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Ozark minatures Climax A

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#2 ·
It is a good model, requires moderate skills and has good instructions. I put batteries in the water tank and the RC and sound card in the boiler. Tight fit but it worked.

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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thanks Nick,

Nice work! I appreciate seeing one of these models assembled.

I'm looking for an alternative to most of the narrow gauge steam models. You know, the standard bmann climax/shay/heisler models. Something unique.
I think this uses their magic carpet drives. How does it pull?

Scott
 
#4 ·
I love the Class A Climax engines. I was thinking about buying the ozark kit but then opted to build one from scratch. I used the Arsito Center Cab trucks and hooked it to battery power. he fkatcar is my battery car with the critter control. I also can switch it to track power.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otw54z8bbsQ
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Great video Shawn. I love the way that engine/train looks running in the light snow. Thanks for the insight. I'm still kicking around the idea of scratchbuilding one or going with the more inclusive Ozark kit. Hmmm. Not sure which way to go. Need to figure up a parts list and $ for both options.

Thanks Jerry for the power truck review.

S
 
#7 ·
Posted By SRW on 01 Dec 2012 10:14 PM
Great video Shawn. I love the way that engine/train looks running in the light snow. Thanks for the insight. I'm still kicking around the idea of scratchbuilding one or going with the more inclusive Ozark kit. Hmmm. Not sure which way to go. Need to figure up a parts list and $ for both options.

Thanks Jerry for the power truck review.

S
Thanks. It was not to hard to build. Basically you just need to build a flatcar, use PVC pipe for the boiler etc..... it was my first engine I ever scratch built. The hardest was building the static engine inside with some of the piping. You can order that from ozarks.
I have a build log here http://www.largescalecentral.com/LS...60&p=1
Within the link are some great photos as well as other links to the ozark Climax build someone else did. y build will start about page 5.
 
#9 ·
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Mik, thanks for the links.
I got a laugh out of your pics of the 2-2-0 engine that you posted because you photo'd it on top of your Washing machine. Not because of the quality of your model, which is excellent, but I think you posted another photo of one of your models to me a few years back...also on top of the same washer. The knobs look familiar. Or maybe that was someone else. I too have posted photos of one of my models on top of the washing machine. The other photo surface I often employ is the kitchen counter in spite of the fact that I have a, well-lit, very large, flat workbench in my shop. Something about the washer or kitchen counter for model photos that many of us gravitate to.

That observation aside, I really dig your "baby climax" engine. The more I read about these engines the more it makes me want to build one. They built lots of these simplistic engines in a wide variety of track gauges and none of the "big model manufacturers" make a model of this engine to my knowledge. They all were different to suit the needs of each railroad or logging or mining operation so anything you can dream up, somebody may have built. I've read about track gauges from 2 foot to beyond standard gauge, to run on rails or poles, etc. I think it's a really cool modelling project because of that individual/one of a kind quality, and anyone who completes one will have a really unique model running on their layouts.
 
#11 ·
s,
I have a 4 foot workbench... we cleaned up the house for T-giving 2 years ago, and I haven't seen it since..... I think it's still there under all the boxes.

We got a new washer. SWMBO says no more painting/building on top of it. But I guess there's still the freezer for big stuff. I've mostly been using a Sterilite tote lid balanced on my lap, or put it on the bed lately.. (Oh the joys of living in a tin box with no closets!)

If you need technical assistance with your build, don't hesitate to backchannel me. I might know a few shortcuts
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
Mik, Thanks again.

Being a single man my dining room table currently has my Connie sitting on it with dozens of paints and glue bottles and tools laying all around it. I need to repair one of the loco cab doors that fell off. Since I'm a bachelor there's no one to yell at me to....'get that damned toy train off of the dining room table', which is kind of cool as the lighting there is ideal.

I have ordered a HLW railcar as a platform for one of these 'mini' climax A's. They were kind of a failure at 7-8 tons with only four wheels as they didn't have enough tractive force to pull much but I want to build one any way. I think it will be a very unique locomotive. It should look believeable pulling one of my logging disconnects and I think I might build one or two ore dump cars for it to pull too.

I'm curious if Ozark miniatures make a good casting for the engine. Otherwise I wil try my hand at scratchbuilding the little engine cylinders.
 
#14 ·
I have been stewing over one of these kits for a long time. I researched them a bit and saw that they sold for $300, then raised to $390, and now are back to $300. Wonder how long they will be at the lower price? But what really got to me was that in an earlier thread on this kit, someone mentioned that theirs was a "shelf queen" because of the fragile parts that might be broken in some accident. Personally, it is not uncommon for me to drop my trains, knock them over, or perhaps they get some abuse from some animal friends. So if the final product is fragile, perhaps I should just pass. Or perhaps I could do the build and leave off the fragile stuff???

I was working on a "Cli-Shay" project that I had bought that someone started and gave up on. I had the wooden portion all nicely finished and left it out. Later found that one of nature's trouble makers chewed on it a while and now that needs to be repaired before going further. I also am a little unsure about how I want to build the marine steam engine for it.

Doug
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
I decided to buy an HLW mini rail car as a base for one of the little 4 wheel Class A Climax engines. My brother has several books on Climax and geared locos which have the two photos I can find on the engine plus I think he said one of his books may have a side view photo and a drawing of one of them. There is only two listed in the builder's records and I believe they weren't successful because they were too light to pull much but I think it will be a fun, fairly cheap project to take on this winter.

I need to see if Hartland will sell the marine engine casting seperately. My brother suggested checking model boating websites too. Otherwise, I can probably build something from scratch.

Mik, I noticed you built yours with a small rectangular water tank. Class A climax usually had the flat round tank but looking at the two photos I can't tell and wonder if they used a square water tank like Dunkirk did on their little four wheeled geared loco. [?]
 
#16 ·
I used a spray can top for my water tank. Medicine bottle for the vertical boiler, some various Ozark castings. Sewing snaps for the valve handles. Wood frame. Hartland motor blocks(were Stomper mechs at first!)

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I made ths side frames from some New Bright truck parts and some plastic. Roof is sandpaper.
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'Tank' is wrapped with metal foil with rivet patterns in it. Trailing car has a battery, I use a 9.6 volt and on/off switch, no R/C.
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
That's cool Jerry. The Climax Class A engines look like a fun model with a lot of artistic license since they were all kind of a little different, personally made for their individual uses and owners. I'm looking forward to building one of the little 7-8 ton 4 wheeled ones to three foot gauge. Maybe to pull two or three ore dump cars or one of my logging disconnects. I may still like to build the larger 8 wheel Ozark kit at a later date.

S
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
I wrote to Ozark miniatures tonight to ask them if the two cylinder motor casting might be available seperately for model enthusiasts who might like to "roll their own" climax models. If they respond i will let you all know what they say.

s
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Just received my HLW railcar today. The cow catcher pilot had broken off in shipping. while studying it I realized the model is already one of the small 4 wheel Climax engines. It will take only the easiest of modifications to turn this inexpensive rail car [about 100 bucks], into one of the 8 ton Climax engines. Cool.

Compare these photos to see what I mean. Replace the crate that covers the motor with a vertical boiler, remove the Mack hood, add water tank and pin couplers and the project should be a snap.

http://s1065.beta.photobucket.com/user/flatrat1962/library/8 ton Climax engine
 
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