[jmkling]

I just got back from Japan and was looking at the Diamonhead pictures and found out that Cliff from Accucraft brought the Live Steam K-36 to run and show off...could Accucraft be getting ready to take orders?  Lets hope so./DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/w00t.gif

 

[jmkling]

Just taked to Royce, Accucraft is taking orders /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/w00t.gif, retail Price is $4750 /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif, price is good til 11/1/08.  $400 Deposit.  Don't know if they are offering any early order discount.  More info to follow when I see Royce at cabin fever.

 

[weaverc]

Jon,
The live steam K-36 is a real beauty with lots of overhang like a Colorado NG should have. Looks good with the San Juan set. As far as I could note, there are few issues. By the way, a water bath heater is provided, but it is manual by pushing down a whistle valve handle. Draincocks cleared the switches here, but that should be looked at more closely since it's very wide at the steam chests. Fuller will post better pictures soon. I think I like it better than the K-28

 

[jmkling]

Just got back from Cabin Fever, dropped of the deposit.  Est ship date is early 2009.  I am trying to get a copy of the announcement sheet.

 

[RP3]

Jon, it is big and beautiful and worthy of lust. BUT, it just plain won't clear tall switchstands on Sunset Valley turnouts unless they are equipped with the extra long switchstand mounting ties. I'm sure because I set it on one of Pete Comley's new turnouts and there just wasn't any clearance for the target switchstands unless the engine wouldn't "waddle" and unfortunately it does. If your track has ground throws, no problem. BTW Cliff guessed that the whistle valve used to send steam to the tender to warm the fuel would be dropped from the finished models. But with a boiler that is 3-1/2 inches in diameter, it hauls a lot of water and takes a good long time to get up to pressure. There is no axle pump and no tender pump. It's just a standard Accucraft K in that regard. Still spits too much steam oil on the pretty paint and trim parts.

They ran it real slow and occasionally fast enough to show that it could do that too. They are still doing the same through the flues lubricator and all the cab fittings were the normal ones -- except for the tender warmer I mentioned earlier.

It looks outstanding in front of a set of San Juans!

Ross Schlabach

 

[Charles]

Ground throws will be a problem unless they are place a good distance from the rails.  We had to set our throws several inches away just for the K28/27.
The problem that is of most concern is the additional width of the engine relative to running with other equiipment; will there be problems?
I do not think that most portable layouts will have 8 to 9 inch centers for clearance of passing engines.

 

[chama]

Posted By RP3 on 01/21/2008 7:46 AM

There is no axle pump and no tender pump. It's just a standard Accucraft K in that regard. 

Ross Schlabach


The K-28 has a tender pump and the K-36 better have one!

Since the picture of the K-36 live steamer appeared in the K-28 manual 2+ years ago, one hopes that the demo model will be improved upon given the trend in the intervening years.  I bet it didn't have the photo-etched details of the K-28, either.

The test of my theory will be the forthcoming C-19.  Its demo model has been around for a couple of years and does not, I hope, represent the detail and features of what gets delivered.

 

[RP3]

Diverting the thread somewhat in response to the last comment, I think I heard Cliff say that the C-19s were on the water. Should mean a fun spring for some folks.

Ross Schlabach

 

[Dwight Ennis]

Here's a shot I took at DH...

 

[David Rose]

Dwight,

That is a K-28. The K-36 series would have a number between 480-489.

 

[Dwight Ennis]

Oops!!! /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/blush.gif You're right... sorry.  The previous photo on the memory card was tha K-36, but it was moving so the photo was blurred.  I ASSUMED without looking too carefully. /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif  Here's to egg on my face.  hehehe

 

[Chris Scott]

Posted By jmkling on 01/18/2008 5:47 PM
Just taked to Royce, Accucraft is taking orders /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/w00t.gif, retail Price is $4750 /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif, price is good til 11/1/08.  $400 Deposit.  Don't know if they are offering any early order discount.  More info to follow when I see Royce at cabin fever.


Jon:
The K-36 is priced like the Cab Forward with a preorder price lower than the final price; preorder requires a $400 non-refundable deposit.  The preorder price is $4500 and the final price $4750.  I'd seen this somewhere but to verify I called Accucraft and confirmed the info, the deadline for the preorders is 11/1/08 so still plenty of time.

