@Alex M posted:How about a thread title… what’s NOT on the workbench today!!! LOL 😂 I need a vacation !! 😃
That is quite a bit of work there Alex. I'm glad I didn't contribute to that(yet). I know what you mean by needing a vacation, lol. Hopefully soon, eh?
@Alex M posted:How about a thread title… what’s NOT on the workbench today!!! LOL 😂 I need a vacation !! 😃
Alex, I'm getting agita just looking at these pictures!! But Alex does such great work..I would love to actually come down and watch once and learn!!!
@Alex M posted:How about a thread title… what’s NOT on the workbench today!!! LOL 😂 I need a vacation !! 😃
You need to have a turbo mode. 
@Cincytrains posted:Alex, I'm getting agita just looking at these pictures!! But Alex does such great work..I would love to actually come down and watch once and learn!!!
Absolutely, but please read this sign in Alex’s shop ……😁
Pat 
In the vein of what’s no longer on the bench are my engines. I went through all of them and…
- Cleaned all wheels/center rollers with a dremel.
- Put in new batteries where appropriate
- Red and Tacky all engine and truck gears
- Light oiled all wheels/center rollers
- Fixed any suspect wiring
- Upgraded suspect speakers
- Installed new tires
- Put in new LEDs where needed
At an hour a day this took months to do. But I’m done and set for quite a while 😅
I’ve been running the same rolling stock for years and the wheel’s really need cleaning. I hate that job. I’ll have to bring out new rolling stock and create a very large workbench.
Here's the process of putting a smoke unit in an MTH dummy E8 B-Unit that was upgraded to Legacy. I upgraded both powered A-Units to Legacy, so I figured I needed to do the B-Unit as well. I actually had a Legacy B-Unit with smoke that I stripped all the guts from so I could use them here.
Of course, the B-Unit never had smoke or sound, or anything for that matter. First, I added pickups, easy because the trucks already had provisions for them. Next I set about actually piping the smoke unit to the holes in the shell.
JB-Weld to the rescue, I rigged a rod through the hole to align the brass tubing that would be my smoke stack connection. Once the JB-Weld set, I removed the extra tubing.
The holes obviously exactly matched the old Lionel smoke unit, it was also from an E8. This smoke unit was used as a spacer for the second tube to get the positioning exact.
I also used the RCMC from the Legacy E8, it was handy.
Here's the smoke unit all mounted, works like a champ!
Here's how it was mounted, the two threaded standoffs were screwed to the smoke unit mount, the smoke unit was positioned on the two stacks, then I just reached in and applied JB-Weld to hold the standoffs in place, This allows the smoke unit to be removed for maintenance.
Not shown is the RS-Lite installation that just connected to the RCMC to give the unit sound as well.
@ScoutingDad posted:@Berkshire President The supports are lined up with the studs so I will be fixing them into a solid base.
Regarding the paint. It is similar to trying to paint over an existing high gloss finish or putting oil base over water base. The coating looks great going on, but the surface tension is such that the paint pulls away from the surface leaving gaps in the coating. Second coat does the same thing. I think the water based coating was not compatible with the base.
Looks ok on the photo but not so much close up. Really, with the shelves loaded with cars, only I would know its there.
If I remember right it works better using a oil base primer, letting it dry thoroughly, then using latex paint on top with wood. I think that's how I painted my house and garage back in the day when I could still do it.
Removing incadescent lighting from the new MTH passenger cars and installing LED light strips with the aid of GRJ's modules.
I wasn't going to do any decorating in the cars but I decided to throw some paint in them. 
Have a fun weekend all. 
The paint is a really good idea, makes a big difference. I may have to get over my lazy streak and paint the interiors of some of my lighting upgrades.
@Dallas Joseph posted:Removing incadescent lighting from the new MTH passenger cars and installing LED light strips with the aid of GRJ's modules.
I wasn't going to do any decorating in the cars but I decided to throw some paint in them.
Have a fun weekend all.
These modules are the best thing ever! They're easy to install, provide even lighting throughout the car (when used with LED light strips) and dramatically reduce amperage draw.
I've converted at least 15 passenger cars so far and they all look great!
@Dallas Joseph posted:Removing incadescent lighting from the new MTH passenger cars and installing LED light strips with the aid of GRJ's modules.
Have a fun weekend all.
That’s a good idea Dallas. What was your painting method?
Jay
@gunrunnerjohn posted:The paint is a really good idea, makes a big difference. I may have to get over my lazy streak and paint the interiors of some of my lighting upgrades.
" getterdone John. "
I agree about the difference . I only painted the flat green floor and parts of the seats and I used a brush clear coating the original tan colors with a fast drying Krylon matte art fixative to knock down the plastic sheen. The job went RELATIVELY fast without trying to do an open roof display exercise.
