Track fiddler I'm buying my old train set back TF
I'm buying my old train set back
TF
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I bought a couple of Hex Frog juicers to power the frogs on my layout which is under construction. I figure I'll need about 7 of them at least to power all the frogs. Got 4 so far. Next month I plan to pre-order the new TCS UWC-50 throttle, preorder will be cheaper.
Doughless cowman In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure. They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile. Have fun, stay safe, Richard Slow speed setting for Athearn Genesis with Tsunami2: (also might work for Tsunami) CV215 to 15......thats it! (actually anywhere from 5 to 40 depending upon how you like it) Then for smoothness: CV3 to 50 (acceleration momentum) CV4 to 25 (deceleration momentum) And get rid of that annoying fake clickitty clack: CV153 to -0-
cowman In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure. They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile. Have fun, stay safe, Richard
In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure.
They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile.
Have fun, stay safe,
Richard
Slow speed setting for Athearn Genesis with Tsunami2: (also might work for Tsunami)
CV215 to 15......thats it! (actually anywhere from 5 to 40 depending upon how you like it)
Then for smoothness:
CV3 to 50 (acceleration momentum)
CV4 to 25 (deceleration momentum)
And get rid of that annoying fake clickitty clack:
CV153 to -0-
Good to know. Among the Genesis geeps last fall, Athearn did 4 numbers of Rio Grande GP7's. However the D&RGW got ride all their GP7's in 1972 except for 5108 which lasted into the 80's, so I did buy that one with DCC/Sound.
The Genesis GP9's I bought a few years back were offered with Tsu 1 which reportedly has less than stellar motor control, so I bought those DCC ready instead.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 I bought a couple of Hex Frog juicers to power the frogs on my layout which is under construction. I figure I'll need about 7 of them at least to power all the frogs. Got 4 so far. Next month I plan to pre-order the new TCS UWC-50 throttle, preorder will be cheaper. Doughless cowman In Dec of 2019 I pre-ordered two Athearn GP-9's. Thiey came just about Christmas, about as advertised, called them my Christmas presant. I got them out, they look great, ran them for break in performance, but have put them back in their boxes due to construction in the trainroom, a safety measure. They run great, sound great, though will probably lower the volume. I haven't reset any sounds yet. Saw there are several features I will set when they come out of their boxes again. Only thing I'd like to see different is that they are faster than I am used to in slow speeds. My Proto GP-9 has to be in step 2 to even move, several Atlas RS-3's are nice and slow in step 1. I've got another Athearn, an RS-3 stashed away for safety, will have to check its's slow speed, it's been awhile. Have fun, stay safe, Richard Slow speed setting for Athearn Genesis with Tsunami2: (also might work for Tsunami) CV215 to 15......thats it! (actually anywhere from 5 to 40 depending upon how you like it) Then for smoothness: CV3 to 50 (acceleration momentum) CV4 to 25 (deceleration momentum) And get rid of that annoying fake clickitty clack: CV153 to -0- Good to know. Among the Genesis geeps last fall, Athearn did 4 numbers of Rio Grande GP7's. However the D&RGW got ride all their GP7's in 1972 except for 5108 which lasted into the 80's, so I did buy that one with DCC/Sound. The Genesis GP9's I bought a few years back were offered with Tsu 1 which reportedly has less than stellar motor control, so I bought those DCC ready instead.
2020 was a year for me to buy, so things are/will be slow for 2021.
I looked at one of those RioGrande GP7s. Actually ex-RioGrande patched for Rock Island. They looked really nice, but the still more modern non-as-built modifications were still too old for plausibility in my era.
My CV settings are for switching and very slow speed performance on the lower speed steps. Might not be suitable for mainline lash-up running.
- Douglas
Doughless micktropolis I recently picked up an old Athearn blue box SW1500 in a NASA livery and I'm now in the process of hunting some Walthers heavy duty 4-truck flat cars for this to pull but they don't seem to come up often (if anyone has a lead let me know...). The previous seller hardwired the trucks to the motor and it runs nice and smooth at low speeds, if not a little noisy. I replaced the old 42" iron sintered wheels with NWSL 40" nickel silver wheels and will be sending it off for a professional DCC and sound install. I don't trust myself with something this small. When I got back into the hobby more vigorously 20 years ago, that was the very first loco I had purchased in about 25 years. Got it at a train show. I destroyed the collector NASA possibilities when I rubbed out the emblem in preparation for my freelanced shortline rebadging. Yes, wiring the trucks and replacing the wheels are upgrades that are worth the effort.
micktropolis I recently picked up an old Athearn blue box SW1500 in a NASA livery and I'm now in the process of hunting some Walthers heavy duty 4-truck flat cars for this to pull but they don't seem to come up often (if anyone has a lead let me know...). The previous seller hardwired the trucks to the motor and it runs nice and smooth at low speeds, if not a little noisy. I replaced the old 42" iron sintered wheels with NWSL 40" nickel silver wheels and will be sending it off for a professional DCC and sound install. I don't trust myself with something this small.
