Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi Juha,
Although this price is ridiculous, they are fetching quite a lot of money, and they have been out of production for quite some time now. Personally, I do not really like them; I think they are too coarse besides a PA or other newer model, and for that money ... I am satisfied with my crossbreed that cost a whole lot less. Will post a video when I have more time.
Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Jeroen - yours is one most clever and also beautiful solution ...  [:p][^] |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi All [editing this post instead of adding one],
While waiting for some glue to dry I thought I might ask around whether anyone here can help me to the exploded view of a Proto 2000 E6 [and another question, below].
I have removed the shell, and to get to the trucks I will have to remove the pcb and other parts as well, so it would save me some sketching and exploratory screw loosening if I could refer to the exploded view to see how to take it apart in the simplest way.
Another question: does anyone here have real-life experience with converted Proto-2000 locos? With my SD7 I had sacrificed the gear system of one truck so as to insert a holder for a slider, expecting the other truck would have sufficient power to move a decent consist. However, the problem now is not power but traction: even without any cars the thing starts slipping far too easily. There may be some excess friction between the wheels and the dummy brake shoes of the slider truck, and the slider itself does not help either [although it does not create more friction than under a Mä loco]; I will reduce the friction where I can, but this is not very reassuring. Anyone's comments? Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 09/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,346 Location: Longueuil, Quebec
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by jerdenberg <br />(...) Another question: does anyone here have real-life experience with converted Proto-2000 locos? With my SD7 I had sacrificed the gear system of one truck so as to insert a holder for a slider, expecting the other truck would have sufficient power to move a decent consist. However, the problem now is not power but traction: even without any cars the thing starts slipping far too easily. There may be some excess friction between the wheels and the dummy brake shoes of the slider truck, and the slider itself does not help either [although it does not create more friction than under a Mä loco]; I will reduce the friction where I can, but this is not very reassuring. Anyone's comments? Jeroen
Unfortunately not at the moment. Even if I have received my Uhlenbrock decoders at last, I had no time to begin the conversion of my BUDD RDC and my 0-8-0. For my FA-2/FB-2 tandem, I think that I will simply add an unpowered F7B in third position. This-one will be made of Märklin frame and trucks with a Highliner shell. The F7B will be fitted with the slider and decoder. So I will avoid the traction problem that you have got. Can this be applicable to you ? On the other hand, I have checked on my Brawa GP30 (which is actually a modified Proto 2000 model); only one truck is powered just like your locomotive but two traction tires have been added, one on each side and one on each axle. Maybe this will this solve your problem. Let us know. Pierre.
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi Pierre,
Thanks for your observations. I would like to use the SD7 for locals and the like, so a second unit to accommodate the slider would be overkill.
I suppose your Brawa loc has profiled wheels for the traction tires? Otherwise I should imagine the truck would be prone to wobbling, especially with the traction tires on different axles? [Calls for a test with the SD7; traction tires on both wheels of one axle perhaps.]
Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi All, I finally found the time to finish my SD7. No video yet: I wanted to make one tonight, but while happily putting the hood in place I was careless and let the loco slip out of my hands on the floor: one coupler snapped of, front damaged, snap-on truck fasteners unfastened, ... Took an hour to get to the point I was before. It now runs OK (Pierre, starting out from your idea I sanded down the "bottom of the truck bottom"; it was not even necessary to remove the entire bottom layer for it to clear even the pukos of the long turnouts). Pulling power is still meagre in comparison with the M. locos: a ten-car train has some difficulty in R3 curves. Anyway, I think it will be handling locals mostly (reefer, boxcar, 1 heavyweight, an occasional tank car or gondola, and a caboose), so that is no problem. In the meantime, here are some treasures I found on Ebay:  The complete train from 29570, new, in the starter set box (94 euros; 110 including shipping!)  The automobiles are second-hand, 16 euros including shipping; the rolling stock behind them is by Bachmann; these cars are about 11/12 euros apiece new. I am planning a video of the SD7 and the F7 for tomorrow. Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 09/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,346 Location: Longueuil, Quebec
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... Connot wait for the video and pictures ! [:p]
Pierre.
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Joined: 12/05/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,908 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
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I second Pierre.
