01-15-2012, 01:00 AM
sailormatlac Wrote:Did some researches for a proper switching engine for this little layout. I have my Proto 2000 0-8-0 CNR switcher still on my shelves that could be a nice candidate. Unfortunately, it had been shelved for years in my parent's attic, which wasn't the best climate controlled storage room you could wish for. It now runs like at an irregular pace, as if dirt and oxydation spots make it stall a little after the drivers turn a complete revolution. Anybody got this problem? How to fix it?
That sounds to me like hardened grease on the gears. I recently rebuilt a brass 0-8-0 which had the same operating characteristics, and discovered the problem to be grease so hard it had to be scraped from between the teeth, using the back of an X-Acto blade. Remove the gears from the loco and clean what you can in this manner, then, if the gears are metal, clean them in lacquer thinner. If they're plastic, use hot water and dish detergent, with a brush if necessary.
sailormatlac Wrote:I would also be interested by early EMD diesels. I'm leaning toward a Bachmann CNR GP9 (which is decorated as a GP7), throw a new decoder in it and add a few details to make it believable. Maybe a SW 12000... I'll see what my budget can afford. Looks like the Bachmann would be the easiest and best choice. How's your experience of this engine? I've heard a lot of good comments so far. Am I the only one to be bothered by Bachmann CNR Green??? I feel like it's too dark. At some point, since the layout is set in late 1950's and GP7 appeared in 1953, I could manage to tone down the "wrong" color by fading it a little bit.
Everybody to whom I've spoken has high praise for the Bachmann geeps, but all agree that the CNR green is too dark.
sailormatlac Wrote:These images taken from CNR Photos show GP7 in what appear to be dark green (I don't trust old color picture though and the second one is a repainted engine). Im always disappointed at repainted engine, they looks TOO GLOSS to me, but it's probably a side effect of weathering practice!!!!
The 4803 must've been a trial run for building the "Sweeps" - note the Flexicoil trucks in lieu of Blombergs.
Wayne