EMD trainman's G scale train section 2008

I will also keep running my std. mainline equipment on narrow gauge rails Lol, same here 1:22.5,1/24,and 1/29 all in the same consist, I'm not dialed in to ridged tolerances at this moment and time.

 

I like to thank Dave and Route 66 for the comments on my threads, everyone is welcome to do so.

 

Mabuchi Motors

In this article I will we will talk about Mabuchi motors. I remember talking to a vendor of mine a few years ago, he got to visit Mabuchi motors since he was a Aristocraft dealer. I was spurprised about the story he told about his trip to see Mabuchi motors. Mabuchi motors is located in China and they run 24 hours a day 7 days a week non stop, when he says non stop, they get no holidays there to shut this place down. He said this place was huge and you just can't imagine how big it is until you get there. He said this place fills in 6 city blocks and has 4 stories. I asked why would you need such a big place just to make train motors? He laughed at me and said, "Mabuchi Motors makes 99% of the motors we use in every day products." Now that I didn't know I must admit. He goes on to say, "whether is a electric motor for your R/C model car, a motor for your box fan in the window, a motor for your power seat in your car, what ever you can imagine that has a electric motor in it, Mabuchi probably made it. I was like, wow, this was very deep and could not imagine one single company having that much of the electric motor market. Then he goes on to say, "even if you find a product that has a different name motor in it, you probably would be able to trace it back to Mabuchi motors since how they make motors to any specifications and will put on other manufacturers decals." He said the reason why Mabuchi got so big is because they make a dependable motor that is very cheap to buy and they can mass produce them by the millions in a week. So just think the next time you turn on your train, no matter what scale you have, or you adjust your power mirror in you car, or you turn on a box fan, they may all be using a Mabuchi motor in them. It's hard to believe a single company can capture most of the entire world global market. But my vendor says it is so and he said you would have to visit this place to believe it for yourself.

 

Elevated VS Ground level

I see many G scalers going with elevated railroads which is pretty neat I think. Everthing is well within reach, especially if you are getting older and bending over is getting to be painful. There is however a downfall, at least for me to having a elevated railroad which is why you notice mine on ground level. The #1 thing that scares me is a derailment. If a derailment happens, the trains more than likley will end up on the floor and get heavily damaged. I do happen to forget a switch from time to time when switching trains around. The other reason is my trains are indoors in a basement which usually would not be a big deal if your bbasement was dedicated to just your model railraod. I'm trying to make m basement a multi function area. I have a 2nd living room area, a 4th bedroom, laundry room and a workshop area. If I had a elevated railroad I would not be able to have all of these functioning rooms to walk in and out of. The 4th bedroom has been dedicated to the layout and has been converted into the yard area, however I still use the basement as a living room area, laundry room and work shop.

Picture 1) I was planning on building track senery modules that I saw like this picture example at the York Expo Large Scale Train show and setting them on the floor, but I think this may be a waste of money

Picture 2) Then I saw this ground level layout at the York Large Scale train show the following year. It was the only ground level indoor layout there, all of the others were elevated. They used a burlap material for the scenery.

I would luv to have opinions of other G scalers on this board as this is my next step in creating a real indoor layout, remembering I have to stay ground level. Should I build track scenery modules like in picture #1 with backdrop scenery with the sky painted on it or should I just go out and buy green indoor outdoor carpet, cut that to size and use that like in picture #2. If you have other ideas I would love to hear them

 

Boxcab E50 Accucraft 1:29 product update

The Accucraft 1:29 scale ratio 0-6-0 switcher is USRA approved and will be made from a combination of Brass, steel and diecast metal with steel drive rods

The Accucraft 1:29 scale ratio PS-1 box car will be made from a plastic construction with metal castings, operating doors, under body details, diecast trucks, metal wheels and 3 sets of conversion couplers.

On another note, Accucraft is also offering their own Code 332 brass flex track in both Euro narrow gauge and USA mainline style in 3ft or 6ft lengths

NOTE: I forgot to mention in last thread that Accucraft is calling this new 1:29 scale ratio mainline the "American Mainline" series

For more products and info on Accuccrafts new "American Mainline" 1:29 scale ratio trains visit > www.americanmainline.com

 

Aristocraft fun for kids

Hi, you see sometimes I write in my threads I seem to talk down on aristocraft. They are great people and their products have come a long way. But one thing I do like about Aristocraft is that they have a line of trains that are great for kids without having to spend a fortune on them and without having to settle for those cheap new brite battery powered G scale trains that never last long. You see me talk about in one of my threads here about my little ones G scale train set. She is now 7 and has had this set since 4. The set is all based on 20ft rolling stock. what is nice is that there are alot of kid like themed rolling stock avalable. For example she likes her Herhseys pink bubble yum box car, there is a honey bee tank car she wants from the teddy bear express. Now aristocraft is offering a honey bee eggliner which is real neat. I think it's important to keep our kids involved in a hobby and would love to see Aristocraft expand even more items in a kid like theme but also based upon maybe what you would find in a garden. One example would be a live Caterpillar box car or live honey bee box car with pictures on it of course, or a gondolla with special beetle soil or a bird sanctuary water tank car. Things that would also keep our kids invloved in our enviroment also since who most of the G scalers model outside. These were just a few thoughts I was pondering.

