issue...

Any feedback or hints on that are highly appreciated. I'm considering purchasing ACME rolling stock that I definitely want to run on my layout but, due to the concerns expressed above, I really didn't decide to make the move yet

By the way, comments and impression on the quality of that material are also welcome.

Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Pedro

Edited by user 06 August 2013 10:17:08(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Mike,

Thank you very much for the good hints.

The consist that drew my attention was the DB IC "Heinrich Der Lowe" (a bit more than 30 cm long each)

My R2 curves are not in a traditional oval layout. Hi have half a curve in R2 (90º) followed by approximately half a meter straight line and then another R2 (90º) that makes the complete 180º of my "larger oval". WOuld that somehow kind of 'soften' the problem?

Regards,
Pedro

Thanks.
Indeed, the level of detail of ACME models is very good. My layout is a two rail one, so I would not need to convert the locomotives. Anyway, the ACME catalog has AC models too.
Sorry to hear about your faulty locomotive. May I ask what is wrong with it?

Pedro, if you are using R2 with a straight track, could you possibly replace this curve with a R3 or R4 without the straight track?
The coaches should be able to handle this, but it might be problematic if you have signals/catenary masts or tunnel portals, etc on the curved sections.

The best way to test would be to take one or two 30 cm coaches and test to see if they can pass other coaches on the adjacent track and whether they clear obstacles.
You can probably find two coaches for around 40-50 EUR each to test, which is cheaper than buying the whole set. LSM and ACME both make coaches that could be added to the set if you decide to go ahead and get it later. As far as I recall, the Heinrich der Loewe Set is the current EC/IC livery of the DBAG.

I have the Avmz108 (ACME52309) and the Bpmz291 coaches from LSM on order. The rest of my coaches are from Roco.
The Roco ones may be better suited to operations on R2 (mechanically).

Regards

Mike C

Hi Pedro,

I use around 12 ACME coaches and some container waggons on my lay-out. I like them alot. They are very detailed, run very smooth and come in a beautifull box. And all that for a fair price.

My layout has a minimum of R3 (k-track). They handle that well. I use them in combination with Roco short couplers. However as stated above I would not recommend them on R2 or R1. As Tom stated: Marklin short couplers is also a no go on these particular models.

Also make sure to change the wheel sets to AC! Or better ask the shop to do it for you.

Regards,

Rinus

Hi Tom,

Yes, from my experience, Roco can handle R1. I have 3 303 mm long passenger cars. Visually the cars hand over a lot in curves but, aside from the aesthetically poor effect, they do it quite well. All the others I have are 1:93.5 from Märklin/Trix/Fleischmann and some 1:87 epoch II cars from Rivarossi and Liliput which are shorter than 303 mm anyway.

I also don't have S shaped curves aside from the ones that result from the turnouts. Thanks for the hint on the short couplers. I use some from Fleischmann (on Fleischmann and Rivarossi CIWL coaches) and like them a lot but with 303 mm coaches I guess I won't even try Usually I change the couplers of the locomotives to the ones that better fit the coaches such a locomotive will pull to avoid issues negotiating curves.

Pedro

Pedro,

In regards to Rinus' comments, I have equipped my ACME coaches with the Roco Universal Coupler. It works along the same lines as the Maerklin one, but what I have noticed is that the shaft of the coupler is approximately one mm longer, which means that it protrudes a little further than the Maerklin ones, allowing it to clear the buffers of most coaches. In the case of ACME coaches, I have found that a number of them have coupling shafts that are a little shorter than ideal and the extra mm afforded by the Roco Universal Coupler solves this issue and allows for trouble-free coupling. These couplers are also fully compatible with my LSM and Roco coaches, which are in most cases equipped with Maerklin's 7203.

If you are still in the planning stages of your layout and are worried about radii, I would suggest that you consider migrating to R2 and R3 or greater.

I decided that if I ever get around to designing an actual layout, as opposed to my temporary teppichbahn (floor layout), I would have a "mainline" oval probably R4 and R5 with a local line on the inside of the oval, having the two meet at the station (interchange). For alpine themed layouts, you could also use Bemo narrow gauge for the inner trackage.

I have not had any issues with the original ACME wheelsets on K or C track, but I have to admit I have not run the coach consists for more than a few laps each.

Regards

Mike C