Great cars and rolling stock you have Jeroen! |
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi All, A simple video (but still 26 MB!) of the SD7 and F7 can be viewed/downloaded from here. The "aliens" from LifeLike (SD7), Athearn (SP&S boxcar) and Bachmann run OK on their RP25 wheels, the only tight spot being the raised pukos of the long turn-outs. Two Bachmann cars had their uncoupler levers (the bent thingy hanging under the coupler claws) so low that they bumped into the pukos, but that is easily corrected. My main problem this time of the year is the humidity/temperature combination; while humidity is about 40% in winter it is more like 70% and 80% in summer. Every time I run the trains I have to clean the track at various locations to make the trains run in a normal way. Jeroen Edited by user 09 January 2011 21:11:35(UTC)
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Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 06/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,383 Location: Darmstadt,
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Nice video  , I could download it to my office computer, which has a fast connection but unfortunately no sound. Hans Martin
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi Hans Martin,
The sound is not really interesting, as the locs have no sound modules and the clearests sounds were made by myself moving on the ladder I was standing on (the "layout" is on the floor of the attic of our garage, which does not provide room to stand up straight and can be reached by a ladder only). The SD7 is quite silent, while the F7 is somewhat louder.
Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,701 Location: United Kingdom
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Nice video but no sound at all. |
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy. |
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Joined: 12/05/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,908 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
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Great video (and sound) Jeroen! Thanks for sharing. It makes my mouth water [:p][:p][:p]. I have a feeling I'll be buying a few non-M cars soon... |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by jerdenberg <br />some treasures I found on Ebay: complete train from 29570, new, in the starter set box (94 euros; 110 including shipping!) Excellent deal, Jeroen - congratulations [:p][:p][:p] !!! Have fun  , John |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 09/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,346 Location: Longueuil, Quebec
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Great to see your SD7 and F7 both running !  Congratulations, Jeroen. By the way you also have an amazing collection of US freight cars. Pierre.
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi all, After successfully adding the Trix BB to my rolling stock I thought I'd check the Trix NYC PA-1 I had left after robbing a Trix UP PA-1 of its body, truck parts and headlight assembly. The slider was no problem at all: just replaced one of the DC pick-ups by a slider (actually, only one will do: the slider should go under the non-powered truck, otherwise it "runs aground" on the high pukos of the long switches). Then connect the remaining DC pickup to mass. Next was the decoder: I used a multiprotocol lokpilot 2, which simply plugs into the NEM socket on the loc. The loc now ran, but there was a problem with the lights: I had mounted the NYC headlight assembly from the Märklin loc, but somehow the wiring did not match and I could not get the headlight to work, although the numberboard lights, connected to the same output, did work. I decided to do away with the original headlight and mount a warm-white led instead of the original yellow one. Just drilled a hole through the PCB, grinded the top of the 5mm LED (only size I had) to a cylinder of appropriate diameter and press-fitted that in the hole (photos clickable for high-res versions):  The current-limiting series resistor is not visible as it is at the decoder side of the wires. I blackened the bottom of the LED with Humbrol black to prevent light escaping to the back. With a current of almost 13 mA the headlight is quite powerful, and I like the colour: it is not as blueish white as the headlight I put in the F7, and not the very yellow yellow of the original one:  Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 09/11/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,346 Location: Longueuil, Quebec
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I cannot imagine the moment when the PA-1 will be available in 20 different railroad liveries both by Märklin and Trix !  Great work anyway, Jeroen ! [:p] Pierre.
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Joined: 06/02/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,383 Location: Darmstadt,
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Nice conversion of your Trix (?) PA-1, congratulations.
The white LED is a real improvement as compared to the yellow one [:p].
I did also make a few experiments with white LEDs on my Amtrak F7. However, I did not get a completely satisfactory result yet as the light appeared too blue (allthough using warm white LEDs), but the light colour from your LED is perfect.
Hans Martin
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Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC) Posts: 11,071 Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
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O no another topic to read very carefully before I start on mine. Thanls for the info and Pickies. Nev |
NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders and a hose pipe on the aorta Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Nice fleet, Jeroen  ... BTW, all of your headlight colors are great [:p] |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote: Originally posted by PierreGILLARD<br />I cannot imagine the moment when the PA-1 will be available in 20 different railroad liveries  Nor can my wallet, Pierre ... [:I] |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 09/04/2006(UTC) Posts: 1,278 Location: Brisbane, Queensland
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Your three loks in the picture are looking pretty awesome Jeroen . Top thread.[:p]
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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@Pierre: with the present prices one can get NYC PA's for you could treat them as "brass parts" that accidentally have been painted and use them to create PAs of other roads  . @Hans Martin: as the warm-white colour is created by colouring the LED material, I suppose there is no standard there (reminds me of UP armour yellow ...); I may just have been lucky in receiving the right shade of white. BTW: I had thought about painting the top of the LED so as to "make" the desired colour, and yesterday saw that some people are indeed doing that and are satisfied with the result. The paint will most probably not be apparent behind the light cover. @Nev: Does your Ghan loco have lamps or LEDs? My SD7 has lamps, but I do not really like them: rather dim on the one hand, and radiating in all kinds of undesired directions on the other. Maybe I will replace those by LEDs too, and add separate ones for the numberboards (that would also give the now unused F2 output of the Lokpilot an occupation). @John, Rowan: I agree they look fine; the only problem I have here is the livery: although the grey ones look really nice they are competitors, and I shouldn't really allow them on my road  Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 16/08/2006(UTC) Posts: 5,382 Location: Akershus, Norway
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Best regards Svein, Norway grumpy old sod
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote: Originally posted by jerdenberg<br />John, the only problem I have here is the livery: although the grey ones look really nice they are competitors, and I shouldn't really allow them on my road  Jeroen: Oughta be no big problem - NYC and their grey Diesels are long gone (since 1968). Just pieces of history, today. Longing for your mercy ... [:I] |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 27/08/2005(UTC) Posts: 11,071 Location: Murrumba Downs QLD
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Jeroen, My GHan has Lamps but I am going to replace them with LEDs. THe F7 Has Lamps and am undecided either to leave as Lamps or LEDs. N |
NOt wearing the Pink Pinny, which is hard to see and now I have a white Pinny which also is hard to see against MY pure white Skin Still have 2 new shiny tin Hips that is badly in Need of Repair matching rusting tin shoulders and a hose pipe on the aorta Junior member of the Banana Club, a reformist and an old Goat with a Bad memory, loafing around |
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by john black Jeroen: Oughta be no big problem - NYC and their grey Diesels are long gone (since 1968). Just pieces of history, today. Longing for your mercy ... [:I]
1968? That is 10 years in the future! The competition looks very alive to me. See this (click for high-res):  By the way, I just heard they want to phase out the Big Boys this year or next year at the latest. Sherman Hill will never be the same again[:(] And those new-fangled DC8's do not make things better for the streamliners either. See their posh advert in the May 1957 issue of National Geographic Magazine, on a page spread no less:   Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Quote:[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by jerdenberg <br />1968? That is 10 years in the future! By the way, I just heard they want to phase out the Big Boys this year or next year at the latest. Sherman Hill will never be the same again [:(] And those new-fangled DC8's do not make things better for the streamliners either Coolness, Jeroen - now we've got a time machine [:p][:p][:p] !!! And thanks for those great old ads. Do really love them ...  |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 12/05/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,908 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Any news about your UP fleet, Jeroen [:p]  |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Well actually,
this summer was the busiest, workwise, we ever had, so I did not have much opportunity to work on models. Worse, my attic empire under the roof of our garage gets hot and humid in the summer, which generates contact problems everywhere, and as I cannot stand up there I have to sit on my knees while cleaning track etc. Then when one of my non-mfx Big Boys was gaining speed it encountered a non-conducting stretch which was just short enough that the loco reached a conducting spot just before it stalled. Not having the Alzheimer effect, it then tried to resume at the desired speed. The resultant jerk derailed some 30 of the trailing cars, some of which fell over on the parallel track, toppling a number of cars of a train on that track, and chaos was complete. It was not a pleasant experience ... I am now pondering what to do: keep the tracks in that attic or move to somewhere in the house (but where...).
In the meantime, I have spent some time on the conversion of a Rivarossi FEF (4-8-4). I replaced the original motor by a Canon and must now decide where to put the slider. I got the model off Ebay, and I was pleasantly surprised by its appearance. It is plastic allright, but has a realistic "used" look.
Recently I also got a Proto-1000 model of an Erie-built loco, of which the construction looks akin to that of the SD-7 I converted last year. It should not be difficult to repeat that conversion for the Erie-built loco.
Work is to be continued soon.
Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 25/03/2006(UTC) Posts: 858 Location: Connecticut, USA
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Jeroen - your Big Boy tale of woe brought to mind an old poem about Paddy, an Irish bricklayer. It's not MMR but it may give you something to smile about. Here it is
Dear Sir I write this note to you to tell you of my plight For at the time of writing I am not a pretty sight My body is all black and blue, my face a deathly grey And I write this note to say why Paddy's not at work today.
Whilst working on the fourteenth floor,some bricks I had to clear To throw them down from such a height was not a good idea The foreman wasn't very pleased, the bloody awkward sod He said I had to cart them down the ladders in my hod.
Now clearing all these bricks by hand, it was so very slow So I hoisted up a barrel and secured the rope below But in my haste to do the job, I was too blind to see That a barrel full of building bricks was heavier than me.
