Recent content by shortwrench

The chalk powder-alcohol method also works well on paved roads and parking lots.

I use powdered chalk, usually black or brown, mixed with alcohol. Apply it with a small brush taking care not to apply it consistently. Some areas with more, some areas with less or none at all. Makes for a varied look, representative of the real world.

Appointment with the Ear, nose, & throat specialist for a long overdue hearing test. Stayed up all night studying for it and still flunked. My selective hearing has turned into defective hearing. Both ears need hearing aids. With all the different styles of hearing aids available, any thoughts...

February 2021

Back in the nineties it was time for a new car. Cash was out of the question so we went to our bank and got pre-approved for a car loan. Off to the dealership, found a vehicle, negotiated a good deal since it was in the middle of winter and not many cars were being purchased at that time. Told...

Standard practice for removing locomotive shells is the use of a small screwdriver on either side of the shell and frame to separate them enough to clear the retaining tabs. Some locos have more than one tab on each side of the frame and require more than one screwdriver on each side. The...

How do prototype locomotives operating in multiple unit configuration compensate for differences in model, gearing, horsepower, etc.?

After completely going through loco, the F7 is back together and running. The biggest problem was the worm gear bearings were bound up on the worm shaft (both trucks). Dirty wheels, dirty commutator, lack of lubrication of the motor bearings, and general cleaning were other factors affecting...

Thanks for the info on using the loco with a DCC decoder.

Thanks for all the replies. Dave-nice video and a big help. I ended up using a #11 Xacto knife to get the gear tower housings off and didn't lose any. Yes, the forward universal is disconnected and got that way when I moved the motor up off the lower spring mount when I was trying to figure...

Thanks

I picked up this F7A at the Amherst train show. It's purpose is a guinea pig for my learning how to repaint a loco. Knew it didn't run but that's ok. Would also like to get it running to gain experience in loco repair. Can't figure out how to remove the trucks. The bottom of the fuel tank has...

M My last employer issued me a company cell phone and was told it was for business use only. So I carried my personal cell phone at all times and turned on their phone when I left for work and shut it off when I got home. About 6 months later they decided that us not "higher ups" really...

I haven't run into the issue of metric threads on electrical fixtures yet, but I haven't had to change any lighting fixtures for a while. Thanks for the heads up. For years the standard was 8-32 thread. As manufacturing continued to move off shore, the fit of the threads on the screws and...

They're like Hostess Twinkies-last forever.