Hello again all!!
To those who are in pain or need prayer, know that it is here for you!
I just got back from a visit to my parents, and boy did I find a box!!! This box is from several years ago, I can tell by the dust and the type of boxes in there!! I got them from my Poppop (my mother's father for those who aren't familiar with the term) when he passed away...
One box is labeled AHM and contains a 4-6-2, custom decaled for the LV, there isn't any writing on it except for "Rivarossi" and "Made in Italy" on the bottom of the engine... the box is labelled as "4-6-2 Heavywqeight Pacific, 5087-C SF"
The other smaller box is labeled "Mikado 2-8-2 W/S - B&O, but the engine only has 2-8-0... from Bachmann box says "OLD:410658 NEW:41054512"
My question is, if he (my Poppop) passed away in 1990, and these engines were his, are they worth converting to DCC??? Or should I make REALLY REALLY nice displays for them and hold them for sentimental value?? I'd like to think that his response to the latter comment would be " Get those ***** things off that shelf and use them for heaven sakes!" So if it's possible I'd love to convert, but not waste my time... I wish I had a section of track in the current house I'm living in to test these bad boys out... Have to figure something out right!?!
Also in the box were several Life-Like Electric-Remote controlled HO switches, still sealed in their bubble packages and labeled with Toys R Us price tag of $3.99, are they worth using or are they gonna cause me problems?
Also, just received my Ebay spoils!!! Can't believe I got the GP30 and C30-7 for the price of just one of them!!! I felt like Unca Roggie, a kid on Christmas, tearing through the outer boxes to the bright shiny engines inside!!!
Thanks,
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
If they run good and draw low current then you could convert them to DCC. Its up to you. Remember if it runs good on DC than it will run good on DCC.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
...And if they don't run well on DC, then they won't run well on DCC, either.
I would give them a try. Chances are, they will still work reasonably well. And you will enjoy them a lot more on your layout than you will in a display case. And you know someone will be smiling down on you from the big roundhouse in the sky.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
UPDATE: The Bachmann has a pancake motor, I'd have to isolate it from the rather bulky frame that surrounds it, I think. I might try to take it to LHS tomorrow to see what they think...
The Rivarossi has a can motor that they cleverly installed to look like the firebox end of the boiler!!! It has electrical pickupfrom the main wheels and also from the tender, but the tender only picks up from one rail??? interesting concept...
I'm thinking that since both tenders are hollow, I could mount the decoder in there, and have the wires running from there to thje motor and lights, etc (all wrapped into heat shrink tubing to mask it and keep them organized...
Does this sound lke it makes sense or would actually work? I still have to test them on some track to get their current draw and how they act when operating...
Trainman SamThe Bachmann has a pancake motor
Pancake motors are pretty much junk. When I was new I fixed a few, but was not worth the effort. Fixed and running right it was still junk. I am sure your dad would love to look down from the great round house in the sky and see it pulling some freight again. It would be easyer to get a new chassis and motor and reuse the shell. If the motor and the ture weak link, gears are still good you could add a decoder. Just dont ask it to drag more than say 8 cars.
I will add, I am the kind of person that will not give up on a lost cause. The old Bachmann still runs that I fixed, but never use it. Well, I might dig it out tonight.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Trainman Sam UPDATE: The Bachmann has a pancake motor, I'd have to isolate it from the rather bulky frame that surrounds it, I think. I might try to take it to LHS tomorrow to see what they think... The Rivarossi has a can motor that they cleverly installed to look like the firebox end of the boiler!!! It has electrical pickupfrom the main wheels and also from the tender, but the tender only picks up from one rail??? interesting concept... I'm thinking that since both tenders are hollow, I could mount the decoder in there, and have the wires running from there to thje motor and lights, etc (all wrapped into heat shrink tubing to mask it and keep them organized... Does this sound lke it makes sense or would actually work? I still have to test them on some track to get their current draw and how they act when operating... Thanks, Sam
The life of those pancake motors, when asked to haul anything more than just the locomotive around, is usually measured in minutes rather than years. Probably not worth it unless you swap it out, and unless it's a 2-8-0 for which Bowser made a replacement frame for, complete with motor and better valve gear, it's not going to be easy to remotor.
The pickup on the Rivarossi is typical of many steam locos, the wheels on the loco pick up from one rail and the wheels on the tender pick up from the other. Tomar and others make bits so you can add power pickup to the other wheels, which is a good idea both for better power pickup (less stalling) and should you divide your layout into power districts or install reverse loop controllers, it will work better when crossing the gaps if it has equal pickup on both side.
The tender is a good palce for the decoder. There's usually plenty of room to work, and you don;t have to buy a more expensive N or Z scale decoder to cram it in the boiler. Plus there's usually a weight in the boiler and getting the loco out of balance by shifting or removing some of the weight will usually kill whatever pulling power it had.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.