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Restoring my Katsumi HO scale Shay.

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Posted by snjroy on Sunday, June 15, 2014 10:10 PM
Nice! Did you put the decoder in?
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Posted by Graffen on Sunday, June 15, 2014 9:42 AM

Found some small sticks to make the firewood from:

 

It is rosehip branches that I sawed into small lengths and cleaved.

I have begun the detailing and finishing. In addition to the tools that you see in the picture above, I have put figures on each side to hide the motor a bit more. 

Now there is just a little weathering, decoder installation, lights, glass and decals left to do. 

It's getting there....

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Posted by Graffen on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 2:48 PM
It is! It turned out much better than I hoped.

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Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 9:22 PM
Looks like a smooth runner...
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Posted by Graffen on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 2:55 AM

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Posted by Graffen on Monday, June 9, 2014 11:46 AM

Well it is getting to be quite to my liking.  I have done a bit more on the locomotive.  Soldered together a toolbox that I mounted on the walkway and secured the crankshaft with som plasticard shims:

 

This is how it looked stripped before painting: 

 

I painted the locomotive with a transparent Etch Primer and then used a custom mixed dark gray color (Humbrol). I painted it gray as I think it looks better. 

 

I baked the body and the trucks in the oven at 65 ° C for 20 minutes. It makes the color very hard and adheres well. 

Now it is to be assembled, have the decals mounted and all the details painted and to be weathered! 

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Posted by Graffen on Saturday, June 7, 2014 9:21 AM

http://youtu.be/TwkG79T32ws

Test drive.

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Posted by snjroy on Friday, June 6, 2014 6:04 PM
Thanks for the update. I never thought of actually soldering the gear to the shaft. I just give the drive a bit of teeth by crunching it VERY lightly with a vise and applying a bit of CA glue to seal the deal... I guess the solder makes it easier to remove later.

Simon
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Posted by Graffen on Friday, June 6, 2014 5:24 PM

A small update.

I received the new Mashima motor the other day. The worm gear was therefore removed from the old motor and was attached to the new one. The worm required a small bit of solder to lock it to the motor axle, it was attached like that on the old motor.

I fabricated a motor bracket that I soldered to the frame. There was some small interference between some of the interior parts on the body and the motor, but it was easily solved with the Dremel!

The test drive was VERY smooth, with a small hickup when changing direction! It was sourced to the crank shaft that rocks in the holders, so I have to shim it a bit....

It sure is a wonderful transformation that makes a lemon into a jewel! I will add some pics tomorrow.

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

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Posted by Graffen on Monday, May 26, 2014 2:00 AM
The BEMF will have to counteract the flywheel continously, and it is very exaggerated on grades.

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Posted by snjroy on Sunday, May 25, 2014 6:00 PM
Interesting comment about BEMF and flywheels. I had never heard that before. I set my BEMF at 0 when they do strange things. But I don't have grades on my layout.
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Posted by Graffen on Sunday, May 25, 2014 3:18 PM
Flywheels make no difference if you have a BEMF decoder....it only confuses it. I have removed the flywheels on my DCC equipped engines. I ordered the motor today, a Mashima MH1628! It is the biggest motor I can fit and still allow space for a Digitrax DZ126 decoder behind it.

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Posted by snjroy on Sunday, May 25, 2014 9:09 AM
Changing the motor is practically a must if you want to add a decoder. Will you use a flywheel? I find that they really make a difference...

Simon
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Posted by Graffen on Sunday, May 25, 2014 1:17 AM
Thanks! The main reason I will replace the motor is that it has a major problem besides being high in current: It is reluctant to start! Which is a problem I have seen many write about with the Katsumi Shay..... The magnets are so very weak, and there is no advantage of rebuilding the original OF motor.

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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, May 24, 2014 9:52 PM

Graffen:

The bottom of my BBQ cleaned up better than I expected too!!!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaughLaughLaugh

Seriously, great work and I like the price!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Graffen on Saturday, May 24, 2014 12:42 PM
It seems to be in great condition, gear wise. I will put a flatcan motor in it, probably a Mashima MH 1224.... I will try the motor- and decoder install before painting it!

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Posted by snjroy on Saturday, May 24, 2014 11:43 AM
So the gears are in good shape? What motor will you put in there? Will you put a decoder in it? Will you paint it first?
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Posted by Graffen on Saturday, May 24, 2014 11:41 AM
It did clean up good! It had some pitting, but nothing that the sand blasting couldn't handle...

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Posted by rrebell on Saturday, May 24, 2014 10:14 AM

Any pitting?????? I have noticed that some colors of the old foam pit worse than others, might be the chemicals that form the colors. Love the shay and I do own one of those and they run great, unfortunately I paid $200 for mine, still a great price but I love your deal!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, May 24, 2014 6:47 AM
Good Grief!!!I had to put on my sunglasses.
Very Cool Thumbs Up

Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, May 24, 2014 5:10 AM

Oh, come on, Graffen - you are taking the mickey out of us! It´s a new one!

Laugh

Excellent job of restoration!

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Posted by Graffen on Saturday, May 24, 2014 3:10 AM

Sandblasted and tested.

Sorry about the bad pic, will shoot a better one.

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

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Posted by Graffen on Saturday, May 24, 2014 3:09 AM
Thanks all! I have cleaned it with acetone on the body, alcohol on the trucks and motor. I have also sandblasted the body. The test drive was good, but the motor needs replacing....

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

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Graff´s channel

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, May 23, 2014 10:14 PM

Graff:

Given your modelling skills of course it will look OK. The challenge will be to turn it into a good runner!

By the way, those gears look worse than the bottom of my BBQ! Good luck!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
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Posted by snjroy on Friday, May 23, 2014 7:31 PM
For a job like that, I use the Badger sandblaster, with baking soda as blasting material.

Simon
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Posted by zstripe on Friday, May 23, 2014 7:20 PM

Graffen,

Some tips:

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/brass

Take Care, Good Luck!

Frank

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Posted by Fouled Anchor on Friday, May 23, 2014 6:53 PM

Graffen, one of my "other interests" is restoring old turn of the century hand torches. They are mostly brass, and in very bad shape. To remove the dirt and rust I soak the parts in a 50/50 solution of molasses and water. I does an amazing job. Hopefully your shay just has surface grime and oxidation with no pitting.

 

Good Luck

Steve

Sometimes I have to let parts sit in it for a week depending...

Life is tough, but it's tougher if your'e stupid.

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Posted by snjroy on Friday, May 23, 2014 5:03 PM
Cool! What size is the shay? Keep sending photos as you progress in your project.

Simon
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Restoring my Katsumi HO scale Shay.
Posted by Graffen on Friday, May 23, 2014 11:56 AM

Hey all!  Today, on the first real summer day, this came in the mailbox:

A Shay in HO of Katsumi manufacturing!  But it has been in kept in the foam ..... for maaaany years apparently. 

Lots of tarnish, discolorations and these small foam pieces and oil everywhere!  Good that I only paid $50 for it. The buffer beam had come loose, but was luckily found in the foam in the box. 

So much dirt and crud are there.... 

After some washing it looks a little better. 

A whole lot to do, but I think it might look okay when finished. Big Smile

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

My Youtube:

Graff´s channel

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