[BENZ TRAINZ]

if your watching these videos then you realize i am serious about building a propeller driven rail car. been reading a lot about the rail zeppelin. its entire engine was mounted on a 7 degree incline to raise propeller thrust above parallel to the rail thus exerting down force on the rear wheels and fuselage to "stick " it to the rails. also notice the wheel spacing and lack of trucks, 4 individual wheels with the engine directly over the rear wheels.

the rail zeppelin set the world speed rail record in 1931 at 140 mph, that record stood for 23 years and has NEVER been matched by a gasoline powered rail car.

on the aero car i have moved the motor forward to help with the center of gravity and i have tilted the entire motor mount to raise the line of thrust from parallel to the track. this seems to have improved the high end speed allowing it to stay on the track even with the 031 curves. this can accelerate incredibly quickly.

 

[seayakbill]

Interesting video Benz, neat stuff.

Bill

 

[Volphin]

I like the prop idea! If you mounted it to an RC servo, you could optimize the angle on the fly.

 

[Dieseler]

Hi Benz, you mentioned about a magnetic wheel now just wondering have you thought about say a old postwar lionel switcher truck assembly that has magnetraction like a 623 /624 or even cheaper later model switchers that also had magnetraction. Sometimes on ebay one can buy just the truck assembly.
The earlier postwar swicthers magentraction was very strong as i have a few of them and they hold the 031 track really well at a fast speed well just not sure if the prop motor would be then over taxed.
Enjoy your videos.