HO Aerotrain Question

[METRO]

Hey all, while I was out today doing some shopping in our local arts quarter, I found an unopened old set of HO-scale Varney Aerotrain in an antique store and I thought it looked deciently cool, at least on the box.

I didn't buy it because I have a few questions regarding it:

First, how's the mechanism work and would it be possible to put DCC in it?

Second, how are the details? Basically how much work would I have to do to make it look decient compaired to Proto and Atlas equipment.

Third, how do they run?

Any other input you could give would be great too, thanks!

~METRO

[Anonymous]

The Varney Aerotrain is a very old train from the late 1950's or early 1960's. The die work isn't up to the standards of newer stuff like Kadee, Red Caboose, etc we're used to seeing today.

However, the train was nice looking and fine for it's day. There aren't really a lot of details on the Aerotrain to start with so I'd say the Varney would be a very usable item for you.

The original mechanism is crude compared to today's mechanical stuff. The Varney Aerotrain is now made by Bowser and has been upgraded to a more modern mechanism. I haven't seen one of the new drives but coming from Bowser it is more than likely very reliable and should be able to run on DCC. I don't think Bowser did anything to the dies for the engine and cars.

Buy the original if the price is right and get the newer Bowser drive. It's a really cool train!

Roger

[Anonymous]

Back when Varney made the original Aerotrain model it was not powered and the Bowser version may be the same way. Kemtron made a power kit that included the motor and a brass power truck and replacement wheels for the rest of the train. [8]

[nfmisso]

See: http://www.bowser-trains.com/ho_aerotrain.php

Making sure to scroll all the way down, lots of info on the page.

[Leon Silverman]

Revmayes:
Kemtron made a "replacement" drive system for the Varney Aerotrain because the Varney drive system had an Achilles' heal driveshaft. A DC-60 Pittman motor was mounted over the rear axle of the engine and drove the front truck through a hollow plastic drive shaft that had slots cut in both ends of the shaft. This plastic was probably styrene, but it could not stand up to the stresses of sustained running. After a while, the driveshaft would split at one end down to the end of the slot, rendering it useless.
This is not an opinion, I owned a Varney Aerotrain.