|
|
 Posted - February 08 2012 : 6:31:22 PM
|
I just finished my second effort at restoring someold flea market specials. I had this one from two years ago that would light up but did not run, so I replaced the motor, added a second light and did some minor refreshing of the hood and lower chassis. The vents were treated with a few applications of diluted india ink/91 alcohol wash and I just used flat black on the lower desk and fuel tank. The trucks were covered with engine black then the lower asembly was dullcoated. I replaced the cloudy OEM cab window part with individual clear plastic, but used commercial double-stick tape, rather than Testors cement for clear plastic.
I added a second light (LED) in the rear and created simple Arial font number boards on adhesive flat finish address labels, then dullcoated the ink before installing.
The old beast runs well and all I need is to refresh the couplers with the proper Kadees I just got in the mail. Total investment was less than $10.00 cash and a few hours of TLC.
That one piece of missing porch railing in the 4th image was reglued with a dot or two of 3M plastic trim adhesive (works on Delrin!) and I didn't weather, as per my preference for it appearing "revitalized". It sure runs better and is a welcome operating capital equipment item on the Minnesota, Sioux Lake & Western. As they say (whoever "they" are): Choo-Choo-Sheboogie!
Next up- an old Concor/Kato SW7 that suprised me!
Siouxlake/Ron
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 510 ~
Member Since: September 21 2011 ~
Last Visit: December 21 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 08 2012 : 7:16:12 PM
|
very nice & it resembles mine Right down to the number 
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14908 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: June 24 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 08 2012 : 7:32:08 PM
|
Nice work, Ron. I guess it's pretty quiet with that Igarashi in it. Did you use double-sided tape to mount it?
The frames for these are actually styrene. I was able to repair a handrail on mine with CA.
The Tyco Depot
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 08 2012 : 7:55:46 PM
|
Well, Nels, I was thinking Delrin, due to my prior AHM experience last fall, but two tiny dots of that 3M adhesive worked. I also cut the interior weight in 3/4 + 1/4 parts and then used my sophisticated metalworking machinery, otherwise known as an engineer's hammer to flatten and reform the smaller piece, which I painted and stuck onto the interior ceiling of the cab with that same 3M adhesive, to preserve the original weighting. The cut was needed to ensure that the wiring running above the new motor would allow the hood to reseat onto the chassis. I did use doublestick tape in the motor cradle, as I found that foam tape resulted in a fit issue withe the wiring and the hood, despite the 1/16 inch elevation of the motor.
It's quiet and smooth on my test track, which has the same cork track base as my a-building engine/freight yard. The hood was just washed with mild dish soap to remove grime, but no other treatments other than the vent washes.
To me it's a beauty, despite the truck mounted couplers and so-so paint job. That GN goat logo is pretty grisly, and I considered replacing it with the more appropriate 1950s GN decal, but that might have messed things up.
Thanks for your interest!
Ron
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 510 ~
Member Since: September 21 2011 ~
Last Visit: December 21 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 08 2012 : 9:06:42 PM
|
that looks great. what motor did you go with? how does it compare speed wise to the factor ahm gp's?
jerry
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 553 ~
Member Since: January 14 2009 ~
Last Visit: September 13 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 08 2012 : 9:24:44 PM
|
I bought a set of four of these from Howard Mosley, from his EBay site, as recommended by Nelson/Nickel Plate. These are dual shaft sealed can motors, but Nelson would be a better source of specifics regarding their performance data. They were individually inexpensive, virtually a dimensional duplicate of the original AHM motor I removed from the GP18. When I first tested one of the motors on my bench, it was smooth, quiet and seemingly vibrationless. I believe it runs at a lower rpm than the original, but again, Nelson is a better person to ask.
I have also bought several universal power train couplings from Howard as well, from his eBay site.
One thing, Howard was prompt in his service and offered an excellent product for a very good price. I saw that he hand wrote " Thank you, Ron" on the invoice, and to me, that meant a lot to someone who grew up in a retail small business family.
