Lets see your Arnold N scale!

oldrk Jan 6, 2011

  1. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, the indexing was flawless and power was supplied only to the selected track. Nothing could be easier. I think the bridge was something like 90 FT -- as you noted, too short to handle even two Fs or Geeps.
     
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  2. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I got the little 0639 engine house, another Rapido item I always wanted:

    P1030664.JPG

    The Rapido Turntable was one of the neatest N scale things back then. The way it operated reminded me of the TV antenna rotator we had in the sixties. You could turn the dial on the control to any direction and the rotator would turn the antenna until it got to where the dial was set and stop without having to keep pressing a bar on the control. Only three channels back then, of course.

    Doug
     
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  3. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Oh cool! I remember seeing that kit in the Rapido catalogs and loved its contemporary look. I had the 0677 Signal Tower with Shed which was another neat model I thought. I'm not sure if I still have it or not.

    upload_2019-2-12_17-3-32.png
     
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  4. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    I am amazed you can still find those kits today that are not built and still in their original plastic bags. Thanks Doug for sharing the photos.
     
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  5. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I'm pretty sure I've seen the Signal Tower on eBay still unbuilt too. I know I have seen it, built. I like the contemporary look of that one too. It actually looks a lot like some American structures from the early nineteen sixties. I have also seen other Arnold kits on eBay. Of course, now I have to decide if I should leave it as is or build it. I usually always build them because I end up thinking, "What am I saving it for?" I mean, they are never going to be worth hundreds of dollars or anything.

    Doug
     
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  6. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    You read my mind on both thoughts. Arnold's "Signal Tower" does indeed capture that contemporary flat-roofed, big-window North American look. My photo of the B&O's F Tower in Fostoria, OH (09/23/1997, old low-rez scan) comes to mind. When I saw the photo of your engine house kit, I too weighed if I'd build it or not. You're right -- it'll never be a valuable collectible. Life is short. I decided that I'd build it and greatly enjoy the time doing so.

    1997-09-23 Fostoria OH - for upload.jpg
     
  7. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Rich, you're welcome. I have seen Rapido unbuilt kits off and on recently. It is neat they are still around. I didn't know about this thread until last October when I saw it while googling something else related to Rapido. My interest in Rapido trains had suddenly come to the fore simultaneously. I figured I would post as many pictures of the equipment as I could.

    Doug
     
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  8. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I like that B&O tower. In fact, I happen to like a lot of the late 1950's - early 1960's architecture with the nice, clean lines without looking bizarre, although some of it was. Here is the "New" CGW depot in Austin, MN, shortly after its completion in 1958. Of course, the CGW merged into the C&NW in 1968 and this station's use was discontinued shortly after. It was repeatedly vandalized over the years and was torn down in 1983.

    austincgwnew.jpg

    Doug
     
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  9. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Here are a couple more locos: A Frisco GP7, complete with some missing handrails and all four corner steps
    but one of the original releases. At least the paint is good.

    P1030665.JPG

    And a GP7 repainted into CGW colors which I like since it was one of two railroads in my hometown.
    The previous owner did a pretty decent job.

    P1030666.JPG

    Doug
     
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  10. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Here's my "Hudson" just arrived Saturday. It was listed as a 4-6-2 in the auction and I assumed that's what it was, at first, but finally realized it had a four-wheel trailing truck. Of course, Arnold just turned the Pacific into a Hudson by adding that truck. It is otherwise identical to the Pacific. Also, I don't believe the Pacific was sold in Santa Fe from Rapido, directly, but was by Revell.

    Worn tender lettering and I'm afraid I made it worse, cleaning it..

    P1030668.JPG

    Doug
     
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  11. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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  12. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Oh, that's really neat. I know of these, but have never seen a photo of one. Those Geeps are nice too. I agree, the guy who painted the CGW unit did fine work with it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2019
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  13. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    If I was to ever model a Granger road, it would be the Chicago Great Western.
     
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  14. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Found some more Arnold stuff in a box today, mostly dating from my 1980 layout. All of the switches are covered in ballast. I think those viaduct and trestle kits are Arnold branded kits produced by another manufacturer. The three little boxes are for additional turntable tracks from an even earlier layout.

    2019-02-18 Rapido Found.jpg
     
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  15. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    …. and as importantly, I found my c. 1968 Styrofoam tunnel! Not in perfect shape, but not too bad after 50+ years.

    2019-02-18 Tunnel.jpg
     
  16. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, I have that styrofoam tunnel too! :D
     
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  17. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Can you remove the switch machines from the switches like on Atlas snap switches? If yes, you could soak those switches in warm soapy water (dish detergent) after they've soaked for 15 to 20 minutes, gently scrub them with a old toothbrush. I've used this method to remove ballast from my track.
     
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  18. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Yep, the switch machines can be easily removed. I'll give that a try. The ballast is pretty crumbly, so it'll probably work well. Arnold's turnouts have quite the intricate mechanical/electrical mechanism built within them, so a rinse cycle in rubbing alcohol and thorough drying with compressed air would be a good idea.
     
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  19. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    Rich, when I was a kid, I remember standing and watching 5 or 6 of those huge (to me, at the time, anyway,) Purple F units, lashed together, go by the depot, pictured above, with a couple hundred car train. Needless to say, I was VERY impressed!

    Cool stuff, Dan and, if I were a betting man, I'd bet that tunnel was made by Life-Like. It is so similar-looking to the mountain/tunnels on my Treble-O-Lectric layout.

    Anyway, a couple more arrivals:

    U.P. GP9, my quietest Rapido by far. I looked at the mechanism to be sure it IS a Rapido:

    P1030674.JPG

    S.P. GP7. I don't think this was ever on the track. It's absolutely like new, even the case. The brass gears aren't even tarnished:

    P1030675.JPG

    Doug
     
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  20. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    It's funny you mention that Doug, if I remember correctly Life-Like imported the expanded polystyrene foam technology to this country, because they were having supply problems with their line of paper mache tunnels. That business then branched out to the Styrofoam cooler chests for summer time use. I agree, I'd bet Life-Like made those Styrofoam tunnels for a lot of other companies.
     
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