I recently picked up an old Athearn blue box SW1500 in a NASA livery and I'm now in the process of hunting some Walthers heavy duty 4-truck flat cars for this to pull but they don't seem to come up often (if anyone has a lead let me know...).
The previous seller hardwired the trucks to the motor and it runs nice and smooth at low speeds, if not a little noisy. I replaced the old 42" iron sintered wheels with NWSL 40" nickel silver wheels and will be sending it off for a professional DCC and sound install. I don't trust myself with something this small.
When I got back into the hobby more vigorously 20 years ago, that was the very first loco I had purchased in about 25 years. Got it at a train show.
I destroyed the collector NASA possibilities when I rubbed out the emblem in preparation for my freelanced shortline rebadging.
Yes, wiring the trucks and replacing the wheels are upgrades that are worth the effort.
I wish I could meet some folks who were into both NASA and railroading as much as myself. NLAX is a cute little shortline with lots of switching possibilities and a very interesting location amongst the Merritt Island wildlife refuge and the Vehicle Assembly Building (which would be about 6ft in 1/87...) and the parking lot for the crawlers. As far as collectability, I probably have enough NASA meatballs in my decal stash from other kits that I could probably attempt a re-re-badging with success! But it's a great paint scheme, I may have to attempt SW1500 #3 in its blue and white scheme as a custom paint job. This #2 will be getting some new details, horn, rotary beacon, maybe some etch parts so I can have the cab door open, it always seems to be in photos.
PM Railfan Mich's NASA SW1500 looks great, as does Ed's "Big Liz". Wouldnt mind having either one of those. Though for myself, nothing yet so far. Hopefully - the year is still young. So we will see. I know what Id like to get. So my only anticipation is which item will i come across first. PMR
Mich's NASA SW1500 looks great, as does Ed's "Big Liz". Wouldnt mind having either one of those.
Though for myself, nothing yet so far. Hopefully - the year is still young. So we will see. I know what Id like to get. So my only anticipation is which item will i come across first.
PMR
Thank you! The year is still incredibly young. I just purchased a BLI Union Pacific MT-73 to add to my late UP steam roster but it won't arrive for another week, and I have my eye on some brass before the summer is out. I pulled out some of my Pentrax Big Boy and other 'steam classics' dvds and it re-sparked my interest. I do wish the pandemic would wind down as I'd love to go to train shows again and do a little bargain hunting. Between the NASA stuff and the UP steam stuff, I have a lot on the wish list.
The Backshops - A blog dedicated to modeling projects
angelob6660 I also tried to find the same flatcar since its slighty broken. Everything is missing except the body. Continue to work on that train set list.
Slightly broken, yes
Everything is missing except for the body
I busted a gut with what you said because anything left on my train cars was only the thick parts. Every extremity detail that came with them was gone and in the vacuum cleaner
I don't know what it is with Kids as I once was one, that see the train fly off the curve and crash onto the floor or bust into the wall. And then think the next time when it goes around the same curve real fast again, it might make it this time
The other three cars I need to complete my set are used ones on eBay but I wonder how many times those flew into the wall I'm waiting for the New Old Stock ones to come up.
I'm continuing to work on the list Angelob....... Thanks
Well, I have certainly done my share to keep the hobby alive. Here are my main three purchases from 2012:
I managed to score two iconic Canadian Pacific structure kit sets from Kanamodel.
I also got a kit for Molly's Reach which we discussed a few weeks ago:
I also managed to find a few decent freight cars at fair prices like this one:
And I bought a Bachmann Spectrum H16-44 for peanuts! The locomotive was less than the delivery!
Last year was pretty good too! Among many other things, I was able to purchase two Rapido RDCs and a Rapido F7A all with sound.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Those are some great looking kits Dave. I know you probably have posted the finished ones before but sure would like to see them again.
I have a Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo boxcar somewhere in my stacks here I've always liked the colors and looks of that Canadian Pacific locomotive. I may have to find one of those one day. I only have three locomotives with sound, ... Spendee!
Dave, I love those Kanamodel kits. I have the engine service one and so far just have the water tower built. I had just started the coal tower when the kitchen flood made all that ground to a halt.
Water tower off in the distance.
Coaling tower just started some months ago now.
There were a bunch of those TH&B boxcars on the local FB marketplace for sale recently, don't know if they are still there but they were the last few times I looked.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Evening
Nice job on the Roundhouse and the Watertower Brent. I like the peninsula. I see you do builds on a saw blade. Sometimes I don't think my wife appreciates me modeling on the glass table. But flat is true as they both are.
I can't even really say why I liked these but I did.
