Occasionally I browse Ebay looking for an HO DD40AX to detail, repaint and add to my collection. Usually these got for $125-$150 for the Spectrum versions, sometimes even that much for the mediocre Bachmann standard HO versions with the crappy pancake motors. A couple weeks ago, I decided to look at all "Union Pacific" items under the Bachmann HO category hoping someone would have one that didn't exactly know what it was. I found one: "Bachmann HO Union Pacific #6922 engine". The item description said that the "rear wheels were off but probably fixable as something bound up in the rear wheels and I couldn't put it back together". Looking at the photos though, found that it was actually an MTH O Scale DD40 and that the rear truck was probably fixable afterall. I got into a bidding war with minuted left, but rarely do I ever lose one on ebay (Thanks Comcast!). I got it really cheap and it arrived yesterday. Alicia brought it with her when she came over to meet me at a friends house (She wanted to stay behind and shower and wait for the Fed-Ex guy). A quick glance at the truck revealed that it was simply missing a screw. Problem solved. Looks nice on my mantle too.
You know me, I can't leave well enough alone. After watching Youtube videos of them in action, I HAD to see if I could rig up a test stand. (Did I mention I have absolutely NO O Scale trains other than an old Lionel General engine and a couple of cars on a shelf??)
The first thing I did was to remove the body. So far, so good. Then, I hooked an MRC powerpack to each motors leads. Powerful little sucker! (Did I forget to mention, this thing weighs just shy of 9 pounds?). I looked around for something to put under the fuel tank to prop it up so when I put power to the wheels and pickup shoe that the wheels could freely spin. I ended up using a few stacked DVD cases. Now I had it up off the ground, and the power pack rigged up. I put one lead to the pickup shoe, one to the side of a wheel, and gleefully watched and listened as it lit up and the turboe'd engine wound up and started idling. Too cool.... (Did I mention I am easily amused
??) Hmmm... Wonder if the smoke units work?? (Here comes the bad idea part
). On the Youtube videos, the MTH O Scale Centennials I watched smoked pretty good. The guy also had a Turbine that REALLY Smoked! He mentioned that he used a little Lamp oil mixed with smoke fluid to make the extra smoke. (Did I mention I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes? (Shut Up David!!). Hey, I have some old oil lamps! I live by the redneck credo sometimes of a "little isn't enough, too much should be just right".
( Did I also mention I live in a tiny one bedroom apartment??) I kept hearing a voice in the back of my head going "Always got to mess with stuff, can't leave well enough alone can you??" (Dad). Yet, I STILL as an adult never listen...
Well, I ended up having to open up the house and turn on fans, the cat evacuated to the bedroom closet, Alicia started choking, the neighbors downstairs were wondering what was burning, and there I stood at the front door waving my door frantically back and forth trying to force some air into the house.. in my underwear... and out steps my new neighbor (with baby) from her front door directly across from my door. "Kitchen fire??". "Nope, Toy Train!"
I'm starting to worry about getting a "happy visit" tomorrow by the cookie truck.
I think I had better just stick to HO... :twisted:
You know me, I can't leave well enough alone. After watching Youtube videos of them in action, I HAD to see if I could rig up a test stand. (Did I mention I have absolutely NO O Scale trains other than an old Lionel General engine and a couple of cars on a shelf??)
The first thing I did was to remove the body. So far, so good. Then, I hooked an MRC powerpack to each motors leads. Powerful little sucker! (Did I forget to mention, this thing weighs just shy of 9 pounds?). I looked around for something to put under the fuel tank to prop it up so when I put power to the wheels and pickup shoe that the wheels could freely spin. I ended up using a few stacked DVD cases. Now I had it up off the ground, and the power pack rigged up. I put one lead to the pickup shoe, one to the side of a wheel, and gleefully watched and listened as it lit up and the turboe'd engine wound up and started idling. Too cool.... (Did I mention I am easily amused
Well, I ended up having to open up the house and turn on fans, the cat evacuated to the bedroom closet, Alicia started choking, the neighbors downstairs were wondering what was burning, and there I stood at the front door waving my door frantically back and forth trying to force some air into the house.. in my underwear... and out steps my new neighbor (with baby) from her front door directly across from my door. "Kitchen fire??". "Nope, Toy Train!"
I'm starting to worry about getting a "happy visit" tomorrow by the cookie truck.
I think I had better just stick to HO... :twisted:
