GP 15

[rrinker]

Solder new power pickup wires to the metal sideframes - both sides, don't let it rely on the bolster for the one side. You may have to go as far as to disassemble the trucks and file the plastic down a bit - but not the metal - so that the bronze bushings can actually ride on the metal and transfer power - or you can use very fine wire and solder right to the bronze bushings. My first Athearn RS-3 was like this, VERY poor power pickup. I did the new wires to the sideframes but that only partly helped and I set it aside to try the more drastic methods later. In the meantime I snagged another one in a random road name on eBay for $20 and that one ran beautifully! So I swapped the shells with the one I wanted and now I have a perfectly oeprating one. The quality control is very hit or miss on these. As for the glowing review, well you won't see a bad review in MR, particularly for an advertiser who usually runs several full pages each issue. :mrgreen:

--Randy