N
nachoman
This story may remind you of the one about your grandfather's axe...
I bought this locomotive kit about 15 years ago when I was still a teen. I used money from my very first job. It is a MDC inside-frame 2-8-0 in HOn3, and it was the very first locomotive kit I ever attempted.
I did my best following directions, and I learned a lot about tweaking mechanisms. But it never ran very smooth. A few years later, I picked up the NWSL regearing/remotoring kit, but I damaged the new motor installing it. Back in the box it went for a few more years. wall1
Later, I found a new motor, installed it, and re-painted/detailed the superstructure. Unfortunately, the tender shell got damaged in storage, so I had to replace the tender. I had to file a some metal from the inside of the cylinders to make it go around my 15" radius curves. I ran it for awhile, then brought my small layout outside to take some photos...
Well, the sun damaged the plastic of the boiler, causing cracks and a little distortion. Disappointed, it went back in the box.wall1
A few years later, I found a junker boiler on ebay for just a few bucks. I bought it, detailed it, and had it all back together, and disaster struck again. The drivers were now out of quarter and loose on their axles. wall1
I picked up some new drivers from MDC, went back over the mechanism, and got the paint and details back on, and here she is this afternoon. Of the original kit, all that is now left is the frame and cylinder casting. The rest has been replaced.
She runs great and now has a working headlight. I still need an engineer and fireman, and some glass for the windows. Oh, and a tender step is broke and I want a backup light for the tender. But, it can pull trains now, and I am very happy about that :mrgreen:
Kevin
I bought this locomotive kit about 15 years ago when I was still a teen. I used money from my very first job. It is a MDC inside-frame 2-8-0 in HOn3, and it was the very first locomotive kit I ever attempted.
I did my best following directions, and I learned a lot about tweaking mechanisms. But it never ran very smooth. A few years later, I picked up the NWSL regearing/remotoring kit, but I damaged the new motor installing it. Back in the box it went for a few more years. wall1
Later, I found a new motor, installed it, and re-painted/detailed the superstructure. Unfortunately, the tender shell got damaged in storage, so I had to replace the tender. I had to file a some metal from the inside of the cylinders to make it go around my 15" radius curves. I ran it for awhile, then brought my small layout outside to take some photos...
Well, the sun damaged the plastic of the boiler, causing cracks and a little distortion. Disappointed, it went back in the box.wall1
A few years later, I found a junker boiler on ebay for just a few bucks. I bought it, detailed it, and had it all back together, and disaster struck again. The drivers were now out of quarter and loose on their axles. wall1
I picked up some new drivers from MDC, went back over the mechanism, and got the paint and details back on, and here she is this afternoon. Of the original kit, all that is now left is the frame and cylinder casting. The rest has been replaced.
She runs great and now has a working headlight. I still need an engineer and fireman, and some glass for the windows. Oh, and a tender step is broke and I want a backup light for the tender. But, it can pull trains now, and I am very happy about that :mrgreen:
Kevin
:mrgreen: Still, that's a nice engine!:thumb: