Trains.com

The 312 project

6833 views
102 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 11:00 PM

Aha!  A wrapped-too-tight high-strung can't-take-a-joke HO guy after all!

Can I call 'em or what?

Reminds me of my brother-in-law "Big B's" N-Gauge club website where they're always complaining about "stinky, smelly, noisy O-Gauge trains" when they have to share train meet exhibition space with 'em!

And he thought I wouldn't find out about that!

My spies are everywhere, and where they're not, Lady Firestorm's are!  Smile, Wink & Grin

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 11:09 PM

Darth  displays great taste with his Marklin trains...

things we learn as we go through the years with this hobby:

when I was in my pre teens , I had an HO layout. I traveled with my family to Solvang, a Danish community in central California. In the toy store, they had a great Marklin layout, which ran all the way down the side wall of the store, with a reverse loop at each end. Fully scenicked.

Every time we went to Solvang, I wanted to see this layout. They sold trains, also. So one time I bought a great looking passenger coach to run on my layout. I did not realize that Marklin wheels are not insulated, and will short out on my layout! Important lesson !

 

On my 312, I am finding an open between the 2 bottom fingers of the reverse unit when they should be touching a common point on the drum.Either my soldering is not so hot, or may need to reform the fingers with more contact pressure against the drum. When I get the time...

haven't looked at the 282 yet, but will run continuity checks on the reverse unit and wiring.

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Thursday, May 16, 2019 6:17 PM

Flintlock76
A wrapped-too-tight high-strung can't-take-a-joke HO guy after all!

He's so uptight he can split himself into tiny minions to rule the layout at an in-your-face level!  Laugh

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, May 16, 2019 9:53 PM

Wow, that takes me back!

When I read the novelization of "Star Wars" in 1978 Darth Vader was introduced this way...

"A Dark Lord Of The Sith was a terrifying sight..."

A Dark Lord Of The Sith!  I  took that to mean there was more than one of them out there!  

 I was right!

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Friday, May 17, 2019 6:46 PM

Ever heard of this?

 

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Friday, May 17, 2019 8:20 PM

No, I haven't!

What is it?  Something from the 18th Century you lucked into, or something modern aged (very cleverly I might add) to look like something from the 18th Century?

It would certainly fool me into thinking it was ancient unless I was up-close-and-personal with it.  If that's a product of someone going for an 18th Century look I have to tell you, he sure knows his business!

That "George Lucas" on the cover may be a dead giveaway, but THE George Lucas we all know may not have been the first, and in all liklihood won't be the last!

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:09 AM

312 shake down run !

 

 

 

 found a bad solder joint on the reverse unit

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:13 AM

Running well forward and reverse

 

 

 

 pilot is clearing the track and lead wheels

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:16 AM

 And smoking...

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:21 AM

All my cars have knuckles, so it was necessary to convert

 

 

 

 

 just need to finish the 282

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 10:43 AM

The 312:

she runs well

smokes great

got a great deal on her ( spent more on parts than the engine itself)

only issue is the smoke box front tends to vibrate loose after a few laps, which I will look at later.

Happy with the way she turned out 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, May 18, 2019 12:09 PM

You did a hell of a job man, my compliments!

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 2:57 PM

Flintlock76

You did a hell of a job man, my compliments!

 

Thank You!

it was a fun project, some of the issues that pop up make you think. Great brain excercise...

I'm used to working on the Lionel, so I have a comfort level.The Flyer seemed to be a little trickier to fix, but it could just be what I'm used to. 

Lovin this engine though !!! 

One more to go...

 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 4:48 PM

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 4:53 PM

You take the high road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 and I'll take the low road....

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 6:07 PM

 The 282 is back together, but many,many bugs to work out.....

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, May 18, 2019 7:21 PM

Flintlock76
No, I haven't! What is it?

It's the pre, pre, pre Star Wars novel G.L. wrote.  A friend of mine lucked into a copy back in the 80's that he found at a used book store.  But it wasn't as elaborate as the one I linked.  It was just a simple hardcover book containing the story of Luke Starkiller.

By the way, Tataoine is in Tunisia, and THIS, is a Chedi:

Funny how things get named.  Like Chew-bacca......Wink

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, May 18, 2019 7:28 PM

Aint it great when they finally get to fly and all that effort pays off!  Big Smile  Thumbs Up

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, May 18, 2019 8:16 PM

Interesting about George Lucas and the pre-Star Wars novel.  I had no idea.

Thanks Becky!  

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 9:47 PM

My personal experience with the Flyer engines that I have is they are extremely smooth running and reliable. But getting them to that point sometimes takes considerable effort. The 282 is fighting me tooth and nail. Intermittent electrical contact, sticking reverse unit, and on and on.

But all these things are fixable. It just takes time and patience. When you work the problems through, you've got a great engine!

Very happy with the 312, she's a real sweetheart!!!

my new fave !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 11:17 PM

Got her going with just a wheel cleaning !

 

 

 

 

 

 although, she's stuck in " forward"

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Saturday, May 18, 2019 11:20 PM

 ....which suits me just fine !!

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 8:16 AM

She is running very smoothly now !

 

 

 

 

 Wow! What a difference !

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 8:19 AM

 She has "found her legs "

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 8:23 AM

Still running forward only, but

 

 

 

 C'est la vie !  That's good enough for me ! I consider this project complete.

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 8:26 AM

 Fini

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Sunday, May 19, 2019 7:14 PM

I had to do a fair amount of adjusting to my trackwork to get my 310 to stop derailing.

And a dab of hot glue to get the front to stop falling off.

But she's running like a champ now!  Big Smile

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 8:17 PM

Penny Trains

I had to do a fair amount of adjusting to my trackwork to get my 310 to stop derailing.

And a dab of hot glue to get the front to stop falling off.

But she's running like a champ now!  Big Smile

 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 8:20 PM

Yes, those countermeasures.

Your 310 looks great !

And these Flyer engines are beautiful, and fun to run. 

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Sunday, May 19, 2019 9:00 PM

I've been running my 282 all day :

I guConfusedess I'm just amazed it actually works ! 

But seriously, it's a smooth runner, and a chain smoker !

I'm thinking of using those temporary sticky globs to hold the smoke box front on the 312, that way I can still remove it.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month