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 Posted - October 17 2020 : 5:28:54 PM
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decided to look on facebook for any Ho scale sales, and found one private owner and a used toystore to check out
I have three auctions I am waiting on delivery of two sets of tracks engines and some cars, but I did have a list of extra track I wanted
no run, so got it cheap, did get it to almost run, needs more cleaning
had time before the actual store was open, so stopped and looked at this
and then was held up by this
but finally got this
and testing and set up, more track en route via ebay, so not much fussing. most of it i'll end up replacing with upgrades
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Posted - October 17 2020 : 5:36:41 PM
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| buildings came with a box lot. not sure if meant for actual scale use. I think not
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Posted - October 17 2020 : 5:46:03 PM
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Got an interesting assemblage of bits, there. The transformers
are not known for their good speed control. The locomotive appears
to be a French brand, sold under the name of "Playcraft," or "Jouef,"
is my best guess. I have one of those locomotives, and I can tell
you they are not the best quality, so don't expect much from it.
The track is a mix of brass and steel, I think, and
should perform well enough with a rub down of acetone nail polish
remover, or rubbing alcohol. I much prefer Wahl Hair Clipper Oil.
Track cleaning has many different methods, all of which are
hotly contested as the best. I've tried about everything. I like
Wahl's.
The grimy appearance, particularly of the brass, has to be removed, mostly
on the rail head, to achieve proper electrical conduction, the locomotive
might spring to life if that is done. Also, try to clean the locomotive's drivers off a bit, that may also help.
The buildings appear to be Plasticville, by Bachmann. No really great examples there, but might have a limited interest on eBay, if you want
to sell them for pennies on the dollar and deal with the hassles of eBay.
I see you found your Arco!!
It appears you have a fairly small area to work in, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Depending on your interests, a highly detailed "micro layout" can be achieved. A number
of excellent examples are RP Model Railroad's Ephrata Valley Railroad, which is about a
4x4, I think? Jammed with detail and activity, when filmed and photographed, it appears
to be HUGE.
For a quick and easy train table, I prefer getting a cheap hollow core dore, preferably from
a lumber salvage, or a slightly damaged one from one of the Big Box outfits, who are happy
to discount them for sale.
I have them cut it in half, and voila, I got a perfectly flat, light, and sturdy table top. Typically,
I glue a layer of discarded Styrofoam over the top and lay track upon that, while carving the
Styrofoam as a base for scenery.
Edited by - Chops124 on October 17 2020 5:54:37 PM
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Posted - October 17 2020 : 7:30:40 PM
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yep a playcraft
train motor runs fine
if the wheels are in the right spot I can get the power wires to run the train
the wheels definitely have dead spots, not the track, but the track needs cleaning anyway. when I get my curved track in I'll have video. can run at full tilt along five sections of track, as momentum pulls the pickups past the dead spots on the wheels
got a nearly full gallon can of acetone, will be putting it to use
hollow core door is my storage shelf in the basement ;) twisted minds think alike
will have to order some wahl oil, saw that mentioned somewhere else
oh, acetone worked, I thought I had hit send on this
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Posted - October 17 2020 : 10:03:00 PM
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Nice finds, and it looks like the beginnings of a cool layout.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/rpmodelrailroads
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rp_model_railroads/
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Posted - October 18 2020 : 12:35:15 AM
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Everybody has their own favorite track cleaning method. This is mine. People might think it crazy to
apply an oil to an electrical rail, but the guy who first proposed it, Lionel Strange, was a world class
professional model railroader, so I gave it a try.
Not only does Wahl's lift dirt and grime like magic, it lays down a protective coating that resists
the arch enemy of model railroaders: oxidization.
Other solvents, like wood alcohol or acetone, clean, but do not protect from O2.
Wahl's is easily found in any beauty supply shop. Costs like $3 for a ten year supply.
