They are imports intended for the Japanese market. Which means parts/cleaning heads will be very hard to find if BLW stops carrying them. I suggest a car like a Centerline or Aztec. The Centerline uses a cleaning medium consisting of Handi Wipes, which can be bought in any store (even Wal MArt). The Aztec cars have 3 options, Cratex rollor, Canvas Roller, or Handi-Wipe roller. www.centerlineproducts.com www.aztectrains.com
As the old saying goes been there done that. First track cleaning car I had was a was a Rocco box car with a bright boy pad attached to the undercarriage. Sort of worked but not to well. Thought I discovered the elixir of life when I moved on to the centerline track cleaning cars. In matter of fact I have accumulated five of them, the more I used them the more my track got dirty. The goo-gone would leave a residue on the track and attract more gunk. Tried a bunch of concoctions to clean the rails but it always resulted in the same. Sort of like a definition of insanity. "You’re in a box doing the same thing over and over and not understanding why the results are always the same while expecting different results. " The next step in evolution was the whole series of the Aztec cleaner cars better but still no cigar. Somewhere I had acquired a Fleischmann track-cleaning car and it worked so, so. And then I discovered the Tomix powered track cleaner. Purchased it from Doug Coster in OZ. Had it shipped over to me here in the US. At first I was skeptical on its ability to clean after using it I have not looked back. I use two of them. The first one is set up as a grinder and the second one set up as a vacuum cleaner. Now I have super clean rails. The grinding pad are readily replaced with adhesive backed 1500 grit wet dry sanding paper locally available from Kmart and wall mart, no need to buy any replacement parts. Been doing it for two years and have not looked back. The only thing that I regret is spending all that money on damm rail cleaning cars. $180 on centerline cars, $200 on Aztec cars. $80 on Fleischmann. Wish I had found the Tomix car earlier and spent the money on some thing else.
CGWFAN- Do you have to use the Tomix cleaning fluid? How so they work? I just bought a centerline car, but the tomix car sounds good
Without a doubt, the most relaiable track cleaning method is to apply some elbow grease to your layout such as with a bright boy. I have also had great success applying goo gone with a rag wrapped around a wood block and then wiping up the residue with another rag. (Great results either way!!) Save the money you would spend on track cleaning cars and invest what you saved in some locos or rolling stock.
I have one ROCO car that I never use anymore. The best method, as Grantha says, is very light elbow grease applied to a Bright Boy and used very seldom ... like every 3 months at the most! Otherwise invest the money you saved in Peco track and Kato, Atlas, and the latest design LifeLike engines! I'm sure there are many other opinions and more experiences, but for my money - Do NOT put anything on the rails that leaves a residue. I had to replace a 3-foot section on a grade that had been cleaned once with a very well advertised model rail cleaning product. I could not remove the residue and every loco slipped on that section after it had been "cleaned". [ 04 December 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]</p>
ive used centerline cars before---the problem with them is two-fold--car is to light[needs to be weighted and second picking up the car and moving it to another location is a pain---my experience with them is we have at least 5-6 of these overpriced not so really gems---as far as briteboys---they work but they build up that rubber material on your layout--and they are hard on your railheads--as far as aztec cars is that they are super overpriced ---my experiece with them is that i own one personally own one and the club i belong to owns another 4-5 different types that they manufacturer--as far as performance i think they just move dirt around your layout and the final track cleaner that i know about is called electrac the electronic wheel cleaner--my experience is that we had one at the club--they dont work at all---nscale needs and demands clean track whether your running steam or diesel--so what do you think about the tomix cleaner,will it work or is it more of what we already have????
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> so what do you think about the tomix cleaner,will it work or is it more of what we already have???? <hr></blockquote> Did you read the review posted by CGWFAN?????????
