Joined: 20/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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I have a dc system track with the Harry Potter theme. I have recently purchased an beautiful Marklin Harry Potter train that is in the ac system that I would like to convert to dc so that I can run it on my track. Do any of you know how to do this? If so, can you give me directions. Much appreciated. Please feel free to email me directly at info@moxie-webdesign.com
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 Joined: 19/12/2003(UTC) Posts: 1,205 Location: Swindon, Wiltshire
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Hi Marlene, and welcome to the forum! Unfortunately, it will not be easy to convert your Marklin set to run on DC track. In DC, one of the rails is the + and the other the - . To be able to run on DC, the two wheels on each axle have to be electrically insulated from each other, otherwise you will get a short circuit. And Marklin does not have insulated wheels since it uses the centre pickup for the + and BOTH rails for the - . Whilst you could possibly change all the axles in the Marklin coaches, changing them on the loco will be nearly impossible, at least without specialist equipment. Since this forum is made up of Marklin afficionados, I suggest you go the other way: get rid of your DC track and run your DC equipment on Marklin track...  |
Richard |
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Joined: 12/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,528
Location: Groton, Connecticut
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Welcome to the forum Marlene.
Ira |
Building German Era I-II layout(Mk IIIc).  |
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Joined: 16/07/2002(UTC)
Posts: 1,575
Location: DeSoto (Dallas area), TX
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The only technique I can think that might work: Order the AC spare parts, and retrofit these on the DC item. Of course this only works if the item is available as AC and DC (such as wheels and Trix or some Roco Loks).  |
The McLae
IB digital, DB, OBB, SBB epII-V
Providing a home for little lost 'Gators |
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Joined: 04/02/2002(UTC)
Posts: 799
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Wow! A female!!! That is a breath of fresh air.. Welcome to the Forum.. I would advise against tampering with the Harry Potter Marklin, as it's a limited edition item, and some day (not too soon, but some day), will be worth a lot to a collector. I would, if I were you, set up a small 3-rail circuit in your layout, even if it's just a small station, or a few feet of track, and display the Marklin there, parked at the station. This is of course my opinion, and you need to do what you want in the end that will make you happy. The cost of total conversion is not going to be astronomical, but it will be high. I know of a few people who specilze in this type of work (one in the SF Bay Area), but he have 6 month back logs, and charge a lot (more the the cost of the set). Another is not as busy and less experienced, but will charge much less. Goto www.Trainsahead.com and email him... his name is Raman. |
Era I-V / HO & 1 Gauge / C-Track & Mobil Station, with Central Station. |
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 Joined: 13/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,616
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Hi Marlene, Welcome to the forum . Guus |
Kind regards,
Guus |
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 Joined: 04/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,062 Location: Neu-Ulm, Bavaria
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Hello Marlene,
and also welcome here. I noticed from looking at your well-made homepage that indeed this Harry Potter theme is your favorite. If you find the time, you should try to get hold of an old copy of Marklin Magazine, namely 5/2004 (maybe through Ebay).
In it somebody created a unique Harry Potter layout. A rotating motor was built into the layout and hidden underneath it. On a tiny rod that was rotated by the motor, you could find a model of the Weasley's family car ....
In effect, every time the train came out of the tunnel, it was chased by the car, which seemed to fly in the air !!!
This was one kind of a funny idea !!! Maybe some of our friends on this forum have some pictures scanned and could post them, making it unnecessary for you to search for the whole magazine ??? |
I like M-track and my things that run on it were built between 1959 and 1972. |
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Joined: 04/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 1,062 Location: Neu-Ulm, Bavaria
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Hello again, I think I found photos of it on the net ... But now I think copyright should be at least remembered and the origin mentioned: http://www.ige-hg.de/Home/home.html You want "Bildergalerie", German for picture galleries Have fun !!! Johann   Edited by moderator 11 January 2011 16:31:34(UTC)
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I like M-track and my things that run on it were built between 1959 and 1972. |
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Joined: 10/03/2002(UTC)
Posts: 217
Location: ,
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
I had a look at our Harry Potter train and I have to agree with the above comments.
Unless you could obtain isolated wheel sets as spare parts (I don't think they exist from Marklin), it would be very labor intensive to modify the wheels. And then you would have to fashion contacts to pick up the current from the wheels. Of course, it could be done.
You said that your layout has a Harry Potter theme. Do you have already a DC Harry Potter train? We also have the Bachmann DC Harry Potter set. And while I consider the Maerklin set a Maerklin "Hobby" e.g. entry level quality set, the Maerklin train is very much superior compared to the Bachmann one. That said, yes, give the Maerklin train a run. You may find that it is worth the effort to have the Maerklin train as part of your layout as Sam suggested.
I assume you did buy the whole set with tracks?
Sorry for not having a better answer ... Hans |
Hans ... Epoch I to V, M-track, IB with MS |
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 Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC) Posts: 5,181 Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
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Marlene: Welcome. Very nice work. I agree wit the others...perhaps the conversion COULD be done, but it may not run well or be worth the effort. I believe that Weinert sells DC wheel sets for their loks...perhaps some could be found to fit yours if you really intend to proceed with this. |
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Joined: 10/03/2002(UTC)
Posts: 217
Location: ,
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Oh, I just saw your very nice layout on your web site! It is possible to convert the Bachmann train to run on Maerklin AC. There is one other solution I can think of. One forum member (in Italy I think) has modified Maerklin C-track to be used both as a 2-rail and a 3-rail system, but NOT simultaneously. As such, Peco, is selling center rail contacts which would allow you to modify your DC-rail. See what it would look like at https://www.marklin-user...452&SearchTerms=pecoBy adding the center rail contact and making the proper track connections you could run trains either in 2-rail or 3-rail mode, but not at the same time. Sorry, but all the suggestions seem to be cost and/or labor intensive. Hans |
Hans ... Epoch I to V, M-track, IB with MS |
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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC) Posts: 12,139 Location: New York, NY
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Hi Marlene, welcome to The Forum. Congratulations - very nice site, beautyful layout! And your "Rocket" is just cute ... [:p] BTW, I'd NEVER invest my hard earned cash in such a conversion - since nothing will be right in the end ... [xx(] Best Regards 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: 20/04/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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Thank you all very much for your comments and compliments. Very much appreciated. So now I have do to some thinking about this. Do I convert it or not is the question. To answer some of your questions. I do also have the Harry Potter Bachman set which is inferior to the Marklin set (I only got the trains, not the whole package, got it on ebay). I have the Weasley car as well and was planning to hang it up near the castle almost crashing into the willow tree which I don't have up yet. I guess I am a rareity (a woman building all of this). My Dad gave me some trains and I proceeded from there. Keep the comments coming please if there are any more out there. Thanks!!
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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC) Posts: 31,692 Location: United Kingdom
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Welcone to forum |
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: 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 hotrainset
<br />I guess I am a rareity (a woman building all of this)
Not at all, Ma'am - just browse the members section 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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