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Posted - October 18 2020 : 07:26:07 AM
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Part of the success of the clipper oil is that it has a low dielectric coefficient. I'm not sure what exactly that means, but it helps prevent arcing. That black powder that builds up on the rail is a kind of ash from arcing. If you can prevent arcing, the rails and wheels stay clean much longer.
Other solvents that suppress arcing are mineral spirits, kerosene and automatic transmission fluid. I've been using mineral spirits for a while and it's an improvement from what I was doing.
Solvents that promote arcing would be water and alcohol. I know many people swear by alcohol, and it does clean very well, but it does nothing to suppress arcing.
Before I found out about the whole arcing and dielectric coefficient business, I had locomotives that were of no use to me because they arced like mad and dirtied their wheels completely in about 1 scale mile of running. Now that I use mineral spirits, I can use those locomotives.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - October 18 2020 : 08:53:06 AM
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I might get some of the WAHL stuff too. My briteboys come out far too often!
Should I use the wahl stuff to clean wheels or just track?
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Posted - October 18 2020 : 09:22:33 AM
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quote:
Everybody has their own favorite track cleaning method. This is mine. People might think it crazy to
apply an oil to an electrical rail, but the guy who first proposed it, Lionel Strange, was a world class
professional model railroader, so I gave it a try.
Not only does Wahl's lift dirt and grime like magic, it lays down a protective coating that resists
the arch enemy of model railroaders: oxidization.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â October 18 2020Â :Â 12:35:15 AM
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I ordered my bottle off amazon after I read this
what's your application method, cleaning car, rag, Q-tip, or custom gadget?
I think I am gonna be 3d printing something or mod a junk car for cleaning, I don't like the cleaning cars I see
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Posted - October 18 2020 : 10:23:56 AM
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For a micro layout, 4x4 or less, a simple rag daubed in a few drops of Wahl's is easy and quick.
One good treatment can last months. A dry rag can be used to remove any residual oil, but still
leave a protective microfilm.
For the longer reaches involved in Armodilloville and Henley I use this Model Power box car with its
abrasive block covered by a square of linen rag, and it really does the trick. I can mop up residual oil
with a dry square of linen either in tandem or seperately.
My belief about abrasives, Model Railroader agrees, is that use of abrasives, like a birght boy, might
be good for removing a heavy layer, but overuse will carve micro grooves into the railhead thus
inviting more micro arcing and sparking, which attracts more oxidization. The micro film of Wahl's
retards such arcing and sparking, as well as providing a protective micro barrier.
The model train industry has conducted laboratory experiments on this subject, as it is our greatest bane.
Additionally, laboratory studies demonstrated that metal wheels have no inherent advantage over cheap
plastic Tyco wheels when it comes to track hygiene. They may track better, as the diameter is more precise,
but they do not keep track any cleaner.
I have spent money on various cleaning cars of other types and found them worthless, worthless because
unless the cleaning pad can be changed quite often, then it becomes hopelessly gunked up and merely
smears the grime down the rails, accomplishing nothing.
Above all, never use Goo Gone, or any other citrusy type cleaner. This stuff leaves a terrible residue.
Lastly, track cleaning methods are closely held, and there exists many opinions. My opinion is based on
reading laboratory research, Lionel Strange, and decades of trying different methods and cleaners.
Edited by - Chops124 on October 18 2020 10:39:18 AM
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Posted - October 18 2020 : 10:52:07 PM
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quote: quote:
Not only does Wahl's lift dirt and grime like magic, it lays down a protective coating that resists
the arch enemy of model railroaders: oxidization.
Originally posted by Chops124Â -Â October 18 2020Â :Â 12:35:15 AM
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I ordered my bottle off amazon after I read this
Originally posted by tater1337Â -Â October 18 2020Â :Â 09:22:33 AM
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whoah, 1 day shipping, got it this afternoon, been busy with other stuff so didn't notice it. might have been less than 24 hrs
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Posted - October 19 2020 : 08:38:26 AM
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| Great tips chops. Thanks!
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