Hi:

I am trying to power a MAC RDC-1 and the original kit offered no drive.

I thought a Majic Carpet or Q-Car Drive would be ideal.

I can only find the Majic Carpet for $80-$100 each and thats more than I paid for the entire kit.

Are there any alternatives? Anyone have anything like this laying around 2nd hand?

Anyone have any good experience with an aluminum paint that would look good on this model?

Thanks....

Tom, forgive my asking but is your MAC RDC-1 built from a MacShops kit? If so, it would not need any paint at all, as the body is extruded aluminum and the other castings are in pewter. All can be easily be polished to match with 0000 steel wool. Photos of my RDC are available if you e-mail me direct. Posting photos here is much too complicated for me.

My MacShops RDC-2 built up as B&O 1961, which was a coach/dinette/baggage unit. Rather heavy, it weighs in at a shade over 3 lbs. It is powered with two NWSL 'Magic Carpet" units with 33" dia wheels, both in the leading truck. The prototype RDC's had 34" dia. wheel sets. My kit lacked the MacShops RDC trucks. So I modified a pair of All Nation RDC trucks to more closely resemble the General Steel Castings trucks Budd used under their later units.

A pair of used Magic Carpets was found for about $120. Yes, they cost about the same as that kit did. So far, that pair seem to do alright. Top speed is about a scale 60 mph, which is fine for me. But I think I ought to get another pair of them for the rear truck, given the weight of this car. Or, change the drive mechanism if these 'Carpets eventually fail.

NWSL right now is looking for a buyer as the original owner wishes to retire and may close the business. So availability of some Magic Carpet units(depending on wheel sizes, treads, etc.) might be in question now.

Q Car makes what I think might be a more robust drive for the RDC. Quentin can probably make up a drive unit that would fit under the floor, so you could have a detailed interior for your RDC-1 if you wish.

Ed Bommer

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ed Bommer,

If I read Ed's reply correctly he has a ingle Magic Carpet drive power truck with 2 drives in it and a trailing truck w/o any drive - In a 3 lb car that maybe adequate, but a 2nd double drive unit would take a lot of stress off the existing drive unit.

These are expensive and their future uncertain at this time as well as related by Ed.

Quentin Carnacelli at Q-Car could probably make you up a drive (or 2 - might want to ask him about drive numbers vs. weight as well as gear ratios...). Those drives will be no less expensive that Magic Carpet drives, but they are both robust and extremely high quality - expect a 4-6 week wait for delivery that is also worth every $,

Many thanks Matt, for your help in posting these photos of my Mac Shops RDC.
If anyone has questions about how I did certain things with this kit, please let me know. I will be happy to share the techniques I used.

Ed Bommer

Matt, Ed...

Thank you for your comments and inclusion of some very well done work, as shown in the pictures of Eds RDC-2.

I certainly appreciate the help...

Thank you...