Scale Trains Big Blow Turbine Fuel Tender

TMC Nov 5, 2022

  1. TMC

    TMC TrainBoard Member

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    I just got my Scale Trains Big blow Turbine in N Scale and I find the fuel tender doesn’t want to roll freely. There seems to be a lot of resistance, if one was to give it a good push on a straight stretch of track it wouldn’t go more than 2-3 inches before it comes to a dead stop. All the wheels are in gauge I checked. Has anyone opened one of these up and added weight? Does adding a tiny drop of oil on the axle points help?
     
  2. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I recently got a pair of their tenders but didn't try them on the track. They have decoders in them for the light as I understand it. They need to have electrical pickup for that. Wondering if that adds rolling resistance? Just got home from Phoenix. I'll try and look at mine tomorrow,

    Sumner
     
  3. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, the tender has wipers for picking up current for the light and as a result will add friction preventing a nice roll out like with a normal piece of rolling stock. Unless the wheels catch and don't rotate I wouldn't worry about it. The set has plenty of torque/traction to pull dozens of those tenders.
     
  4. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    I pre-ordered one on May 10th .......... and still nothing.

    They were on sale a few months ago and I let it pass figuring mine was going to be shipping in a few days.
    Today I got a e-mail that they were for sale to anyone at a discounted price again ......... mine was still "Pending" as it has been for 7 months. It appears I have to wait for some time at the non discounted price.

    I cancelled the order today.

    I hope the product is vastly better that their communication & distribution.
     
    mtntrainman likes this.
  5. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    I am a bit confused with the Scale Trains current 'Big Blow' turbine. Several years ago they released a GTEL 8500 Hp which was one really loud screamer.

    I think this new model is different in some ways from the original. So if it is different... what are the details?
     
  6. 308GTSi

    308GTSi TrainBoard Member

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    I heard / read that the sound has been changed to be more of a deeper roar than a whistle sound. The sound of the Scale Trains first Big Blows was very much like you hear out on the tarmac at airports today. I likened it most to the General Electric F103 engine ...... usually found on KC10 Extenders (USAF).
    Who knows what the recording for the sound file actually is .. .... I don't think the locos detail has changed much if any.

    (The only good thing about working at an airport was being able to walk around with the biggest aircraft in the world and the only thing stopping you getting killed is a bit of common sense.)
     
  7. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    The 8500 Hp GTEL Big Blows definitely had a jet turbine engine that was a screaming monster.

    I think this currently advertised version is an earlier variation without the jet engine.
     
  8. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Went through pretty much the same thing. When the order kept getting delayed and they posted the ones on sale I asked if I could switch to the ones on sale and they said yes but they were on sale because they had a decoder problem. So I didn't go for the sale ones.

    Then found out the problem was the decoders wouldn't accept a 2 digit road number. Since UP doesn't require a 2 digit road number I got back to them and changed the order back to the ones on sale, canceled the original order and received the ones on sale. Haven't tried to program the road number yet as I don't need them yet.

    Sumner
     
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  9. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I don't know if any of this thread has addressed the apparent binding that seems to be happening with the OP's issue.
    Have you verified the wheelsets are all correctly installed? Is the wheel wiper for electrical pickup correctly installed or is it deformed/bent? If the wiper is bent a little, while correctly installed, it can certainly lead to significant binding. Is there foreign material in the axle cups? Are the wheelsets deformed, especially in the needle points?
     
    308GTSi and BNSF FAN like this.
  10. TMC

    TMC TrainBoard Member

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    Scaletrains tech support called and were helpful. They gave me a few options. There is a access panel to the decoder under one of the wheel sets you can also pull the wiring for the reverse light from there. I pulled the decoder and all the wiring because I can live without a reverse light so it’s now not functional. I filled the tender with 1.5 oz of BB’s to weigh it down and I added a toothpick drop of oil in the washers where the axle points meet. It runs perfectly now, rolls beautifully not a single derailment since.
     
    freddy_fo, 308GTSi, Calzephyr and 2 others like this.

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