Ive seen 3985 in person too, in Bend Oregon. It sure tugs at you, doesn't it? Beautiful models, all the ones posted. Dan
I recently purchased a Brass CNR Hudson which had been the victim of serious tarnish and also a very bad multi layered paint job.
I ended up using a sand blaster at a low pressure setting and it took me about an hour and a half (including coffee breaks) to bring the engine to a clean brass finish, I then spray painted the engine with about half a dozen light coats of satin finish paint. With the engine apart it was very easy to isolate the motor and add DCC to the engine.
I am very proud at how well that engine turned out. Adding sound and DCC is relatively easy with the older brass engines. Even though some of my brass dates back to 1975 there are few engines today that can match them for their level of detail.
Have you seen the price of new brass? I bought a couple just to see what they were like and if they were not Canadian specific engines I would have stuck to obtaining older brass and updating them.
On a few brass engines I did replace the old open frame motor with new can motors, on some of the old frame motors I did a magnet swap and could not believe how well those old motors run with great slow speed control for only a few dollars invested in the magnets. I only replace motors now as an exception now not a general update.
Wow! Great find!!
I can relate in several ways. I just got back to the hobby last year, and with my UP bent really wanted a #844 Northern and a #3985 Challenge. Got the latter Genesis version last week and am certainly pleased. I doubt I will own a better quality one as I'll save the budget for the upcoming #844.
On another note, I can (sadly) relate to the older imported steam locos (but know nothing about recent offerings). Don't ever do what I did...you will have regrets. I had a Tenshodo 4-8-4 Northern and a United loco, 2-8-0, I think, that I acquired in the 60's, operated again in the 80's on a layout for the kids (me, really). The locos stayed in boxes in the garages as we moved around, and the foam stuck to the engines, and I'm not sure the motors would turn. So I sold them at our pre-retirement garage sale (for very little). Wish I had kept them for my post-retirement ventures, no matter what it would take to convert them to DCC.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
don7 CalZephyr Wow, quite the stable. I have for the most part bought engines in multiples, it sure gives an impression of a large roster, my CNR roster I have multiples of their Northern Locomotives as that is what was the mos common engine of all on their roster, my CPR roster I have multiples of 4-6-4 Hudsons as that was the most numerous as we approach the end of steam.t
CalZephyr
Wow, quite the stable.
I have for the most part bought engines in multiples, it sure gives an impression of a large roster, my CNR roster I have multiples of their Northern Locomotives as that is what was the mos common engine of all on their roster, my CPR roster I have multiples of 4-6-4 Hudsons as that was the most numerous as we approach the end of steam.t
It always is good to have more than one of a type since the prototypes were numerous and a scene looks much better with several. The real great models of the Challenger is the Key and Overland.
CZ
tatansMint ? Brass ? Tenshodo ? Crown ? 1977 ? Never knew Tenshodo made brass locomotives, I knew they made metal locos along with metal CPR Budd dome cars. please, some photos.
Tenshodo made many brass locomotives, of all shapes and sizes, through the 1960s and most of the '70s. All were imported by Pacific Fast Mail, and were great runners, as well as good looking. Here's a shot of an 0-8-0 switcher from their lineup:
This one has a 24v DC motor in it from an IBM mainframe cassette tape drive. You cannot push down on it hard enough to stall it. I pay the price of having a very slow speed limit, though.
It's also one of the few switch engines I've seen with Baker valve gear instead of the more usual Walshaerts (sp?) gear.
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Gary M. Collins gmcrailgNOSPAM@gmail.com
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"Common Sense, Ain't!" -- G. M. Collins
http://fhn.site90.net
The Tenshodo Challenger is a very nice model overall. Your model looks to be a 1973 run with the lowest gear ratio of 1/48. They had the bell painted and the later 1976 run had a gold colored bell. I have some of each run and they are super locomotives overall.
If if is a 1975/76 run, it will have a number on the backside of the cab which will have the date and number of the total run for that year. It is a good model and it should run forever.
The Tenshodo Challengers below are from the 1975 run. CZ
tatans 20 seconds after I wrote my note I found a site of a guy who was restoring a beat up challenger, Yes it was Tenshodo, Yes it was brass, Yes it was a very detailed, nice looking loco, by the above photos it is a Tenshodo, I really must get out more often, It is a fine looking locomotive, you should be proud. I see in the photo it was shipped by Canada Post, right?
20 seconds after I wrote my note I found a site of a guy who was restoring a beat up challenger, Yes it was Tenshodo, Yes it was brass, Yes it was a very detailed, nice looking loco, by the above photos it is a Tenshodo, I really must get out more often, It is a fine looking locomotive, you should be proud. I see in the photo it was shipped by Canada Post, right?
Very observant
I ran across some batteries for the camera.
I can not believe the slow speed that I can get from this engine. yes I did oil the axle journals and valve gear before I gave it a test.
Will take it apart and clean old lube later tonight.
]
I was surprised at how detailed the cab was, will have to add some colour to the gauges and piping as well as add an engineer and fireman figures.
Mint ? Brass ? Tenshodo ? Crown ? 1977 ? Never knew Tenshodo made brass locomotives, I knew they made metal locos along with metal CPR Budd dome cars. please, some photos.
And please take a moment to do a lube job on that beauty, all axle journals and both gear boxes....
As the owner of two Tenshodo Big Boys I can attest to their fine quanlities, mine however cannot out pull my United L-131! Enjoy that challenger.
Dave
Ever since I saw the UP #3985 Challenger in person I have wanted to obtain an HO model of this magnificent engine. So recently I found an old brass Tenshodo at a decent price and bought it.
It arrived today, it was on of those never out of the box models that had never seen track. I am told that this is a 1977 model. When I opened the box I could not believe it, the engine and tender were nicely wrapped and sitting in the large box with the yellow foam.
The foam had completely broken down, I picked up the engine and tender and more or less poured the foam into a garbage bag, it was more or less a powder. However, with the engine and tender in plastic they were like new.
The engine and tender are almost 18 inches in length and weighs almost 3 pounds. I should have taken the engine off of the frame and cleaned and oiled and lubed the engine which is my normal practice.
However, in my haste I just placed it on the test track and engaged the motor. I was not disappointed the drivers started to turn just as soon as power was applied. I was very impressed with the engine and since my test track is only a 22" oval I could not run it for any substantial amount of time as the oval was too small for the centipede tender. I am re-wiring a portion of my layout so it is not available until the wiring is completed. I am putting in a booster as well as dividing the layout into 4 electrical districts.
Out came the rollers and saddles, I placed the engine and tender on them and proceeded to rest the engine at various speeds. I was very surprised at how well the engine runs without my having cleaned it and applied new oil and lubrication.
This is the Crown model and the level of detail looks very good to me, I am sure that the new Athearn will likely have a bit more detail but I doubt very much if it will be able to haul as many cars as the old PFM without its traction tires.
Would have posted pictures but I drained the batteries on the camera so will have to wait until I go to town later this week.