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Post by loco8107 on Aug 17, 2023 9:19:51 GMT -8
Hi wondering if anyone would know if replacing incandescent bulbs on an atlas mater b23-7 can be replaced with leds. It appears the bulbs are not working and I have led lamps with the built in resistor. Would this be a simple plug n play or would I have to make modifications. Help would be appreciated. Any modern Atlas loco can. Just order their LED’s and swap.
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Post by loco8107 on Aug 6, 2023 9:29:34 GMT -8
I have a pack and was wondering what do you all use to drill the holes for them? I’ve noticed the mounting “pins” are not round, but flat.
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Post by loco8107 on Jul 23, 2023 9:43:01 GMT -8
I re-redetailed this trio of GP38-2s. I originally backdated them to mid-80s (by adding details west sunshades with KV model wind deflectors), but then decided more late-70s. This involved removing the two MU receptacles on the pilots and painting the one on the deck green, then adding an all-weather window but leaving the sundshade track on one side (although there are photos of them with both an all-weather window and a sunshade). However I noticed later the testor's flat black I used isn't that great of a match to the finish on the Athearn model, might be more of a satin. I *may* redo the pilots as there is some casting marks from the factory and to get a better paint match). I think I have to remove the moddle fuel fill on these as well for late-70s. Finished up these cars, may revisit the roofs on them though. The MILW refer was my first try with enamels. Finally found decals for this car's door. I grabbed a set from the southern historical society and it had everything. Now to weather this a lil (I should get nicer trucks, but not sure what this had) Also picked up a few of these. They're nice, but wish the lighting was brighter. Also for some reason on two of them, the truck screws were over-tightened, a lot. As in the posts for the bolster broke and the truck couldn't turn tight. So that was fun. Looks great!
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 16, 2023 12:04:05 GMT -8
The Genesis GP38-2’s. And most GP15-1’s.
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 15, 2023 19:16:30 GMT -8
Compared to the price of items new, in many cases once the Ebay fees are actually paid, and items are shipped, the net recovery of principal on used items would be 50% or perhaps not that much more than 50%. It's likely better on ebay but not that much better than dealing with Trainz or my local dealer. It's an awful lot of work to list all the items, photograph everything well, pack and ship them all, and deal with the customers and the feedback, etc. Trainz eliminated what would have been 70 individual auctions or buy it now listings in my particular case--that is just too much. I can't live at the USPS; nor do I want to, and my time is more valuable to me. Oh--I forgot to mention that my Paypal account was actually hacked, so I closed it immediately, and I do not care for Ebay holding my funds hostage all the time for several weeks before I get paid. I also do not trust them having nearly unrestricted access to my bank account. Both the local dealer and Trainz are MUCH less hassle. You are correct regarding the need to keep receipts for tax purposes to be able to document financial losses. You are entitled to your opinions, but I don't have to agree. I flat out hate all the selling rules changes that ebay has implemented over the last 10 years. It used to be a fun way to blow out items. Now not so much. eBay is their own worst enemy. Not just trains either and I know enough people who took a big hit in their eBay sales over the last couple years because of their new policies.
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 5, 2023 6:21:35 GMT -8
That’s the world today. Too many people don’t want to come close to being an honest businessperson. It’s getting old too….
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 4, 2023 3:55:44 GMT -8
Ugh that sucks. For a while it did seem it was imminent that someone was buying the paint part of it. Let’s keep hoping…..
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 3, 2023 9:15:07 GMT -8
You also gotta love the age of the rumornet, I mean internet. No one should ever be allowed to post such rumors. What would be left to see? Don’t we know it
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 2, 2023 14:57:10 GMT -8
Makes you wonder how many of each set was made given a good amount are them on eBay at any given time over 20 years later.
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 2, 2023 6:34:48 GMT -8
Atlas undecorated EMD locomotive models typically come with both the DB and Non-DB hatch. I do not read anywhere in the description that they are only Non-DB version. And both size fuel tanks too.
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Post by loco8107 on Jun 1, 2023 5:26:06 GMT -8
Believe it or not I never heard of Trainz.com. Looks like I’ll have to check them out.
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Post by loco8107 on May 28, 2023 6:30:13 GMT -8
You also gotta love the age of the rumornet, I mean internet. No one should ever be allowed to post such rumors.
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Post by loco8107 on May 28, 2023 6:28:54 GMT -8
I like both sites but Railpictures is very useful for better photos of the correct color shade for locos in my experience.