Delivered from UPS today. Don't know much about them, maybe one of you do.
Post Hog of my own thread!
These were discontinued from manufacturing in the early to mid 70s. Diecast Steel
I think they are cool. They say they are extremely rare and hard-to-find. I paid dearly to differ as I have three and looking for more.
And I do know how to change out those body mount couplers to knuckles on the two that do not have them
BATMANDave, I love those Kanamodel kits. I have the engine service one and so far just have the water tower built. I had just started the coal tower when the kitchen flood made all that ground to a halt.
Hi Brent,
What is your opinion of the resin foundations? The foundation in my station kit seems to be a bit crude. It is distorted and it has a depression on one surface. The instructions explain how to deal with these issues but I'm wondering if I would be further ahead to build new foundations from scratch.
Thanks,
Hi Dave, those resin foundations are horrible but I have used them on the four structures I have built from Kanamodels. I wash, sand and do whatever else I can think of and paint just will not stick. I give them a shot of primer grey and let them have it with the weathering powders, plant lots of foliage around them and never touch them again.
If you can build or come up with something better, I say give it a try.
I'm trying to find everything I bought this month and last month. Unfortunately I can't find a pair of non-motorized wig wag crossing buck kits. Hopefully I'll show you a picture when the 1941 Plymouth cars comes in.
Good evening
I look forward to seeing that wig wag with the 1941 Plymouth cars Angelob.
I got another U36B Spirit of 76 locamotive because one of them seems to have a slipping worm drive transmission as I can hear it slipping and my old one my Grandfather gave me is running fresh out of parts.
Either that or I really like these locomotives
Who needs two Cabeese? The U36B came with the bicentennial boxcar and the Caboose in a package deal.
I never really cared for the bicentennial boxcars much. I've never seen this one and I think it looks better than any of the other ones because it's so plain Jane. I think I might learn to like it.
I of all people need more boxcars like I need another hole in my head.
Sure like the old wooden ones though. Especially the ones with the pronounced black hinges on the doors.
My friend Yeti and I need another haircut too
Me and him hung out the other night. He told me yeti's don't catch the covid so I guess we're both good. And I still don't suppose that I need to be a little more picky about the way I choose my friends
Track fiddlerI of all people need more boxcars like I need another hole in my head.
Which is precicely why you bought refrigerator cars
Cheers, Ed
gmpullman Track fiddler I of all people need more boxcars like I need another hole in my head. Which is precicely why you bought refrigerator cars Cheers, Ed
Track fiddler I of all people need more boxcars like I need another hole in my head.
Oh yeah! You have a point there Ed. Those things are Reefers, not boxcars.
They somehow reminded me of the old Volvo's though. "Boxey but good"!
Now I no longer have to worry or feel guilty about my problem lately of that great big hole in my pocket
Track fiddlerOh yeah! You have a point there Ed. Those things are Reefers, not boxcars.
I say you can never have too many
Reefer_Madness by Edmund, on Flickr
What was I thinking? You are exactly right that you can never have too many of those.
Even that band Blue Oyster Cult had that one song.
Railroaders dont fear the Reefer
Or the wind and the summer rain
We can be like they are
Come on baby
Don't fear the Reefer
Baby take my hand
I'm glad you enjoyed the wig wag and automobiles. I still couldn't find the signals or the JB Hunt containers for the photo shoot.
I hope you find other things I bought interesting TF. During the last two months. I'll be taking a break before my Big Boy arrives. Unknown when Athearn is going to release it.
I got this Gem Samhongsa PRR N1s for around $100 as a mislisted Ebay item, and the big surprise is that it has a QSI titan sound decoder!
Here's the original listing, if anyone was curious. Note the wrong title and the 6 pin plug poking out of the cab:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HO-4-6-2-PACIFIC-SEMI-STREAMLINED-STEAM-LOCO-PENNSYLVANIA-M-9860-RD-5399/184646401573?hash=item2afdc87e25:g:tooAAOSwtRNgGKQS
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
micktropolisI wish I could meet some folks who were into both NASA and railroading as much as myself.
Have no data from which to determine if it is as much as yourself but I'm the kind of person who has a signed copy of David Jenkins Space Shuttle book, and, buys things like Crew 1 mugs and hat pins. And who if they actually had an On30 layout it would have a scientific rocket launch facility at one end: there are sketches for cars delivering fuel and rocket parts.
And ... I'm also the kind of person who can remember only like 3 of the names of the guys who walked on the moon!
Nothing model wise recentlty, although I am hunting but not finding what I am hunting(Atlas/Kato Clinchfield GP7's or Kato SD40's in same road name). But I did just get this Leslie A200 horn like used on early F and E units along with some early GP's
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Hello All,
I pre-ordered an HO GATC Tank Car, ATSF#101133 from American Limited back in November of 2020.
