Curious if any owners of the MTH RailKing Aerotrain have made any upgrades or detail improvements to give it a more scale appearance?
Pics or videos would be great!
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I don't understand "scale appearance"? the train is scale. it's the performace of pulling all ten cars that is the main issue.
the other would be the lighting. the rear should have one red light and one white [back up] light.
the front center light should be red and lit when the train is in reverse.
prrhorseshoecurve posted:I don't understand "scale appearance"? the train is scale. it's the performace of pulling all ten cars that is the main issue.
the other would be the lighting. the rear should have one red light and one white [back up] light.
the front center light should be red and lit when the train is in reverse.
By scale appearance I was thinking what could be done to make look more like a Premier set rather than RailKing.
I’m thinking I want to order the set with one add on from the new catalog so I’m guessing performance shouldn’t be a problem.
Thanks for the info on the lighting!
The design hasn't changed I suspect. I have the earlier PS/3 version and a PS/2 one that I'm going to convert to TMCC. For both of them, I had to tinker with the rear truck to get decent performance. I have my PS/3 one pulling the ten cars around the club, including the 2% grade, so I think that one is done. I believe the other one will probably do it as well, but I'll wait until I do the conversion to tinker with it's trucks. Adding weight will probably help as well.
So gunrunner, I have a PRR ps2 set. Is it worth getting the PS3 version and selling off the Ps2 version? Does the PS3 version have led lights to prevent a meltdown?
prrhorseshoecurve posted:So gunrunner, I have a PRR ps2 set. Is it worth getting the PS3 version and selling off the Ps2 version? Does the PS3 version have led lights to prevent a meltdown?
The PS/3 one does have LED's, but you can easily swap out the PS/2 lights for LED bulbs, a 220 ohm resistor in series with a white LED is a perfect substitute.
The way the MTH Aerotrain was designed and made is how they should have made the TurboTrains. The nightmare 10 pin lines tethering through the train is the major weakness of the TurboTrain, be thankful they simplified the Aerotrain.
A lot of people do not like the General Motors Aerotrain; I rather do, even though it has an unfortunate and not-coincidental frontal/windshield/"grille" resemblance to the perennially ugly 1959 Chevrolet.
I do not have one; but I think about it.
I would love to see a rendition of the NYC's lightweight Baldwin "Train X".
Better yet, the Gulf, Mobile and Northern's (later the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio's) ACF/Alco lightweight Rebel, a very early air-conditioned (yay!) streamliner running eventually between St. Louis and the Gulf Coast (Mobile and New Orleans). The Rebel was a better design than most early streamliners, like the Zephyr, as it was sleek but not articulated, and cars could be changed out at will, which would make the model easier to deal with, too.
(The Rebel ultimately became a "normal" passenger train, with regular equipment and pulled by Alco PA's)
VistaDomeScott posted:The way the MTH Aerotrain was designed and made is how they should have made the TurboTrains. The nightmare 10 pin lines tethering through the train is the major weakness of the TurboTrain, be thankful they simplified the Aerotrain.
Well, the Aerotrain just has the engine and what passes for normal passenger cars, so no need for a tether. They did cry out for LED's, so I did that to my ten cars.
gunrunnerjohn posted:VistaDomeScott posted:The way the MTH Aerotrain was designed and made is how they should have made the TurboTrains. The nightmare 10 pin lines tethering through the train is the major weakness of the TurboTrain, be thankful they simplified the Aerotrain.
Well, the Aerotrain just has the engine and what passes for normal passenger cars, so no need for a tether. They did cry out for LED's, so I did that to my ten cars.
Good point. However they could have had the rear TurboTrain power car start independently just like two E-8 locomotives do. I want to have the Turbotrains reworked somehow, so far some big names in train repair have decided to not attempt a rework.
I really like the Aerotrain. I am somewhat biased in my affection. I would see it every afternoon on The Mainline during it's brief stint going from NY to Chicago.
I have the first model with all of the cars,TMCC and EOB. It runs very well. I guess that it is semi scale. I would go for a scale Aerotrain.
Norm
I believe the RK version is supposed to be scale, but I can't find any specifications for the real locomotive.
What model came with TMCC, and who made it?
John,
I converted my engine to TMCC and EOB from the PS2.
Norm
That makes sense, I'm going to do the same thing with my second one. I'm also going to see if I can add smoke. 
You can fit people in the cars easier. I used 1:43 people and most of the time they lose their legs in regular cars. I had little to no leg cutting with these cars.
Absolutely love the Aerotrain!! It's photo was on the cover of a book titled " The Wonderbook of Trains " which I used to check out of my elementary school library often. ( So often, in fact, that my teacher would not let me check it out until I checked out at least 2 other non train related books. ) I would just stare at that beautiful locomotive and dream.
At the time I thought it was the coolest train ever!