Have fun big J.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:That’s a good idea Dallas. What was your painting method?
Jay
Painted the floors , walls and parts of the seats with Tamiya XF-5 flat green . The green on the cap was too bright but the pgreen paint was perfect.
The seats were the original tan plastic. I brushed Krylon Matte permanent art fixative on the tan seats ( sprayed into cup to use ) to knock down the plastic sheen.
The sky dome seating area side walls were done with painting a wide pin stripe type tape with the XF-5 green . When i tried to slide the tape between the wall and seats it was difficult to stop it from sticking in the wrong place. I brushed water on the wall and the back of the tape and was able to slide it into the position it needed to be in. Took a Qtip and pressed the tape on the wall.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:That’s a good idea Dallas. What was your painting method?
Jay
Forgot to mention Jay......the interior of these MTH cars is removable for easy access for painting.
R-O-W brass Alco PA (actually an Alco PITA - because it was). 2 motors, ERR Cruise Commander.
Second shot, the Williams FA dummy "tender" - more AC hot/cold pickups and the TMCC antenna (see "brass" PA above). The two units are tethered.
The GM&O had 2 Alco road units that were painted in a solid red, rather than the more common 2-tone red with stripes. I really like this solid look, and I had a photo of each of them - the only known photos of them in their solid schemes, so far as I know.
The white numerals were correct with this scheme, oddly enough.
These numerals should have been white too, apparently (just one B&W photo to go by), but my number set did not match the GM&O "744" standard as well as it did "291", so I went with the right numerals in the wrong color, rather than the other way around. The Dulux color was typical for GM&O diesel numbers in this era, anyway.
291 and 744 may have never run together - I don't know - but this seemed a good idea. I had the locos and the decals. FA's and PA's both pulled freight and passengers on the GM&O at points in their careers, so this MU'ing would do for either.
@Dallas Joseph posted:Forgot to mention Jay......the interior of these MTH cars is removable for easy access for painting.
Thank you very much for the insight.
@D500 posted:R-O-W brass Alco PA (actually an Alco PITA - because it was). 2 motors, ERR Cruise Commander.
Second shot, the Williams FA dummy "tender" - more AC hot/cold pickups and the TMCC antenna (see "brass" PA above). The two units are tethered.
The GM&O had 2 Alco road units that were painted in a solid red, rather than the more common 2-tone red with stripes. I really like this solid look, and I had a photo of each of them - the only known photos of them in their solid schemes, so far as I know.
The white numerals were correct with this scheme, oddly enough.
These numerals should have been white too, apparently (just one B&W photo to go by), but my number set did not match the GM&O "744" standard as well as it did "291", so I went with the right numerals in the wrong color, rather than the other way around. The Dulux color was typical for GM&O diesel numbers in this era, anyway.
291 and 744 may have never run together - I don't know - but this seemed a good idea. I had the locos and the decals. FA's and PA's both pulled freight and passengers on the GM&O at points in their careers, so this MU'ing would do for either.
They look great D!…..nice work, …..as usual!…..
Pat
@D500 posted:291 and 744 may have never run together - I don't know - but this seemed a good idea. I had the locos and the decals. FA's and PA's both pulled freight and passengers on the GM&O at points in their careers, so this MU'ing would do for either.
Hey ' D ' ......I've always tried to make engines and consists consistant looking together but after watching numerous videos of engines running on specific roads there have been enough mixtures of even different road names pulling freight that I wasn't sure of which road video I was on. 
@harmonyards posted:They look great D!…..nice work, …..as usual!…..
Pat
Thanks a lot, especially in light of the quality of work that you do.
A bit of a rainy 4th yesterday in the northeast. I was able to grab some time at the workbench in the afternoon. I got the stacker board installed and started sorting out the wiring. I need to extend some of the wires but everything went in OK.
Bob
Looks like you are moving right along, Bob!
@Mark Boyce posted:Looks like you are moving right along, Bob!
Thanks Mark. I received my last parts order from MTH today so nothing but making the time to stop me now.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:Thanks Mark. I received my last parts order from MTH today so nothing but making the time to stop me now.
Bob
What else could be more important, Bob?? 🤔🫡🤷♂️
@RSJB18 posted:A bit of a rainy 4th yesterday in the northeast. I was able to grab some time at the workbench in the afternoon. I got the stacker board installed and started sorting out the wiring. I need to extend some of the wires but everything went in OK.
Bob
That looks very daunting Bob. I would be putting it back in the box and setting it aside.
Jay
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:That looks very daunting Bob. I would be putting it back in the box and setting it aside.
Jay
I might still.....🤣🤣
Hopefully all goes well and the thing lights up and moves when I apply power....🤪🤪🤪
@Mark Boyce posted:What else could be more important, Bob?? 🤔🫡🤷♂️
I don't know Mark....want to ask my wife????
🤯🤯🤯🤯
On the bench is the start of a Sawdust burner for my Lionel 464 Sawmill. Sawmills in the 30s and 40s burned the waste sawdust and lumber in cone shaped burners.
Charlie
@Choo Choo Charlie posted:On the bench is the start of a Sawdust burner for my Lionel 464 Sawmill. Sawmills in the 30s and 40s burned the waste sawdust and lumber in cone shaped burners.
Charlie
More on this, please Sir!
John
It has been about a two week project so far and more work to do. I will post a few more updates as progress is made. It is a no money cost project and all materials are some where around the shop and garage. The time put in is another matter, some just looking for stuff.
Charlie
On the Workbench went to Off the Workbench for the Sawdust Burner that receives sawdust from a Lionel 464 Saw Mill. "Off the Bench" is the name of a local ESPN radio station sports show staring Hester and TeeBob, ex LSU football stars.
Complete details on how the Sawdust Burner was made are below
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...2#176694689110970672
Charlie
The rebuild of an MTH UP #80 Coal Turbine. It was sold as having a PS/3 upgrade, but what it had was a nightmare tangle of wire, electrical tape, and hacked off wiring with no insulation! In addition, the two smoke units were totally missing, apparently the person converting it didn't think smoke was part of the conversion! Basically, the conversion consisted of sound and motor drive. The only light was the headlight, missing are the MARS light, the number boards, the markers, and the cab light! Also, the couplers didn't work.
I've replaced the smoke units, fabricated a smoke funnel for the missing one in the lead unit, and gotten the second unit all running. The second unit ran backwards, the coupler and backup light to the tender didn't work, and of course that missing smoke unit. It also had all the bare wires just hacked off the PS/3 connector, a generous supply of electrical tape, and a few bare wires as well. I was actually able to rescue the existing wire harness by removing all the clipped wires and adding a bunch of missing ones and cleaning up all the electrical tape. Notable feature is that the middle unit has no lighting.
There was no rescuing the wiring harness of the lead unit, so I took the lead unit and striped every wire, mounted the smoke unit, and started on the wiring again. I'm using the wiring from the F3 unit I converted to Legacy as a base, it's got most of the wires I need, I'll add the missing ones.
That's some project John! Right up your alley. I'm sure we'll be seeing a video of it running laps around your layout before long.
@coach joe posted:That's some project John! Right up your alley. I'm sure we'll be seeing a video of it running laps around your layout before long.
Well, I'm sorting out the new wiring harness now, I'll add the wires for the missing functions, then I can stick it in and see if it all works.
John, I agree with Joe, that will be a nice engine when done. I have plenty of confidence in you to get everything working well!
Well, it's a wrap! Here's the coal turbine in full flight! BOY, is it a noisy set, and it's only at half-volume! That has to be one of the ugliest upgrade jobs I've tripped over, but that's all behind me now.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, it's a wrap! Here's the coal turbine in full flight! BOY, is it a noisy set, and it's only at half-volume! That has to be one of the ugliest upgrade jobs I've tripped over, but that's all behind me now.
WOW!
Somehow the train gods knew to send this one to you! 
Nice work John.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:A bit of a rainy 4th yesterday in the northeast. I was able to grab some time at the workbench in the afternoon. I got the stacker board installed and started sorting out the wiring. I need to extend some of the wires but everything went in OK.
Bob
I picked up an assortment of 22 ga wire yesterday. Hopefully I can get this engine running soon.
Bob
@RSJB18 posted:WOW!
Somehow the train gods knew to send this one to you!
Nice work John.
Bob
Well, given the price that I got it at, I guess I can't complain. After all, the PS/3 boards were there and all functional, so that's $300+ that I didn't have to spend. I was going to buy the PS/1 model and upgrade it anyway, and the PS/1 models were going for what I paid or hundreds more! I also wouldn't have gotten the two PS/3 boards, so all in all, it was still a good deal. Obviously, it would have been an even better deal if the PS/3 upgrade was done properly and they didn't take the smoke unit parts out! I have a drawer full of smoke units, so I just popped those suckers right back in!
The good side was the set was perfect cosmetically, which is really the key element for me, I can fix the insides. 
It runs great, John!!
@Mark Boyce posted:It runs great, John!!
I think with both units having audio, it's the loudest engine I have, the turbine sounds are insane! I turned it way down so I could hear myself think!
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