Steam locos
Weird Random Trains i found and more humor later in the comment
Video Playlist---
Some photos---- http://www.karenparker.net/PixelMagic/pm_critters.htm
more to come later
Rivarossi Centipede tender wobble
Hi all,
I have 2 Rivarossi locomotives, a UP 4-8-4 FEF and a UP 4-8-8-4 Challenger.
Their tenders are identical, and they share a common issue: when they run, the tender wobbles visibly. I know these models are a bit outdated and have been surclassed by Atheran and other manufacturers, but I'm not a rivet counter and they work fine for me...except for the tender wobble.
Proto 2000 NKP 0-8-0
STEAM RETURNS TO THE GREATER NICKEL PLATE! - - A new Proto 2000 NKP 0-8-0 switcher has arrived and will assume duties at the Ivanhoe yard. Some minor "tweaking" will be done to smooth out slow speed responses. More videos to be added later. http://youtu.be/UvWOXRj_OSc
N scale Bachmann oil conversion
I am converting my coal burning Consolidation to an oil burner while my daughters are doing spin art. Disassembly of the Bachmann 2-8-0’s tender is a bit more complicated than I expected. First you have to unscrew the screws that hold on the trucks. You also have to remove the handrails from the front of the tender, then place a VERY thin screwdriver into the mounting hole for the truck and push the screwdriver into the tender to push the top off. Once you have the tender separated, carefully remove the back of the coal bunker from the coal pile.
How to install BLI Mikado backup light
Has anyone installed a backup light (rear headlight) on the tender of a BLI Mikado? The models are accurate as USRA Mikados and they didn't have rear lights, but I want to add them anyway.
I've looked in the tenders (I have 6) and there is no obvious place to solder wires for a light. I bought mine from 2 releases and the decoders are different. Decoder Pro identifies one as QSI Steam and another as Paragon 2.
Can anyone help?
Jcopilot
Reducing the Minimum Radius for Steam Engines.
I have run across a few comments on other websites that I never heard of to allow a model steam engine to run a tighter radius. I wanted to know if this is more common than I think.
The example I will use is a 2-8-0 say in On30, but I guess it could be any scale and include 2-6-0s. From the manufacturer the arrangement is the outer axles have flanged drivers while the two middle axles have blind drivers. I hope I'm describing this correctly.
On18 Critter Build
Howdy all,
I thought I'd start a new thread on the On18 steam critter I'm building for the portable Calico mini-layout (MRH thread here).
This will be an entirely freelanced locomotive built atop a Kato 11-103 N scale mechanism.
For the body, I'm starting with a 3-D printed O9 piece ordered from Shapeways.com.
Vaping for HO Steam Locos. . .
Been busy for a while and haven't posted in a long time. . .
I had an epiphany. While out and about, I see these 20 something "hipsters" vaping. There's huge amounts of vapor coming out of their mouths. I thought that would be a great technology for model steam locos to simulate real steam! The smoke oils used now produce a very weak effect. Can you imagine plumes of "steam" coming from your HO Big Boy. . . Way Cool!
I am disappointed, but maybe an easy fix.
I bought two Logging engines, a Spectrum 3 truck Shay and a Rivarossi HO Scale Two Truck Heisler.
the layout is under construction has a 24" radius 4% incline/up hill to the mountain top.
Problem: the Shay makes it half way up and wheel slip no cars in tow. The Heisler makes it 3/4 of the way wheel slip. Both DCC and both right out of the box, new.
Open to suggestions other than towing them to the top with Diesel. I have several GE 70 ton switchers that make it with out effort.
>> Posts index
Navigation
Journals/Blogs
Recent Blog posts: