Original page created on 29/11/2022; updated on 11/07/2023.
Brand - Reference
REE MB-146
Type
Y 2139 2 BDR
Mass / slipping / stalled current
73 g / 45 mA / 170 mA under 12 V.
Comments
The wheels, which are not burnished, have 0.8 mm flanges and are fitted with holes for lathe. Unfortunately, they are too small (diameter 10.85 instead of 12.1). There must be a mechanical reason for this. The axles comply with the NEM: wheel back-to-back distance 14.4 mm.
Mechanically, both axles are driven directly by worm gear. The rear axle is oscillating,
which is favourable for current picking. A NEM 364 standard drawbar (dovetail head attachment) is fitted at the rear.
A second one is provided to fit the front if required. Travel is possible, but very limited. Moreover, the plastic return
springs are too rigid to allow pivoting. Photo of the drawbar.
Electrically, before running in and on DC, the no-load start occurs at 3.4 V. With my timekeeping wagon, idling is sustained at 11 km/h at 2.5 V, at 16 km/h at 3 V, but with noticeable pumping. At 12 V, the speed is 110 km/h, which is a lot! The grip is not great, and slippage is never far away, but this is not surprising.
The digital interface indicated in the supplied manual is PluX16. I don’t know if the Zimo MX630P16 decoder that was recommended for the Moyse is suitable (20 × 11 × 3.5 mm), but it is often unavailable. There is an even smaller ESU Lokpilot V5 Micro DCC PluX16 ref. 59824, which measures 13 × 9.2 × 2.9 mm. It is priced nearly the same as the Zimo, at about €36.
See:
- Loco-Revue Forum;
- gamos81.altervista.org for the list of issued models.
Modifications
- Installation of an ESU Lokpilot V5 Micro DCC PluX16 decoder. Despite my fears, it fits like a dream, but it fits. Photo. About disassembly of the body.
- Fitting a mini lead weight, wrapped in electrician’s tape, under the large bonnet, in front of
the decoder. Photo. At this location is a free space of 8 × 12 × 4 mm. The added
weight, including the decoder, comes to 5 g… But that’s better than nothing!
- Gluing the small bonnet to the cab.
- Fitting embossed registration plates with double-sided adhesive.
Opening the locotractor isn’t as easy as described in the instructions: the clips are quite hard and there’s a risk of distorting the panels while pulling off the large bonnet. I managed by inserting the blade of a flathead screwdriver under the chassis, at the cost of breaking a clip.
Also, at the rear, the railings make it difficult to remove the cab and the small bonnet. Beware of the fragile wires connecting the electronic board to the cab lighting..
History
Series of 52 petrol engine shunters built in 1952 and 1953 by Baudet, Donon & Roussel (BDR). They were written off in the 1970s.
Main characteristics: Renault engine, power 33 kW (45 hp). Mass in running order 14 t. Speed limit 52 km/h.
Mechanical transmission with eight speeds, driving the axles by chains.
Region of assignment: all.
Documents
Photo Alain Gallé on Le train d’Alain.
| Dimension | Actual | 1:87 | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 5 780 | 66.4 | 68.0 |
| Chassis length | 4 600 | 52.9 | 53.2 |
| Largeur hors-tout | 2 800 | 32.2 | 32.4 |
| Height | 3 235 | 37.2 | 37.5 |
| Wheelbase | 3 000 | 34.5 | 34.5 |
| Wheel diameter | 1050 | 12.1 | 10.9 |
Please note: these are ESU data. In reality, because of the adapter that converts the Next18 interface to PluX16, the footprint is significantly larger: 14.4 × 11.0 × 5.4 mm, excluding pins.
Very small indeed! At first glance, everything is spotless, except for the little rear bonnet that yawns upwards. It seems to be glued a bit crooked. On investigation, it is not glued, but held against the cab by four pins that are unable to counterbalance the force of the mounting clips on the chassis. Photo.
As always with REE, the fittings are very fine: all the decking is in photoetched metal. Photo-etched plates are supplied to replace the stamped markings. The functional headlights are fitted with a tiny LED. The detail parts for the buffer beams are easily fitted and fit without the need for gluing. These include one-piece moulded screw couplings, but with perforated elements (e.g. shackle).