Fine Art Models Big Boy test run

[up148]

Saw this earlier on Brass Trains website. I've seen this model on the FAM website for decades, but never saw one run on the included test run display stand. The video of it running is pretty remarkable. Gary Kohs hit it out of the park with this model.

https://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Pro ... w--Display

[Chris Webster]

Youtube link, in case anyone wants to watch it full screen:
057829-Gauge 1 Brass Model Train - FAM Fine Art Models UP Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy #4000 w/ Dis

For the price those things sold for you'd think the two driver sets would operate at the same speed as each other.

[up148]

I wasn't sure if it was built that way or ???? It appears to have a motor for each truck/driver set. Articulates often spun one set of drivers before the second kicked in on start up. The whistle is dead on from the videos I've heard over the years.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

For the price those things sold for you'd think the two driver sets would operate at the same speed as each other.

Hard to say when it's sitting blocked in place. Maybe if it was free rolling down the track....

[bob turner]

Yes. The expensive articulated models have separate motors and gears. I disapprove, because it requires extensive surgery of boiler belly and cylinder block. Maybe not true on a 1-gauge model?

I cured that with my “twin spool”design, and then by using slightly different gear ratios on each engine. The latter is the way to go unless you like unrealistic synchronization of side rods.

[86TA355SR]

Wow, Very interesting, appreciate all the info posted in this thread, I had no idea.

Curious, original price?

[up148]

Not sure, but thought it was either $12K or $15K when new.

[ScaleCraft]

I have a modicum of experience with #1 ga brass. For me, not worth the effort or cost. Theo Berlyn was the worst.
First, no parts. Make a run, plus parts, sell the parts off to scratchbuilders, and then when you need parts, you're stuck.
The more precise to prototype, the less able to run they are.
All those lines, pipes, rigging...anything less than a 40' radius circle and they short out. I recall some real disasters.
Notice the shots of the underside of the engine. Note how the lead and trail trucks are barely out of line with the drivers. They make these things so they don't run on normal curves in #1 gauge. Most folks have max 10' radius. That's 20' diameter. Imagine the size of your basement to get one circle of track in it. They tend to go with super fine-scale flanges. Pick every joint, point, frog.

There is a reason these come with a display track with rollers. No curves.

I had an Aster Electric Big Boy here for a while in #1 . 8' radius minimum, and they meant it, but even that was tight. Had to clip and move all sorts of stuff to get it to work on that, and they aren't even "fine scale".

If you have $18K for a mantle piece, great!

[E7]

First, no parts. Make a run, plus parts, sell the parts off to scratchbuilders, and then when you need parts, you're stuck.

From what I've seen ala brass, a lot of the "spare" parts are seconds. That meaning they didn't come up to snuff for the run being built at the time.

[E7]

Not sure, but thought it was either $12K or $15K when new.

Fairly sure the number is 15K. That's a LOT of bucks for lounging on the mantle!