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hand rails for older engines

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  • Member since
    January 2006
  • 87 posts
Posted by srud01 on Saturday, May 14, 2011 2:24 PM

could you tell me where i can go and identify my engines so i can get the right things from smoky valley

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • 87 posts
Posted by srud01 on Saturday, May 14, 2011 2:22 PM

thank you everyone i have another question dose any one know were i can go and identify my trains

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, May 14, 2011 1:45 PM

srud01

Hello everyone i have been a long time model rail roader been away from it for awhile i am starting to get back into it i dont have a layout but i have a lot of old trains that i am fixing up can anyone tell me is there a place to get real looking hand rails for my older engines i have a lot of older atheran engines that have the thick rails on them i would like to put somthing else on them any advise would be a help

Thanks,

If you have Athearn's BB GP38-2,GP40-2,GP50 and the SD40-2(low hood) the newer thin plastic handrails will work.

I am told the newer handrails for the upgraded SW1000 and SW1500( not the SW7) will work on the BB SW1000 and SW1500(again not the SW7)..

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, Ma.
  • 5,199 posts
Posted by bogp40 on Saturday, May 14, 2011 1:36 PM

Darth Santa Fe

0.015" brass wire is close to a scale inch in thickness, so that would be the best choice for better realism. 0.020" wire will also look fine if you want it to be a little more sturdy.

If you want more realistic stanchions, check out Smokey Valley's handrails. They may have full stanchion kits for your Athearn diesels, and they're usually available with or without the handrail wire. A Line's fine brass chain works well for the end railings.

I like using the .015" brass wire also. Smokey valley brass rail is fit in pieces. I perfer to bend them from 1 piece Phospher bronze also works but is more difficult to make the intricate step bends. I wasn't sure if Smokey Valley was still around. Have used their stanchions on many retrofited Athearn BB. Here's a link:

http://www.smokeyvalley.com/

After careful bending and dry fits, I will secure a couple rail/ stanchion w/ CA and the solder the remaining ones. The final results are that similar to an Overland brass job. When retrofiting these rails, you may need to check if you need to change the battery boxes, add anticlimber etc, before fitting the rail and stanchion. If you're not that concerned w/ the prototype, don't bother. I do find that the end rail stanchions will work better on an applied anticlimber, but this may not fit for the model or phase you're doing.

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Saturday, May 14, 2011 11:38 AM

0.015" brass wire is close to a scale inch in thickness, so that would be the best choice for better realism. 0.020" wire will also look fine if you want it to be a little more sturdy.

If you want more realistic stanchions, check out Smokey Valley's handrails. They may have full stanchion kits for your Athearn diesels, and they're usually available with or without the handrail wire. A Line's fine brass chain works well for the end railings.

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • 117 posts
Posted by BobH13 on Saturday, May 14, 2011 11:30 AM

Hard brass wire should do the trick.  They come in various thicknesses too.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • 87 posts
hand rails for older engines
Posted by srud01 on Saturday, May 14, 2011 11:11 AM

Hello everyone i have been a long time model rail roader been away from it for awhile i am starting to get back into it i dont have a layout but i have a lot of old trains that i am fixing up can anyone tell me is there a place to get real looking hand rails for my older engines i have a lot of older atheran engines that have the thick rails on them i would like to put somthing else on them any advise would be a help

Thanks,

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