"Gal-Durn-It, Sn3 doesn't cost your
first born or ya don't need a million $$$"
"You need to count rivets, just not all of them." - - Gluteus Maximus- -
The new HO Athearn/Roundhouse Oldtime locomotives offers mechanisms to make "realistic" S scale 3 foot narrow gauge models. I am now back where I was 25 years ago with the HO mechanisms that now run great. It is a shame it took so long to get back to what I tried to do earlier.
An Sn3 Ten Wheeler can be effectively made from the Sn3-1/2 Tyco/Mantua HO 4-6-0 wheeler. It comes close to many narrow gauge ten-wheelers.
Our Nevada County Narrow Gauge #2 style mogul from the new Athearn/Rounhouse Mogul under construction . The frame has been narrowed and new Bowser S scale 41" drivers have been attached. We will have a "what we did" about converting HO to Sn3 soon.
The Roundhouse locos give a source of inexpensive non-Colorado locos.
Many "oldtime" HO cars can be modified into Sn3 narrow gauge models. The old MDC cars can be resheathed to represent early California cars and eastern cars. The MDC cars are a little longer than the Ohio River and Western 605. All they need is a resheath and new details. (Click images to enlarge)
Modeling the Golden Era of Narrow gauge? If you don't model Colorado, then active narrow gauge railroading takes place before the turn of the century. Click on our chart at left to see our timeline.
-- Critters are creatures trod over by the beggar cart or pierced by the walking stick of the poor -- Lo Yung Chin 582 AD--
Yeah, it ain't HO. The Sn3-1/2 Tyco/Mantua Ten Wheeler only needs to be re-gauged and detailed
If you are here then you have truly moved to the dark side of model railroading. Modeling in Sn3 means that people will give you a blank stare, they won't even comment on your insanity. They will just turn and walk away. Sn3 will make you very lonely very fast, especially if you are building non-Colorado, but welcome to this wonderful world.
This is a great scale for narrow gauge. It gives the modeler fine running HO mechanisms and cars that can be easily converted to credible narrow gauge models depicting the prime of narrow gauge in America.
We HAVE converted the Ten-Wheeler. Working Sn3 steam power can be built in a weekend. May not be "foreground" but it pulls the freight.
(Click Image to Enlarges)
Self-Quartering Drivers for Sn3
Markits has Sn3 axles for self-quartering drivers shown here with ScaleLink 14mm drivers (36" S Scale)
