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 Posted - March 29 2015 : 10:59:05 AM
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Hey, my LOTW for this week is a Playart 0-4-0 I got at my grandparent's house a week ago. I ended up giving this cute little loco to my little brother after cleaning it and fixing it up.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 12:56:33 PM
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This one is not mine, but I thought it unique enough to post.
Hag "Rote Pfiel" (Red Arrow) 3-rail AC
1955 Swiss made. Some connection to Maerklin, I'm told.
Sadl;y, it's missing parts of the driveline.
Other than some auction photos, very little info. available, particularly
of the innards.
Evan
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 2:29:44 PM
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quote:Hey, my LOTW for this week is a Playart 0-4-0 I got at my grandparent's house a week ago.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 29 2015Â :Â 10:59:05 AM
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Stephen,
That engine's shell looks to be a dead ringer for the Mantua Booster 0-4-0T. This raises a couple of questions in my mind:
First, is the shell die cast metal like the Mantua?
Second, is the frame some sort of slippery plastic like Delrin?
The reason I ask, is that I saw an engine at a train show that had a Mantua Booster type shell and a plastic chassis and was puzzled about its pedigree.
Thanks,
Don
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 2:31:17 PM
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Pfeil indeed! What a Swiss Hottie! Love that old school
European. She's got the look!
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 2:36:56 PM
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A Swiss friend in our group said he "lusted" after that model as a boy.
Still a hottie, apparently.
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 5:48:28 PM
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My LOTW is this Athearn GP9 with the MKT road name. It need a little TLC, namely horns and handrails. I will leave it with the sun faded paint.
Edited by - thetramp on March 29 2015 5:49:46 PM
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 5:49:31 PM
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quote: quote:Hey, my LOTW for this week is a Playart 0-4-0 I got at my grandparent's house a week ago.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 29 2015Â :Â 10:59:05 AM
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Stephen,
That engine's shell looks to be a dead ringer for the Mantua Booster 0-4-0T. This raises a couple of questions in my mind:
First, is the shell die cast metal like the Mantua?
Second, is the frame some sort of slippery plastic like Delrin?
The reason I ask, is that I saw an engine at a train show that had a Mantua Booster type shell and a plastic chassis and was puzzled about its pedigree.
Thanks,
Don
Originally posted by scsshaggy - March 29 2015 : 2:29:44 PM
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Since I had a Mantua booster (and I have another one) that came with it, I compared them. They're identical, more similar than Model Power or anybody else's 0-4-0.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 8:16:12 PM
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quote: quote: quote:Hey, my LOTW for this week is a Playart 0-4-0 I got at my grandparent's house a week ago.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 29 2015Â :Â 10:59:05 AM
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Stephen,
That engine's shell looks to be a dead ringer for the Mantua Booster 0-4-0T. This raises a couple of questions in my mind:
First, is the shell die cast metal like the Mantua?
Don
Originally posted by scsshaggy - March 29 2015 : 2:29:44 PM
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Since I had a Mantua booster (and I have another one) that came with it, I compared them. They're identical, more similar than Model Power or anybody else's 0-4-0.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 29 2015Â :Â 5:49:31 PM
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AFAIK, Playart never did any metal engines ( Kovacste000 didnt' answer that part ), as I have a number of them, and they're all plastic. I know Playart borrowed from Tyco, as their 3-axle long tanker is a Tyco minus the name,I compared them, the mold lines are all exact except the name location. But I don't think they were early enough to copy Mantua engines. Just my opinion. Although, to be fair, I do NOT have this particular Playart engine, it could be their earliest one, with a metal shell as well. I've just never seen a Playart steam engine in all metal before.
Jerry in VA
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
Edited by - AMC_Gremlin_GT on March 29 2015 8:18:14 PM
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 8:23:59 PM
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My contribution this week is dumbed down, a non-powered A dummy Fairbanks Morse in BN colors. This will probably end up in my BN passenger consist as a trailer with a powered A and a B dummy also.
Jerry in VA
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 8:46:47 PM
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The CSX Heritage Unit.
Randy
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 8:52:50 PM
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| Great looking loco Randy!!
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 8:59:55 PM
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quote:Great looking loco Randy!!
Originally posted by thetramp - March 29 2015 : 8:52:50 PM
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I'll second that! Impressive and very believable.
http://tycodepot.com/
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mph
Switcher
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 9:12:06 PM
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My loco for this week is a MDC Climax acquired last week from a LHS. Ran Beautifully for about 15 minutes, now it's back at the LHS for them to get it right. I can't wait to get it back as I think it will be the perfect loco for an MDC old-time car consist I am working on.
