Locos and rolling stock
To DCC or not to DCC, that is the question
No, this is not another thread asking whether DCC is worth the effort, or whether I ought to convert, etc. My wife bought me a big box full o' trains (HO scale), most of which I really don't have much use for. The plan is to sell off whatever I don't need, and hopefully come close to breaking even.
Replacement Windows for ATSF Observation Car
Hi Everyone!
Hopefully something someone can help me with, I purchased a ATSF observation car (which I think was made from an Athearn kit)
However, it's missing some of it's windows - does anyone have any ideas on what i can do? I've tried looking on ebay for replacement windows and there doesn't seem to be much i could find using a search engine.
Thanks in advance
Russ
Proto 88 Wheels
Last week, I finished preliminary tests to see if Intermountain 33” Proto-88 wheelsets would work satisfactorily on my HO gauge layout. I was concerned about their behavior in various trucks, and on switches and crossings. At random, I selected the following four cars and their trucks for testing. This is not, however, a random sample.
1. Railworks brass automobile car with remarkably well-equalized factory trucks;
jumping decals
On applying decals to a couple of cast-resin flat cars recently I've experienced jumping decals. Despite liberal applications of Microsol/Microset, on occasion one or more bits of decal will dry out, fail to adhere, and positively LEAP off the model before I have a chance to Dull Cote it. Previous lost decals have completely disappeared, but today I managed to track down the missing segment - less than 1/8x1/4" in size - about three feet from where it started.
Dimensions database?
The thread asking about Kato N scale steam loco dimensions got me thinking again. For some time now I have wished there could be some sort of database of locomotive mechanism dimensions.
"I want to use a diesel mechanism to power an HO scale tender. What HO or N scale mechanisms are available which might fit?" Good luck answering that one!
Athearn GP7/GP9
Much discussed elsewhere. Here's a statement from Athearn concerning its recent GP7 and GP9 Genesis releases, as it appeared on Athearn's Facebook page:
Engine Maintenance
I just received my Bowser WNY&PA C630M from Caboose Hobbies. This is my first engine from Bowser. Paperwork inside recommends that the engine be lubricated. Not a problem there. However, this is the first time I've seen this. Should I be doing this with all my locomotives before running them?
David
Anybody scratch building trucks in HO?
This ought to scare some folks off! I find that I need a variety of arch bar trucks, for things like tenders, cabooses, etc. There are a few on the market, but I (unfortunately) know enough about them to care how the trucks look. Some have a nearly flat top bar, some have a strongly inclined top bar, some are bent on the bottom, some have double diamonds, and some even have reversed diamonds. I'm just not happy with a generic arch bar - and besides, I want tender trucks with elliptical springs, and those are really hard to find.
Replacement Universal for Proto S1
Hi All,
I've got a couple of Proto 2000 S1's that have sheared the little plastic "nubs" off the end of the universal joints, at the point where they locate into the brass flywheel.
Walthers no longer carry spare stock for these loco's, and the space between the gear tower and flywheel precludes using the A-Line Universal Kits.
Has anyone had this problem, and if so, can any one suggest a solution, that doesn't involve having to purchase a new or second hand loco for spares?
Adding a decoder to an old MDC loco
I thought this might be of interest to some folks here. I am working on installing a decoder in an old, very non-DCC-ready MDC 2-8-0. As it turns out, it's not difficult, but it helps to have some direction ahead of time.
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