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 Posted - April 02 2008 : 4:40:14 PM
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Hi Fellas:
Does anyone have a Bachmann GP18 & if so how does it run? Is it 8 wheel driven?
It looks like it's the same unit as the AHM. I wonder if Mehano may have made it for them?
-Gareth
Edited by - romcat on April 02 2008 5:10:59 PM
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 12:52:11 AM
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Hey Gareth,
I,ve managed to pick up a couple. They are made by Mehano and are identical to the AHM locos. I think the only difference is that the Bachmann locos were only available in a limited selection of roads. I have only seen SF and UP. The GP18 was/is mentioned on Tony's Bachmann resource page.
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 01:02:59 AM
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Hey Ant-man:
Went back to the AHM page and found the Bachmann reference. It appears ALL the Bachmanns were 8wheel drive where some of the AHM were 4. Also it seems the chassis and running gear are shared for the GP18 and the RS2?
How do the ones you have run?
-Gareth
Edited by - romcat on April 03 2008 01:12:05 AM
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 01:46:51 AM
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All the GP18s made by Mehano were/are 8-wheel drive. I have a copy of the MR review when AHM first imported the 18. The RS2 was made well before the 18. The RS2 is avaiable with 4 or 8 whell drive depending on age. The same is true for the AHM C-Liner as well.
When comparing the late versions of all three locos, it becomes appearent that Mehano/AHM was keen to save a buck. All 3 use the exact same trucks with different side frames. They also used the same 3 pole open framed motor. This is also true of the late model RS2 and RS11s from Model Power. So all behaved identically.
All of my GP18s ran well for the cheap locos that they are. The 8 wheel drive is nice. But there is room for improvement. The stock loco picks up current with only 4 wheels. So adding extra wheel whipers is very helpful. I also remotored with a Mabuchi 3 pole can motor and added a flywheel. The Mabuchi motor is the current motor used on new IHC diesels. The stock motor will accept a flywheel or 2 without a can motor should you wish.
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 01:51:03 AM
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Hey Ant-man:
I want to keep a loco or two "in stock" as I'm always being asked to put together a cheap starter set.
These two the GP18 and RS2 I liike for that role. Cheap and ok performers.
Useful info btw, thanks.
-Gareth
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 01:57:15 AM
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| Another good one for that role is the late model C-Liners. You can spot the late model as it has really nice looking FM sideframe as opposed to the older version with an odd, "near-FM" looking sideframe. They are usually listed under IHC and are dirt cheap!
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 02:01:07 AM
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I have a few of the Mehano GP 18s that I reworked
They are a decent locomotive with potential.
Kind of a diamond in the rough.
I bought one back in the 80s for $9.99 at Woolworths. Still have it in the original box in A1 condition.
Some only had 4 wheel electrical pickup that is easily upgraded by adding 2 more wipers Most have the mounting slots for the wipers and all that is needed is to slide them in place and connect the wires.
Changing the gear ratio from 9/1 to 18/1 can be done by installing a Kato worm in each truck.
Upgrading the motor is an easy swap also
Oddly the thing I dread doing the most on these locos is changing the hand railings.
Ray
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 02:01:21 AM
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Hey Antman:
Partial to road switchers as better starter just to encourage some switching. Also partial to Alco's!
-Gareth
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 10:34:19 AM
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Hey Romcat,
Have you looked into Model Power RS2 and RS11s? I believe they are all 8 wheel drive and 4 wheel pick-up. And they are Alcos!
I suggested the C-Liner as my kids like them better then the GP18s. For some reason, my kids don't like to run a loco that has the hi-nose like the 18 and 11s.
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 10:40:57 AM
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Hey Ray,
As you said, the GP18 is a diamond in the rough. And that's what I like about it. They are cheap and very easy to work with. And with only minor alterations, you can make 3 different locos, GP7, GP9 and GP18s.
So simply replacing the worm will increase the gear ratio? Cool idea! I will have to check if Trains West has any Kato worms available.
I also dread the railings. But as my kids are the primary operators, metal rails are a must! I use Athearn stantions and brass wire. I just replicate the original plastic parts with no concern to prototype accuracy! That does make doing railing a bit easier.
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 12:22:08 PM
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Hey Antman:
I'm the opposite, I love High-Hoods. Low hoods are too wussy for me![:D] The HH just seems more brawny.
Great info guys. I agree about the railings! Were they nuts. My Monon RS2 has several railing parts broken off. I've never done this but I assume if I trim them level with the walkway, I can drill holes and put in stanchions and use wire?
Ray:
I Like the power train mods. The two RS2 I have are the only ones of those I have. So they will be fun to tweak. What are the flanges like on the ones you have (GP18's)?
The wiper you added I assume on the same side of the "other" truck?
I guess I could buy a Kato RS2 in D&H paint but whats the fun in that. The $5 RS3 and GP18 are just begging to be places to learn kitbashing on...
Ultimately my AHM GP18's/RS2 will become:
1) GP18 CNR long hood forward, old Green/Yellow paint, passenger version with air tanks on roof. Kinda like this:
2) RS2 Commuter-NYC, kinda like this:
3) RS2 LV: Just make power improvements and replace railings?
Thats it. Primarily I intend to keep a couple around for starter sets.
-Gareth
Edited by - romcat on April 03 2008 1:27:47 PM
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 1:04:11 PM
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quote:Hey Antman:
What are the flanges like on the ones you have (GP18's)?
The wiper you added I assume on the same side of the "other" truck?
Originally posted by romcat - April 03 2008 : 11:22:08 AM
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The flanges look to be RP25 (or close).
