Hey I actually got a relative G-Scale-ishness related update! Train show tomorrow but I just finished up swapping my engineer figure from the U25B to the FA-1. This figure, I've been told, is the one Aristocraft used in the U25B's but really isn't suited for the FA-1's cab. Even with the seats slid all the way back as far as they can go. But without further adu, my latest modification for the month: And after doing some track extension work down in the family room, I found that another short section of half-inch LGB Track should correct the issues of the odd shape and everything should mate up properly. I'm going to start my search at the Train Show and hope results turn up for either that or a new flat car. And speaking of flat cars, I rigged one made out of a Bachmann stock car. I removed the shell from the base and got this: The next issue I had was that until I do full Kadee swaps, I use Aristocraft Knuckle Couplers. Bachmann's tend to be a huge variable when it comes to this. Compatability is there but they work 50-50 percent of the time. So I decided to use one of my spare Aristo Knuckle Couplers. But as most are well aware of, Bachmann uses different mounting posts on their couplers. To correct this issue I simply sliced off the rounded knob until I met the back of the coupler post. Then it was a matter of using Bachmann's coupler screw to screw the Aristo coupler in place: Finally it was fitment time. It's about Bachmann's standard half milimeter lower then normal when the couplers connect, but being AristoCraft couplers now, there wasn't that big of an Issue with the car staying on the rails. The car works great and the next thing I need is metal wheels to help stabalize it at the front and rear when I have a camera and a flashlight on. I figure one metal wheel at the far rear and the far front will do the trick. This is just the beginning of my adventure's for the summer. More to come after the Train Show. So Stay tuned! Same Bat Time. Same Bat Channel!
DragonFyreGT, I see you are doing what I did when I first started G scale on a budget. Trying to get different train cars to match up that you find cheap and trying to make your own stuff just by doing simple things. You can buy Bachman trains cheap on ebay and just make what you want. I had MDC and Bachman trains when I first started, I couldn't afford Aristocraft til later. By the way, there has been alot of nice used Burlington Northern USA trains going thru auction recently on ebay, every time I see a BN auction I think of you. It's a shame people have to sell off what makes them happy.. There has been alot of Santa Fe and BNSF stuff goig thru also. Some of the big collectors are cutting back like I did. I myself cut 7 Aristocraft trains and 5 LGB trains from my collection. Hope you bring pictures from the train show.
Another train show come and gone. Nothing in the way of AristoCraft or USA Trains that I was looking for. But I did happen to find an HO F7B Dummy unit for a buck. I Needed the underframe and coupler covers for my F7A&B. What I did find out is my Grills shipped! L&B Hobbies has the confirmation from aristo. They'll be here next week but I have to wait 2 weeks as their only open on saturday's and their out of town for a wedding next Saturday. So hopefully before the end of June my Units will have matching grills! Another dealer had a huge blowout on Rio Grande rolling stock. Sold every piece before I could check it out. I ended up showing up with 2 hours left in the show but stayed til the end anyways. Some massive G-Scale selections this month. O-Scale was actually a minority for once. Waiting to see if L&B will be able to order my PA/PB fuel tank skirts for my units. Once I test fit those, I can then determine if I'll need to swap fuel tanks. And Lily Corp is sending a payment offer to my Lawyers in LA (the state not the city) by the end of this month. So July I'll know and have some extra cash on hand to do stuff like DCC/Sound. Been waiting paitently these last few months so that I have a set spending plan on my units. I figure I'll only be able to work on my FA/FB, buy my station platform kit and maybe pick up my GP40 Custom Run. and I actually used bachmann equipment a lot as a kid with my FA-1 because it was cheap and readilly available but I never thought about coupler modding then. I stopped using it because I managed to, last year, get my hands on some aristo rolling stock. I need a flat car still and nothing I'm looking for showed up this month so I decided that making my own is as good as it gets and my Stock Car is the only bachmann boxcar that has a solid, undamaged frame. I was going to pick up some metal bachmann wheels til I found out they were being overcharged upon. Well til 2 weeks or so~
DragonFyreGT, you will find anything precious metal wise went up. I remember paying $25 for 2 ball bearing axles, now they go for $40 to $45. Track went ridiculously high also, who ever heard of $245 for a box of 12 10ft diameter curves??? Even on ebay, used track sells so fast, you never get a chance to get it, no matter what brand name it is, people will buy good used cheap track in a heart beat, I know I have been looking for some. I found someone advertising 10ft diameter curves for only $10 a piece used, sold out in minutes. I'm gonna let the hobby shops sit on the over priced stuff, sooner or later they will discount. I now refuse to buy ball bearing axle sets, too expensive, even USA got over priced at 12.95 per 2 axle set, I remember when you could convert a entire rail car for that price.
Well that is true. A Dealer had stainless steel track, used (and it showed) with the hillman's rail clamps, but it was way overpriced. The same with my LGB Powered Tender. It's gone way up in price simply for the power brick it sits on. So what I decided to do is buy a Stainz/Tender set, then sell the engine off for around 200 and keep the tender. L&B Kept trying to find one for around 100 bucks but everytime they did, the price went up to around 250 or the seller wouldn't split the set up, so that's fine, I'll just work around it. From what I've researched, a 2015D stainz is usually worth around 250+. So I buy my set, and I make the money back on the locomotive itself. As for the used track, not a lot of it at the show, I've seen a lot of new track, mostly LGB and Aristo but it doesn't sell because people are not willing to pay artificially inflated prices. I cross checked the price of LGB/Marklin's new track and Aristo's track to these dealers. Buying from the manufacturer is cheaper. Now I understand the price of the metals that the track is made from is going up in price. But when a box of new AristoCraft track has it's price doubled by a dealer over it's normal retail price, there is something a bit shady about it. G-Scale track only sells at the show if it's used. People aren't willing to let some of these dealers and venders take them for a ride.