The car arrived yesterday and I am not disappointed.
My freelance pike is a coal branch off the ATSF mainline set between the 1970s & the 1980s.
Four Santa Fe GP40 units make up the main coal drag.
Three GP30s; A-B-A- -leased from the Denver & Rio Grande- -bring the loaded cars up the 3% grade to the unloading shed for the Tyco operating 34-foot hoppers.
Switching duties are handled by GE 70- & 44-toners along with various other diesel-powered "critters" and track-mobiles.
A USRA 0-6-0 for the "Olde Tyme" excursion train has been converted to burn diesel oil along with the 0-4-0 Side Tank Porter, used as a helper up the 3% grade.
This GATC Tank Car will provide diesel fuel to the service facilities for these locomotives.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Yup, spent $890 fer an 8200 watt generator to power our house's first floor during our urban survival power outage that lasted 9 days.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
The 14 dollar China Railway P70 boxcar has arrived!
I had expected the model to be wrapped in bubble wrap at best, was pleasantly surprised to see that it came in a factory sealed box, albiet flimsy.
I put it on the track, and it wasn't surprising that the trucks that came with it were way oversized and out of gauge, as is the couplers. I am planning to be replacing it with Bowser roller bearing trucks and Kadees. No internal weights, but that was to be expected.
Must say, the undercarriage detail is quite decent. Everything else is in scale except the couplers and trucks.
"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." -Lin Yutang
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https://www.bowser-trains.com/images/Loco/SD40/24163.jpg
Hi folks. I received one of these Bowser SD40-2's today, number 6217, allegedly brand new from a well-known dealer. Mine was a bit roughly handled by somebody and had damage to two antennae, the horn, a loose sunshade, and the body was not snapped together properly (and one tab was broken). I got most issues fixed up and removed the really messed up antenna and the horn (horn until I can get touchup paint). Sunshades get damaged too easily so I removed the other one, cleaned up a few little things, and got it looking as good as the one in the photo. It runs great.
John
gmpullman Track fiddler Oh yeah! You have a point there Ed. Those things are Reefers, not boxcars. I say you can never have too many Reefer_Madness by Edmund, on Flickr Cheers, Ed
Track fiddler Oh yeah! You have a point there Ed. Those things are Reefers, not boxcars.
I used to ride my bike through that yard on the way to the hobby shop. The reefers were more modern then but there were quite a few wooden and steel ice reefers still in service.
I ordered 20 of the Arrowhead hopper kits. Just what I need-more things to build. They are a really well designd kit. I've built one so far. If you use care it's easy to do a better assembly job than the Chinese do on the RTR cars.
Mark Vinski
Good morning
The host has been absent and needs to catch up here
It looks like you get carried away buying things on eBay as much as I do Angelob. I really like those 41 Plymouth coupes and the other stuff you got. I'm sure you will enjoy that big boy when you get it. I really enjoy the Challenger my brother got me for my birthday.
I like the 4-6-2 Pennsylvania steamer, Trainman! Sweet! The listing says the item is no longer available because you got it
Good luck finding those loco's you are looking for Mike. I have a few things I'm looking for that is hard to find myself. Some really nice patina on that Leslie A200 horn
That's a cool Santa Fe tank car JJ. The 70s - 80s era that you spoke of was my childhood of many memories. You mentioned the 0-4-0 as a helper to the 0-6-0 up the 3% grade.
I had to post that one, "Close but no cigar".
That house generator was sure a wise investment Tankerload. That definitely fits into the "good goody" category as you can still run your trains when the power is out
I enjoyed looking at the box car that you got L. Zhou. It's interesting to see Rolling Stock from other parts of the world. Unfortunately you can only see that beautiful undercarriage detail after a derailment or putting it back in the box
I have never seen the Iowa Chicago & Eastern PRR. I like that one! I'm glad you got your Bowser SD40 - 2 repaired. It should have never came that way new and I'm surprised you didn't send it back. You probably didn't want to wait that long again. The SD40 - 2 is one of my favorite locomotives
Interesting story about riding your bike through the railroad yards to get to the Hobby Shop Mark. That must have been something to see, with the newer reefers mixed with the older wood ones. Rolling Stock transitional era
Well, My other two Twin Cities & Westerns came in. I had purchased the two for my brother for his birthday. I just couldn't live with the fact that Twin Cities & Western locomotives have never been available in N scale before and I don't have any
Now I do! I just had to get two more for myself of course
Thank you all for your participation here
I just bought a dcc kato sd40-2 and I am getting ready to paint it as AWVR no.1206 from the movie unstoppable. last year I made a 777 model and I even have a youtube video about it. In fact I am actually working on a full movie remake and half will be done on real trains. I am also currently working on a complete layout of stanton and it is all made from scratch and I am only 14.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzOhWStNTkk&t=3s