Most of my engines are 12 wheelers, GE-C's, FP-45's, Erie Bulit, E-6's SPD-45 and a Dash 9. Only 8 wheelers I have is a A&B F-7 both powered and should be here Thursday BL 2.
Well, you folks know me and E-bay I know the name AHM but never had one so I thought I would give it a try.
I hope it runs like a 8 wheel drive Bachman (never had one of them either) or may be a little better. Old BB I be happy! I know it will not be a PK, but did not pay that kind of $ either.
But for the prices, well it will give my daughter something to post on E-Bay for my estate sale!
Seems someone posted they had a few and like them.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
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Next time you see an ahm up for bid, just keep scrollin by !
In general, I have to agree with these guys. AHM are / were better than Tyco, but that is not saying much. I had a SD-40 and it was mechanically inferior. The bodies are not too bad so the best advice is put one on top of a BB chassis. IHC owns a lot of the AHM stuff as well as the old Tyco molds.
This one is kind of odd. Roco built this Century 424 model for AHM and it has never resurfaced. The roof has a GM fan behind the cab, which is incorrect. In the late 70’s and 80’s Roco built a line of Diesels for Atlas and they were state of the art at the time. Roco also built the Model Power Sharks and they ran very well.
Ken, as this is a Roco built unit, I would like to see a picture of the mechanism.
Jim
These guys are right, They are not the best engines around. But, I have had an old geep for about thirty years and it still runs. It doesn't run like my Atlas, or Spectrum engines or even my BB, but it runs. I let my five year old son take it out every now and again. He has two speeds, Stop and ALL OUT. The gearing on this engine must put the scale MPH at 200.
I have seen some of these AHM engine run great for many years. However for each gem out there, there is a probably a dead engine stuck in an engine shop.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
AHM stuff was made by a wide variety of manufacturers, and sometimes they would find cheaper copies of their own stuff, so that some Fairbanks Morse C Liners are Rivarossi and others are Yugoslavian knock offs (yet the knock offs had slightly more accurate trucks so go figure ....).
They were inexpensive and you got what you paid for. I bought two used engines of the kind your picture shows at a swap meet and I think I paid $15 for the two, and the guy threw in a freight car or two if I recall correctly.
The major problems with AHM engines are/were these, and I speak here mostly of the diesels. First for a long time they had horribly oversize flanges that will not run reliably on many makes of Code 83 (and smaller) rail -- even some makes of Code 100 turnouts have problems. Over time they addressed that so look at a model carefully before buying if you have Code 83 or Code 70 rail.
Second, the motors were decidedly cheap. Often three pole motors, meaning that slow speed operation was erratic. Also the motors were often small and heated up under load (risky because many of their engines have rubber traction tires, so burn out of a motor is not unheard of). Also in their early engines they used an odd combination of carbon and wire brushes on the motors -- the brushes wear the commutator and the carbon needs replacement from time to time. Some of their "flat" motors are particularly poor runners.
Third the diesels had truck mounted X2F couplers and therefore big gaps at the pilots of the engines.
Fourth often the paint was applied too thickly -- or they would color the plastic and not paint the engine at all which gave some of them a translucent look.
And many details were poor such as handrails, horns, stanchions, etc.
Having said that, for the time they often had quiet and smooth mechanisms meaning repowering with a can motor often gets good results. However some of their mechanisms using flat motors are so odd and unique that repowering is not always the easy option. The BL2 and C Liner are examples.
They had some interesting prototypes that others did not (and still do not) feature. And some paint schemes were rather well done by the standards of their time.
A friend of mine who is a custom painter who works almost exclusively in brass was once asked to repaint an AHM engine. He reluctantly agreed -- stripped the paint off the engine -- and told me he was amazed at the level of detail that was on the shell.
In short -- if the price is right go ahead and buy an old AHM engine but regard it as a project, not as a ready to run purchase. And I guess I have to mention here that I say that as someone with a forty-plus year old "scrap box" of motors, chassis, and other parts to dip into when doing this kind of project. If I had to buy everything needed new I'd probably take a pass ....
