I have been in this hobby for a Loooooooonnnnnnngggggg time now. Started with Lionel before I could walk and switched to HO in my early twenties. Now that I'm over the half century mark I finally broke down and bought my first Brass loco. An Overland PRR 0-6-0 class B6. Its a beautiful little critter. Mover slow and smooth at 1.5 volts DC. I thought it might have an open frame motor and would have to re-motor it for a decoder. I was surprised when I took the boiler off and saw that little can motor sitting there. All I need now is the decoder. There is enough room for a small decoder under the motor. This little loco is a great addition to my fleet and it was less expensive than a plastic one. I have seen Bowser B6s kits go for more money !
What was I waiting for?
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Congrats!
I remember my first. I used to just sit and stare at it. Lovingly.
Ed
My first brass loco, built up from a kit, will celebrate its 51st 'commissioning' day in July. It's still going strong.
Almost all of its relatives on my roster are also brass - not because I'm a brass freak, but because that was the only way Japanese prototype locos were manufactured in the mid-20th century.
Unlike the few plastic products I acquired back then, my metal models still soldier on. The Japanese pototype plastic ones succumbed to age and shipment damage a long time ago.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
We love pictures, care to share?
I hate Rust
Ah yes, the ubiquitous 'first' brass loco. I still have my first, a 1959 PFM Santa Fe 1950 2-8-0, and it's still waddling around my layout doing yeoman shortline service as a WWII "Loaner". Those little puppies are built to LAST!
Congratulations. But watch it, once the Brass Bug bites, it's hard to recuperate, LOL!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
That first brass locomotive is indeed magical. At 18, I worked all summer to buy my first brass model, a PFM B&O 0-8-0. Loved the model and it almost hurt to part with it when I did but for several years, it had been the cream of my collection.
Alvie
Congrats and good luck with it. Now show us the pics
Springfield PA
I will post pics after the decoder is installed. Right now its in several pieces and waiting for the decoder. Headlight wires are run and motor is isolated. Decoder will arrive tomorrow and work will be done this weekend. Work and family till then.
Thanks guys.
Hi guys.
I did a photobucket account and I hope this link works for you.
http://s1081.photobucket.com/albums/j348/locoi1sa/
As a matter of fact I've seen many applications of Tsunami sound with DCC motor control installed in steamers that size.everything fits in the tender.
Sound will come later. I do not have the resources right now for a sound decoder. A simple miniature motor decoder for now will be fine.
Congratulations!
I just celebrated my first brass loco not long ago myself...
... and my second about a week later :-)
Once you start down that slippery slope, you're a gonner!
John
The decoder is installed and the headlight even works. I messed up the value of the resistor and the light is too dim. I used a 1K with a 1.5 volt bulb. Later I will swap it for a SMLED. I used a TCS M1 that is tucked under the motor in the ash pan. It crawls on speed step 1 smooth as silk. Love it!
Pictures are here.
Pete,
You have my attention! I haven't considered brass b/c I figured it's exorbitantly expensive and have heard brass imports are poor runners.
Can you tell us who made your model and from whom you bought it? Are there some brass dealers who are considered better than others? My knowledge stops with PFM ads in MR years ago.
Thanks.
Rick Krall
"I haven't considered brass b/c I figured it's exorbitantly expensive and have heard brass imports are poor runners."
you are right in being cautious but don't let that spoil your fun. brass locos are best when bought in person so you can test run your item before parting with your money. especially if you can run it on a layout with some curves and switches. the 3' length of test track on the hobby shop counter doesn't prove very much. i know this is hard to do, but a pig in a poke is often just that, a pig.
brass engines run the full spectrum of quality from paper weights to smooth running, highly detailed models. you usually get what you pay for. often less-seldom more.
grizlump
Are you going to post a video?
My first Brass locos were a Santa Fe Hudson by Tenshodo and a Santa Fe Mountain by Sunset. I got them free from the widow of a fellow club member. The catch was that they were both in vandalized condition. I spent the better part of a winter rehabilitating them and tracking down or improvising missing parts. Now they are both good runners. It was so much fun bringing them back to life because it tested my mechanical skills and ingenuity to the limit. Now I scout around in train shows and buy a couple of brass basket cases every year to work on over the winter. Most of the time I get them operational again but occasionally one stumps me. It's a great way to keep active in the hobby after your layout , rolling stock and roster is complete.
Rick.
I took the chance on buying this loco. I bid it on E-bay and was not very sure I would win. I have seen these go for a lot more then I paid for it. It is an Overland made in Japan. I have heard that the Japanese brass locos were good runners. The age it was imported in I figured it would have an open frame motor. I was really surprised in seeing the can motor. When it started running at 1.5 volts DC only proves its a good runner. Adding the decoder and light still brings it under $200. I payed more then that for my P2K 0-6-0 with out DCC.
I will keep looking for more.
Ken.
Thanks for posting the pics. The wifes camera will not do digital video.
Awsome loco! Congrats on your first brass engine. I also have had several brass models over the years. The couple that I have now havent been reproduced in plastic or diecast yet. An Alco C636 sitting on Hi-Ad trucks and a little narrow gauge 2-6-0 Porter Mogul. My two other pieces are Tenshodos, SD9 and SD24. Both were aquired super cheap, got Athearn gold motors/flywheels installed in them to replace the open frame motors. They are kind of fun to break out now and then to run. Otherwise they stay in my glass case in the living room. The Japanese models from 60's thru the 80's just got better and better till the cost drove production to Korea and now China. PFM, Tenshodo, Gem, Alco Models, Akane, Ken Kidder, LMB, Key Brass, NJ Custom Brass among the many other importers all had good models. There were duds, but most are or can be good runners with a fresh can motor and at worst a new NWSL gear box to go with the motor. A few had issues with the cast metal drivers swelling and crumbling. You really cant go wrong with a PFM or Tenshodo brass model. I had a Tenshodo USRA 0-8-0 that was still using its original open frame motor, it would run as smooth and quiet as a Proto 2K one, but pulled much better by far. Enjoy that new model! Mike
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!
Wellllllll it's like this...
Brass is far too over rated, I remember my first Brass Engine. Yep, it was a B&O 2-8-0 lovely little critter. I now have 10 or so. Once you own one you're never satisfied. So welcome to the "CluB" Enjoy it becuz it is a wonderful feeling watching all that precision
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959
If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007
7j43k Congrats! I remember my first. I used to just sit and stare at it. Lovingly. Ed
This sounds familiar to me.
Kon
Modelling the BN 1970-1995