Obviously the General Motors auto designers had a large hand in creating this train. One would have to admit the designers of this train were thinking outside the "traditional" locomotive/train design box. Too bad GM did not work out the bugs with the original train sets and improve the design ( basically the suspension system ) to operate the Aerotrain as originally intended. Seeing one of those babies jet down the mainline at 100 mph in the late 50 thru the 60's would have been a beautiful sight! ( at least to me ) Perhaps the Aerotrian with its futuristic aerodynamic styling ( resembling space age tech, and sleek automobiles ... both of which were the dominate cultural craze at the time ) could have lured some of the traveling public back to the passenger train. I'd like to think that this train could have had the potential of becoming a real high speed train of its day .. capable of 125 mph or even more ... if GM had kept improving upon its original overall design. My guess is that GM didn't sense there was enough demand by the railroads and general public to warrant any further development.
Of course when I discovered that MTH made the Aerotrain, I had to have it. So I bought one with Pennsy markings. If one were ever produced in scale I'd definitely pull the trigger and buy it!
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Tim, how do you get the figures in ok where you can see their heads when you look through the windows? Every figure I have tried sits "too tall" and you can't see their heads through the windows. I use the MTH passenger figures and they are fairly small.
Here's one with the commonly available Chinese figures. I find the GG Little People or the Lionel people are similar sized. The BEEP people are too big.
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They fit in without having to cut off their legs or drill out the seats?
Were you able to put any people in the back of the last car (the seats that look out the back window?
The detail I would like to see is a 3D printed, chrome plated, script "Aerotrian" emblem to go over the existing decals on the side of the locomotive. This would include, of course, the circular red/white/blue stylized emblem in front of the text.
See Trump Train's photo above
I still have my original MTH one from the first release-I have run the daylights out of it.
What is the issue with the lights vs. LED's-is the a melting issue? What LED's should one use and is there any requirement for a diode or other circuitry for them?
gunrunnerjohn posted:I believe the RK version is supposed to be scale, but I can't find any specifications for the real locomotive.
What model came with TMCC, and who made it?
John,
oi recalled the cars being GM Bus bodies and found this. If you have a side view you could scale the dimensions off of it.
"The completed train sported a 10-car consist and ironically, was modeled against the very competition trying to put passenger trains out of business, the intercity bus. The cars were only 40 feet long, half the length of standard designs, thereby reducing the weight by 50%."
https://www.american-rails.com/aerotrain.html
Pretty close, the body is 9 1/2" long. Yes, the left edge is at the end of the car, it's the angle that makes it look short.
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As I recently found out myself, the story that the Aerotrain coaches were converted bus bodies is an urban legend, as they in fact predate GM buses with similar styling by a few years. GM certainly got some ideas for design and construction from that department, though.
I doubt they converted bus bodies, they just used the same design, and I'm sure as much common stuff as they could since these were simply prototypes to prove the concept.
Windshield wipers and real grab irons are the only detail additions that I could think of. MTH has been painting rubber grommets around windows for several years, and I would assume that, on the new release, anywhere there was a prototype rubber grommet, it will be black.
The prototype photo of the museum LWT12 shows additional nose grab irons that were exclusively Rock Island and not on the original versions of Aerotrain that ran on other railroads.
Number 90 posted:Windshield wipers and real grab irons are the only detail additions that I could think of. MTH has been painting rubber grommets around windows for several years, and I would assume that, on the new release, anywhere there was a prototype rubber grommet, it will be black.
The prototype photo of the museum LWT12 shows additional nose grab irons that were exclusively Rock Island and not on the original versions of Aerotrain that ran on other railroads.
Are not the wipers on the model's windshield?
PRRronbh posted:Are not the wipers on the model's windshield?
What? You mean those cast-on lines on the windshield glass?
I was thinking of applied castings of windshield wiper arms and blades, mounted on the ridge above the windshield as on the prototype. The cast-on "wiper" lines are not even in the correct place on the windshield. They're too far inboard. Notice how they look in the prototype photo. They are Trico commercial wiper arms and curved blades.
FWIW, I do not wish to cause anyone any grief, only a humble attempt to keep the facts straight.........
I have an original EMD Aerotrain pamphlet (among other Aerotrain memorabilia) which states ...... "The air-conditioned cars of the General Motors Aerotrain are an adaptation of the present body of the GMC 40-passenger intercity-type highway coach.".....it goes on ......."Each car of the Aerotrain can carry 40 passengers in double reclining seats, each with it's own reading light. The GMC coach body has been widened 18 inches to give more comfortable seating space and a wider aisle." .......... Much other Aerotrain information is included in this wonderful, vintage brochure.
CJ
Cool, that's getting it from the horse's mouth. So, it wasn't a converted bus, but just using the design of existing bus models, that makes sense. It sure looks like a bus.