Theat is correct, a wiper is added to each truck and wired to the original wiper of the other truck.
Ray
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 1:23:53 PM
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So Ray:
Do I end up with 3 wipers? Original + 2 or 4?
...and wow an AHM without cirlular saw rp100 flanges! [:D] [:D] [:D]
-Gareth
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 2:00:27 PM
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4 wipers, 8 wheel electrical pick up.
Ray
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 2:16:36 PM
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There are a few photos of hand rail making on a couple of Alcos in this thread.
http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=1381/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=15.html
Ray
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 2:58:43 PM
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Hi Ray:
Nice stuff. Have to cut and paste those into a pdf file for future off line use. The wire from the "twisty ties" why use that and harden it. Why not brass wire all aound. Also did you harden the wire because it was too malleable and without it, it would damage easily on handling?
-Gareth
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 3:07:38 PM
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I used the twisty tie wire because I'm a cheap SOB. You can use brass wire. I find the Detail Associates brass wire to be easier to work with the K&S wire I tried had hard spots that were brittle and broke while forming it.
Using the twisty tie wire without hardening it works but as you said it does make it less likely to be damaged.
Ray
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 3:30:08 PM
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I have a bunch of steel music wire I picked up at the LHS that I've used for handrails (nothing as extensive as your work, Ray). It's very strong, but a &*$%#* to bend.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 4:17:01 PM
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Hey Ray:
What about the stanchions? Would the brass wire work ok there to?
-Gareth
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 6:11:40 PM
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| I use Athearn stantions. They are cheap and preformed. Not 100% accurate perhaps, but good enough for me. I form the rail itself with brass wire shaped with 2 pair of needlenose pliers. String on the stantions and mount.
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Posted - April 03 2008 : 9:36:03 PM
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The brass wire would work for the stanchions.
I usually use Athearn stanchions on EMD models to. I wanted to try something different on the Alco models.
I did come across a few sets of Precision Scale brass stanchions foe EMDs I used them up in a hurry.
I haven't tried Smokey Valley hand rail sets yet. I was thinking of using them on the pair of Stewart U25Bs, a RPP GP60, a RPP CF7 and 2 RPP SD38s. If not I'll use the Athearn stantions and form the railings.
Ray
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alcopj
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Posted - June 15 2008 : 12:43:39 AM
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quote:Hi Fellas:
Does anyone have a Bachmann GP18 & if so how does it run? Is it 8 wheel driven?
It looks like it's the same unit as the AHM. I wonder if Mehano may have made it for them?
-Gareth
Originally posted by romcat - April 02 2008 : 4:40:14 PM
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Hi romcat
The only 2 differnce between the Bachmann GP18 and the AHM GP18. the first is while both Bachmann and AHM vertions are 8 wheel drive, the Bachmann units have 8 wheel picup. this is to say they collect power form all 8 wheels.
The other is the way the hedlight is mounted. On the AHM's, its placed on a seprit braket that is snaped intoplace on the floor of the unit with two mettle lcips to hold the light in place. The Bachmann unit's have there lights mounted on top of the front trucks clip and are hard wired directly to the motor.
as metioned here before, the Bachmann versions were only available in a few different paint jobs, SF, UP, chesssi are the ones I'm aware of. They are also easly upgraded to DCC thanks to the simple wireing setup they share with the AHM's.
If you are looking for another good model to kit bash, cheek out the modle power GP9. It is a low nose, but the detail and drive system cant be beat for the price! The IHC FM c liners have the same drive system as the gp18's
, but are no longer in production. They tend to be very hard to come by.
Hope this helps!
Edited by - alcopj on June 15 2008 02:45:19 AM
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Posted - June 15 2008 : 11:38:50 AM
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Hi Alcojp:
Thanks thats helpful... More pickup is good.
-Gareth
Edited by - romcat on June 15 2008 3:27:03 PM
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Posted - June 19 2008 : 10:26:59 AM
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Anyone know if the same motor is used in the AHM and Bachmann GP18?
-Gareth
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Posted - June 19 2008 : 3:55:46 PM
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Thought I would interject this idea, you can get very fine wire sections at a place like pat a tans or one that does foral arranging, comes in like 18 in lenghts in several dia, the finest will do railings and other items and cost about 2.oo for a package of maybe twenty...use it for everything...also you should see some of the moss for less than a few dollars that works well as bushes... my wife gets me these things as she does foral design work...why spend a lot of money...I can use it to get a new loco... not moss and railings...Garret
"Though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight, SHARKS will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship's decks, like hungry dogs round a table where red meat is being carved, ready to bolt down every killed man that is tossed to them . . ." by Herman Melville
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Posted - June 19 2008 : 4:13:38 PM
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Hey fangy:
I'm in Canada; what's "pat a tans" What use is the wire put to in the floral arranging? That might help me find it...
-Gareth
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Posted - June 22 2008 : 11:08:18 AM
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| Yes, the motors are the same in both AHM and Bachmann GP18s. At least they are the same in the locos I have.
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Posted - June 24 2008 : 07:47:16 AM
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Romcat... pat a tans is a craft and flower place here in ohio, the wire is used to lenghten flower stems with, guess you place it with the old stem and then wrap it somehow... its sometime silver or green in color... see if i can get a name off of mine tonight...garret
"Though amid all the smoking horror and diabolism of a sea-fight, SHARKS will be seen longingly gazing up to the ship's decks, like hungry dogs round a table where red meat is being carved, ready to bolt down every killed man that is tossed to them . . ." by Herman Melville
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