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Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kris Everett on June 23, 2010, 07:12:18 PM

Title: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 23, 2010, 07:12:18 PM
how do u go about plumbing those HO scale water pumps

also dose bachmann sell or make any spike to put in to the EZ track system to keep the pieces in place
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Doneldon on June 23, 2010, 07:22:50 PM
TB16 -

Plumbing the water pumps (I assume you mean on steamers) varies from loco to loco so there isn't a single answer.

No, Bachmann doesn't make EZ Track nails.  You don't need them.  Just use some plastic-compatible construction adhesive.  It's quicker and easier, plus, it'll eliminate the risk of causing track defects by putting nails in too deeply.
                                                                                      -- D
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 23, 2010, 07:23:45 PM
Quote from: trainboy16 on June 23, 2010, 07:12:18 PM
how do u go about plumbing those HO scale water pumps

also dose bachmann sell or make any spike to put in to the EZ track system to keep the pieces in place

Show us "those HO scale water pumps". A photo would be nice.

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: ABC on June 23, 2010, 07:26:44 PM
I think he is referring to the Bachmann machine that you can use for live running water/waterfalls. I misspoke, they are currently in stock at Bachmann, sorry about that.
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 23, 2010, 07:30:46 PM
here it is

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae45/trainboy16/Picture0020.jpg
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 23, 2010, 07:56:54 PM
Quote from: trainboy16 on June 23, 2010, 07:30:46 PM
here it is

http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae45/trainboy16/Picture0020.jpg

Ok, good. Now I know what you mean. Below is a link that will give you a lot of info for this device. There should be plenty of info but you will have to do some reading. Store the links you like in Favorites for future use.

http://www.google.com/search?q=bachmann%20trains%20water%20pumps&hl=en&ned=us&tab=nw

Have fun. Looks interesting.

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: the Bach-man on June 23, 2010, 11:13:29 PM
Dear Trainboy,
The pump is placed at the bottom of the watercourse, and the neoprene tube delivers the water to the top. Aquarium stores sell similar setups. However, real water doesn't look "real" on most layouts, and can be a big headache.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 24, 2010, 08:47:18 AM
do u know what size the tube is

im constantly ruin the pumps trying to get the tubes on and then there useless!

i dont want to keep wasting my money :)
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 24, 2010, 10:06:09 AM
Quote from: Kris Everett on June 24, 2010, 08:47:18 AM
do u know what size the tube is

im constantly ruin the pumps trying to get the tubes on and then there useless!

i dont want to keep wasting my money :)

Below is one of the links from the Google search that says, 1/4 inch tubing. I am surprised this is giving you trouble.

http://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Mini-Water-Pump/product-reviews/B0006O83KO

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 24, 2010, 11:01:22 AM
I hate to say it but i may have been using the wroung size ill have to goto wal-mart to see what size it was
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 24, 2010, 11:16:22 AM
Home Depot, Lowe's and tropical fish shops may be some help.

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 24, 2010, 11:45:51 AM
ok thank you ill keep them in mind its rain here to day  so cant go no where to day
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 24, 2010, 12:16:15 PM
Quote from: Kris Everett on June 24, 2010, 11:45:51 AM
ok thank you ill keep them in mind its rain here to day  so cant go no where to day

Yeah, that can keep you at home. Fortunately where I live we have severe clear right now but with thunderstorms following.

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Doneldon on June 25, 2010, 12:21:02 AM
Any good hardware store will have all sizes of tubing for sale by the foot.
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 25, 2010, 09:33:14 AM
ok thank you
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 26, 2010, 03:25:39 PM
i ran in to trouble

the flexible end of the pump i cant get the tube to go on to it? ;D
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Doneldon on June 26, 2010, 04:08:05 PM
Ktis -

Check to be sure you have the correct size tubing.  If you need different diameter tubing on the ends, post here and we'll tell you how to make the connection in the middle.

                                                                                           -- D
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 26, 2010, 05:33:46 PM
1/4 will work on the stiff end but on the soft end it won't go on and i don't. want to damage it. and be out more money ill post a better pic of it.


http://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae45/trainboy16/trains/Picture0026.jpg
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 27, 2010, 09:12:44 AM
i think im going to do this im going to use 1/2" tube for the soft end the  reduced it back to 1/4" with 1/2"x1/4" barb fittings then ill be all set and done with plumbing 


dose ne 1 no where i can get a water prof membrane to get the water where it needs to be
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 27, 2010, 02:52:53 PM
I have no idea of exactly what you are designing. scale, but understand for even experienced molders, real water is quite a challenge for a model railroad. Below are some links on this issue.

http://www.themodelrailroader.com/landscaping/how-to-model-water-on-your-model-railroad-layout/

Below link one persons experience with real water on a model railroad layout.

http://www.tslrr.com/water.htm

Home page for the above link.   http://www.tslrr.com/index.htm

http://www.building-your-model-railroad.com/model-railroad-water.html

The below book has some hints on using real water.

http://www.daveswebshop.com/creativeeffects.shtml

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: OldTimer on June 27, 2010, 04:38:23 PM
One of the problems with using real water is that it doesn't look like water that we see in nature.  I suspect that this may be because we've scaled down the world to fit our trains, but when we try to use water as a scenery element, we're using "full size" water.  One of the biggest problems with real water is that it is clear (unless, of course it's very muddy).   The color that water appears to have is caused by blues and greens in the environment that are reflected off the surface of the water.  Since we don't have sky and woods in our train rooms, there is nothing for the water to reflect.   