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Post by loco8107 on May 27, 2023 6:00:31 GMT -8
quite a few old friends on that list, the CR 38-2/1000 combo was a fixture in the first real "yard" i had on one of my childhood layouts. They also had a decent Conrail OLS set too. A shame one had to be a dummy unit these SE sets.
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Post by loco8107 on May 26, 2023 18:12:28 GMT -8
I don’t have any nor plan on it just wondering when they were done. Thanks for the info.
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Post by loco8107 on May 26, 2023 16:14:12 GMT -8
What year did they release them? I’m thinking late 90’s or so but I can’t remember or find any info on google.
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Post by loco8107 on May 25, 2023 9:13:50 GMT -8
Liked both the SP and ATSF and couldn't decide between the two That Kodachrome scheme was the best too! A shame the merger got denied.
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Post by loco8107 on May 18, 2023 5:27:10 GMT -8
I’m posting here unless it gets moved to the lounge because I’m strictly HO. Are there any other good sites besides eBay to purchase used HO locos -particularly Athearn BB ones (mainly undecs)? I’m one of those modelers who still enjoys fixing these units up but I’m always open to other manufacturers. I’m getting tired of the insanity of eBay and am wondering with the other sites coming along recently if folks who sell trains also got tired of eBay and their shenanigans and are selling elsewhere. Thanks in advance…..
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Post by loco8107 on May 15, 2023 9:42:53 GMT -8
Rick- nice layout! Always loved the Hydra Cushion cars.
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Post by loco8107 on May 13, 2023 16:47:50 GMT -8
I don't know if I have a particular reason other than liking the paint scheme, the locale, and the variety of motive power and paint schemes on the 1970s era Lehigh Valley. I started with a freelance road, then got more interested in prototype and was doing the LV but set in the mid-90s, and then good models of C420s, C628s and U23Bs came out so I went back to an era I'm not even old enough to remember. It’s funny you say that as I still contemplate doing the later years of the PRSL for a lot of those reasons as I was almost 4 when CR was created in ‘76. So much more besides the caboose was around then. Funny what this hobby does to us!
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Post by loco8107 on May 13, 2023 9:32:41 GMT -8
Getting to grow up in and still residing in an area of a cluster of Conrail (ex PRSL) branch lines in NJ. Some has been sold off to short lines over the years but the majority is still Conrail Shared Assets today. So I got to see plenty of smaller GP and SW power then which is what I choose to model as I prefer modeling a branch line over the main lines. Especially since the 80’s when the 6 axles locos began to take over the main lines. It was always a treat back then to see the coal trains that no longer exist around here being pulled by 3 or 4 GP’s. That along with dad putting up a 4X8 HO layout every Christmas season growing up won me over with the smaller trains. I always liked having a small town with a few industries on the layout anyway. Plus there was more traffic in this small area in past years too compared to today which seems to be the case in most places. The SW’s, GP10’s and the GP15-1’s are long gone on Conrail leaving just the GP38-2/40-2’s left. To me, getting to see the trains up close in this type of setting is what railroads are all about. Unit trains in general bore me at times, especially the intermodals. I am grateful that a lot of my childhood trains did not disappear forever unlike a lot of places across the US. I do have interest in anything from the 60’s though 2003 or so as I will eventually have locos and cars from that time period.
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Post by loco8107 on May 11, 2023 14:17:15 GMT -8
GT8952 said, " There is something to be said for just running whatever makes you happy." and the sooner you get that the more happy you're going to have. Congrats Mr GT for being involved with your kid. Of course he wants it all, and wants it now. I’ve been quilty of it at times too but I think we all in general can get too carried away on being era specific and such over being happy running the trains we all love.
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Post by loco8107 on May 11, 2023 12:42:54 GMT -8
Going modern takes away the urgency for that elusive EV D&RGW caboose..... The stuff I see rolling by here in my area gives me plenty urgency to not go modern. No thanks. Especially the last few years where things have gotten boring. Better variety in past years anyway, both locos and cars.