Mark
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 9:43:38 PM
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Love this heritage unit!quote:
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Posted - March 29 2015 : 10:34:38 PM
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quote:My loco for this week is a MDC Climax acquired last week from a LHS. Ran Beautifully for about 15 minutes, now it's back at the LHS for them to get it right. I can't wait to get it back as I think it will be the perfect loco for an MDC old-time car consist I am working on.
Originally posted by mph - March 29 2015 : 9:12:06 PM
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 I heard these things weren't that great runners, though, so it's not shocking your's had issues. Hope it works great afterwards, though because it looks sweet.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - March 30 2015 : 2:47:14 PM
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A couple of classics. By the way, the round house is quite the piece.
I've had a couple, and they still run great ten or more years later.
Sometimes the angle between the drive shaft and the big running gear
gets a little tight, or loose, and adjusting the shim of the motor makes
all well in a matter of minutes.
Edited by - Chops124 on March 30 2015 4:21:55 PM
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Posted - March 30 2015 : 4:53:32 PM
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quote:
A couple of classics. By the way, the round house is quite the piece.
I've had a couple, and they still run great ten or more years later.
Sometimes the angle between the drive shaft and the big running gear
gets a little tight, or loose, and adjusting the shim of the motor makes
all well in a matter of minutes.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 2:47:14 PM
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So that's why they didn't enjoy a great reputation. Although honestly, I've never seen one in person running on a layout.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - March 30 2015 : 10:29:37 PM
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quote: quote: . By the way, the round house is quite the piece.
ISometimes..... adjusting the shim of the motor makes
all well in a matter of minutes.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 2:47:14 PM
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So that's why they didn't enjoy a great reputation. Although honestly, I've never seen one in person running on a layout.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 4:53:32 PM
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They are VERY low geared, they don't move very quickly on a layout due to that, you'd have a line of locomotives behind you if you tried to run it around a loop. :) This is the same roundhouse chassis that is under the track cleaner boxcab. The universals can bind up due to the extremely short wheelbase, and they are S-L-O-W. Fun for switching operations, but not so much mainline running. But once they're tuned well, they run decently. Don't race a Hustler with it, though!
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - March 31 2015 : 07:25:24 AM
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My contribution to LOTW is a Tyco Australian Victorian railways F9A bought at a swapmeet last weekend. Looks like very early 1970s with MU2 motor and loco in good condition. Tony
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Posted - March 31 2015 : 09:21:52 AM
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quote: quote: quote: . By the way, the round house is quite the piece.
ISometimes..... adjusting the shim of the motor makes
all well in a matter of minutes.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 2:47:14 PM
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So that's why they didn't enjoy a great reputation. Although honestly, I've never seen one in person running on a layout.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 4:53:32 PM
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They are VERY low geared, they don't move very quickly on a layout due to that, you'd have a line of locomotives behind you if you tried to run it around a loop. :) This is the same roundhouse chassis that is under the track cleaner boxcab. The universals can bind up due to the extremely short wheelbase, and they are S-L-O-W. Fun for switching operations, but not so much mainline running. But once they're tuned well, they run decently. Don't race a Hustler with it, though!
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 10:29:37 PM
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Switching operations, hmmm. I'm in the process of building one, they might actually work for that.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on March 31 2015 09:22:12 AM
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Posted - March 31 2015 : 11:55:34 AM
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quote: quote: quote: . By the way, the round house is quite the piece.
ISometimes..... adjusting the shim of the motor makes
all well in a matter of minutes.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 2:47:14 PM
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So that's why they didn't enjoy a great reputation. Although honestly, I've never seen one in person running on a layout.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 4:53:32 PM
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They are VERY low geared, they don't move very quickly on a layout due to that, you'd have a line of locomotives behind you if you tried to run it around a loop. :) This is the same roundhouse chassis that is under the track cleaner boxcab. The universals can bind up due to the extremely short wheelbase, and they are S-L-O-W. Fun for switching operations, but not so much mainline running. But once they're tuned well, they run decently. Don't race a Hustler with it, though!
Jerry
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â March 30 2015Â :Â 10:29:37 PM
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Sorry to double dip, but what the heck, these days we kinda need to refocus on trains:
Here's one little survivor that went from N de M to B&M. I used to double head this one
on an N de M ore train using one DCC decoder for both units. I called this permanently
coupled unit: Master Blaster (after "Thunderdome"). After all the abuse and repainting, she
still choogles on down the line quite nicely. B&M paint scheme quite fictional, far as I
know.
Edited by - Chops124 on March 31 2015 11:57:04 AM
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mph
Switcher
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Posted - March 31 2015 : 11:14:44 PM
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Thanks for all the info on the Roundhouse Climax. When it was running it did run slow, but smooth. The LHS guy was giving me the sales job that the guy who built it was a local expert on these so I expected a bit more from this unit. We'll see if the LHS stands behind their product, even used. So far he is referring to it as warranty work which is a good start.