Dave Nelson
A train wrote:The paint scheme is nothing like the real one. It didn't have the white stripe running through it and there was no such road number 853. PLUS, everything on it is not to scale meaning the handrails, ect.
AHM's quality depends on who the manufacturer was. The quality of their engines was from the less detailed but smooth running Mehano made stuff to high quality brass.
The engine you got was the only one ever made for them by Roco. It should be a smooth runner, and the detail looks pretty decent except for that EMD type vent behind the cab (RMC magazine accidentilly put it in their diagram of the engine). If you want to know just what kind of drive is in there, there's an exploded parts diagram in the Literature section of http://hoseeker.net (it will be under the Rivarossi name, since they made most of AHM's stuff).
_________________________________________________________________
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
ndbprr wrote:AHM was the original importer of Rivarossi and their engines were the equivalent of P2K today (in their time). Most have a three pole open frame motor that had ball bearings and most ran pretty well but noisy. The AHM/Rivarossi GG1 is a fine runner and very smooth because the motor is mounted vertically and a worm drives the wheels directly rather than through a series of shafts. I'd take everyone of those I could get my hands on and do. I've bought 28 of them on E Bay for my fleet.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Welll it sounds like it is going to be better than the Life Like Pancake engines I started with. Mainly looking for something that would pull around 10 to 15 cars. My long trains are pulled by PK's and BB's.
As far as buying good engines, I do. Mainly Athearn and PK's. But NIB and $10.00 with shipping what the heck.
Reason I did not ask, well to be honest I forgot about it while I was watching the auction. Went to watching section and there it was with 5 minutes.
Some of the folks here and gotton on my caboose about buying old worn out engines from E-bay and rightly so. Yep, got to buy parts, bug you fine folks about what wrong with them and then fix them. But, another way to look at it is with the way I run my board (Tuesday 6 hours a lone) I am going to ware out the new stuff as well, might as well start learing about fix this stuff now than later. Either way break downs are coming.
Thanks on the tip about Hard Wiring the trucks as well.
cudaken wrote: Welll it sounds like it is going to be better than the Life Like Pancake engines I started with. Mainly looking for something that would pull around 10 to 15 cars. My long trains are pulled by PK's and BB's. As far as buying good engines, I do. Mainly Athearn and PK's. But NIB and $10.00 with shipping what the heck. Reason I did not ask, well to be honest I forgot about it while I was watching the auction. Went to watching section and there it was with 5 minutes. Some of the folks here and gotton on my caboose about buying old worn out engines from E-bay and rightly so. Yep, got to buy parts, bug you fine folks about what wrong with them and then fix them. But, another way to look at it is with the way I run my board (Tuesday 6 hours a lone) I am going to ware out the new stuff as well, might as well start learing about fix this stuff now than later. Either way break downs are coming. Thanks on the tip about Hard Wiring the trucks as well. Cuda Ken
You tell 'em, Ken. And let's not forget that while you are doing all this, you are learning a great deal. There will soon come a time when you will be an authority about fixing modest stock on this forum; instead of someone who needs to be guided, you will be able to guide others. At the same time, those who opine that the hobby is getting too expensive will begin to appreciate that it takes someone with a dogged and methodical approach to developing a decent model railroad to fix and improve the less fine and expensive items that can still be had on ebay and other places for just a few dollars.
Thanks for the kind word's Selector. Yep it has been a jounry but I have learned alot. My cheap rolling stock with up grades roll as well as my Athearns.
Have all so found away of taking the slop out of the push in trucks. Couple of Kadee spacers, part of a paper clip and some liquied nail and ready to roll and no slop. Off the rails tuck hangs just like a Athearn RTR (was not impressed with the one I bought I will add). Just because it cannot work does not mean it won't work!
I am dummy, but not stupid.
