OffTheTrack Update.

[Anonymous]

Greetings everyone. Once again, thank you all for the warm welcomes and helpful advice.

Since my last post I have upgraded a couple items. I purchased a new Tech 4 MRC220 transformer. It sure is powerful! When I used the old transformer I could turn it up all the way without problem. I can only go up to about 75 percent before the loco starts riding on half its wheels around the corners. I understand that it's not about how fast you can get the train. This was strictly for testing purposes. The momentum button is a great feature too! Thanks AntonioFP45 for your suggestion on this item!

The second item I purchased was a Bachmann HO USRA 0-6-0 W/Smoke & Tender (NYC) locomotive. I know it's nothing extravagant, but it's a start! I really wanted an old time looking steamer that puffed smoke. This little loco reminds me of. "The LIttle Engine That Could"! I can already tell that these old time steamers are going to become a passion for me.

I am waiting on new track. The new track I want to get is the "real" looking track that you have to nail down. I don't know what it is called.

Next project I want to work on is a winter scene to show off for next season. I think it will probably take me til next season to have it finished and ready for display! I have some questions on this so I will close this post for now and post the questions I have in the Layouts and layout building forum..


OffTheTrack

[willy6]

Glad to hear the good news, seems you are doing well. Now you need to change your user name to "On the right track", that's where you are headed. Have a geat day.[^][:D][tup]

[Anonymous]

I too have the Bachmann 0-6-0, OffTheTrack, and I love it. I would advise you not to make it smoke though. By the time it gets hot enough to make smoke, the locomotive begins to spit smoke oil all over. I actually took the smoke generator out of mine, because I was afraid it would get so hot it'd eat through the plastic shell. Not to mention the smoke smells terrible.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

Not to mention the smoke smells terrible.

I agree with that

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

I too have the Bachmann 0-6-0, OffTheTrack, and I love it. I would advise you not to make it smoke though. By the time it gets hot enough to make smoke, the locomotive begins to spit smoke oil all over. I actually took the smoke generator out of mine, because I was afraid it would get so hot it'd eat through the plastic shell. Not to mention the smoke smells terrible.

This sounds like good advice, though I am a little confused with the experience you're relating with what I am experiencing. I am unfamilar with the "normal" operations of a smoking loco.

Let me relate the experience I have had so far. The gentleman at the store told me it would take about 5 minutes for the smoke to start. I have never had to wait that long. I have experience heat from the element and smoke within about 2-3 turns on my small oval track. I wonder if I am working it too hard. I am running the train at about 65-70 on the dial of my new transformer. It is pulling about 6 cars behind it. Gentleman at the store said I needed to have it pull some cars for it to smoke properly.

I have questions about the plastic that you are saying can melt. My train is a heavy metal. Is the part you are saying that's plastic on the inside? Should I be concerned about running the train without the smoke? Will it burn up the element?

Is it possible that Bachmann has made changes to the engine?

[Anonymous]

After looking the loco over the outside is plastic. I also noticed an oily film on the bottem of the loco as well. :(

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm afraid most models these days are plastic (not that that's bad though), save for Brass models and a few expensive die cast ones.

Anyway, yes standard Bachmann models have plastic shells. The smoke generator can get so hot that it can melt through the plastic shell of the loco. Not all smoking locomotives are that way, though. Broadway Limited Imports recently released Southern Pacific class AC-4 and AC-5 4-8-8-2 Cab Forwards with fan driven smoke units. I've heard these are much better. Unfortunantly, the mamoth 4-8-8-2 is probably to big for your layout (It's to big to for mine, too![:D]).

If you're looking for a better (but still affordable) steam locomotive, give Bachmann's Spectrum products a try. They make the best steam locomotives on the market (next to Broadway Limited), and they don't have smoke units.

Jonathon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

Yes, I'm afraid most models these days are plastic (not that that's bad though), save for Brass models and a few expensive die cast ones.