The Aristocraft 2 bay hopper car will be out in October, I can't wait. I do have the 2 bay LGB hopper car but will go ahead and purchase the aristo version also. The aristo 2 bay hopper should fill in the void of the LGB 2 bay hopper nicely.

Note: The picture is to remind everyone what my little ones train set looks like

 

USA EMD NW-2 Calf back on track

My weekend was tight so I had very little time for the board until today. During this last weekend I was able to squeeze in my USA NW-2 Calf project. As you last seen many threads ago my calf unit broke down soon after my MOW train pictures were taken and posted to this board. The rear motor in the locomotive quit running. I was pondering the thought of just replacing it with USA trains new Alco SW1200. After much thought I decided to stick with what I got, #1 reason was the cost of the new unit and selling what I had on ebay and then packing it all up. #2 Reason is I like EMD units the most and always have. So I opted to buy a new complete motor block from USA trains, you can buy just the motor for $20 but how close are the gears to being wore out? So for another $10 you get a complete block with new wheels, motor, gears, pick up shoes and block ready to install. I took photos of the wiring before I tore it apart, I'm glad I did I forgot how the wires went on the block. Within about 10 minutes I had this unit up and running and only for $30 and to me it was well worth it. I like to run things until they quit, so I only replaced the bad motor block instead on both motor blocks, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This unit has served me well since 2000, this was the first motor block failure I ever had. I couldn't even calculate how many hours are on my F3 units and they still run strong. I also had them since 2000 running them on a average of 5 to 6 hours per weekend for the last 8 years roughly. I noticed that USA made a improvement on the NW-2 motor block pick up shoes, the shoes now have a double contact point per shoe instead of a single contact point per shoe, this is a nice up grade. My bigger locomotives such as the GP and SD locomotives all have dual contact shoes. This NW-2 calf was made in 1999 so I guess it was built before the shoe improvement. Well, I'm glad it is up and running again because the NW-2 Cow unit was struggling to pull my MOW train by itself so I basicly parked the MOW train until I could make up my mind what I wanted to do.

 

USA Heritage Series Rio Grande ordered

I finally got enough money saved up to order a USA Ultimate Series SD-70MAC UP heritage series locomotives in the Rio Grande name, I'm very excited and can't wait. I will post pictures and a review of the new locomotive. I will be selling one of my regular Rio Grande USA Ultimate series SD-70MAC locomotives on ebay due to I don't have enough track room for 3 of these monsters. For those who are interested you can visit my auction sales under user dakman98rt, I have a 100% seller positive rating and very honestly give a description. I also give a 100% money back garrauntee if not described correctly on auction. I will let everyone know when I post this item for sale and it will start out at $100.

NOTE: I left a picture of the real size UP heritage series Rio Grande for those who would like to know what it looks like. Sorry, deleted by EMD trainman

 

Pictures of the USA Heriatge series in action

Hi,
I was having problems posting pictures and figured it was my slow network so I had to upload one picture at a time. Pictures #1 to #4 is my new USA trains SD-70MAC Hertiage series Rio Grande in action, It is coming thru 1 of 5 wall tunnels which lead it from the work shop area to what was a spare bedroom now converted into a railroad yards room, then it will pass thru another tunnel on the other side of this room which will lead it into the main living room area in my soon to be finished basement. Picture #5 deleted by EMD trainman

 

Why is the G scale section board so small?

I noticed there are only like 4 or 5 posters in the G scale section. Some of the posts that were there has dissappeared. Anyone know why this section is so small? Are the G scalers moving on to another board? I think personally this is a great free board. There is the Garden Railroad board but you have to pay to be in there and I can't see paying a monthly fee just to be on a board or visit a site.

