LongIslandTom said:
Hey Green,
Yep that E60CP is sitting on my dead line... It was the first HO scale loco I've ever owned so it's got some sentimental value yea. Anyway, I hear from some people who have done the rebuild to use either an Atlas U33C mechanism and frame or an Athearn 6-axle UBoat frame+mech. Yeah I'll also have to get those replacement pantographs because as we all know the Bachmann pantographs are usually the first part to get destroyed on these locos.
I guess as I come across the parts I'll slowly rebuild that puppy. Of course once I finish up with that, I'll have to string up catenary and buy 1) Metroliners, 2) AEM7/ALP44 toasters, 3) HHP8's, 4) Acela trainsets, 5) GG1s.. LOL, the insanity..
I don't know about that U boat idea. you'd still need to do alot of grinding, cutting, and then you'd need extend the frame ( the only the single ended E60s will fit on the Uboat chassis) I'm not sure how you do that, lol. I tried soldering one chassis back together with no luck.
I was origninally going to scratch build my catenary, which isn't to tough, but now that i have a job i can afford to order the Model Memories stuff, so I decided to make life easier and just do that, lol. I might still try to scratch buil a little just for fun though. I need to complete my article on scratch building catenary on my site! i wouldn't feel right just estimating the troubles with the rest of it! and i already built a jig for it all!
lol, i was hoping i could scavenge your E60, but i guess not, lol. My E60 was my favorite electric (sorry GG1...) as i saw one when i was young (before i knew anything about trains), and it was the biggest locomotive i'd ever seen until i saw some SD80MACs a year ago. I remember every detail, and when i saw the bachmann model i had to have one. unfortunately i wasn't so good with my trains early on. and so it had been in a number of accidents i think that its time i get a new one. I was really upset when mine broke, lol.
as for the other electrics, i have warnings for you with the metroliners.
- If you break or loose something, you are out of luck, you'll need a whole new metroliner for the parts. at train shows dummies are easy to find though. be careful with the harder to obtain power cars.
- the bottoms crumble. don't fidget with them, they will break. IHP did sell repalcements that didn't crumble but i don't think they are in stock anymore
- on the bottom of each truck there is a cover you screw on. on the powered variant, you need to make sure it is installed correctly. even though they look symmetrical, one end is slightly different then the other, which is enough to stop it from working.
- the motor almost lights on fire if your hasn't been run in a while. make sure you clean it.
- if the gears slip, check and make sure the washers are installed right. in my model, they actually left some washes in the model so that you can adjust the gear size. its a weird set up, i'll post a picture later
Also, at the National Train Show, IHP plans to sell better Metroliner Shells of which i personally inspected. they are great, and i'd reccomend them when they come out. they are the more modern type metroliner, and the cafe variant. they also sell the other variety pantograph used on the metroliner. Its worth it to look into.
I have both an AEM7 and ALP 44. those are nice models, definitely worth the money. its a shame they don't make them anymore.
I have an Acela, which is also pretty good. it had perpetual bad luck as well however, and it ot shooved off my layout by a semi derailed AC4400CW. I need a new power set. its definitely good though.
I need to buy the HHP8 sometime, I haven't gotten my hands on it. I know what i want for my birthday now!
You mention GG1s, but what about the E33s? they are nice, i have a Conrail one. They are pretty good. I'm thinking about buying an IHP E40 (NH EP5). they have the accurate trucks and everything. I wonder if bachmann will make the E40, or maybe the E44 some time. Both would make good models, espescially the E40/EP5. the O scale EP5 apperently has done well!