"Do you have to use the Tomix cleaning fluid? How so they work? " Never used the cleaning fluid so I cannot comment. The only cleaning solution that I found that works is an electronic contact cleaner “CRC 226” or equivalent. It is not available everywhere, the local home depot used to carry it. The problem is this stuff is volatile and is a spray. Not good for enclosed spaces such as a layout room. It also has the potential to craze some plastics. Folks-the use of Goo-Gone is only a short-term solution. It will leave a thin film of oils on the rail. This oil will attract more crud over time, Don’t believe me - then try this-run the centerline, Aztec or whatever with Goo-Gone over your rails. Get a clean engine and run it over the rails for about an hour then rub your finger over the rails. The odds are you will have black streaks on your finger where you rubbed the rails. Goo gone contains a lot of petroleum distillates that do not evaporate i.e. leaves a film on the surface. The arching of the current on the rails to the locomotive wheels will cook the oils and generate the black crud over extended period. Most of the commercial cleaners are petroleum distillate based and will leave a film on the rail. The optimal materials that would leave the rails clean unfortunately are very volatile and nasty for your health. Not recommended. These solutions clean by washing the crude off the rails. But they will dissolve or attack most scenery materials. "I just bought a centerline car, but the Tomix car sounds good " Sell the centerline car and buy some rolling stock you will be better off. I have five of them sitting in a box sitting under my layout somewhere. Future Ebay material along with the Aztec cars. The Tomix car cleans the best when using the sanding disks. It works extremely well in getting the railhead clean. Sort of a mini rail grinder. You can get the same effect by taking a small masonite pad and laminating some 600 or greater grit sand paper. Use this to rub on your rails and then wipe the railheads with a soft clean rag. The Tomix car automates this process. Prior to an operating session I will run the pair down the rails or after a work session on the pike, It has made a significant contribution to our clubs and my own layouts reliability. It will remove the scenery glue that is over sprayed on the rails with a couple of slow speed passes. A lot easier than a bright boy on a stick or a sanding pad. Expensive- yes, Worth it –yes it’s a timesaver. Opinionated –Absolutely, been there done that
so which model is the best deal for the money--blw offers 2-3 different models---whats the best? im ready to dump the centerlines and the aztecs and bbuy some tomix cars
Which one to buy , Hmmm………. The units are all the same mechanically with a different color of shell. It is Similar to buying a car. What other silly features do you need to get from point A to B. Looking at the web site; http://buynscale.com/Tomix%20Track%20Cleaners.htm I cannot comment on the wheel cleaner since I have never used one. The unit that comes with the engine is sort of interesting if you do Japanese prototypes. And the third one is the basic rail cleaning car. Hmmm……. For my own use I have two of the rail cleaning cars only I purchased them from Japanese Model supplies in OZ. A.K.A -Doug Coster. http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/2589/jms/index.html They were purchased long before BLW even knew about them. It is what works for me. Since I am frugal, now that I am paying both my Kids tuition, I would opt out again and buy the single rail cleaning car. Its your choice, your pocket book. Enjoy
CGWFAN- I have a few questions maybe you can answer. Is the manual in Japanese or English? How does it clean, what type of pads/motors are there in the car. In the photo I see what looks like a "sponge" on the right side of the unit, in the center there some type of fluid holding container. Lastly, what are the dials for. If you have a site that reveiws the Tomix car that would be just as helpful Thanks a lot! [ 05 December 2001: Message edited by: sd9043mac ]</p>
“Is the manual in Japanese or English? “ Definitely not English, Japanese. My unit is the Millennium version and the clear smoke gray unit. “How does it clean, what type of pads/motors are there in the car.” Cleans in three ways depending on which user-installed part is used. Can only do one thing at a time. 1. Drip pad for liquid type cleaners. 2. Sanding pad- my favorite (mini rail grinder) 3. Squirrel cage blower wheel-Vacuum cleaner mode “In the photo I see what looks like a "sponge" on the right side of the unit, in the center there some type of fluid holding container.” From left to right orientation when I look at my unit in front of me: Weight, wire mesh cage for debris pick up, motor, small liquid tank, and weight. The on and off switch is on the right hand topside. “Lastly, what are the dials for.” One dial on roof -- Power on, cleaning liquid on, and off. The other two are: fill tank cover and the motor bearing end sticking up “If you have a site that reviews the Tomix car that would be just as helpful” Do not know of any objective review out there. Everyone seems to be pushing some sort of agenda. There was a review in “Continental modeler magazine” a while back. But I am not sure if they included this model in their review or a predecessor model. I could not point you in the direction to get a copy of it Thanks a lot! Your welcome.
A friend of mine has one, my opinion of it is it is a noisy cheap looking waste of money. As one of the previous posts has said, you cannot beat elbow grease and some wahl clipper oil to assist in connectivity.
Hi folks, Well, Elbow grease works very well, the best. Been using a Big eraser and alcohol on a rag. It works. Got one of those Roco cars, crude. Haven't tried an Aztec or Centerline. Just got a 25th aniversary Tomix. Instructions: Japanese! and pictures. First run: Vaccuum only. Amazing how much junk is on my track(fuzz, dust, specs, chips, etc. Second run: Polishing pad(looks like 1200 grit) Lot's of noise, it shines up the rails. Cool. Just done the third run: fluid and cleaning pad. Gets the residue and oil up. Nice. Went over with rag and alcohol. Found some residue. Pretty good, not perfect but hey good enough. My guess, the best track cleaner on the market. Beats elbow grease? No. Will I use it? Of course. It's easy. It's quick. It works. And it can reach places I can't/won't reach. eh.
Brian, even though the directions are in Japanese, it is pretty easy to figure out how to use it? Worth the $40?
If all my track was easily reachable, I wouldn't of bought it. Elbow grease is cheap and works well. I designed some hard to reach spots on my layout(tunnels) and places over 30" away. It cleans the crud off the track in them. That is really what I wanted. It does it. Prototypical? far from it. Looks radical, sounds wild. The vaccuum is a big plus. I like that a lot. Worth $40? For me yes.
It was easy to figure out. Fluid in goes in one spot. Fan and pads swap easily. 3 position switch, off-power-wash. Easy to clean. Pulls like 5 to 10 cars. A LL SW1200 cannot pull it up a 2% grade.