One other thing- when I spoke of the weight I cut in an earlier post above, it was the upper hood weight, not the one seated in the fuel tank.
Ron
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 510 ~
Member Since: September 21 2011 ~
Last Visit: December 21 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 09 2012 : 7:27:44 PM
|
what is Howard Mosley's web address? i would like to see what all he has.
jerry
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 553 ~
Member Since: January 14 2009 ~
Last Visit: September 13 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 09 2012 : 9:48:48 PM
|
Jerry,
Here are the motors & universals on eBay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270908127736
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270908127577
Ron, I first thought many of the AHM locos had Delrin frame/handrail castings too, but most are styrene (GE Centercab, GP18, C420, Alco 1000, etc.) and can be melted with solvent glues or repaired -- more or less, since it's a pinpoint repair -- with CA. The only handrails that are flexible and ungluable are on the RS2 and BL-2.
The Tyco Depot
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 10 2012 : 4:31:25 PM
|
Nelson and other readers:
What fools me on the Delrin-or-styrene issue is that the railings were shiny (before I painted them flat black), and I guess the look led to the assumption that they were Delrin.
As I work on more projects, perhaps I will be better able to "read" what I am looking at.
But I will tell you, from the online research tom the finished product, this business of rehabilitating these flea market purchases is fun. I may not become a Model Railroader Master Modeler ( and am not trying to, that's for sure) but it is nice to have this stuff to think about at work (as opposed to the antics of my students) and come home to on weekends to a busy workbench!
Ron
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 510 ~
Member Since: September 21 2011 ~
Last Visit: December 21 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 10 2012 : 5:31:10 PM
|
I did find my GN loco like this one
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14908 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: June 24 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 10 2012 : 6:02:33 PM
|
Ron;
you are doing great. Kudo's to you for actually doing some modelling.
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
|
Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 10 2012 : 8:39:53 PM
|
quote:
But I will tell you, from the online research tom the finished product, this business of rehabilitating these flea market purchases is fun.
Ron
Originally posted by siouxlake - February 10 2012 : 4:31:25 PM
|
That's what I'm talking about!
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 825 ~
Member Since: December 22 2008 ~
Last Visit: March 16 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 10 2012 : 8:47:47 PM
|
Hey busss,
That's nice to see these AHM Geeps in good condition. I think the chassis you have is from the Amtrak "Great Pumpkin" engine?
Edited by - NC shortlines on February 10 2012 8:48:45 PM
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 825 ~
Member Since: December 22 2008 ~
Last Visit: March 16 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 10 2012 : 9:41:28 PM
|
| possibly but that how a member sold it to me sent it
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 14908 ~
Member Since: February 23 2009 ~
Last Visit: June 24 2025
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 11 2012 : 12:36:37 AM
|
Ron, I've been fooled too. I thought the shiny wheel centers on an IHC/Mehano Hudson were Delrin and tested some paint stripper on them, but it turns out they're soluble. I guess they're some form of ABS. I thought the same thing about the center cab chassis and handrails at first, but was able to repair it some years ago with Testors solvent.
The Tyco Depot
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3927 ~
Member Since: June 20 2007 ~
Last Visit: November 19 2015
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 11 2012 : 07:09:35 AM
|
I also thought of doing some additional paint detailing- GN orange on the edges of the steps for safety, a bit of silver? paint where those front and rear "light" dimples are on the lower chassis, but that is just touch up stuff that I can get to in a day.
Next up, a Concor SW7 that pleasantly surprised me when I opened it up!
One of these days, I am going to force myself to get back to the layout and do more track work, so these gems can have a place to run, aside from the 3 foot length of my test track. There, everything is pinned in place, waiting for the crew of one (me) to get to "workin' on the railroad" for at least several "live-long days" (as the song goes)!
Siouxlake/Ron
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 510 ~
Member Since: September 21 2011 ~
Last Visit: December 21 2014
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
