News:

Please read the Forum Code of Conduct   >>Click Here <<

Main Menu
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - Fred Jack

#1
Large / Re: After Market Smoke Unit Preferences
April 25, 2015, 04:28:49 PM
They do make a smoke that's either Chocolate or Vanilla. I think Trainworld carries it. I'm not sure why people have to clean off their engines since the real ones are always dirty.

As far as dummy units go, the expense of putting on smoke units and lights exceeds the cost of an Anniversary complete chassis wired and ready to run. When I upgraded two old Ten Wheelers, I ordered the rods that go from the smoke box to screw into the plate the cow catchers screws onto. Don't forget to order right and left and the screws. Bachmann parts online has a sale on chassis for $55.00 this month. For an old Ten Wheeler, you will want to either get a new boiler front with both switch cut outs or just cut one out yourself with a drill or Dremel like I did. A lamp housing with light and wiring costs $8.00 and a smoke unit with mount is $10.00. The smoke unit mounts to the middle lug on the smoke switch and the other wire to the on side of the switch. The lamp wires go to the middle lugs on both sides of the other switch.
#2
Large / Re: Backdating a Ten Wheeler
April 24, 2015, 07:10:16 PM
I'll see my daughter next week. She is more savvy at these things. Meanwhile, I've decided to remove the cylinders. Just have to match the Russian iron paint. I'll take off the cylinders and cover the gap with sheet brass. I'm removing the plastic boiler bands and replacing them with brass.
#3
Large / Re: Backdating a Ten Wheeler
April 13, 2015, 11:15:34 PM
Bill, when I figure out how to send pictures, I will. I just couldn'i believe how a little surgery could change the looks sooo much.
#4
Large / Backdating a Ten Wheeler
April 13, 2015, 04:54:23 PM
i have a picture of a Ten Wheeler from a book called Lincoln's Railroads. I have a few Spectrum 4-4-0s and 2-6-0s. I wanted 2 of my Ten Wheelers to match, So far, I ordered what 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 parts I could from Bachmann parts, such as 2 lamp brackets, 2 larger lamp housings. 2 small and 2 large flag poles, and 2 cow catchers.

I first had updated my old Ten Wheelers to Tenth Anniversary with new chassis and a little surgery with a Dremel. one of the two was bought as an Anniversary. The one that will stay 20th Century, is the one with the steel cab. it looks good with a 55 ton Shay, two truck Climax, 0-4-0 Side Tank Porter, and all black Big Hauler Industrial Mogul.

First I removed the short cow catcher and coupler, sawed off the coupler box from the front of the chassis, removed the coupler release bar and brackets, and filled the holes, got the new old style cow catchers, removed two mounting brackets that wouldn't work on the Bachmann Ten Wheelers. Filed, sanded, centered, and simply glued them on. Next was the smoke box. According to the picture, the smoke boxes are short, just like the 4-4-0 and 2-6-0. Luck would have it that both Bachmann Ten Wheelers have two close together rivet lines close together going around the boiler right between the stack and the lamp housing. I sawed off the smoke box extension, measured and cut slots for the lamp mounting bracket, then mounted and wired the lamp. I kept the cylinders over the wheels but removed the generator in front of the cab.

All in all, like the 19th Century counterparts, the Ten Wheelers are a little larger than the Americans and Moguls, but my two are just as beautiful. I am completely blown out of the water.