Roundhouse has a very small EMD model but don't know if it will be produced again and it wasn't DCC.
[quote user="rrebell"]
Looking to add to my fleet, Know of Bachmann 44, 45, and 70 ton and Model Pawers DTT but what else is out there.
I have a recent issue Bowser 4-4-1000 yard switcher, small engine, runs well and sounds great with factory
May want to consider the Bowser Executive Line 4-4-1000, small switcher engine that runs & sounds great with a ESU Lok Sound decorder.
BLI produses a Track Mobile in DC / DCC W Sounds & Lights
Bayway Terminal NJ
Anyone know if they plan to offer the LNE version. Always loved the LNE's livery, very elegant
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3e/4e/3f/3e4e3f2ca5a761524e1d9ac6560e6fb1--ton-england.jpg
Since we're featuring some 'bashed and modified models here, I thought I'd add one. I showed this quite some time back, but for those interested...
This is an alternate to the Grandt Line 25 tonner, even if inaccurate. Bachmann Spectrum 44 tonner sourced. I used a shortened hood and the cab from a 2 motor 44 tonner. I used one of it's motor/truck assemblies for power. Basic kitbashing skills here, nothing real tricky, except finding one these days without split gears. They never did split on this one.
I filled available space in the body with a lead weight I cast for it. It weighs in at 5.7 oz. I hardly if ever use it for switching, but like how it looks hangin' around the shops area. But it earns it's keep! It's a handy tool when doing trackwork, as it's short wheelbase helps isolate track electrical problems. Especially if a power frog is not behaving, or glue from ballasting got on the rails. Dan
$330 for DCC sound, way overpriced. New smaller engines coming from Atlas for about half the price.
Wow, nice engine, but the price tag is outside my budget range. And it's a DC model!
Simon
gmpullmanIt's here if anyone has been considering one. Piko HO 52464 Whitcomb 65 ton Diesel Locomotive ASATC
Piko HO 52464 Whitcomb 65 ton Diesel Locomotive ASATC
They don't have undecorated, but there is barely any lettering on the US Army version... this is a thinker.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
DoughlessArriving soon, apparently.
It's here if anyone has been considering one.
https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/piko-ho-52464-whitcomb-65-ton-65-de-19a-diesel-locomotive-usatc/
Good Luck, Ed
Got the Kato NW2 with DCC, runs great.
Boy, that's a mighty small space to stuff all that equipment into, Dave!
Thanks, Bernd. The Sherline mill and lathe make a lot of stuff possible. It looks like your shop is nicely equipped.
Wow
dknelsonDon't forget the neat little Mack BR switcher that SS Ltd offered unpowered as an all metal kit and which if memory serves NWSL offered a power chassis for. It is even "truly" recent because it has been reissued by Wiseman! HO SCALE MACK BR SPECIAL SWITCHER KIT (wisemanmodelservices.com) https://wisemanmodelservices.com/HO-SCALE-MACK-BR-SPECIAL-SWITCHER-KIT
I powered one of the Mack switchers a few years ago using advice from Darth Santa Fe. I built the power drive from scratch. It was an interesting project but it didn't go as well as I had hoped. I fried the first motor, and I may have cooked the second one as well, so I put it aside. Sometime down the road I will resurect it:
It's DCC by the way.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Southgate 2Great work on the Hustler, Bernd! I took a less involved approach to the Hustler. If anyone's interested, I posted it some time back here: It won't let me copy and paste the link. I titled the thread Taming the Athearn Hustler
Thanks Dan, much appreciated. I like the large diameter flywheels you added. Must smooth that drive outnicely. Also see you have a Sherline mill, nice.
Bernd
New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds
protolancer(at)kingstonemodelworks(dot)com
SeeYou190That was some remarkable fabrication work that you did. I hope you do not mind me sharing a picture of your efforts. Also, your tip of using the contacts from a relay was pure gold! I saw that and immediately knew that was how I am going to add wheel wipers to my locomotives. THANK YOU! -Kevin
No I don't mind at all. My hope is it will help with others wanting to try the same thing. I'm glad you like the wheel pickups. These are the type of tips I like to pass along. I do realize not everybody has a home machine shop to that type of work.
SeeYou190 SeeYou190 The new Bachmann 70 ton runs well but has an old motor that has a cogging sound at very low speed, same as the old one did only new one is DCC. Don't have a new 44 ton, old ran well with the two motors, the one motor one did not quite sweem to run as well. Also cost is not an indication on how well an engine works, got some Bachmann S4's, two ran perfectly out of the box, bought another and it is in for repairs for second time, never ran right from the get go. Sometimes the quote feature does weird things. I did not post all that information above that was attributed to me. This was all that I actually posted: SeeYou190 I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives. -Kevin
SeeYou190 The new Bachmann 70 ton runs well but has an old motor that has a cogging sound at very low speed, same as the old one did only new one is DCC. Don't have a new 44 ton, old ran well with the two motors, the one motor one did not quite sweem to run as well. Also cost is not an indication on how well an engine works, got some Bachmann S4's, two ran perfectly out of the box, bought another and it is in for repairs for second time, never ran right from the get go.
Sometimes the quote feature does weird things. I did not post all that information above that was attributed to me.
This was all that I actually posted:
SeeYou190 I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives.
rrebell typed his response inside the quote.
