Thats right, with me over 40 and a 5 year old son (My handle) I decided it might be fun to dust off the old Tyco HO Sante Fe War Bonnet. To paraphrase the Tyco site, "They did not run well when NEW, the years dont help". I rebuilt the Engine's motor 3 or 4 times using salvage parts from the other engine I owned (circa 71 or 72 I think) and still only managed to get it running in fits and spurts 25% of the time. Giving up I found a local train store with a Bachman engine cabose combo for only $25 USD. Ever the optimist I asked since it had been on the shelf forever for a discount, he declined but then threw in $25. worth of old brass track so either way I got a deal. Building a roughly 4X8 setup and not letting my son figure out it was for him was an interesting lesson in little white lies......but I somehow did it.
Now its the day after Xmas and we drag it out to play Engineer for awhile and the 30 year old Tyco powerpack that never really worked well to begin with has died. NOT what kittenbritches wants to here about. With the Tyco stuff my mom brought back to me she threw is a couple of other power supplies. The others are likewise dead untill I get to a Wall mounted Aurura (sp) car track supply. I have choped the ends off of this one, cobbled on a car "gun" type controler and the Sante Fe/taking up room in the Den and Central RR War Bonnet is trundling down the oval. Reversing is a lesson in patience that requires black electrical tape and twisting wires, but it is running again. The control with the "gun" is FAR better than the original Tyco (Type 80 I think)
I do have one question for you guys.
At 40 am I an Old Newby or a New Oldby?
JR & Son
Now its the day after Xmas and we drag it out to play Engineer for awhile and the 30 year old Tyco powerpack that never really worked well to begin with has died. NOT what kittenbritches wants to here about. With the Tyco stuff my mom brought back to me she threw is a couple of other power supplies. The others are likewise dead untill I get to a Wall mounted Aurura (sp) car track supply. I have choped the ends off of this one, cobbled on a car "gun" type controler and the Sante Fe/taking up room in the Den and Central RR War Bonnet is trundling down the oval. Reversing is a lesson in patience that requires black electrical tape and twisting wires, but it is running again. The control with the "gun" is FAR better than the original Tyco (Type 80 I think)
I do have one question for you guys.
At 40 am I an Old Newby or a New Oldby?
JR & Son