I could not resist this ugly MTH car, seeing as I live in Nebraska and am surrounded by corn fields. I also have a MTH Big Boy on the way. It is #4004, the one on display at Holiday Park in Cheyenne. I went to high school there and my mother in law still lives there. I usually get down to the UP Steam Shop for a tour, will for sure when they get the Big Boy in there for restoration!
I use code 250 rail by SVRR and my MTH trains and all other trains run fine on it. LLagas creek has some code 215, maybe Micro Engineering does also, but not sure how you would do with it. Could order a strip and see what you think.
Battery power is used for them. Wet/icy rails are not good for conductivity. This was the first time I used the dash 9 and I was to used to having to run my RS-3 at full bore to push it and I think if I went slower with the dash 9 the rotary could have thrown the snow better, if I just inched along. I run trains in the winter a lot Joe , if it gets up to 50 and the wind is not too bad(I live in the country). I bring them inside to drip dry good before storing them. Have had no problems My web page has some photos of the build, have to scroll down some.
I have not torn into the motor blocks yet, have to yank the pickups, since it will be battery power. I've heard they are better. Larry seems to be happy with the ones he has, maybe he will post something. They have two and 3 axle blocks, powered and un-powered.
Larry gave me(thanks!) this Great Trains(1/32nd scale) F7 shell and frame. I'm still looking for another or a B unit. It will be in UP colors to match my MTH passenger cars. I got some NWSL motor blocks that I will use. I had the gray mixed at my lumber yard, they scanned a MTH shell for it and the yellow. Seems each train maker has their own ideas about UP colors, as do the hobby paint guys.
I don't know, I ordered them anyway. We'll see! The NWSL two axle blocks are a pretty close match to the size. I think you could adapt the side frmes to them, if you are real picky you'd have to shorten the side frame little.
I wrote them, gave the measurements, they claimed they had nothing. So I just sent the # to them that you showed in your post, hope to hear back they do have it. I got one of the locos new from a guy, he'd never run it, the gear was already cracked! I checked, because my other one had cracked also.
You get better ebay deals than I do Larry. I did get one of those MTH coach bodies, not sure it was a paint test or not. I recall some USA ones a couple of years back. Keep us posted on any of the shells you see on ebay. I do have a saved search on F7's.
Larry, how many cars do you pull with your E-8's. Are all 4 trucks motorized? Just wonder if my F-7 with just two powered motor blocks would pull my MTH cars okay, maybe I should get two more for a B unit?
Would be a good time for MTH to re-run the Big Boys, especially 4014. With all the publicity about it and the Aristo closing I would think many may turn to MTH for their purchases, IF there was anything to buy. I would pre-order one.
I don't care for dry tansfers either. Stan makes white decals, or Del can cut you viny lettering. On the vinyl, he can send it to you as a mask. the letters are not there, just their negative space, you adhere the vinyl, the paint the lettering area and pull the vinyl off and you have nice painted letters.
Ray was a great guy. We wrote/called quite a bit. He knew the most about Great Trains and was a whiz at electronics and helping people. He was a Zephyr fan and had gotten part of one and I was trying to help him with measurements/pix from mine, but he never got it done. Sad to see him go, but he knew it was coming.
My wife cut me the REA lettering, when she had her vinyl sign business. Hope to get the F7 shell, when you can get to sending it. Still looking for a drive unit for it. NEver did hear back from NWSL about their two axle drive, and MTH won't sell drives, just exchange, if you have a problem with one of their locos.
I used some Nashua brand metal duct tape for the roof, embossing seams in it. Also used it for the 'rivet' pattern strips I embossed to cover the seam. Doors and trucks are old Great Trains parts I had. I plan to use this as a battery car with a Rail Boss Rx in it when I pull the MTH train with non-MTH locomotives. Paint does not quite match what MTH thinks UP yellow should be. I tried all the brand name paints and they didn't match, so had the shell scanned and some color mixed at the lumber yard. Will gloss it up a bit, since it is pretty flat. The right door slides to allow me to insert a battery. Roof right now is a interference fit and may just leave it that way. There are wood blocks that line up with the mounting holes, so can screw it down if I want.
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Wanted; MDC 2-Bay Coal Hoppers
in For Sale / Wanted / Trade
Posted
Chuck,
If you have any duplicates you want to sell, I might be interested in some.
jerry