Psc steamers-- tell me about me

So who/ what do you prefer?

I had an AC-6 Cab Forward.  Traded it for two USH locomotives.

 

Details are wonderful.  Don't touch it. Put it in the display case, and leave it there.

 

Opinion.

Thanks Guys....

 

tt: are you happy with older USH steamers then in general or specific models...?

 

Anyone what to chime in on Glacier Park while we are discussing brass steam?

I'd agree with Ed's assessment to judge engine by engine.

 

I have 4 PSC engines. One that was built in 1987 runs like dirt and I knew was a basketcase going in. The 3 others built more recently run fine and are among my favorites.

 

Thank goodness I didn't take the naysayers advice. If I did, I would not own any 0 scale model, but I'd be playing alot more golf.

As Ed says, I found out later it is a model by model call.  My comments were based on quite a few bad engines purchased in the mid-late 90's.  For whatever reason I seemed to buy all the lemons.  Then I had to find a service person and wait and pay again for double shipping and adjustments.

 

I was so naive, it only seemed reasonable that a custom brass importer would supply prototypically accutate locomotives capable of actually running.....smoothly and  not fall apart.

 

       

Hi

 

I bought a PSC EM-1 back in the early 1980's. I lasted about 6 weeks running on my layout. Recently I went to the matts with this beast and installed 2 KTM gear boxes in place of the stock gear boxes that came with the engine. I do things in fits and starts and it took about 4 months to finish it up. It is not quite done, but it is presentable.

 

Above is the front engine with the KTM unit installed

 

 

Above is the rear engine with the slot for the gear box being milled out

 

 

The finished Locomotive

 

 

As I said it is not quite finished because the coupling for the rear engine vibrates a little too much and needs to be reworked a little. The KTMs are just fine. I always have had good luck with them

 

I am planning on DCC for this model.

 

 

John

John:  Is that a PSC or Westside EM-1?

Believe it or not, I still have the box it came in. Is says: Imported by Precision Scale from Samhongsa.

 

John

 

 

Fellas, can you provide thoughts on GPM's models?    I am considering selling off a couple un run NIB 3R steamers (Sunset and Lionel) to purchase a GPM mikado....

 

Would like to hear from you all prior to moving ahead.

Thanks,

Brad

None of us can afford them.  We spend too many of our productive hours yakking on the internet.

 

Joking - er, opinion.

 

Good runners - recent Sunset.  MTH.  Older O Scale, like Scale Craft and even All Nation.

 

If you have the bucks, there is a spectacular Lobaugh Mike on eBay that will go above a grand, and it is worth it.  I do not know the seller.

Just saw it....

Bob, Tell me a little more about GPM's operational consistency pls. I have heard from the seller-- who wants to sell. I would like to hear from owners or observers-- and you are a likely candidate ! Thx You can email me offline if you prefer

Brad,

I have recently acquired a GPM SP mike and also had to sell off another loco and more to pay for it and having the DCC Tsunami sound installed.  It is a very finely detailed loco and runs great.  My only complaint in that regard is it is a little light on traction for heavy trains on my 2% grades.  At some future  time, I may add a little more weight in the boiler if there is room, but it does well enough for my operation now.  The motor draws so little amperage that the 1 amp Tsunami was used for motor control as well as sound.  Rod Miller did the DCC work on it and he also made sure the mechanism was running well before he shipped it to me.  So I don't know what minor "out-of-the-box" glitches he may have found.

 

Charlie

 

 

Charlie How would this model Do Pulling a full consist of brass hoppers and gondolas?

I've been lucky enough to work and 8 or 9 GP Mikes and, for the most part, they are really nice models that are a great value (opinion).

 

I guess my biggest issue is the 36 volt motor.  Don't get me wrong, it's a Maxon motor and is of the highest quality but because of it's higher voltage motor the model runs very slowly and won't double head with anything else.  Obviously, with DCC you can compensate for this a little.  The gearbox has a ratio of 13:1 (meant to operate with a higher than 12 volt motor) which gives it a semi-coasting characteristic.  I bought all the overrun parts from Jimmy and have since built a complete mechanism powered with a 12 volt Faulhaber motor and because of the high ratio it really runs to fast.  I'm thinking an 18 volt motor should be just about right.

 

My opinion is, if you can obtain any GP model go for it.  I don't believe you can lose money on a quality model that should retain it's value.

 

Jay

Hey John,

 

Have I seen those USH gearboxes before?  They look familiar.

 

Jay

Thanks Jay.  I do remember that Si had a lost wax Mike, and that it made the cover of OST.  There are a number of these things out there - one went at OSW for $350, but it needed a bunch of work to bring it up to the level of this one.