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Post by loco8107 on May 11, 2023 9:14:49 GMT -8
I sorta did a similar thing to Jim. Tried to go modern a few years ago and then pulled back a bit. Life circumstances having changed a bit, I recently asked myself "why am I doing what I'm doing?" My friends and relatives who certainly were interested in those prior eras are largely gone. As much as I miss those people, and Dad, I can't go back and try to relive those days...Dad would just say run whatever you like if he were here. Also, I don't really want to keep being reminded that they aren't here, as that is difficult. I decided, for myself, to leave steam modeling to the history books, and sold off our last steam engine recently (actually for a profit for once). Having one time sworn that I'd never model anything "after ATSF", well that was a long time ago now when I was younger and more foolish. Now trying to go all the way modern, as close to today as possible, is just a kind of fresh start, that's all, and nothing more. I'm not saying that others should feel the need to do that. There's plenty of room in this hobby. Your dad sad it best-run what you like. Even if it’s different RR from different decades. I model what I grew up with. Which was Conrail but it’s shared assets today here. The hard part is which era to model. I personally can go from 70’s to 2003. I love the 80’s and 90’s the best but it was the early 2000’s I finally started railfanning and seeing the railroad up close. Those are still my best memories. Hence why I may do that era also.
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Post by loco8107 on May 7, 2023 17:07:16 GMT -8
Let's get this started, shall we gentlemen? My project this week was finishing the last couple touches on this Genesis GP38-2. Built as Milwaukee Road 363, then to SOO LINE, renumbered to 4513, then to CP, keeping its SOO number. It never wore SOO LINE paint, going straight from SOO/MILW patch 'Bandit' paint into CP paint - at least as far as I'm aware. It was repainted in the late 90s or early 2000s into a variation of what was then the current CP scheme, with a small golden Beaver crest and red and white dashed frame stripes. Then in 2012, the unit went into NRE for an overhaul and came out wearing the simplified CP scheme with no Beaver crest and black sills, and this is how I modeled it. The model came decorated in the 2000-2012 paint scheme, so I removed all of that lettering as well as the sill stripe, and replaced it with new decals. I also replaced the front ditch lights and relocated both front and rear ditchlights onto the anticlimbers where they belong, instead of in the middle of the walkway. I added Cannon treadplate to cover the holes in the walkway, and last but not least, added scratchbuilt PTC antennas to the cab roof. Looks great! Didn’t the real MILW 38-2’s have the small 1000 gal tank? Was that replaced by CP if so?
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Post by loco8107 on May 6, 2023 9:28:43 GMT -8
If I shy away from anything, it's the prices. I feel like I'm in a bit of a weird place. I balk at the prices of modern locomotives, but at the same time I hold my collection to a high standard. My philosophy is 'nice models but fewer models'. I'd rather buy one or two good models rather than a bunch of 'train show junk' or 'fleet-building' models. Most of my latest locomotive or 'big' purchases have actually been used models. I'm trying to balance RTR vs kitbashing and detailing. Superdetailing a more basic model isn't cost-effective these days, but it does lengthen hobby time per purchase. The fun and novelty of a new RTR model wears off quick; at least with a project you get a few weeks of work and the added pride in the completed model. Yep- that first sentence is definitely me. Things are getting too pricey and I’d rather fix up myself.
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Post by loco8107 on Apr 26, 2023 19:56:27 GMT -8
having a or life in general. Many of us can buy lots of locomotives and still have a life. My suggestion would be to get a better job so you can do both as well. One word was omitted from the quote- I said “spent on other areas of having a layout or life in general”. I never said or implied anything about having a life. Believe me, I get all that.
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Post by loco8107 on Apr 25, 2023 15:42:38 GMT -8
If Athearn's sales are slowing they had this coming for a long time. They led the way on price hikes over the years. As for China, I doubt all the China shitz will affect the models but we will see. I see a lot of prices that are higher that online but chumps still buying it up because most of the modelers out there are hoarders. I can’t believe how many locos a lot of modelers have. It’s beyond insanity. And I believe one should have plenty of locos on a roster but even I have limits. It’s total overkill and could be better spent on other areas of having a layout- or life in general.
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Post by loco8107 on Apr 19, 2023 20:20:52 GMT -8
Conrail also plated over the outer SW1500 windows in the early 80’s.
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Post by loco8107 on Apr 12, 2023 10:28:17 GMT -8
And I get digital cameras and the internet were just starting out then but some of the same people today who took pics then either no longer have them online or only have posted 2004 and up over the years which seems a little odd to me. We shall see. The Canon 300D and Nikon D70, their first DSLRs under $1000, were introduced in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The 70, at least, was a game-changer in that regard. Yes it was. I was only curious because people who took slides before that do scan old slides from time to time and I see little posted from that time period versus the years prior and of course the digital in the years since. It’s kind of odd to me.
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