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Teen Model Railroader Place - January 2009

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Posted by Bapou on Thursday, January 29, 2009 7:05 PM

 It's a walthers horizon, those cars look like C I's partially and C II's partially... The old Spectrums are not DCC ready but it is possible to install a decoder. I mean 5104... Oops! The ALP-44 on Ebay is from the same seller as the F40.

 

Here is an NJT F40
http://cgi.ebay.com/BACHMANN-HO-TRAIN-EMD-F40PH-NJ-TRANSIT-87026_W0QQitemZ350156063707QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item350156063707&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
I bought my second F40 from these guys and am very happy with it.

Go NJT, NJ Transit, New Jersey Transit. Whatever you call it its good. See my pictures and videos here: http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff20/Bapouthetrainman/
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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, January 29, 2009 7:28 PM

I believe that the Horizons were based of the CIIs, so they're similar. Also, if you're doing modern stuff, those CIs will soon be outdated. I believe that there are 3 trainsets running (solid CI) and one I'm not sure if it's still in service or out.

Thanks for the link to the F40. I would get it (great price) but I can't get anything (I already asked about something from Walthers) until my mom gets paid. And the ALP is too expensive anywaySad

Or there's always this F40!!! Direct from the seller: "The model test ran poorly with a working headlight, and is very noisy and shows wheel wear." $1 sounds like a great deal!

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Posted by Packer on Thursday, January 29, 2009 7:45 PM

Joe, stay away from the $1 F40. I had one of those (in UP), it's the Life-like trainset crap with one truck powered and one truck for pickup. However the shell is more accurate than the Bachmanns, and the shell can be mounted to a modified athearn GP40 frame:

http://www.ppw-aline.com/frppwf40ph.htm

http://www.ppw-aline.com/bdllf40ph.htm

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

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Posted by MadSinger on Thursday, January 29, 2009 7:50 PM

Packer

Joe, stay away from the $1 F40. I had one of those (in UP), it's the Life-like trainset crap with one truck powered and one truck for pickup.

Agreed.  I started out with a trainset with that in it.  It worked for 5 weeks, and would only pull 6 cars.  STAY AWAY!  Do yourself a favor.

MadSinger

"I don't like spam!" "I am not on a bloody wire, I am flyin!'" "I can't tell the difference between Wizzo butter and a dead crab." "You took an order for 18 million kilts from a blemonge, and believed it?!" "And in other news, during a Parlimentary debate, members accused the government of being silly, and doing not at all good things." (All from Monty Python)
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Posted by ns3010 on Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:07 PM

I would never ever ever get one of those things. The thought of it disgusts me. I went to a train show (a long time ago, I don't even know when the last time I've been to one was, but I hope to go in March) and got a Fsomething, got it home, didn't even move. Except for Proto stuff, Life Like is horrible. But since Walthers bought it out, its gotten better.

And like I would pay for something where the shipping is 8.1 times the value of the actual item.

Actually, I'm happy with my Bachmann one. Although it lacks strobes, it has flush windows, directional headlights, all grab irons in correct places, nice grilles, and a cab interior. Only wish it had strobes. But I'm rebuilding it into a F40PH-2CAT. It involves extending the shell, adding ditch lights, using decals for numbers (as opposed to a sharpie and 9 year old handwriting Whistling), getting a new fuel tank, installing a Kand maybe, if I get to it, strobes wouldn't be a bad idea.

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Posted by MadSinger on Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:17 PM

That F40PH-2CAT sounds awesome.  Post a picture when you're done.

I have always used decals, don't like the look of handwritten.

 

"I don't like spam!" "I am not on a bloody wire, I am flyin!'" "I can't tell the difference between Wizzo butter and a dead crab." "You took an order for 18 million kilts from a blemonge, and believed it?!" "And in other news, during a Parlimentary debate, members accused the government of being silly, and doing not at all good things." (All from Monty Python)
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Posted by Packer on Thursday, January 29, 2009 8:29 PM

Well, where would you get the parts to extend your Bachmann one into an F40PH-2CAT?

