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 Posted - March 28 2014 : 2:13:07 PM
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These are two of the four AHM GP9's I reworked and painted SP Black Widow. I milled and re-powered with a Sagami can motor and shimmed it so the drive line is straight as an arrow. I cleaned and burnished the gears so there are no burrs or flash. I milled and added the dynamic brake blisters from an Athearn Genesis GP9. The handrails were hand bent. I molded lead weights so now the weigh over 1.5 pounds each. They run smooth and quiet and each can pull a 50 car train up a 2.2% grade without breaking a sweat
Vince
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
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Posted - March 28 2014 : 2:28:55 PM
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Vince,
Those are great looking units. If possible could you post a picture of one with the body off, and allow a view of the drive train.
Regards, John *******************
It's always too early to quit. <> Norman Vincent Peale
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 Posted - March 28 2014 : 6:59:10 PM
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I agree... I want to see what the drive train and custom lead weights look like. Some higher resolution shots of them with better lighting would help too, if possible.
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on March 28 2014 7:00:44 PM
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 12:47:02 AM
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This is one of the works in progress...
I had to mill out the frame to get the motor to sit properly and get the driveline straight. I use a drop of 3M Weather Strip adhesive to hold it in place.
This one shows the dynamic brake blister. I milled out the body to get a perfect fit. The dynamic brake blister is from an Athearn Genesis GP9.
One of the important things in keeping them quiet is to make sure the driveline is as straight as possible.
The molded weight is inside the body, along the top. I actually melt the metal into the body and it conforms to the interior contour.
This is the best I can do, my digital camera won't hold a charge (bad battery) so I have to use my old 'dumb' phone.
Vince
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 08:23:51 AM
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Nice looking locos. Those AHM units are fun to kitbash. Do you know about changing the worms to numerical increase the drive ratio (speed reduction) ? There is a tutorial on this forum, somewhere.
Unspoken expectations are premeditated failures.
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 4:41:04 PM
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I see you used those Igarashi motors the owner of Hobbytown was selling off. Great motors. The custom handrails make a world of difference in the appearance. The over-sized plastic ones are pretty miserable, and are just part of the styrene frame casting, so they crack easily.
There were Atlas/Kato Alco single lead worms available that halved the speed, but I can't find them anywhere now. They may not be necessary with the new motors. The one noisy part of the drive train I discovered was where the spline shaft snaps over the little ball universal on the worm shaft. They are often a loose fit, and rattle on curves. I crimped the ends to tighten them up, and they were fine.
I'm amazed you were able to squeeze over a pound of lead into those shells. Did you use low temp alloy?
The Tyco Depot
Edited by - NickelPlate759 on March 29 2014 4:48:03 PM
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 5:00:08 PM
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| Fantastic job! I love seeing these old things being put to good use in the hands of someone who cares.
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 5:04:44 PM
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Yes, it melts at 158 degrees F. You have to be careful, while it MELTS at 158 it can get hot enough to melt the plastic.
Vince
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 7:34:58 PM
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you might look into cerrobend for weighting I think it melts at a lower temperature, I'll be using that in my cab forward and sd-24 projects.
just me Ray... and just because I have Tyco doesn't mean I am not a model railroader
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 8:58:58 PM
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That is exactly what I use, and it does melt at 158 degrees. 
This is where I buy it from. Howard is an old friend and has the best prices.
http://home.comcast.net/~bearbon/site/?/home/
Vince
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 9:34:14 PM
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quote:That is exactly what I use, and it does melt at 158 degrees.
This is where I buy it from. Howard is an old friend and has the best prices.
http://home.comcast.net/~bearbon/site/?/home/
Originally posted by MBVince - March 29 2014 : 8:58:58 PM
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What an interesting site! Thanks for posting that 
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 9:58:44 PM
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| Nice looking locomotives Vince, and pretty impressive pulling power there.
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Posted - March 29 2014 : 11:38:11 PM
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Vince,
Thanks for the detail. Very good models of late GP9 units. Very innovative and resourceful Kit Bash.
Regards, John ******
Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play. <> Joseph Goebbels
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