Old starter train set revival...for the memories.

[flightops]

So I made the two engine" loco arrangement (for the most part) permanent:

I did think about putting a small coupler in the wiring, but that would have just been big and bulky looking and I just can't see me pulling a short train (5-6 cars) either.

Wiring is simple:

So it's basically one engine, two pancakes, 8 wheel drive with 4 traction tire wheels and 12 wheel pickup. I used a small piece of black thread to lock the horn hooks together so no fears of it uncoupling.

Runs pretty good

It will pull one more boxcar and one more passenger car, they're just not on that vid. The two pancakes seem to handle it fine, but I'll see if more running time starts to eat into their lifespan....

That observation car is lighted, Although you can't really tell in the vid. Its also metal wheels, which make it quite obvious how much rolling resistance the other plastic wheels impact to the train. I'll be chaining them out for metal wheels some time further down the road.


I'm considering rearranging our storage room upstairs to allow for some type of permanent layout. That will be a looong way off though.....

 

[flightops]

Threw the multimeter on it just for fun. Light comes on (dimly) around 3.5v and the engines start to creep at 5.3-5.5V.

The little train seems most happiest running a little over 12V (approx 12.2-12.4).

Power pack puts out a maximum of 2.3 amps.

so 12-13V at approx 2 amps means 24-26W at full bore speeds.

 

[Rico]

Cool modifications!
It would be super easy to make a drawbar between the locos too.

 

[flightops]

Couldn't resist another CF themed passenger car

Navy this time. WWII river class frigate (K676, HMCS Penetang) in the picture, which was orognallly supposed to be classed as a "twin screw Corvette" class.. Kinda nice as HMCS Sackville is just down the road tied up at historic properties.....

 

[Guy64]

Wow! I'm drooling over your machine shop! Thanks for the pix!

I'm most intrigued by your H0 slot tracks. I got into MRR-ing (S gauge) via the slot car route after my wife bought me a Tyco slot set as a "joke" Christmas gift in 1981. As you may already know, what began as H0 "Model Motoring" in the early '60s swelled in scale over the next decade until, by the late '70s, the cars had become as big as they could be and still fit side-by-side on 3" wide track. At that point, they'd reached into 1/64 scale territory. 1/64 scale just happens to be the scale of S gauge trains, so the two hobbies merged for my wife and I, along with diecast car collecting (HW, Matchbox, etc).

I recognize a few of the slot cars you have. I see you're using Tyco track for you drag strip. What brand of track does your road course use?

 

[flightops]

Wow! I'm drooling over your machine shop! Thanks for the pix!

I'm most intrigued by your H0 slot tracks. I got into MRR-ing (S gauge) via the slot car route after my wife bought me a Tyco slot set as a "joke" Christmas gift in 1981. As you may already know, what began as H0 "Model Motoring" in the early '60s swelled in scale over the next decade until, by the late '70s, the cars had become as big as they could be and still fit side-by-side on 3" wide track. At that point, they'd reached into 1/64 scale territory. 1/64 scale just happens to be the scale of S gauge trains, so the two hobbies merged for my wife and I, along with diecast car collecting (HW, Matchbox, etc).

I recognize a few of the slot cars you have. I see you're using Tyco track for you drag strip. What brand of track does your road course use?

I honestly don't even remember what brand it is now. All laid down and attached and then the joints soldered.....

 

[Rico]

Couldn't resist another CF themed passenger car

Oh come on, don’t make me post that raccoon picture again!

Very cool looking car tho!

 

[flightops]

Well, the test loop has been taken apart and bagged up. It was only ever meant to be temporary for testing anyways. It would have only been a matter of time before the dog kicked it running past or something like that with it being on the floor where it was.

I had taken the rest of the track I have available to see how big a permanent layout would be and I just don't have the space for it. It would mean compromises I just don't want to make in the space we have in the house. Not for a model train track.

The circle ends by themself is about 40" wide and with what I had laid out on the floor I would have needed 4'x9.5'. Basically a huge oval with an offset between them. I just don't have the space for that. And I still had track left over after laying that out.

Anything much smaller just feels like I'd be cramming something in just for the reason of cramming something in. And a track that doesn't circle (like a shunting yard) just doesn't interest me.

Starting to seem more likely the train will just be a xmas tree thing....I'm ok with that too.

 

[bnsf971]

Starting to seem more likely the train will just be a xmas tree thing....I'm ok with that too.

If that's the case, you have between now and mid-November to do some things. Something I'd suggest is watching for an oval or circle of either Bachmann EZ Track or Kato Unitrack. Bachmann is usually cheaper, Kato usually is more durable. When you get one or the other (they are not compatible with each other), you can then use it to make a circle or oval under the tree, with less chance of the dog knocking things loose, or carpet fibers or dirt getting clogged up in the gears and wheels.

 

[flightops]

If that's the case, you have between now and mid-November to do some things. Something I'd suggest is watching for an oval or circle of either Bachmann EZ Track or Kato Unitrack. Bachmann is usually cheaper, Kato usually is more durable. When you get one or the other (they are not compatible with each other), you can then use it to make a circle or oval under the tree, with less chance of the dog knocking things loose, or carpet fibers or dirt getting clogged up in the gears and wheels.

no carpet in the house but points taken.

Dog fur "tumbleweeds" do blow around at times......

 

[DeaconKC]

Look for the book "101 Track Plans for Model Railroads" by Linn Westcott. It has well, 101 plans in it! Many of which are 4x8 or under.

 

[steelwheels]

For me it's not about how much I spend. To be honest, cost is all but irrelevant.

I will never have a large HO layout. With that in mind I chose Life-Like's couplers for the simplicity of installing them. I added Bachmann's steel wheels, and I made my old Tyco and Life-Like cars reliable and easy to connect to my modern locomotives.

I could care less what anyone thinks of it, I love it!

Keep doing what you do and thanks for sharing your work, I enjoy it.

This is the perfect attitude towards our hobbies. We share many similarities and the same types of projects. Slot cars, HotRods, trains, a good catalog of machines. Love the blimp !!

No pictures cause I don't wish to hijack the thread. I like and am mildly interested in 3D printing, no plans to dive in.

Will be following your work, as it is interesting. Current adventure is O scale, demolished an N scale 12 x 18 layout last July, 2 reasons it was maxed out, analog train control.

Keep up the good work
Pep

I go back on my word, 1 picture....

 

[BigGRacing]

Couldn't resist another CF themed passenger car

View attachment 216976

Navy this time. WWII river class frigate (K676, HMCS Penetang) in the picture, which was orognallly supposed to be classed as a "twin screw Corvette" class.. Kinda nice as HMCS Sackville is just down the road tied up at historic properties.....

Nice, I’ve never seen that one before. Thank you for sharing!