You need to be VERY careful with these locos. The smoek fluid will softent he paint and plastic, so don;t spill it on things. If this model didn;t come with a funnel to refill the smoek fluid, get one, because if you just try to drip the fluid down the stack it WILL get ont he outside of the smoke generator and migrae to te blower motor, where it causes the fan to get loose ont he motor shaft and stop working - instead of the puffs of smoke it just wisps somoke like an old stationary smoke generator.
Then the smoke settings on EVERYTHIGN on your layout and leaves an oily film. For this reason, smoke units are banned on our club layout. The smoke generator must be switched off. If you don;t refill it, make sure you turn it off - dependign ont he loco there is usualyl a switch t turn it off, leavign the heater on when dry will burn it out. The manual wills how where this switch is, often inside the smokebox door.
As for weatherign comign off - these weren;t factory weathered, so someone weathered it. If this was done with pastel chalks, there really should eb some sort of fixative, like DUllcote, applied, to keep it from wipign off when handled. Or don't touch it. Some peopel don;t seal after using a powder weathering technique, which is fine if you never touch the sides, but the chalks will come off if you touch the loco or car. I supose this makes it a good way to practive - if you overdo it, you cna clean it off and try again. Once to your liking, it should be sealed though so it stays the way you intended it to look.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Have you put smoke fluid into it? It won't smoke if there's no fluid. I think it won't smoke if you put too much fluid into it.
As far as the weathering coming off, that's probably because the smoke fluid is dissolving it. Smoke fluid is oil based and acts as a solvent in some cases. AristoCraft even markets their smoke fluid as a track and wheel cleaner!
Just picked up Broaday Limited 484 Paragon 2 with smoke It as suppose to be new I have my dough
it came weathered but everytime you touch it some of the eathering comes off
No down to the maim problem the Smoke unit just stopped working does anyone know if there is a way to try to get it working it feels hot but not hot enough to smoke