By the way, we are not the only ones with this water problem.  Back in the old days when movie makers used models rather than computer simulations, they found that water was not a good thing to float ships on.  Glycerin, I believe, became the product of choice to be the "stunt double" for water.
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 27, 2010, 04:54:11 PM
Once in a great while I see one of those old movies and it looks just like "model" ships on water.
Was not very convincing at all.
Some of you "might" remember "flying saucers" held by a piece of string in some early science fiction, with no science, movies.
You have to remember, model railroading is an analogy of the real thing and all analogies break down somewhere.

"Artificial" water in modeling can be very convincing as some of the links I provided show.

Yes, real water provides bragging rights but it is a lot of work to install and maintain.

Rich
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 27, 2010, 07:16:18 PM
old timer

can u pump Glycerin through thoses pumps that i have?


rich

i think i might be able o handle the chalenges of water

and i loved those links gave me a better understanding of useing real water in a layout
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Jim Banner on June 27, 2010, 11:50:52 PM
Spilt water evaporates.  Spilt glycerin is forever.  That is why we used to use it to replace water in reindeer moss when we used it to make trees.  They would retain the glycerin and remain flexible for decades.

On a whim, I checked the WHMIS on glycerol and found this on an MSDS:

CAUTION! MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY AFFECT KIDNEYS.

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/g4774.htm (http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/g4774.htm)

Digging a little deeper, it turns out that in case of fire, glycerol can decompose into acrolein, a rather nasty substance that was used as a chemical warfare agent in WWI and which itself can decompose in a fire to form carbon monoxide.

Turns out Aunt Mildred's Glycerin and Rose Water was not as innocuous as we used to think, although glycerol diluted with water is not a bad as the pure stuff.

Jim

Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Kris Everett on June 28, 2010, 07:53:19 AM
so if u could get your hands on some then u would over all suggest useing water over Aunt Mildred's Glycerin. for safety reasons?
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: Jim Banner on June 28, 2010, 03:26:34 PM
Water has a whole different set of problems associated with it.  I would not use either of them.  Having seen artificial water that you would swear was moving, I would suggest practicing your skills in that direction, using Envirotex or similar artificial water.  Be prepared to experiment, either on the layout or off it, until you find a method that works for you and gives results that are acceptable to you.

Jim
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: JerryB on June 28, 2010, 05:12:48 PM
Kris:

As Jim has recommended, I also would not use either 'real' water nor glycerin on an indoor small scale layout.

While real water would seem to have some merits, it is difficult (read impossible) to contain and scenic around, is subject to stagnation and growing ugly biologics, and (most of all) does not look like prototype water. It just does not scale down as one would hope.

All materials, such as glycerins, that remain liquid or semi-liquid have the same kinds of problems. Imagine a pond, lake or stream with some semi-liquid material that winds up leaking, covered in dust, or being contaminated with some growing material. And, yes, glycerins are a hazard if they are subjected to fire. Having a house fire is a small risk, but I wouldn't want to expose my family to unnecessary chemical hazards in the event of one.

Instead, I would suggest you study what materials are commonly used on layouts and select from them. As an example, Googling "model railroad water" produced 3,240,000 hits!! The first page of results contained several great sites that either discuss various water modeling solutions, advertise commercial products or lead to people's layouts that have water features. For a couple of examples, see:

Ten Ways To Model Water at: http://www.aglasshalffull.org/article-model-water.html (http://www.aglasshalffull.org/article-model-water.html)

--and--

Woodland Scenics at: http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/index.cfm (http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/index.cfm)

Hope this helps,

Happy RRing,

Jerry
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: OldTimer on June 28, 2010, 05:43:19 PM
I have to protect my reputation here...LOL.  Please note that at NO TIME did I EVER suggest that Kris use glycerin in place of water on his layout.  I only mentioned glycerin to point out that even movie makers don't use real water because it doesn't look right.

My personal favorite way to make creeks/rivers is very smooth plaster followed by paint feathered from light tan/green at the bank to dark green/black in the deepest areas followed by gloss medium
Title: Re: HO scale Water pumps
Post by: richg on June 29, 2010, 10:11:47 AM
There are two things that are difficult for even experienced modelers, using and maintaining real water and installing a turntable that is trouble free.

Rich