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 Posted - March 27 2007 : 4:39:09 PM
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Hey guys:
How many of you have upgraded the wheel sets on your Tyco Roling Stock, or completly upgraded the trucks? If you have why didn't you simply buy newer higher quality (?) RS instead?
as an adjunct; how do you rate the scale appearance of your Tyco/Mantua RS?
Thanks,
Gareth
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Posted - March 27 2007 : 8:44:20 PM
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I just put a new Atlas wheelset on a SO 76 caboose. It improved the look and the rolling of the model and added a little weight that will help. No modification needed, and it's reversible too.
I also just got a bargain on a top of the line Atlas 3 bay centerflow hopper (Frenches). So I guess i did both.
"Trains are relaxing" [^]
Alco Fan
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Posted - March 28 2007 : 12:12:47 AM
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romcat,
My response is that I am a glutton for punishment! I like to tinker with and modify my train stuff. I would rather rebuild an old beater then buy a top-of-the-line piece that needs no attention. I find rebuilding a piece actually makes it seem more unique and personal. And did I mention I'm too cheap to but Atlas!
Mike
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Posted - March 28 2007 : 11:36:15 AM
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In general, I never operate any TYCO on my layout.
[Large Gasp For Everyone!]
Yes, it's true. I love to collect TYCO, but I very very rare put any on the track for serious use.
Seems the 50' Plug Door Box Cars do find favor with me though at times and both old TYCO and Bachmann examples get ran occasionally. I have Bachmann Silver Series 50' Box Car underframes with their good wheelsets and knuckle couplers and I'll put them under old 50' Plugger shells and run them occasionally and that's about the extent of my use of TYCO items in actual practice on my layout.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - April 28 2007 : 8:50:25 PM
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if I plan to run a piece of tyco rolling stock on my layout contuinously...I replace wheel sets with a good kadee set with real springs in it..Then I put kadee coupler boxes on the car and use kadee whisker couplers...I fix everything so that i can restore it back to orignal condition...All i jhave to do is fill in the two holes that was made for the coupler box screws
Dennis Statzer
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Posted - April 28 2007 : 11:23:52 PM
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I regularly modify Tyco and others though, since I've found this site, I tend to be a bit more careful as to who gets the razor saw. I really enjoy it, finding I have more fun in this hobby with $40 spent on couplers and wheelsets on a yard sale boxlot than I ever could with these high tech, high dollar releases coming out nowadaze.
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Posted - April 29 2007 : 09:06:54 AM
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Hey there wwwstat:
What differences do you notice running a sprung Kadee truck as opposed to a rigid framed one. Do you really believe it's worth the cost? I would think it would be prohibitavely expensive converting say 60-80 cars assuming an operational model railway as opposed to a more toy like one doing basically loops. Of course it's not neccesary to convert them all at once.
-Gareth
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Posted - April 30 2007 : 12:13:06 PM
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| What I've done to my Tyco cars is ream out a larger hole in the journal boxes with a cordless drill and install Proto 2000 wheelsets. The cars roll much better. I also install Kadee couplers in the talgo trucks.
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Posted - April 30 2007 : 4:45:33 PM
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Shaygetz - That's an awesome photo! The lighting is just perfect... and I like what you've done to the crane. I've had something similar in mind for my crane, but I haven't decided on a MOW scheme.
Re: sprung trucks: I share largely the same sentiments as Gareth. They're a big PITA and it's probably no coincidence that while lots of legacy HO vendors had sprung trucks in the past (Lionel HO vis a vis Athearn, and even run of the mill Walthers kits for a time), nobody does anymore. I mean, Athearn pulled out all the stops on Genesis freigh cars even to the poin of SPINNING BEARING CAPS... but didn't go back to srpung trucks.
As level as track should be in the model world, unless you're modeling decrepit Route Rock branch lines before shutdown, springs are an extravagance and a headache as soon as you inevitably loose one.
But I would love to hear that I'm missing something, so I wouldn't automatically throw them away....
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Posted - April 30 2007 : 4:52:48 PM
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I looked at that crane photo and though I knew it MUST be a model there's something about it! ...
Terrific work!
-G
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Posted - April 30 2007 : 6:17:03 PM
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Thanks, Tony and G...I do appreciate the kind words.
I got it in a box lot some time back and did my usual---trade out couplers for body mount Kadees, refitted with MDC/Roundhouse wheelsets...no reason other than they fit and were way better than the Tyco wheels. Then I weathered with chalks and flat enamels. The rust spots are a new thing for me, done by spot painting dark brown, allowing it to dry a bit, then drawing it downward with a wash of dirty thinner. I covered over the "Amtrak" moniker and lettered it as a second hand piece for my road. Posing it outdoors on a photo diorama makes for the lighting effects. I'm currently working on a new diorama that features a bridge for more dramatic shots.
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Posted - April 30 2007 : 6:42:16 PM
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That is Gawd-damm Awesome!
Inspiring in fact. I have to get a decent digital camera.
-G.
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Posted - May 05 2007 : 02:12:17 AM
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| Shaygetz - Forgot to ask/mention: Is that a kitbashed crane tender? Where did the "caboose" portion come from? Looks good! Especially like the contrast of the blue tender to the orange crane - helps set "secondhand but whatever works" story.
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Posted - May 05 2007 : 11:03:19 AM
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I appreciate the kind words, guys.
Tony, it's 'bashed from a Revell work train part I found in a box lot, the flat is an AHM, and the sides from a LL track cleaner carcass. I found it fascinating that every stake pocket lined up without work. I carved off the molded on roof walk, made a stack from a sprue, wire stirrups replaced the broken off ones, then did my weathering bit with pastels and dirty thinner.
Edited by - shaygetz on May 05 2007 11:08:25 AM
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