I got word that my F45 has shipped today, so it should be here in 2-3 days. (from standard hobby in New Jersey). And no, I won't let this one become one of the NJTs GP40PH-2 or a MARC GP40WH-2. (The cab of several BN F45s got used for the GP40WH, and the cowl body from several of them got used for GP40PH-2s)

If I read something right, it has an operating beacon already. Either way, I'll be putting beacons on my SD45s as well. If they operate on the F45, then I'll have to get some fiber optic stuff to get the ones on my SD45 and U30C to operate.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

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Posted by Bapou on Thursday, January 29, 2009 9:22 PM
The horizons are based on comet I and II from what I can tell. Also most of the walthers decals are comet I numbers.
Go NJT, NJ Transit, New Jersey Transit. Whatever you call it its good. See my pictures and videos here: http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff20/Bapouthetrainman/
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Posted by ns3010 on Friday, January 30, 2009 2:29 PM

Packer
Well, where would you get the parts to extend your Bachmann one into an F40PH-2CAT?

Styrene. It should be pretty easy to build because it's exactly the same as the old back, just extended over the rear platform. Except on the very back, the the two sets of grab irons switched places and there is no longer a door. The door is now on the side, in the back. If this makes sense.

Oh, and BTW, the F45 cowls were used in the building of the GP40FH-2s. There is a HUGE difference between those and the GP40PH-2s (As and Bs included).

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Posted by Packer on Friday, January 30, 2009 2:53 PM

ns3010

Packer
Well, where would you get the parts to extend your Bachmann one into an F40PH-2CAT?

Styrene. It should be pretty easy to build because it's exactly the same as the old back, just extended over the rear platform. Except on the very back, the the two sets of grab irons switched places and there is no longer a door. The door is now on the side, in the back. If this makes sense.

But it looks like there is an foruth fan and the radiator section is a little longer. Maybe chopping of part of the LL version's shell would make it go by faster. I might have enough left of my F40's shell to help you with that. I gutted most of it, the weights are in several of my freight cars, the wheels and truck sideframes are part of a scrap load, have the rest of it that I haven't figured out what to do with.

ns3010
Oh, and BTW, the F45 cowls were used in the building of the GP40FH-2s. There is a HUGE difference between those and the GP40PH-2s (As and Bs included).

So it's the GP40FH-2 that has the cowl... Dang wikipedia.

Looks like a GP40FH-2 and GP40WH-2 would be easy to make. Just get an athearn bluebox (can be foud for around 10 bucks every now and then) GP40 and F45. Cut the long hood off of both, and attach (and modify as nessicary) the F45's long hood to the GP40s cab front. Vice-versa for the GP40WH-2.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

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Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, January 30, 2009 6:17 PM

ns3010

Kill you for what?

Assuming that's your plan for your new layout, sounds pretty good to me.

And BTW, what's up with the ginormous font?

 

It is. Well, the attic layout when I get the attic as a bedroom. 

To understand why they'd kill me, you had to be on here back in the fall.

 Also, the ginourmous font is what i used to type in on here, and what I set the type to on that other site.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by ns3010 on Friday, January 30, 2009 7:50 PM

Vincent: Surprisingly, Wikipedia is right for once. I have no clue what you were talking about.

Sawyer: Ok... This is why I hate coming into things late. I get confused REALLY easily and coming into the middle of conversations doesn't help...

Off to maybe do work on the layout, whatever. IDK...

Also, anyone know of a program I could use to sketch up a trackplan. That way you guys will be able to figure out whats going on inside my head.

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Posted by MadSinger on Friday, January 30, 2009 8:25 PM

Vincent: I have only found Wikipedia wrong a couple of times!  I don't know why there is such a problem.  It is policed, you know.

There are supposedly a few good CAD programs out there.  Sorry, don't knokw any names.

"I don't like spam!" "I am not on a bloody wire, I am flyin!'" "I can't tell the difference between Wizzo butter and a dead crab." "You took an order for 18 million kilts from a blemonge, and believed it?!" "And in other news, during a Parlimentary debate, members accused the government of being silly, and doing not at all good things." (All from Monty Python)
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Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, January 30, 2009 8:35 PM

ns3010

Sawyer: Ok... This is why I hate coming into things late. I get confused REALLY easily and coming into the middle of conversations doesn't help...