I found a site that has some interesting renditions of all of the Aerotrain Models.
Go to the ENGINE SHOP, usloki.tripod.com
Click on Info and Links
Go to Will Anderson's Art
Go to Train Art Index
Click on Electro-Motive Division
Scroll Down to the Second Page and down to Color Renderings of the Aerotrain.
Enjoy.
Norm
Is the MTH model Railking scale?
Both the loco and cars scale?
The prototype cars were 40' long, and the RK model car bodies are just shy of 10" long, looks like they're close to scale to me. The the locomotive is a bit more than 13" long, the prototype Aerotrain locomotive is 52' long, again the scale seems right.
Thank you.
Good to know.
I recently squeezed a couple Lionel engineer figures into the locomotive cab, added a led in the cab, and inserted MTH passenger figures in the cars. For the adults, I did have to use a Dremel to sand down the backs of their legs and rear ends to get them low enough so their heads could be seen through the windows. Looks great.
I live in Gettysburg so I got the Pennsy version and hearing the stops in PA is neat, especially Harrisburg, as I use that station when going to Philly or NYC.
I stuck some engineers in mine as well, and I also added operating ditch lights. The figures were shaved down to fit, they didn't leave much room. I also upgraded all the lighting to LED and added passengers to all the cars. I have ten or eleven cars, makes a decent looking passenger train. I have a second locomotive that I'm considering converting to TMCC so I'll have one that runs DCS and one that is TMCC.
Good idea to upgrade the car lights. I just have 3 cars so far, but they look so good I plan to add a few more, as you did.
I always liked the Aerotrain from back in the 1950s when Varney made their HO version and had it pictured on there boxes. I finally got one with Loco Sound and was going to sell it when got a Proto 3 version but decided to keep it because it pulls all 10 cars with ease but the PS3 doesn’t. I would like to see one decorated for the Reading Crusader, I know it isn’t prototypical but I think it would look nice with the green stripes and diamond logo.
The running gear is the same on the LocoSound model and the PS/3 model. The issue with these is the rear truck is very flaky and requires some "tuning" to get it working properly.
gunrunnerjohn posted:The running gear is the same on the LocoSound model and the PS/3 model. The issue with these is the rear truck is very flaky and requires some "tuning" to get it working properly.
John, I have the Con-Cor N-scale version of the Aerotrain. Without a whole lot of massaging and time consuming, re-engineering of the unit, it's pretty much an extremely expensive shelf queen.
I haven't yet had the ability of being able to examine an MTH O-gauge version of the Aerotrain. Are you talking the rear, single axle truck on the locomotive that is flaky? And what's the problem with it?
Paul, the rear truck is an oddball arrangement. It has a single axle, and then two tiny "pony" wheels. The pony wheels are an attempt to steer the driven wheels. Adjusting the tension on the arm that rides on the chassis, not to mention getting those pony wheels to turn freely, was an interesting exercise. If everything is not right, the pony wheels hop out of the rails and of course that stops the music. Of course, as luck would have it, the rear truck also supplies most of the tractive force as a rule, so it's critical to get that balanced for proper operation.
I've toyed with the idea of hacking the rear truck and fixing the wheels straight ahead and losing the pony wheels. That might be a problem on tight curves, but on wider curves I suspect it would probably work. I have not been successful in finding a rear truck for the locomotive so I have something to experiment with. I don't want to hack up the truck I have in case my idea is unworkable.
gunrunnerjohn posted:That makes sense, I'm going to do the same thing with my second one. I'm also going to see if I can add smoke.
John,
Have you gotten anywhere on installing a smoke unit?
(I've heard all electrical components come smoke filled from the factory, just need to release it!:-)
I haven't done anything yet, a lot of other stuff intervened. You know about the road that's paved with good intentions, right? 
gunrunnerjohn posted:The running gear is the same on the LocoSound model and the PS/3 model. The issue with these is the rear truck is very flaky and requires some "tuning" to get it working properly.
My loco sound version pulls ten times better than the proto 3 , maybe because of the conventional operation? I’ll have to try adding some wheel weights to see if it helps.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I've toyed with the idea of hacking the rear truck and fixing the wheels straight ahead and losing the pony wheels. That might be a problem on tight curves, but on wider curves I suspect it would probably work. I have not been successful in finding a rear truck for the locomotive so I have something to experiment with. I don't want to hack up the truck I have in case my idea is unworkable.
I played around with that. The problem is not only do those pony wheels steer the rear truck, they also equalize it. So you may have some tracking problems of a different sort. (Remember I two-railed mine, but the mechanics are the same). You are right in that you may need to adjust the tension and above all make sure those small wheels turn freely.
