Cheap-O Auto Parts Train (in breakable styrene & basswood)

[De Bruin]

Not these, though not having to fiddle with the car side liners, lights and furniture is a plus, to build one of these Lyken's Hy-Cubes is a real chore imo, one of the reasons I bought these is that they were already assembled. You should see all the detail pieces on this PC version, unbelievable.

[De Bruin]

Here we go again, this years iteration of the Auto-Parts train tooling around the modular layout in Canton behind a nice pair of run-through GN GP-35s by KTM.

Again the 85's are Lykens Valley.




Addition to the consist since the last posting is this stock Weaver trailer train flat loaded with car frames by Lionel making the most unlikely (albeit pricey) detail parts these days.

This was a fun project, wish I could afford another two or three of them.

[R.K. Maroon]

Nice Great Northern GP35s. In quite a coincidence, just last month I repaired one from the same fleet for a friend in Seattle:



It had the all-to-common KTM split gear. It's a straightforward repair when you have a replacement. Fun to see it run, for sure.

Jim

[De Bruin]

Yeah, I love these KTM's. Where do you find the replacement gears?

[R.K. Maroon]

I have been accumulating gearboxes of various types for some number of years, particularly diesel gearboxes that will be needed to power up the cast diesel basketcases that are lurking in the project queue. I have mostly CLW and All Nations, but there is also a stash of USH gearboxes -- both used and NOS. I learned pretty early on (from Allan Wehrle, I think) that the USH gearboxes are prone to splitting gears, so I wouldn't think about using them in a new project. But they come in handy from time to time as replacements.

[Jay Criswell]

I believe most of the split gears were caused by people trying to tighten, or loosen, the threaded wheels and twisting them against the gear. Way too much pressure and the gear breaks.

Jay

[bob turner]

The Weaver and CLW gears are splitting due to improper ageing.

[R.K. Maroon]

That's an interesting theory, Jay. I hadn't thought about it, but it's quite plausible -- there is no way one should muscle that wheel against the worm gear. I like to think I always take the worm out first or at least counter-torque against the other wheel, but I can't be sure that is the case. I am half-way off the hook, though, as about the only time I mess with these is when somebody asks me to change out one with a split gear. But no guarantee I have put them back together safely in the past, but I will be aware of this risk henceforth.

Good to hear from you!
Jim

[Jay Criswell]

Bob,

I was referring to the bronze worm gear in the KTM diesels.

Weaver/CLW vs. KTM...pears to kumquats.

Jay

[bob turner]

True. Never having had a MG/USH Diesel gearbox, did not know they were bronze. Failures would have to be mechanical, since bronze stops shrinking when it cools.

[ScaleCraft]

Nice Great Northern GP35s. In quite a coincidence, just last month I repaired one from the same fleet for a friend in Seattle:



It had the all-to-common KTM split gear. It's a straightforward repair when you have a replacement. Fun to see it run, for sure.

Jim

Interesting. Must be assigned to different divisions. One division wants horns on cab roof, other back aft.

See that even today.

[De Bruin]

....Interesting. Must be assigned to different divisions. One division wants horns on cab roof, other back aft.....
See that even today.

Thanks Dave, will proceed to bore everyone to death here ......it's all your fault 8^)
IMO MG/USH/KTM axis of brass model 2nd generation hood units (obviously)rarely synched up with the specific road one wanted to model unless it was SP and even then often not (due to those crazy-cool light packages the SP sported back then) ... So the operational prototype for these GN GP's indeed did not stage the horns on the roof edge of the cab, for a very good reason as they would clog up with snow in winter months sufficiently to render them ineffective as in severely muffled.
The actual GN GP35's indeed mounted them back way behind the cab.

GE's U-boat version went further figuring out that shrouding the valve base would force out most of the accumulation quickly, not sure if that was Erie's idea or GN's but cool anyway. Even cooler (I think PSC) someone made a brass casting for this.

Regardless Rich Meyer taking over the decal biz from Max Grey insured at least GN would always be well represented in future printings, and it was.

Though the above stock KTM example of the class engine (running on the RMCA club) does not have the prototypes "Hustle Muscle" lettering, note its horns lean out into the face of the blizzard as well. I'm totally convinced if the original buyer (Arthur Hambrick) had lived long enough that he would have fixed all of that because he was just that way.

Above images from George Elwood's site which is supported by donations.

[bob turner]

Great paint! I admire all GN green and orange schemes, even on modern Diesels.

[robert.]

I wonder how the crew liked having horn behind their cab?

[ScaleCraft]

I have read reports and studies on horn placement.
At least Canada has mandated all new locomotives have front mounted horns, and older locomotives with horns mounted near exhaust have their horns moved to the front.
This is a PITA to load, but you can read the research, and especially the conclusions at the end:

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... 0/download