 

[jmkling]

Chris,


I posted the product annuncement in another post that had the updated info, thanks for confirming.  I got my order in already, don't expect to see in till 2009 sometime.

 

[Chris Scott]

Posted By jmkling on 01/23/2008 4:33 PM


Chris,


I posted the product annuncement in another post that had the updated info, thanks for confirming.  I got my order in already, don't expect to see in till 2009 sometime.



I knew I'd seen an announcement somewhere.

 

[David Rose]

Posted By Dwight Ennis on 01/22/2008 1:51 PM
Oops!!! /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/blush.gif You're right... sorry.  The previous photo on the memory card was tha K-36, but it was moving so the photo was blurred.  I ASSUMED without looking too carefully. /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif  Here's to egg on my face.  hehehe


Dwight,

  Don't sweat it. That is an easy mistake to make considering the engines look very similair from the side. Cover the engine number and it's anyones guess (for most people). 

  Does anyone have a few good photos of the new K-36??? Maybe even next to another engine (like a K-28) for size comparison?? /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/unsure.gif

 If not, hopefully this engine will make it to the East Coast show in March, then Jon Kling can do a good side by side comparison like he did with the K-28 vrs K-27 last year.

 

[rodblakeman]

David,
         My DH 2008 pictures are here and there are a few of the K36, they are about half way down the page.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/wpandyr/Diamondhead2008
picasaweb.google.co.uk/wpandyr/Diamondhead2008

This is the first.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/wpandyr/Diamondhead2008/photo#5157562801563343634

Hope this helps.

 

[David Rose]

Rod,


  Thanks for sharing. Very nice!  /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/tongue2.gif

  Now let me clean the drewl off my key board... LOL /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/unsure.gif

 

[chama]

Cliff at Accucraft confirmed today that the production specs for the K-36 call for a tender pump. He brings up a valid point that I've wondered about and that's the ultimate limiting fluid: oil.

From: Cliff Luscher
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2008 4:31 PM
To: Scott Loomer
Subject: Re: K-36 LS
Hi again Scott

I got the confirmation that the production LS K-36's requirement is to have a pump in the tender. 

Cliff - tech.
Accucraft


On Jan 24, 2008 10:50 AM, Cliff Luscher wrote:

Dear Scott

All the production K-28's came with pumps so I assume the K-36's will as well. The prototype does not but that doesn't mean anything. However even with out the pump the boiler on the K-36 will run 1 hour 15 min. without injecting water. Something that does need thinking about is an engine that runs 1 1/4 hours with out putting water in it is does the lubricator have enough steam cylinder oil in it to last that long. When I fire on real 3 foot gauge oil fired locos out here in the west we need to refill the steam cylinder oil so that you don't run the cylinders lubrication dry. On the models doing this will damage the piston O rings and once that happens you will have loss of power and major blow by. I would personally really like a elec. feed water pump. However all this is kind of after market add on stuff and the more extras that get added the more expensive the model becomes. I am checking with the general manager on this issue and will email you again when I find out. I however think that I'm 99 % positive that the production K-36's will have tender water pumps.
Best regards
Cliff - tech.
Accucraft

 

[Charles]

Scott
A better design of the lube tube system would help to extend the oil availability over a given run time.  The present design allows for extreme "suck out" of oil but a regulator setup so one could meter the oil usage and requirements throughout a run would be better.  As to cost, given the investment one puts forth of "large green bucks" for the cost  of a few more bucks that would improve the system and prevent problems most would accept.  To achieve "uncompromised reliability" would be better accomplished with a better lubicator- metered.

 

[jfrank]

Posted By Charles on 01/24/2008 6:20 PM
Scott
A better design of the lube tube system would help to extend the oil availability over a given run time.  The present design allows for extreme "suck out" of oil .................


Charles, given the propensity for Accucraft locomotives to use oil you would think that a large after market of replacement lubricators would have developed by now.  Also, you would think Accucraft themselves would revise the design.  Why don't a few of us try calling Cliff and see if we can get this changed for the K36.