I just received a 1950s MDC/Roundhouse 4-4-2. All metal and runs very nice on DC but draws a lot of current. All original paper work diagrams and box. The owner put the complete kit together many years ago.
I contacted Dave at NWSL who offered to design a can motor/worm/wormgear upgrade and will use this loco as a guinea pig to develop a upgrade setup for older locos of this type drive. He will offer me a better price since I will let him use the loco to develop what he would like.
I have a good source for plating the drivers for a few dollars a wheel.
A couple years or so ago someone sent him their Spectrum Shay with cracked gears as a guinea pig to develop the better steel gears the NWSL now sells.
I will put a sound decoder and speaker into the tender. I can make a base for the tender with copper clad PC board.
Rich.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Pretty darn nice little engine there, especially considering it's age. I wonder if the ones made today will hold up as well or as long and still look as good as this one does.
Mark
RMR
http://www.proto87.com/model-railroad-motor-upgrade.html
this is a cheapo motor fix that works, does not replace the motor, just its magnets!
Tho newer, my MDC 2-8-0 runs like a champ, heavy and pulls. ME wants the kits back just like they were.
When Athearn took over the Roundhouse business did they also obtain the molds for the steam engine kits?
If they did I wonder if they may one day bring these back as RTR with updated features.
I doubt that Athearn will continue making metal models, although I could be wrong. If they bought Roundhouse lock, stock and barrel, it should have included all the assets, including the molds and tooling.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I would also doubt Athearn will make all metal anymore because of cost.
The present 4-4-0, 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 are indentical size boilers and tenders. I have all three.
Below is a comparison of my Spectrum 4-4-0 and the new Roundshoue 4-4-0. I call the Roundhouse locos, PLane Janes.
Athearn dropped the upgrade of the Genesis 4-6-2 which I was hoping to buy. This loco has been on the Roundhouse website for at least three years.
Rich
I bought one of the later Roundhouse 4-4-2 Harriman kits on Ebay a couple of years ago but haven't built it yet. It has a can motor and flywheel but still has brass drivers, which I will have plated when I do build it. I have always liked the MDC, Mantua, and Roundhouse metal engine kits but they do lack the detail of todays RTR ones like the Spectrum and P2K models.
- Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Below is a plating service I have used.
http://www.sierrascalemodels.com/plating.htm
The 4-4-2 has a new motor and gears. NWSL stuff. The tender is getting a Tsunami light steam and a 20mm x 40mm oval speaker.
I will make two washers to fit over the pins that the trucks are mounted to so the tender will be sealed off.
A Tsunami light steam decoder will be up inside.
You might want to adjust the eccentric crank. The small end, where the eccentric rod connects, should be over the axle center, just a degree or two off center. Your right side is almost right, the left side appears off.
BillyDee53 You might want to adjust the eccentric crank. The small end, where the eccentric rod connects, should be over the axle center, just a degree or two off center. Your right side is almost right, the left side appears off.
Yes, I know that. The loco is still a long ways from running. It has to be disassembled and painted.