Stephen - as slow as it runs you might get bored waiting on it even on a switching layout.
Mark
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Posted - March 31 2015 : 11:41:20 PM
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My LOTW is this little critter. Westinghouse centercab Tyco/Mantua switcher.I was always seeing these at shows commanding pretty fair prices in the $25.00 range. When I found one for 5 bucks i nabbed it. It was filthy as you can see in the before photos with the Alco C-415 that I staged as a comparison for size. After a good cleanup and soldering some broken connections I was amazed at how good this thing runs. It crawls smooth and quiet and will haul a lengthy cut of cars, now I get the pricing!. I added the Illinois Terminal logos just because I had some on hand. I know , I know, IT units were lime green but IT did have many traction cars that were orange. My story is that this was a shop switcher at a carbarn during the traction orange era and that a diesel was needed to haul traction cars around the shop without the need for overhead wire.
  
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Posted - April 01 2015 : 02:49:07 AM
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| Great little loco and buy Metalsmith . I never see these at shows .Have to keep a lookout for them. Tony
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Posted - April 01 2015 : 11:04:38 AM
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Someone did some pretty fine work here.
quote:My loco for this week is a MDC Climax acquired last week from a LHS. Ran Beautifully for about 15 minutes, now it's back at the LHS for them to get it right. I can't wait to get it back as I think it will be the perfect loco for an MDC old-time car consist I am working on.
Originally posted by mph - March 29 2015 : 9:12:06 PM
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 Posted - April 01 2015 : 1:30:45 PM
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Hogwarts Express loco by Bachmann in 2001
this is missing the sign that goes on the front
Any way to put weights on the front truck?
It seems to derail often 
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Posted - April 01 2015 : 7:45:20 PM
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quote:
Nice deal you got, and a lovely little Plymouth. Gotta fix mine. I have 3 extra mechanisms for this if anyone has shells they'd like to power.
--CRC
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Posted - April 02 2015 : 12:59:33 AM
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These are some good looking and nice running locos.quote:Hogwarts Express loco by Bachmann in 2001
this is missing the sign that goes on the front
Any way to put weights on the front truck?
It seems to derail often
Originally posted by microbusss - April 01 2015 : 1:30:45 PM
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Posted - April 02 2015 : 01:02:18 AM
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| That Plymouth is to die for. That is a honey.
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Posted - April 02 2015 : 09:15:58 AM
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quote:These are some good looking and nice running locos.quote:Hogwarts Express loco by Bachmann in 2001
this is missing the sign that goes on the front
Any way to put weights on the front truck?
It seems to derail often
Originally posted by microbusss - April 01 2015 : 1:30:45 PM
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Originally posted by metalsmith1Â -Â April 02 2015Â :Â 12:59:33 AM
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Yeah, man. I love these locos.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - April 03 2015 : 12:18:44 AM
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Might just check the wheel gauge with an NMRA standards plate first, it could just be that simple. I have two of these locos and I often doublehead them and have never had trouble derailing the front trucks even on my lousy sectional track with 22 radius curves and no. 4 turnouts. quote: quote:These are some good looking and nice running locos.quote:Hogwarts Express loco by Bachmann in 2001
this is missing the sign that goes on the front
Any way to put weights on the front truck?
It seems to derail often
Originally posted by microbusss - April 01 2015 : 1:30:45 PM
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Originally posted by metalsmith1Â -Â April 02 2015Â :Â 12:59:33 AM
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Yeah, man. I love these locos.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â April 02 2015Â :Â 09:15:58 AM
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Posted - April 03 2015 : 07:35:05 AM
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| or the EZ track had too many gaps
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Posted - April 03 2015 : 4:15:30 PM
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Does the front truck normally require a spring to keep it firmly on the track?
This could be the problem.
Just an idea.
Evan
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Posted - April 03 2015 : 4:40:15 PM
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quote:or the EZ track had too many gaps
Originally posted by microbusss - April 03 2015 : 07:35:05 AM
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Is it missing a spring perhaps? On one chessy Model Power unit I had to fit a small chunk
of lead to make it track right.
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Posted - May 17 2015 : 4:26:19 PM
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quote:My contribution this week is dumbed down, a non-powered A dummy Fairbanks Morse in BN colors. This will probably end up in my BN passenger consist as a trailer with a powered A and a B dummy also.
Jerry in VA
Originally posted by AMC_Gremlin_GTÂ -Â March 29 2015Â :Â 8:23:59 PM
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[/quote] that's like the one I want to get
devin "give me the ugly steam none of that streamlined stuff"
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