 

Well, essentially, back in the fall, I kept kicking around where I wanted to set my model railroad. Finally came back to around SC.

Now, I finally figured out what I want to get from model railroading, and well, the Appalachian mountains will let me do it (great scenery to watch trains roll in, green is a nice neutral pallet for paint schemes, I've found)

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
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Posted by ns3010 on Friday, January 30, 2009 8:49 PM

Singer: Exactly what I'm saying. He said something about "Dang Wikipedia" and I had read that page before then. After that, I checked it, and it was right...

Sawyer: Green mountain scenery does make for good colors. There is NS trackage that follows along the Delaware RIver, and there is a mountain behind it. Just before you cross into PA, Route 80 parallels the river and you can see the string of cars in just across the river and it looks pretty cool.

Just worked on scenery over near MPB. I'll get pix of that, anything else I get done tonight, and progress of the F40 later.

My Model Railroad: Tri State Rail
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Posted by Packer on Friday, January 30, 2009 9:11 PM

Joe and Singer, I'm in the whole wikipedia conversation, now I'm confused.(unless wiki changed between the time I got my info and joe read it)

Anyways, I managed to put non-operating beacons on my SD45s:

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
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  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Friday, January 30, 2009 9:20 PM

ns3010

Sawyer: Green mountain scenery does make for good colors. There is NS trackage that follows along the Delaware RIver, and there is a mountain behind it. Just before you cross into PA, Route 80 parallels the river and you can see the string of cars in just across the river and it looks pretty cool.

 

Yeah. I've got GMR 2007, and there's a clinchfield layout in there that I really like. It's almost exactly what I want (just w/o the mines, though i can model that traffic w/ branches that disappear). I might model a coal mine at some point though.

 I've also experienced it first hand back when I had my desktop layout, b/c the forest complemented the locos excellently.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
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  • From: North Jersey
  • 1,781 posts
Posted by ns3010 on Friday, January 30, 2009 9:25 PM

Nice job with those beacons!

As for wiki, before this conversation started, I had already seen that page. It was all legit info. After you mentioned it, it was still correct. It's easy to get them confused because the names are exactly the same except for the F and the P. If you look at it fast, you'll never know which it is. If someone says "NJT GP40" it could really mean either. Same if someone says  "NJT ALP"- they could mean an ALP-44(M) or an ALP-46(and soon also A).

Got the scenery on one of the hills by MPB done and by the grade crossing. Don't have trees (need to buy more), but I'll get pix anyway.

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Posted by Bapou on Friday, January 30, 2009 10:49 PM
ns3010

Nice job with those beacons!

As for wiki, before this conversation started, I had already seen that page. It was all legit info. After you mentioned it, it was still correct. It's easy to get them confused because the names are exactly the same except for the F and the P. If you look at it fast, you'll never know which it is. If someone says "NJT GP40" it could really mean either. Same if someone says  "NJT ALP"- they could mean an ALP-44(M) or an ALP-46(and soon also A).

Got the scenery on one of the hills by MPB done and by the grade crossing. Don't have trees (need to buy more), but I'll get pix anyway.

Or ALP-45DM
Go NJT, NJ Transit, New Jersey Transit. Whatever you call it its good. See my pictures and videos here: http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff20/Bapouthetrainman/
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Posted by Railfan Alex on Sunday, February 1, 2009 10:30 AM

Well it's February, so should we start a new post, or wait on Bergie?

Alex

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Posted by Packers#1 on Sunday, February 1, 2009 12:55 PM

Railfan Alex

Well it's February, so should we start a new post, or wait on Bergie?

 

I thought it would be like a seasonal posting or something. 

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

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Posted by WCfan on Sunday, February 1, 2009 1:02 PM

Bergie

TrainManTy
Maybe TMRP will have Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall editions? Bergie?

 

I'm shooting for monthly for all such threads. Unfortunatley, regardless of ones age, I get accused of not treating all such threads fairly if I lock one and not all. (Yes, it's true.)

Bergie

Nope, looks like we'll need to start a new one.

Here's a link to the new one.

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/146967.aspx

 

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