Anyway, yes standard Bachmann models have plastic shells. The smoke generator can get so hot that it can melt through the plastic shell of the loco. Not all smoking locomotives are that way, though. Broadway Limited Imports recently released Southern Pacific class AC-4 and AC-5 4-8-8-2 Cab Forwards with fan driven smoke units. I've heard these are much better. Unfortunantly, the mamoth 4-8-8-2 is probably to big for your layout (It's to big to for mine, too![:D]).

If you're looking for a better (but still affordable) steam locomotive, give Bachmann's Spectrum products a try. They make the best steam locomotives on the market (next to Broadway Limited), and they don't have smoke units.

Jonathon

Have you done any painting to your train or tender (I take it the tender is the car behind the engine with the coal)? I thought for my first paint project I would paint the coal. Do you or anyone else have any suggestions on paint for the coal? I was thinking of painting the coal silver. Then accenting it with a little brown or black. I am not very experienced at painting.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm, my 0-6-0 (in real life) burned oil, so mine has an oil tender, no coal. As for the coal, you may want to paint it glossy black. Also, for painting model trains, most modelers use air brushes. These can be found at Home Depot or your hobby shop. I suppose you could brush paint your coal, though it may not turn out as nice as it would with an air brush.

Here's another method you could use for your coal. Many companys sell HO scale coal, real coal crushed in HO size. This stuff look very realistic. It's as simple as putting some glue on your coal, then sprinkling the scale coal on top of it.

Jonathon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
Hmmm, my 0-6-0 (in real life) burned oil, so mine has an oil tender, no coal.

Have a look at this pic. Is this a coal or oil tender?

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
As for the coal, you may want to paint it glossy black. Also, for painting model trains, most modelers use air brushes. These can be found at Home Depot or your hobby shop. I suppose you could brush paint your coal, though it may not turn out as nice as it would with an air brush.

Can airbrush do fine detail work? Looking at that square would I keep paint off of the sides in the square?

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
Here's another method you could use for your coal. Many companys sell HO scale coal, real coal crushed in HO size. This stuff look very realistic. It's as simple as putting some glue on your coal, then sprinkling the scale coal on top of it.

Jonathon

This sounds like the best idea! Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Oh wow. I just did a google on USRA 0-6-0. There are a bunch of different 0-6-0 models.

[Anonymous]

Yes, there are many 0-6-0 models. Spectrum also makes a 0-6-0T, the T standing for it has no tender, and has a bunker where it carries it's fuel.

Yes, airbrushes do Extraordinary detail work! If you look around at custom painted HO models, you'll see what I mean.

By the looks of it, your 0-6-0 is a coal burner. I'll post a pic of my 0-6-0 later to show you the difference.

[Anonymous]

Here is my 0-6-0. As you can see, it's an oil burner, and it's lettered for Union Pacific, my favorite RR[:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy
Here is my 0-6-0. As you can see, it's an oil burner, and it's lettered for Union Pacific, my favorite RR[:D]

Wow. Yours has different colors. Mine is just flat black. The bells are brass colored though. I was thinking of painting the front part of the train silver.

[Anonymous]

Yes, mine is different coloes. The protype Union Pacific 0-6-0s had a variety of different paint schemes, the one mine is in is called the "Two Tone Gray" scheme. As for painting your 0-6-0 gray on the front (or the "smoke box" as it's known), I don't know if NYC's 0-6-0s had gray noses. Infact, most of NYC's steam locomotives were all black. But hey, it's your choice.

[Anonymous]

Well I bought a new Locomotive today. I purchased a Proto 2000 GP9 Phase III Limited Edition GreatNorthern.

I am not sure, but I think there is a problem with it. For some reason I have to turn the dial on my Transformer to 40 before the train starts moving and then it's bearly a crawl. This is with the momentum switch off. Again I am using a Tech 4 MRC220.

Can anyone tell me if this is the way the train should be running, or do I have a problem? Even my Bachmann 0-6-0 Steamer runs faster around the track.