YIPPIEKiOh - Polar Express Hobo car Fire/Smoke mods are finally completed!

[Jim Duda]

 Snow added to roof and hobo, coffee pot and socks added to fire, charcoal from burnt logs added to base of fire, and hobo's sack on pole is now included...the "flickering" flames look MUCH better in person, but if you look closely (especially if you view it in High Quality), you can get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh-m-1Z30Ig

[dbaker48]

 Jim,

That is really fantastic!  So realistic looking.  Really a great job!!!  Video pretty good as well, the car should be a major hit this year at your place!

[lionelsoni]

That looks great, Jim!

[WBFLine]

Wow Jim, great smoke out of that engine, is that stock or did you do some modes to that too? 

[Brutus]

Very cool, Jim!

[Jim Duda]

 WBF:  The loco smoke unit is stock - no mods!...smoke fluid is a 75% / 25% mix of MTH Proto Smoke and JT Megasteam.  Interestingly, the track voltage was only 10 volts*** from the Post War Lionel LW txfrmr to cut down the smoke from the fire. 

 Loco and tender = 30-1461-1

***Since my table is very small (4 X 9) I never put more than 12 Volts thru the Command System...saves on car interior/exterior lamps, smoke units, etc.

[laz 57]

COOL!

Stay FROSTY, Jim.

laz57

[WBFLine]

Jim Duda

WBF:  The loco smoke unit is stock - no mods!...smoke fluid is a 75% / 25% mix of MTH Proto Smoke and JT Megasteam.

 

Thanks for the reply Jim, that’s interesting, I wonder how well that combo would work in my Lionel PE engine.

 

I think you have been one of the people reply to my thread about this and I’m still interested in getting some megasteam but I keep worrying about the comments some people have made about the scent additives contaminating the smoker unit.

 

As a result, I have been trying to guess at which one might have the least additives and I was thinking the original cedar or the coal one might be the best. Not that I have any info to support that, but it just seems logical.

[Jim Duda]

Until someone actually runs strictly controlled tests with different scents in different units from different manufacturers at different voltages for different time periods, I'm afraid the answer will be fairly elusive.  In the meantime, listen to the guys that put a lot of fluid through their units and go from there...

Since I run mine at 12 volts or below, I don't have the charring problem some operators do.

I still wish someone with the Polar Express set loco would do a video to show us what to expect from one...do you desire more smoke or are you satisfied with what you have and are just enquiring about Scented vs. Unscented vs. Contaminating the smoke unit?