But I found the easiest solution was to just add weight. I just added some lead sheet in the space between the two motors.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Paul, the rear truck is an oddball arrangement. It has a single axle, and then two tiny "pony" wheels. The pony wheels are an attempt to steer the driven wheels. Adjusting the tension on the arm that rides on the chassis, not to mention getting those pony wheels to turn freely, was an interesting exercise. If everything is not right, the pony wheels hop out of the rails and of course that stops the music.
I've toyed with the idea of hacking the rear truck and fixing the wheels straight ahead and losing the pony wheels. That might be a problem on tight curves, but on wider curves I suspect it would probably work. I have not been successful in finding a rear truck for the locomotive so I have something to experiment with. I don't want to hack up the truck I have in case my idea is unworkable.
On the Con-Cor N-scale Aerotrain loco, the front truck is 2 axles and powered, with traction tires, and free to swivel like a normal diesel. The rear single axle is unpowered, no pony wheels, and free to swivel, in order to take curves better. As a matter of fact, all of the trailing coach cars have single axles that also swivel, for the same reason - to allow them to negotiate curves better. Sounds good, right?
WRONG! Those swiveling axles are one of the BIGGEST boo-boo's on the N-scale units, from the rear loco axle to everything after that. While swiveling axles may have looked like a good idea on the drawing board, in reality the problem is that there is nothing to control which way they swivel. For instance, they may swivel to the right just as easily as they swivel to the left when going around ANY curve, left OR right. Or even going down straightaways. Which also means they do an excellent job of picking points and picking frogs and derailing in general whenever going through turnouts, no matter which direction.
I locked all the single axles (loco and cars) to the straight position where they couldn't swivel anymore, and that took care of poor tracking characteristics of the train. After doing that it went around curves just fine, through turnouts with ease, and straight as an arrow on straight track. There were a few other problems that needed solved too, but they were diminutive N-scale problems that wouldn't affect a good, hefty O-gauge train.
At any rate, without actually having an MTH Aerotrain to look at and study, I'd be willing to bet that fixing the rear axle straight ahead and losing the pony wheels would probably work, just like you're thinking. I'd even be willing to bet that it would be just fine going around tighter curves, too, let alone broad curves. I'm generally not much of a gambling man, but what the heck - since we're talking your locomotive and not mine, I'll go ahead and bet anyway that it would be just peachy-dandy!!!
In the early to mid 50's my Pop sold Oldsmobiles in San Francisco. It was a big deal when the new car models came out in those years. GM put on big shows called Motorama. It was held at the Civic Auditorium. The new models were shown and futuristic one of a kind cars were displayed. I got to see live big names like Abbot and Costello do "Who's on First" and Jimmy Durante sing and tell jokes with a big band. In those days your parents would let me roam by your self throughout the show. There were movies about driverless cars and all kinds of thing to collect. One of those years I saw a large scale futuristic train. I had Lionel trains by knew this model was larger than O scale. I must have looked at it for an hour. A GM rep told me about the train and how it was going change railroading. Of course it never did but I wondered what ever happened to that beautiful model. Don
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Mixed Freight posted:At any rate, without actually having an MTH Aerotrain to look at and study, I'd be willing to bet that fixing the rear axle straight ahead and losing the pony wheels would probably work, just like you're thinking. I'd even be willing to bet that it would be just fine going around tighter curves, too, let alone broad curves. I'm generally not much of a gambling man, but what the heck - since we're talking your locomotive and not mine, I'll go ahead and bet anyway that it would be just peachy-dandy!!!
Since I'm gambling with "house money", I'm going to be a little more circumspect about hacking the truck without having a spare. 
I got the NYC Aerotrain with PS2 and the 2 car add-on, purchased new from the 2002 Catalog.
I love the look and aerodynamic styling, but I dislike the way the cars run with those axles, and the engine traction is not a pretty sight (with just the five cars and no incline) on tight curves.
Plus the cars are quite noisy bouncing around Gargraves Turnouts.
Anything that could help clean up the axles, traction, and noise would be nice.
Other than that, I love my Aerotrain... lol...
Pat C... posted:I got the NYC Aerotrain with PS2 and the 2 car add-on, purchased new from the 2002 Catalog.
I love the look and aerodynamic styling, but I dislike the way the cars run with those axles, and the engine traction is not a pretty sight (with just the five cars and no incline) on tight curves.
Plus the cars are quite noisy bouncing around Gargraves Turnouts.
Anything that could help clean up the axles, traction, and noise would be nice.
Other than that, I love my Aerotrain... lol...
I rode the Talgo in Spain in 1983 from Barcelona to Madrid and like the Aerotrain it was a bouncy ride.
Dan986 posted:
More of an accessory detail suggestion:there are some nice 1/43"scale dream car models out there that compliment the Aerotrain from the era when GM ruled the universe.
Dan what manufacturer made the die-cast car? And is it an Olds or Buick?
Ron
