Omnicon Scale Models 4-8-2

Running Improvements

Dick Karnes reports that four models he worked on all had some issue with running properly. The prototype engine had "blind" center drivers (no flanges), but the model had all wheels flanged. The model's axles were spaced according to the prototype, though, so that caused the center driver's flanges to touch laterally, causing running problems on curves. While Omnicon was in business, they made available blind center drivers. Dick's recommendation, now, is to find someone with machinists tools and have them remove the flanges from the center drivers.

Larry Shughart had a friend make the above-mentioned modification to his model, but he found that on tight curves, the blind drivers would fall below the top of the rail, leading to derailments. What he had to do was remove the spring for those blind drivers, and make it so that those drivers remain vertically just hair above the top of the rails.