02-27-2014, 04:29 PM
My Walthers Proto pantographs arrived in the mail today. These are the General Electric "Faively" single armed type (used on my Arrow IIs and all Silverliners), and the double armed Stemman typed (used on the ArrowIs and Arrow IIIs).
I also recently ordered some bachmann "E33" pantographs, as they appear to be appropriate for my Reading Company MUs.
In the case of the Stemman pantographs, this is pretty exciting since this is the first time these pantographs have been offered as a mass produced part. Imperial Hobby Productions made a few short runs of these pantographs, but they were often questionable (either unstable, or undersized).
One of the difficulties though, will be mounting these pantographs to the models correctly. While they are meant to be screwed into place through the dead center of the pantograph, It appears that these pantographs are wider than what the IHP kits are designed to accept (the metal pantograph off the HO scale bachmann Metroliners of the 1970s and 80s)
I might be able to cut and splice the outside edges of the pantographs to be thinner without harming the function of the pantograph, but it will be challenging. The other option is to move the mounting platforms on the models outwards, but some kits, such as my Arrow Is, have the platforms molded in place, so this won't be an option.
Ultimately, I'm hoping that I can keep everything consistent. I plan to experiment by installing one of each type of pantograph on to an Arrow II and Arrow III married pair. At least then I might be able to figure out if the model looks to weird with unmodified pantographs.
I also recently ordered some bachmann "E33" pantographs, as they appear to be appropriate for my Reading Company MUs.
In the case of the Stemman pantographs, this is pretty exciting since this is the first time these pantographs have been offered as a mass produced part. Imperial Hobby Productions made a few short runs of these pantographs, but they were often questionable (either unstable, or undersized).
One of the difficulties though, will be mounting these pantographs to the models correctly. While they are meant to be screwed into place through the dead center of the pantograph, It appears that these pantographs are wider than what the IHP kits are designed to accept (the metal pantograph off the HO scale bachmann Metroliners of the 1970s and 80s)
I might be able to cut and splice the outside edges of the pantographs to be thinner without harming the function of the pantograph, but it will be challenging. The other option is to move the mounting platforms on the models outwards, but some kits, such as my Arrow Is, have the platforms molded in place, so this won't be an option.
Ultimately, I'm hoping that I can keep everything consistent. I plan to experiment by installing one of each type of pantograph on to an Arrow II and Arrow III married pair. At least then I might be able to figure out if the model looks to weird with unmodified pantographs.
Modeling New Jersey Under the Wire 1978-1979.
![[Image: logosmall.png]](http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/gg445/CAB_IV/Model%20Trains%202013/logosmall.png)