Recent content by hamer1553

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    Repower old Athearn engines?

    I have done dozens of Blue Box repowers. A-line makes repower kits that are good. To really upgrade you need to replace the wheels (NWSL or Jay Bee) as well as the motors. I also use LED Directional lighting in my repowers. DO NOT SCRAP THEM. Cost is over $50 retail to do a good upgrade...
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    Anyone doing custom painting?

    MARK - LOVE THAT GRAPHIC!!! I stole it. :rolleyes:
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    Building New Shelf Layout - Foam VS just plywood

    Building a shelf layout about 32" wide and around 40' long. I have always worked on the plywood (painting it, tacking track, etc.). I see alot of discussion about 1/2 - 3/4" foam as a base over the plywood. I can see the advantages - noise, ground cover, even a little different elevations for...
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    how would you convert a dummy to powered

    I have alot of athearn parts - even motors. Email me - [email protected] - if your interested. Have to agree with above, finding a power unit on ebay and switching out the chassis is likely the easiest route. Or you could send me the frame and I return it powered (constant directional...
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    Constant Light board - DCC pocket for Athearn Blue Box

    Picked up some Proto 2000 light boards and they have an 8 pin connection to "plug and play" DCC. Rigged a few up on athean blue box locos which I put out for sale on EBAY. Is this process worth my time - runs on DC now but you can pop in a decoder - or is wiring in the decoder just not...
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    Converting old locos to run with DCC...

    I do athearn blue box all the time. Some soldering skills needed but nothing major. Check out my pair of LV F7A's on ebay. They are DC now but have the 8 pin plug so you can plug and play a dcc decoder. Some older locos with 'non-can' like motors draw too much current to make DCC practical.
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    Athearn wheel conductivity

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/190686067374?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 THIS PLACE HAS THE NWSL WHEELS MOST OF THE TIME. The price is a little high but its free shipping.
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    Room lighting

    Agree with steve. I would go with 4 - 4 bulb 48" Fluro. fixures. Run them parallel with the long walls, not accross as you pictured. Once your layout is done you could work with led strips just to light up the railroad if you want better detail light. But as for room lighting, I have not...
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    Anyone here sell model trains?

    Been doing the EBAY rebuild/repair route mostly for Athearn Blue Box loco's. All I can say is last time I looked I make about $3 an hour, or less than half of minimum wage. Very unpredictable. NOT RECOMMENDED. Once I finish up a few last locos I am selling my parts supply and getting out of...
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    Athearn wheel conductivity

    Solder contacts from trucks, clean frame contact to trucks and ground contact to motor, clean the commutator, clean the brass wheel bushings inside and out, replace steel wheels with NWSL wheels. Seems like a lot but it does not take more than an hour. I have done this to dozens of Athearn Blue...
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    Looking for athearn details...

    S-12 PRR noted above Baldwin s-12 PRR
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    Looking for athearn details...

    Have a PRR s-12 dummy up for sale on ebay - well it starts tonight for 3 days. $11 starting bid, $18 you can buy it. Has all lenses, bell, horn, handrails, truck sideframes. Think this would be cheaper than buying the parts individually. Email me - [email protected] - for a photo and link...
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    Wanted - Athearn BB S-12 Handrails

    Need a couple of handrail sets for the old Athearn Bluebox Baldwin S-12 swither. Can not find them anywhere for sale? Most shells on EBAY do not have the rails. I do have the sanctions if I need to make them out of wire but not very good at this.
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    P2k lightboards in Athearn Blue Box locos

    Just got some P2k GP38-2 and SW9 "boards" cheap. would like to upgrade my old Athearn collection for constant lighting. I have lots of 1.5 volt bulbs. Anyone know where I can find wiring schematics so I can hook up the p2k boards. Just analog DC, not DDC. thanks Found this photo on ebay...
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