And so when I untied the rope, the barrel fell like lead And clinging tightly to the rope I started up instead I shot up like a rocket till to my dismay I found That half way up I met the bloody barrel coming down.
Well the barrel broke my shoulder, as to the ground it sped And when I reached the top I banged the pulley with my head I clung on tightly, numb with shock, from this almighty blow And the barrel spilled out half the bricks, fourteen floors below.
Now when these bricks had fallen from the barrel to the floor I then outweighed the barrel and so started down once more Still clinging tightly to the rope, my body racked with pain When half way down, I met the bloody barrel once again.
The force of this collision, half way up the office block Caused multiple abrasions and a nasty state of shock Still clinging tightly to the rope I fell towards the ground And I landed on the broken bricks the barrel scattered round.
I lay there groaning on the ground I thought I'd passed the worst But the barrel hit the pulley wheel, and then the bottom burst A shower of bricks rained down on me, I hadn't got a hope As I lay there bleeding on the ground, I let go the bloody rope.
The barrel then being heavier then started down once more And landed right across me as I lay upon the floor It broke three ribs, and my left arm, and I can only say That I hope you'll understand why Paddy's not at work today.
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A Connecticut Yankee |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Hal: Poor Paddy definitely does a better job in making poems than in laying bricks ...  Jeroen: Yep - getting the best place for the layout may become a great challenge, indeed. Good luck for finding another room ...  |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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@Hal: my plight dwindles in comparison  @John: It seems to be a law of nature that, irrespective of one's dwellings, the number of rooms is always one short  Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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I can't believe it is almost 2 years ago I wrote the post above. Not much progress in the meantime, except for the purchase of yet another conversion project, the Athearn Gas Turbine that arrived last week. I have given up hope that Märklin is ever going to make such models, so I settled for plastic. The model looks a bit flimsy compared to the Big Boy at its side, but apart from that it looks quite reasonable, and of course it was indispensable to the UP in the 1950s!   Edited by user 08 April 2010 17:23:09(UTC)
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Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Congratulations, Jeroen - the Gas Turbine definitely is a must ...    Good luck with your conversion [:p] I constantly do miss your wonderful topic cos it's not in the HO-forum [:I] |
I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators. AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only. CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ... Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Joined: 15/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 1,591 Location: Pennsylvania
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nice work, and I've had my eye on the new Athearn UP turbine too. I have one of the other types of turbines done by Lionel. I might have to look for some old beat up Marklin F7's on ebay now and just use the marklin loco in its entirety, to make up some other road names, namely a PRR. I think they used the radio-phone antennas on the roofs too on F7s (they did on many other diesels). Too mad there will probably be no more marklin F7s since themold supposedly failed.
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Joined: 15/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 625 Location: Nuremberg, Bavaria
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Life-Like and Athearn four-axle engines can be converted easily for Märklin.
Take a Brawa pickup shoe #2225 and replace the original RP25 wheels with the wheels of a Brawa V100 (of an AC version, of course). That way means you can keep all four driven axles. I have several GP engines which have been converted that way, and they run fine.
I think the same way of conversion should be possible for Athearn’s F7s too, allthough I haven’t tried it yet. They have a UP F7 for a good price, so why paying high prices for an old used Märklin UP F7 which just isn’t as rare as many think.
Regards, Florian
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H0 3-rail AC with DCC, MM and mfx, 2-rail DC streetcars, and N gauge |
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi Florian,
I am not sure I see the reason why the Brawa pickup shoe and the wheel exchange should facilitate keeping all axles driven. Is there a height advantage in exchanging the wheels or is the pickup shoe flatter? With my SD9 there was simply not sufficient room under the transmission box to add anything (in fact, the transmission box touched the longest pukos of some turnouts before I sanded off some of it). In hindsight, I think it would have been possible to keep the all axles driven, albeit with the possible exposure of the bottom of the drive train.
Would you be willing to explain a bit further, or post (a) picture(s) of your solution?
