Bachmann varnish

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

I have two lighted Bachmann passenger cars and because of their method of current collection the drag on the car is excessive. This weekend I bent the pick up strips away from the wheels and they now run quite smoothly, but obviously no lights. I have a third car which is the baggage & I was thinking of putting a recharge battery in here and hooking the cars up for light power, has anyone else been here? and what was your answer?
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Hi Kim
It's light Jim but not as we know it[:D]
it can and does work I am still waiting for the return of my passanger coaches they have been lit with yellow LEDS for oil lamp look
and have tiny conectors and jumpers on each end of the coach that join them all up combines and bagage cars have batteries in them that are recarged from the track for constant lighting..
Don't forget tail lights the whole lot can also be conected to an LGB loco and powered that way as Well.
All too clever clogs for me[:(] but it does work and reduces the drag on the train but does require some fancy electronics
regards John

[Anonymous]

I am searching for some plans-photos, etc....

[Anonymous]

Look under Passanger Cars and Cabooses
http://santafetx.tripod.com/

There also is a note at the bottom of it.

[Curmudgeon]

Okay, here's a tip.

I did a review on the Jackson-Sharp cars when they first came out, and was apalled at the brass rubbing strips.
First, they increase the drag beyond belief, second the flanges will wear a grovve all the way throgh them in short order.

Look at the coupler tang on the truck.
See the sockets?
Those have been there since day one.
LGB plungers will fit exactly into them.
Obtain LGB plungers, remove brass strips, strip your wire back about 1/2", pull the wheelset, lay the wire in the slot sticking out the end about 1/4", place the plunger body against the wire and press in.
Just make sure there is no insulation behind the plunger body.
Works good, less drag.

ALL of my D&RGW coaches, combines and obs have the old battery boxes, which work just great, but this will fix it.
I modified a coach and sent it to Bachmann so they could see: not interested.

So, we do it ourselves.

TOC

[Anonymous]

Hi Curmudgeon,
Stripped the cars down when I got home last night and your tip is bang on. I've actually got some sprung brushes somewhere so as soon as I find them I'll complete the conversion.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Kim
I got some carriage electrification gizmo for E-Bay recently.It consists of a set of sprung carbon brushes that sit under the bogies of any wagon or coach.It is exactly the same as the LGB post wagon.The drag is minimal and as I'm using MTS the carriages are always lit.It's great.When the carriage lights go out I've actually managed to hit the family cat!!
(animal lovers note"If the cat is too slow it WILL limp a bit"
Troy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by troybetts

When the carriage lights go out I've actually managed to hit the family cat!!
(animal lovers note"If the cat is too slow it WILL limp a bit"
Troy

Poor kitty.....[:O][:X]