 

Light Rail Needs

Maybe you are just the type of person who doesn't want to model neither mainline or narrow gauge equipment. There is a handful of G scalers who actually love to model light rail, logging and mining operations. Hartland Locomotive Works has the perfect items for the light rail modeler, a small electric switcher called "sparky", a eletric "line" car for track maintenace, a interurban car for passenger service and a Birney trolley. All of these products are great light rail models. Whats nice is all of Hartland's products are still made right here in the USA. You cand visit Hartland Locomotive Works at www.h-l-w.com

 

#'s games make or break!

If you go to the bottom of the G scale section you can access more pages as far back as last year.My belief as to why this section hasn't progressed from all the previous posters is lack of feedback or nobody answering their questions lets face it if you get 300 look-sees of your thread you may if your lucky get only 7 or 8 replies. Even if you have over 10,000 members spread amounst all categories it is a very small percentage that will reply. There are other sites like this one that are dedicated only to Garden Railroading and maybe some have moved to those or just gave up on the forums altogether. Hey over 3000 have read your thread and it did inspire someone........Me,...so all is not lost!!! On another note I have had some LGB cars listed on E-bay for a whole week the number counter says 20 have looked w/7 watching one and only 2 watching the other hows that for nationwide exposure? They have a crappier percentage than forum percentage particapation?

 

Not to detract from the LGB America situation but when I go to train shows there is still alot of LGB cars and locos to be had even the beer reefers I bought 20 years ago are still avilable and at about the same prices or less. I see alot of LGB and Aritocraft being sold from dealers but very little if any is on display for USAT. Why?

 

Thanx for your replies BoxcabE50 and thanx for the inspiration story Route66. Route66 to answer why USA trains are not that common at some Garden train shows because Aristocraft is a major sponsor at some of these trains shows such as the East Coast Train Show in York, PA. USA trains is only invited as a guest there, although St Aubins and Charles RO were there, unfortunately they were the only two vendors selling USA trains. Let me tell you though, Charles RO had those people lined up and most of the people walking into the St Aubins display were walking out with USA Trains. St Aubins display had and even amount of LGB, Aristocraft and USA trains. LGB is always in full force because they have been around for so long and the only ones in town there for a while producing exclusive G scale. On another note, USA Trains is running low on stock, I over heard someone in the Charles RO section complaining how China was 2 years behind even though they paid in advance to have these trains produced and delivered. If you check on USA Trains web site you will find they are sold out of alot of items, which is why I never wait, I try to get them right away. Oddly enough it didn't seem like there wasn't too much LGB items moving at that time. MTH was also there, and there were also only a couple of vendors selling MTH gauge 1, but it didn't seem like MTH items moved at all. I did however walk out with a Aristocraft train from that show this year, I bought a 2 bay covered hopper in the Rio Grande road name which they actually made more realistic this time around, it was grey instaed of the usaul orange aristo paints it in and it actually had a real road number on it instead of using the model number like Aristo did in the past. G Scale Junctionn had a few select USA locmotives there, but not a whole lot. But I go there every year just to see the new items out and the train displays, it's like my Christmas after Christmas.

 

EMDT,
Sounds like a nice show you get in York,Pa. The shows we have are just local no big players or manufacturers and all scales are represented just local dealers but none seem to carry any USAT. With the best weather ahead of us here down south you would think Garden railroading would have a bigger impact and attract a show of that magnitude. We had a shop down this way that doubled as a trailer supply store and a G scale garden train shop but when I went back they had sold off the train portion of the business but alas I could get a inch and 7/8 ball to tow a utilility trailer???.
On a brighter note my LGB stuff is sold which means USAT will also be move some stock.

 

Route66, there is a G scale only train show circuit that hosts G scale only train shows. There is a East Coast, Mid West and South East G scale only train show. These shows are pretty big and are very awesome. I know at the East Coast Large scale train show in york there is one wing just for vendors who sell trains and on wing just for train displays, how to clinincs, and working layouts. they really go all out to make sure that there is only G scale models there. It's a show that you should at least attend once. I know I didn't start going to the East Coast large scale show until they moved it from New York to Pennsylvania because I hate going into New York. Now that it's in York,PA I go every year and it still over whelms me when I first walk in. For more info on these G scale only train shows you can visit >>>>>>>>>> www.largescaletrainshows.com The South East Large Scale train show is in Georgia at the Georgia National Fairgorounds.

 

Links

Thanks for the info the links didn't work for me both the heartland trains or largescale train shows maybe it's just me since my puter is going through a change of life..

 

Large Scale ONLY train shows

For those of you who are interested in going to a G scale ONLY train show becuase you are tired of mixed scale shows, visit www.largescaletrainshows.com
They put on one great show and you at least go once, you can reserve hotels, get tickets and directions all from this site. I attached a few pictures of last years East Coast Large Scale train show in York, PA. The pictures are from the train display wing.