More HO Questions!

Discussion in 'General' started by Coonskin, Mar 16, 2014.

  1. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    It has begun!

    I have listed four S scale engines for sale (representing mucho $$$). Much more S to be listed.

    AND...

    * Purchased a Stewart Frisco Baldwin VO1000 #214

    * Purchased two 36' Swift reefers w/steel (not truss rod) under frames (Swift still had TONS of them running around in the early 1960s) to be used at the big cold storage facility I envision. (I love meat packer reefers.)
     
  2. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Hi William:

    Haven't penciled a thing yet on a track plan... but I suspect that my "eye candy" crossing I thought about trying to include will consume too much precious space. I'm not even going to try, instead preferring to use the space for same for industries.
     
  3. William Jackson

    William Jackson Bill Jackson

    Well that is funny, mine is only a rail crossing to nowhere. Take a look at my albums. It takes very little space into a corner.
     
  4. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Hi William:

    Yes, yours takes very little space. In my mind's eye, I saw two double tracks crossing one another complete with illuminated (but non-functional) overhead signal bridges. We'll see... but I doubt it!
     
  5. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    'Nuther question:

    I live in a hobby shop wasteland. Drive time to the nearest is nearly 2 hours. I have to live off the net in order to do hobbies. That said: Where is a good online store/supplier from which to order Atlas Code 83 products?
     
  6. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    M. B. Klein (Model Train Stuff) is a good on line dealer with a believable website (Some dealers sites are really hard to navigate, Walthers' comes to mind). MBK is a full service dealer. Try: http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/

    Tom G.
     
  7. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Hi Tom!

    Thanks for the link.

    Ouch. Browsing their code 83 offerings indicated the majority of the "basics" (#6 switches) are "Out Of Stock". :(

    All:

    Does anyone have any experience with Peco's "Insul-Frog" code 83 switches?
     
  8. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    Caboose Hobbies in Colorado is another good shop (A heckuva good shop to visit too!). Kleins' runs out of stuff at times, but I think they must sell a lot too. Both Kleins' and Caboose are easy to deal with on returns if you so need. Another big (MASSIVE) shop is Discount Model Trains at Addison (Dallas) TX (Also an eye popping place to visit). DMT doesn't have a website but you can make email inquiries and order from them by mail/email.

    Tom G.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 17, 2014
  9. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    A number of the guys in Bella Vista have used the Peco turnouts with good result, however I strongly recommend using turnouts with frogs that can be powered. For turnout control, you don't have to use Tortoises; you can use Blue Point turnout controls. Blue Points are great for turnout throws and for directing power.
     
  10. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Thanks Tom for some more leads on finding supply lines. They will come in handy over the coming months/years.

    Thanks Keith for your experiential input. I'm not familiar with "Blue Points". Googling "Blue Points" turned up lots of things about oysters!?!? Do you have a link you can share?

    Have you had any experience with Caboose Industries ground throws that also have contacts for power routing? I'm hoping to avoid having to the under table powered switch machine route if I can as I did when using DC. DCC may change that, though.
     
  11. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Thanks much. Soon as we get settled (probably late May or early June) I'll get back in touch. Meantime, maybe send me a PM with contact information, just to make things easier.

    GS
     
  12. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I'll look forward to it. I want to get connected with local modelers as soon as I can. We had a good group here and I will miss working and operating with these guys.

    GS
     
  13. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Keith:

    Never mind. I Googled "Blue Point (no "s") Turnout Control" and their website popped up. Interesting... but expensive per switch: Blue Point + Flex Link.
     
  14. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I checked MB Klein, Walthers, Toy Train Heaven, and Wholesale Trains, and none of them showed any Atlas code 83 flex track available. I then went to Atlas, and they list it on their track listing, but don't say if it is available. You might send them an email and ask them about the availability of the flex track. Walthers track does go out of stock, but in time they do replenish it. I have no idea what is going on with the Atlas track availability.

    Terry
     
  15. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

  16. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Hi Terry!

    I am seeing the same thing: Out of stock. Weird. Figures, though, seems like anytime I'm in a position that I will need to purchase track en masse... there are supply issues. I remember this happened decades ago with Shinohara switches and such. Really aggravating.

    Hi Tom!

    Yes, some of that may definitely be "items of interest". Thanks!

    My first thought was to begin purchasing the needed equipment and bring track products along with it. Unfortunately, I am just now getting out all my track planning templates and such, in preparation of starting the process of track plan design. Designing a track plan that I'm satisfied with will take a while, AND, I won't know how many of what switches I'll need to be on the look for until I have a "definite maybe" track plan in hand. Guess I could stock pile flex track, though?

    Ah the joy of it all! :D
     
  17. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Interesting......I have two Front Range GP7s painted in Frisco colors (one O/W, the other black w/full striping). I like the looks, but not too keen on the chassis. I'd be interested to know what you did. I want to "hardwire" DCC decoders to 'em to match my two GP7s that ARE DCC-equipped- one Atlas, another a well-modified Front Range (with sound and a great weathering job). If you have that data, could I impose upon you to send it thisaway?
     
  18. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I know I am late getting here, but I will add to the list.

    I had a few units in my time that I could never get to run right, so I just dummied them. I saved all the gears for future use, like on p2k engines, or if I was to remotor a loco. As someone else suggested you could go find a junk Athearn unit some where and get the gears out of it if you chose to.
    You could always buy a F7B or two since they would be era appropriate.

    Also, the last I had heard was that Atlas is way behind on track production, just like locomotive and rolling stock production, and they are taking their sweet time to produce anything. From what I understood they would produce a batch of one or two pieces and they would sell out almost instantly once they got to the states because they are that behind on track.

    Ethan
     
  19. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Andre, I have not had any experience with the power-routing ground throws, and none of the modelers here are using them. I feel that they may be a very viable alternative to Blue Points, Tortoises or Frog Juicers.
     
  20. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Keith:

    I think I may try one of Caboose Industries power routing ground throws. I may be able to slightly alter the switch by cutting some spacers between the ties (that are under the rails) and tuck the wires under the ties so no holes on the layout need be drilled, ditto may be able to modify the ground throw for above layout wire routing. Once ground cover/ballast is in place, the wires wouldn't be seen. I'll have to wait until I have one on hand. I hate drilling holes and having switch mechanisms underneath bench work... where it's AWFUL to try to work on them.

    ALL:

    Two switches have been mentioned: Atlas Custom Line/Super Track code 83, and Peco code 83. The Peco switches look pretty good. However, I cannot find any explanation at any website (including Peco's) that explains what how Electro-Frog and Insul-Frog differ in function and use. Do ANY of you have ANY knowledge about or experience with Peco switches?

    At this point I intend to pick up an Atlas Custom Line or Super Track code 83 switch, and a Peco Insul-Frog and/or Electro-Frog code 83 for testing purposes, then make a decision as to what primary track switch brand to go with.
     

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