With best regards,
Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 15/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 625 Location: Nuremberg, Bavaria
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Here’s the description how to fit 2-axled Life-Like and Athearn bogies with the Brawa pickup shoe (which are, in fact, the same). Finally, I found the time to take some pictures of one of the converted locos, a Rock Island GP9 from Life Like. The Brawa pickup show is flatter, its sheet metal is not so thick as that of other manufacturers' pickup shoes. First thing you need to do is to remove the pickup shoe’s base plate which consists of plastic or pertinax. Work carefully not to damage the brackets. Then, remove the bottom plate of the gear box. Now, install the pickup shoe on the narrower middle section of that plastic part. If you have no problems with RP25 on your Märklin tracks, it is of course not really necessary to replace them. This loco had no problems with the transmission box touching the point contacts on any turnouts. Please note: the brass gears of my loco are not the original one. The original ones were of plastic and damaged. The new ones were fitted by a member of our model train club, they are from Fleischmann, I will ask him the next time I see him for what models Fleischmann uses them (probably steam locos with driven tenders).       Regards, Florian |
H0 3-rail AC with DCC, MM and mfx, 2-rail DC streetcars, and N gauge |
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Joined: 10/01/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,025 Location: Den Helder, Noord-Holland
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Hi Florian,
Thanks for the description and the pictures. From the fact that you do not have problems with the gearbox touching pukos, even though the construction of your GP looks very much like that of my SD, I wonder if the Brawa AC wheels have a larger diameter than the RP25 ones, thus creating sufficient clearance between gearbox and pukos?
Jeroen |
Figomima division, UP; mostly figment of my imagination yet. |
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Joined: 05/06/2009(UTC) Posts: 424 Location: Boksburg, Gauteng
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Hi Florian
Thanks for the conversion details. I have been wanting to buy some Athearn SD & GP locomotives but did not knew how to convert to C-track.
I have a few questions, will you please assist me with answers if you are able to?
Looks like you fitted a normal Marklin relex coupler (72060) to the loco, is this correct? Did you have to modify the coupler pockets on the Athearn loco (for the relex couplers to fit )?
I assume you fitted you own decoder to the locomotive, i.e. ESU of simmilar, is this correct?
Will you try to get the part numbers for those brass gears from your fellow club member?
Do you know what the part numbers are for those wheel sets form the Brawa V100?
Regards |
Marius in Africa
HO, ECoS 2, Märklin C-track, any country, any design, any era & any brand which i like. |
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Joined: 15/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 625 Location: Nuremberg, Bavaria
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I still have to check if the Brawa wheels have a larger diameter than the original RP25 wheels. My locos were fitted with an ESU “Lokpilot 3.0” decoder, the coupler comes from Mehano, # 12344. But I don’t know if it’s still available, as they closed down their Slovenian plant to move production to China. I will try to get the number of the Fleischmann locomotive type from which the fellow club member took the brass gears, then I only have to look in the spare part list for the right part number. For the Brawa wheels: my Brawa V100 is the PCK version, catalogue number is 0448 for the AC version. The spare parts’ list says no. 38 for an AC wheel set without traction tires, and no. 39 for an AC wheel set with traction tires. You only get complete wheel sets, no single wheels. You can also look here, on the Homepage of “Modellbahnservice Bentz” - http://www.modellbahnservice-bentz.de/They offer complete AC wheel sets for Athearn locos, as well as single AC wheels. The prices for the complete AC wheel sets don’t seem to be very favourable, on the other side, one can save a lot of work when using these ready parts. Regards, Florian |
H0 3-rail AC with DCC, MM and mfx, 2-rail DC streetcars, and N gauge |
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Joined: 15/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 625 Location: Nuremberg, Bavaria
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That's the Mehano coupler 12344:  It's a loop and hook coupler for American coupler pockets. I also used this coupler to convert freight cars. Sometimes, you have to sand off some material, but in most cases, it fitted excellent. Regards, Florian |
H0 3-rail AC with DCC, MM and mfx, 2-rail DC streetcars, and N gauge |
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Joined: 05/06/2009(UTC) Posts: 424 Location: Boksburg, Gauteng
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Thank you for the information Florian. |
Marius in Africa
HO, ECoS 2, Märklin C-track, any country, any design, any era & any brand which i like. |
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Joined: 05/06/2009(UTC) Posts: 424 Location: Boksburg, Gauteng
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Frankenbahner wrote:That's the Mehano coupler 12344:  It's a loop and hook coupler for American coupler pockets. I also used this coupler to convert freight cars. Sometimes, you have to sand off some material, but in most cases, it fitted excellent. Regards, Florian Hello Florian and all other members. I recently received my first Athearn HO locomotive, an SD70Ace. Quite a nice looking locomotive at a lowish price. My main obstacle is now the changing of the coupler to something that works with Marlin rolling stock. I did send an e-mail to Mehano regarding coupler # 12344 and received absolutely no response. Is their any members who can assist with alternative ideas? Regards Marius Edited by user 19 December 2010 20:24:24(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified |
Marius in Africa
HO, ECoS 2, Märklin C-track, any country, any design, any era & any brand which i like. |
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