 

The Stevenson Mike uses the same castings, of course, so re-creating one of these is a possibility.

bob2,

 

Yep, OSN #133.  It was numbered as 3259 then.

 

Re-creating?  Probably.  But at what cost?  Difference in quality of the castings & mechanism......debatable, offline. 

 

I actually have one of Bob's Mikes but the casting were done by our friend in TX.  I'm debating on placing the kit superstructure on one of my GP mechanisms.  Not as stout but an easy project.

 

Jay

Brad,

Too many variables (trucks, grades, rail, weights, etc.) to answer that question exactly.  With my mix of cars (brass, plastic, wood, urethane), it will pull a dozen freight cars up my 2% curving grades.  My PFM 2-8-0 will do ten.  A USH 4-8-2 will do over 16.

 

Jay C,

This GPM model has a Faulhaber motor.  Other than that, I've no idea about the gear ratio or motor specs.  Seems to run at about normal speeds at typical throttle settings with DCC.

 

Charlie 

Charlie,

 

Nope, earlier GP models had Faulhabers but the Mikes have a Maxon.  I've opened 10 of these now and they were all Maxons.  Maybe your's has something different.

 

How do I know they're 36 volt?  Because that's what Jimmy told me.

 

The ratio was confirmed this morning.  I counted the revolutions.

 

Jay

I stand corrected, the motors are 30 volts but they are still Maxons.

 

Charlie,

 

Check your email from Rod dated Feb 13 of this year.

 

Jay

Jay,

You are probably correct as Rod's email does say Maxon.  I was going by what Rod wrote on the DCC data sheet he sent with the loco.  In any case, the top speed is more than ample for my layout size and track laying.

 

Charlie 

Probably???  I'll bet however much you want!

 

Jay

Hes indeed, Jay C. They are the ones you furnished. I am very happy with them.

 

John

Guys, '

It has been interesting to read the posts relative to the running qualities of the various models. I have had experience with Westside models like the EM1 where if you looked at it crosseyed, pieces fell off. I have been trying to combine the best of both worlds being a PRR modeler with desires for smooth running engines. The comments about he USH engines are genereally true - solid runners with basic details.  I looked for a PSC K4 boiler and, when I found one, mated it with the USH L1 mech for a very nice and scale sized L1. I have done that twice. One boiler came in a zillion pieces from Lionel, who appeared to have totally disassembled it to get dimensions to make the die cast version. I am currently reworking some Sunset I1's as their details are poor but they have wonderful mechanisms (ball bearing gearbox included) and a scale sized boiler. Check out the pictures on my blog at http://www.prr-northerncentral.blogspot.com/. I am now making the ash pans as the model does not have any.

 If you are willing to do what Joe suggested and rework some models, you can generally get what you want. The PRR is especially a good case as they used similar boilers in several classes.

Jim Taverna

Hi Jim,

That's a great looking blog site. I think there is a way to put that blog address into a signature so it shows up every time you post here. More people should see it.

Although I've never owned a GPM O scale loco they are built by Boo Rim Precision in Korea who is the same builder River Raisin Models uses for all their "S" scale steam engines. They are magnificantly detailed models that run great and hold up well to operation and handling.  I have one of their 0-6-0's and it is a piece of art yet very solid. Not USH and MG solid due to the level of detail, but very robust models if handled in a normal fashion.

 

I agree the GPM 2-8-2 would be a great model to own.

 

Butch

I agree with Chris, but am curious: do you really have a hundred feet, or is that a camera distortion?  Looks way bigger than my entire house!

 

How about some broadside closeups of those locomotives?

Thanks, guys. I will look into including the blog address- I am new to the group and not totally familiar with the formats.

 The layout is in a lower case H format - I am going to try to post a track plan as some folks have been asking for it. The room is about 1700 square feet so the diagonal length is about 85 feet on its longest side. If you look back at some earlier postings you will see how I hung track from the ceiling and even finished the room.

 If you click on any picture, you get a blow up and I included some broadsides of the locomotives. I do not have much equipment out as I am still in heavy construction. I am currently building turnouts in the engine servicer area.

I will try to get that track plan up.

Jim Taverna

Forgot to ask - who is GPM models? I am not sure I have heard of them.

Thanks,

Jim Taverna

Wow! Wow! Wow!  That is some layout Jim. Fantastic job.

 

Glacier Park Models=GPM

 

http://www.glacierparkmodels.com/

 

Butch

Butch,

Thanks for the info and the compliment. Still have a long way to go on the layout and it is slow going.

Jim