Russell
You'd have to have twenty hands to have enough thumbs to give the thumbs down to AHM engines. ...................
As some suggested, Cuda Ken, ask first, then buy. One of the reasons some of us are here is to help fellow model railroaders learn by not replicating our mistakes.
Jon
C.KEN:
E Bay is not your friend, Seems to me that you are 'living proof' ! - and they say that 'Love is blind'. You are buying things you are unfamiliar with, sight unseen. (Don't buy any land in Florida).
WORSE, YOU'RE STILL DOING IT!
Do you have some sort of 'Death Wish' ? You like to collect 'Orphans' ? or have you just always wanted to run a 'Repair Service'? Your attempts at fixing things is laudable - however that is where I get off.
Don't ask me what I really think.
AHM / Associated Hobby Models has become IHC / International Hobby Corp. who are importers of cheap goods overseas. Old AHM Engines (made by Rivarossi) generally had wheels with 'cookie cutter' flanges - popular in the European 'toy train' market - but less so here, and of course with 'horn-hook' couplers.
COMPLAINT: European type flanges 'bottomed' on some U.S. made .turnouts. YOU probably should have some.
KEN
Hang in there Remember its your railroad!!!!!!!
There are people who figure if you don't have a million dollors you should not be in model railroading!!!
And then there are those who don't even have an model railroad,but think they know everything!!
I sorta of like to mess around with everything So I make my own mastakes but learn from my mastakes!!
S.P. forever
your do'in fine KEN
JIM
oleirish wrote: KEN Hang in there Remember its your railroad!!!!!!! There are people who figure if you don't have a million dollors you should not be in model railroading!!! And then there are those who don't even have an model railroad,but think they know everything!! I sorta of like to mess around with everything So I make my own mastakes but learn from my mastakes!! S.P. forever your do'in fine KEN JIM
It looks like you gotta lotta trains there in a small space. Just how big is your layout anyway?
Gee Mr Gibson, I think maybe you should see a Proctolgist and get the tie pulled out your Caboose! You have made me learn and in a unfreindly way. Thanks to you telling me I cannot make something work I have.
As far as buying something I did not know about you are right. Reason why I bought is I remember IM, AHM is close but not the same thing.
As far as my attempt's of repair being laughable. You bring $200.00 worth of enginges and rolling stock and I will bring the same and have a train off at K-10 trains! $200.00 worth of what ever and I will bring $200.00 of my junk, longest train up a 2% garde win's the other person train. I will even let the losser spend the night with me at the home stead. After lossing your train I hate to have the losser have to pay for a hotel room.
Now lets play nices and your comments are still welcome. Just tone down your comments a little.
Driline, yep I am pretty happy with what I have for now. I am guessing that a few people here that was not born with a silver spike in there mouth have bought a AHM engine so they know what they don't like. So Iam not the first one that bought one and will not be the last either.
One the I taught my managers, don't be afraid to make mistakes! It is the best way to learn and over come them. I used this rule when I was racing and still do today.
On the PIC that where posted of the board, I can only wish at this point. But I will get there! My board is U shaped 19' X 13' X 8' and 38" wide. I am buying lumber so I can do a class board as so as I know what I want.
Cuda Ken, not wanting to fight again.
Driline : Its five feet wide and ten feet long,not finished yet but fun!!
KEN: right on!!
KENNY:
TO REPEAT: "You are buying things you are unfamiliar with, sight unseen." True or false? Is this wise?
"Your attempts at fixing things is laudable".- That's "laudable", not laughable.
Don't ask me what I really think, because (I worry about your judgement). I'll just let myself off the hook, with a simplistic "It's your Railroad" - so 'enjoy', 'enjoy'.
Whether it's inability to resist a 'bargain', or a masochistic streak , YOU are the one (reading your earlier posts) crying out for help - but if you are bent on repeating mistakes, go ahead.
Re:AHM
(Quote) "I am not the first one that bought one and will not be the last either"