As Jack Benny often signed on in some years of his radio seasons, Jell-O Again!
Which participants in this board are, or might be interested in morphing & kitbashing Gilbert 3/16s O?
Here’s a list of what I’ve done over X years, NOT at the expense of engines & cars that were in nice condition except # 5 (photos to eventually follow)
1. replacing tinplate 565 tenders with die-cast units from 561s & 559s
2. removing nickel tires from the rear drive wheels of the spur Hudson & Northern & replacing them with rubber tires
3. having rear drivers of worm Northerns machined for traction tires
4. installing 6 wheel passengert rucks on Northern tenders & mating them to 556s
5. converting a 4 car set of aluminum S 660 series streamlined cars to O with 2 axle trucks (necks of the couplers extended with additional chopped trucks)
6. replacing original worm motors with late S super motors in shells that don’t require cutting…this is unfruitful IF traction tires are not also added
7. creating & expanding O versions of the S circus set
8. morphing 524s into observation cars: done only to two that each had one hopelessly broken end
9. using two S 350 chassis to create custom refinished 556s that chug synchronously (rerouting the smoke spouts was unsuccessful)
10. non destructively modifying 688 switch tracks to outside rail non-derailing (I don’t like the spring loaded trippers)
11. successfully experimented with correctly proportioned Oilite brass (without bearings) or stainless steel with bearings to enable long diecast latch-ups… without sufficient demand the unit cost was atrocious 10 years ago… essentially copies of the spun wheels of 521s and 524s)
12. create 0-8-0 yard goats from S chassis & O parts…the wheels are the most challenging…..I #d one the average of 574 + 342 which =s 458 which at least makes more sense than Lou Costello’s 13 x 7 = 28…
13. dare I admit this? using Lionel (slightly modified for the O metal ties) standard gauge ‘Baby Hellgates’ on my exclusively O layout…
14. reduce tinplate wheel drag by placing a #4 flat brass washer between the crimp & inside surface of each wheel
Shiffy 48
Shiffy,
I for one would enjoy seeing any and all of the topics that you have listed. I am not much for tinkering on my own, but I really enjoy watching the projects and progress of others. And to be honest anything American Flyer is usually pretty high up on my list of things to follow or watch. It sounds like you have plenty of material to share. I look forward to seeing what ever you post.
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