Scarpia goes On30?
Dear Scarpia,
In order of appearance:
1 - Mechanically B'mann On30 gear is all OK for 18". Visually, this may be a bit afronting to the senses, and can push the limits of the rear-coupler on the Forney (esp when coupled to the shorty 4-wheel woodside or V-tip skip cars). As with any trackplan, there is "what the model mechanically can do", and "what looks good to you, within the limits of the space available". Your choice...
2 - Reccomend touching base with the YahooGroup On30Conspiracy and On30 groups. These guys represent more collected On30 knowledge than just-about anywhere I can think of over the last 20-odd years of On30 online correspondence.
1+2 - If you can, via the above mentioned links, get a copy of the "On30Loco_n_Car_Radius.PDF" doc. Useful handy reference. If Yahoo is not on your radar, send me a PM with a proper email address, and we'll see if we can;t get you a copy.
3 - The B'mann Shay and Climax were produced in a few batches. The initial early DCC-ready/non-sound (IE NOT equipped with decoder ex-factory) versions were bulletproof, as long as you didn't get over-enthusiastic with lubing the top motor bearing on the Shay as many modellers did when they tried to follow a widely-circulated "how to lube your shay" PDF, without actually switching their brain on. (The PDF said "..Barely a drop of oil...", but the definition of "a drop" appears to vary wildly between modellers, and the brushes in a Shay motor take No Prisoners if you get it wrong!)
However, around the time that these locos were "upgraded" to "DCC-equipped" and "DCC+Sound equipped", a simultaneous change in manufacturing led to the much-talked-about split gear (and unis in the case of the Climaxes) issues.
NWSL offer replacement metal bevel gears which are reportedly robust and reasonably easy to install (or, as easy to install as any mech work on a geared loco is. If you are the kind of modeller who is fearful of lifting the shell off a diesel, then getting into geared locos is not reccomended. NOTE! This is not just a B'mann-only issue, by definition, any geared loco mech in any scale/gauge is more complex than a diesel or conventional steam mech. If for whatever reason you aren't able to give the mech complexity due respect, find someone who can do it for you...)
B'mann stepped up and offered free replacement gears last year (2013), but there is no word as to when this offer winds up. Also, the method to request said replacement gears appears a little obscure. Some modellers have reported it as easy, some have noted that with no specific online URL to go to, email address to apply to, or other specified procedure, they're at a loss.
Other modellers, esp those who are a long way from continental US, or have modified their loco soo much as to make it "not a stock ex-factory replacement", have found that with strategic use of LocTite 770 Polyolefin Primer + ACC + reinforcing, split gears and unis can be repaired to "stronger than new" spec.
The point being, if you have ANY way of doing it, test run the specific On30 geared locos you will be purchasing in-store before purchase!
4 - Remember that while the gauge is the same, the clearance compared to HO is different. Allow extra room for passing tracks and platforms/loading docks/etc (sounds like a "duh, I think I know that" statement, but if you have been "thinking HO" for soo many years, it can creep up and bite you all too easily. Ask me how I know this)
4a - Ditto for the size of structures. This has a major impact on shelf layout widths, available "flat space" trackside, and other layout-design/visual-composition parameters, inc the height of proscenium roofs/fascias/lighting-rigs.
5 - Get comfy with what it is that inspires you. On30 is more than capable of pulling a passable impression of anything 18" thru 3' 6". This flexibility and capability cean lead to "which way do I turn?" confusion if you don;t keep focussed on that which inspired you in the first place.
6 - Knowing that you are comfy with handlaying turnouts, you can easily re-use any existing Fast-Tracks HO turnout jigs. Just download the Fast-Tracks On30 paper templates to adapt and adjust your larger-scale sleeper/tie spacing...
6a - whatever code rail you were using in HO, feel free to stick with it on On30. What may have been "large size heavy mainline" rail in HO will be nicely "mid weight branch rail" in On30. In Code terms, B'mann On30 gear is OK for use with HO Code 100, 83, and 75 rail. Code 55 may well be do-able with tiny spike heads.
I hope this helps...
As always, if you got questions, ask 'em...
Happy Modellng,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr