Bull Ant drive chassis

[Charles Smiley]

I ordered a kit for my SN boxmotor and it finally arrived from Australia. I removed the Tenshodo "self powered trucks" that never really ran well - and then the burned out. I scratchbuilt the boxmotor maybe around 1978 or so.


The Bull Ant chassis has great wiper contacts on all wheels and a flywheel motor. Most important of all is the option of a 7-foot wheel base truck used on so many traction locomotives and interurban cars. Gear ratios are an option too. My brass side frames pressed on the new power trucks easily.

So now it runs as smooth as my Atlas ALCO Switchers! It can pull six heavy brass cars up a 1-1/2 percent grade. That's about all you could expect from the real 602 I think. I need to build some overhead catenary soon. In the meantime it'll run on invisible 3rd rail.

 

[Rico]

Very nice Charles!
This is HO and not narrow gauge??

 

[tooter]

I ordered a kit for my SN boxmotor and it finally arrived from Australia. I removed the Tenshodo "self powered trucks" that never really ran well - and then the burned out. I scratchbuilt the boxmotor maybe around 1978 or so.


The Bull Ant chassis has great wiper contacts on all wheels and a flywheel motor. Most important of all is the option of a 7-foot wheel base truck used on so many traction locomotives and interurban cars. Gear ratios are an option too. My brass side frames pressed on the new power trucks easily.

So now it runs as smooth as my Atlas ALCO Switchers! It can pull six heavy brass cars up a 1-1/2 percent grade. That's about all you could expect from the real 602 I think. I need to build some overhead catenary soon. In the meantime it'll run on invisible 3rd rail.

That's a beautiful powered chassis, Charles. Is Australia the only place you can get Bull Ant products? Would you mind telling me how much was it including the freight? I read the Gn15 forum where Bull Ant powered trucks are highly regarded.

Greg

 

[UP2CSX]

Cool, Charles, an SN modeler. That is a beautiful motor car model and caboose. Seems like the bull Ant drive makes it a good runner too.

Rico, the Sacramento Northern used to run an extensive electric interurban and freight service from the Bay Area all the way up to Chico, all standard gauge and built to steam railroad standards. It was bought by the Western Pacific in 1921 but continued to retian the SN name. The last wires came down in 1965 but a few small portions of the old line are still operated by the UP today.

 

[rgmccau]

That's a beautiful powered chassis, Charles. Is Australia the only place you can get Bull Ant products? Would you mind telling me how much was it including the freight? I read the Gn15 forum where Bull Ant powered trucks are highly regarded.

Greg

I've never used Bullants myself, but look at their webpage http://www.hollywoodfoundry.com/ it lists a reseller in the U.S.

Ross McConchie
Canberra, Australia

 

[Charles Smiley]

Thanks for all the coments.

The Bull Ant line is extensive in variations. Perhaps even overwhelming at first. ALso not cheap. The pricing is a bit of a setback until you realize the AU Dollar vs. US Dollar exchange rate will chop the price down quite a bit.

Mine was about 212 US - total. It was worked up on his CAD drawing first from his various subassemblies. They have a nice machine shop that makes all the bits and pieces.

If you like having something otherwise-unobtainable, it's a good choice for custom builders. OR if your favorite loco looks great on a shelf or siding you can finally get it running right.

Having this as a resource can help you be more ambitious in your projects, - knowing that the difficult task of proper propulsion can be solved. You can spend more time on the cosmetics.

I did some extensive switching with it last night and it never stalled or bucked. That's pretty amazing. I credit the spring-contact system on the trucks that work on the back of all the wheels.

 

[jbaakko]

Looks good! I'm considering a drive from them for a slug project I've been toying with.