Sheldon
So someone else did the conversion already...nice. I would still check it first thing with a multimeter to make sure the motor brushes are indeed isolated.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Forgot to mention, already DCC.
rrebell,
FYI: The Kato NW2 is a sweet and smooth-running locomotive but converting it to DCC is quite involved. You'll need to hog out the chassis to make room for the decoder and the wiring.
Just bought a Kato NW2 all ready DCC for reasonble, not the real small I was looking for but not that large either, about 7' longer than a 70ton.
Great work on the Hustler, Bernd!
I took a less involved approach to the Hustler. If anyone's interested, I posted it some time back here:
It won't let me copy and paste the link. I titled the thread
Taming the Athearn Hustler
[Link made clickable by moderator]
No video, but suffice it to say it runs very smooth and quiet at slow switching speeds. I'd like to find one of those Cary bodies.
Dan
Southgate 2Hey, Kevin, I sent you a pm.
I got your PM... thank you for the help, and I am going to keep an eye out for one of those locomotives. Sorry, I thought I had replied.
BerndI have one of those and did a complete repower on the chassis using Hobbytown gearing and can motor.
That was some remarkable fabrication work that you did. I hope you do not mind me sharing a picture of your efforts.
Also, your tip of using the contacts from a relay was pure gold! I saw that and immediately knew that was how I am going to add wheel wipers to my locomotives.
THANK YOU!
Someboy mentioned the Atheran Hustler with a box-cab from Cary. I have one of those and did a complete repower on the chassis using Hobbytown gearing and can motor.
Link: http://www.kingstonemodelworks.com/DS1.html
Hey, Kevin, I sent you a pm.
SeeYou190The new Bachmann 70 ton runs well but has an old motor that has a cogging sound at very low speed, same as the old one did only new one is DCC. Don't have a new 44 ton, old ran well with the two motors, the one motor one did not quite sweem to run as well. Also cost is not an indication on how well an engine works, got some Bachmann S4's, two ran perfectly out of the box, bought another and it is in for repairs for second time, never ran right from the get go.
SeeYou190I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives.
rrebell SeeYou190 The new Bachmann 70 ton runs well but has an old motor that has a cogging sound at very low speed, same as the old one did only new one is DCC. Don't have a new 44 ton, old ran well with the two motors, the one motor one did not quite sweem to run as well. Also cost is not an indication on how well an engine works, got some Bachmann S4's, two ran perfectly out of the box, bought another and it is in for repairs for second time, never ran right from the get go. Southgate 2 You see Keystone Locomotive Works GEs on the bay now and then. By replacing the rubber tube connectors with NWSL u joints, you get the best running 44 tonner ever made, IMHO. Dan I will keep this in mind. I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives. -Kevin
SeeYou190 The new Bachmann 70 ton runs well but has an old motor that has a cogging sound at very low speed, same as the old one did only new one is DCC. Don't have a new 44 ton, old ran well with the two motors, the one motor one did not quite sweem to run as well. Also cost is not an indication on how well an engine works, got some Bachmann S4's, two ran perfectly out of the box, bought another and it is in for repairs for second time, never ran right from the get go. Southgate 2 You see Keystone Locomotive Works GEs on the bay now and then. By replacing the rubber tube connectors with NWSL u joints, you get the best running 44 tonner ever made, IMHO. Dan I will keep this in mind. I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives. -Kevin
Southgate 2 You see Keystone Locomotive Works GEs on the bay now and then. By replacing the rubber tube connectors with NWSL u joints, you get the best running 44 tonner ever made, IMHO. Dan
I will keep this in mind.
I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives.
My Bachmann 44 ton and 70 ton locos run fine, all are the newer single motor versions.
SeeYou190The new Bachmann 70 ton runs well but has an old motor that has a cogging sound at very low speed, same as the old one did only new one is DCC. Don't have a new 44 ton, old ran well with the two motors, the one motor one did not quite sweem to run as well. Also cost is not an indication on how well an engine works, got some Bachmann S4's, two ran perfectly out of the box, bought another and it is in for repairs for second time, never ran right from the get go. Southgate 2 You see Keystone Locomotive Works GEs on the bay now and then. By replacing the rubber tube connectors with NWSL u joints, you get the best running 44 tonner ever made, IMHO. Dan I will keep this in mind. I was disappointed with my Bachmann 44 and 70 ton locomotives. -Kevin
BEAUSABREI just bought a re-geared Hustler with a Cary boxcab body and Kadee couplers that somebody did a nice job on. Runs nicely and that cast body sure helps tractive effort. Trying to figure if I can stuff DCC and a stay alive into it.
Hi BEAUSABRE,
I'm pretty sure that you will be able to install a sound decoder, one or two sugar cube speakers and a keep alive. I have put Loksound Micros with two speakers and a keep alive in these locomotives:
The Loksound Micros are very small, and their keep alives can be mounted separate from the decoder. The baffles for sugar cube speakers can be quite small and still produce decent sound, although the bigger the baffle the better.
Southgate 2You see Keystone Locomotive Works GEs on the bay now and then. By replacing the rubber tube connectors with NWSL u joints, you get the best running 44 tonner ever made, IMHO. Dan
Well the Mack BR is very interesting but what to do about power and what will fit? I have some PDT's and I think a Flea and also a rather rare now Bull Ant. While we are at it, I need to repower a brass 44 ton that was on the cover of RMC of feb 2018. Have not been able to fix the existing power train on this one, still has the brass inerarts that was reworked but something must have happened in shipping. Electronics are fine though.