Bogie Plates

In our last update, we mentioned our new bogie plate element we've designed.  This component was aimed to be an optional and replaceable component for our new motor bogie.  For example, if the Technic pin broke on your bogie, you could simply substitute it with a new bogie plate.  Or, you could not install the bogie plate and simply brick build a locomotive around the motor bogie.

When designing a plastic injection mold, sometimes there is a possibility of making a "family" mold--that is a mold which contains 2 or more other related elements.  This depends on factors such as cost, similarity of proportions and flow rates, relative quantities, etc.  In our case, we had the idea of making a 4x5 stud bogie plate in addition to the standard 4x6 bogie plate.  Why?  Because it offers the possibility of pivoting a bogie symmetrically at its centre line--for ANY stud length bogie.

With a 4x6 bogie plate, you can pivot centrally for any even-numbered stud length, e.g. 6, 8, 10, etc.  However with a 4x5 bogie plate, you can also have a central pivot for 7, 9, 11, etc. stud lengths!  This opens up more flexible design opportunities for making bogies and for fitting the bogie inside one of LEGO's standard train base plates where not every stud interval fits without interference.

Why is this a benefit?  In addition to convenience and flexibility, a bogie which pivots symmetrically has better track handling and guidance characteristics.  Each axle will have more balanced frictional forces on its flanges when running through curves.  Also there should be better guidance of every axle through switches and crossings.  This is because leading and trailing axles will have the same lateral resistance to forces imposed by the track when it contacts the wheels.  This is a result of the fact that each axle's distance to the pivot point is the same and therefore the component of rotational torque applied by each axle is the same.  Running characteristic should be more consistent independent of facing or trailing movements through curves and bends.

As we mentioned previously, we intend to sell the bogie plate as a separate element--likely in multi-packs of 2 or more to make them cost efficient to package and ship.  Initially they will be molded in black ABS, but other colours could be a possibility?  

Tell us what you think.  Is the 5L bogie plate worth considering?  How about other colours such as red or light bluish grey?