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 Posted - May 02 2011 : 8:52:19 PM
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Tyco Santa Fe Alco Super 630 Restoration
I bought this new in 1975-76. I pulled it out of storage recently, and the paint was chipped and it no longer ran. The handrails were complete, but they were donated to another Super 630 (Chessie) that was restored. The locomotive was fully disassembled, cleaned, and repainted.
The paint is Model Master Flat Aluminum. Tamiya TS-8 Italian Red, was also used, which is a great match for the old Rivarossi red that it was painted with originally. Decals by Microscale, and weathering was done with artist oils and pastels, and then sealed with Testors Dullcote.
Couplers were replaced with Kadee, and wiring was replaced. The motor was replaced by taking from Smokie’s or Goinincirclez’ (THANKS GUYS!) idea of the Mabuchi DVD drive. I used the RF-300, which is a higher torque (4.9 gm/cm) versus the RF-400 (2.6 gm/cm), so it is a strong pull. However, this motor is 3 mm deeper, so after grinding the cast housing for diameter, it is a tight fit. (Nothing less than 24-inch radius turns from now on) The mounting assembly also had to be cut for fit.
Doing the three-axle Alco with this deeper motor revealed (duh!) another problem. The motor is so big that the center contact wheel was into the motor. I had to turn it down until the size would clear. (See the photo). So now the three-axle is an effective two, since all three must be in place for the connected gear-drive to move them all. Once this mess was resolved (never again!) it was reassembled.
The handrails are from Stewart Trains; it is the spare set for their new C630. Some modifications with 0.025 rod were required, but only in a few spots. These were touched-up, and she was tested out. It really has some amazing pull, and the speed seems much more realistic than my other Alcos.
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Posted - May 02 2011 : 9:32:10 PM
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Nice work!
~ Dave
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - May 02 2011 : 9:35:42 PM
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That's a great write up. Your engine must run very well now.
-Matthew-
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Posted - May 02 2011 : 10:17:33 PM
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That turned out awesome. I wouldn't have guessed it was repainted, it looks factory with a weathering job. if you can find the tray motors out of the bigger playstation 2 consoles, they will fit without all the extra mods you had to do to the wheels & still run on 18" radius track. I've have 5 or 6 now for a couple of years now & haven't had a failure yet. I did have to get a better power pack than the Tyco. MRC will let them crawl.
did you make the handrails?
jerry
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Posted - May 03 2011 : 4:42:59 PM
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Thanks for the comments! The Handrails are the Stewart parts for their new Alco 630 sold by Bowser. They are not a prefect fit, either. On the ends, I used their rails, but had to replace the stanchions with scratchbuilt. Same story on the sides at the cab step. If you look at the side shot, some of the stanchions have a lean, and I didn't measure, but somewhere the spacing isn't consistent, either on the new rail or on the Tyco body. By that point (they were the last to go on) I was just glad to get the rails on!
Thanks too for the tip on the PS2 motor. If (when?) I do another, I will certainly go that way; the depth of the motor I used was just too much. I am running MRC power, and I am really pleased with the control, too. First up, though, is a Tyco GP 20 repowered with a DCC Athearn GP 35 chassis, then an old Tyco Alco 630 converted to Norfolk Southern livery.
The Santa Fe 630 that you see, after a few runs, will now be retired. Since it has been 35+ years since I saw her run, maybe I'll get it out again in another 35.
Edited by - fritdude on May 03 2011 4:44:44 PM
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Posted - May 03 2011 : 6:31:44 PM
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hmm This is something I needs to do to my SF 630 
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Posted - May 04 2011 : 10:15:39 AM
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are you converting a 630 to Norfolk Southern? i did one a couple years back & sold it. it looked nice.
jerry
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Posted - May 05 2011 : 08:42:16 AM
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| Yes; next on the bench is an Alco 630 in Norfolk and Southern. I will post photos when it is done. I bet yours did look great, Jerry.
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Posted - May 06 2011 : 12:54:41 AM
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that looks super cool
smokie you say the big PS2 motors are a good fit?
one of my projects is to do two 630s which will be former N&W for my friends ficticious desert belt RR
just me Ray... and just because I have Tyco doesn't mean I am not a model railroader
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Posted - October 14 2011 : 9:47:55 PM
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Its good To See Engines Rise From Their Ashes! I Like It When Engines Get A Second Lease On Life.
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