Micro Trains SW1500

Carl Sowell Oct 3, 2019

  1. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have searched this forum, as well as your competition, and internet but find no answer, so here goes again.

    I have a MT SW1500 that has the "Mickey Mouse" tab pick ups that are not very well thought out. Has anybody come up with a better solution. If so, would you please post a suggestion.

    Carl
     
  2. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Carl, Are you having electrical pickup issues or just don't like the looks of the Life-Like wipers? Very honestly, you're the first person I've seen that is looking for a solution to replace the wipers. Mark over at Spookshow gives this model a rating between A and A- and states even though the wipers are an outdated idea, they still work well. I do not own an example of the model, but from the photo's I've seen, one possible solution is to hard wire the trucks to the frame using fine (30 AWG) stranded wire.
     
  3. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rich,

    thanks for the response. It is not a matter of looks, they can be painted black to hide them. When I took off the shell to install DCC, I was not very careful and the tabs that touch the chassis are bent pretty bad. I have solved that by straightening them and then soldered a very short piece of pb wire to each that should make good contact. I also believe if I place the bottom piece over the chassis and then install the shell I can baby the tabs to make good contact.

    Carl
     
  4. DiezMon

    DiezMon TrainBoard Supporter

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    Those things were always breaking off for me, on my LL units. So I rolled my own. (answered over on TRW too ) ;-)

    They're glued to the underside of the sill, in the middle.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    The Lifelike and Walthers' SW9/1200 share the same chassis as the MT SW1500 and the same pickups. Very difficult not to mangle them when taking the shell off. Diezmon's solution is far better. Hopefully when Atlas re releases this locomotive they will improve the pickups. And hopefully they will re-release the SW9/1200 sooner than later.
     
  6. Rich_S

    Rich_S TrainBoard Member

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    Hi Carl, Now I understand. I did read in Mark's review to be careful removing the shell. Isn't that the way it goes, just when things seem to be going good, the other foot drops o_O. It definitely looks like DiezMon has the best solution to the problem in his post above.
     
  7. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Be interested in knowing how this change was made!
    What was used, dimensions etc....
    Nice solution!
     
  8. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks all, my idea did not work well.

    DiezMon (yes I appreciate your post on TRW as well ) your method is by far the best and I will do the loco that way, if I can get a new sill for mine. My 79 year old fingers really beat the crap out of the plastic.

    carl
     
    DiezMon likes this.
  9. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Carl,
    M/T sells the body kit for the SW1500 and it includes a sill. You can probably get it straight for M/T or I know some E-tailers have them in stock as well. DiezMon's solution does look interesting. Good luck in your quest sir.
     
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  10. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    BNSF F,

    I found that on MT web site and have an e-mail in for availability. That's a pretty complete set of plastic parts. The way I work, I may need all the components. :LOL:

    Carl
     
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  11. DiezMon

    DiezMon TrainBoard Supporter

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    I just had some spare brass sheet laying around, i can't even say what thickness. As for dimensions, the 'strip' part it just about the same width as the original little tabs. Then i just trimmed the whole thing to a "T" shape, with a fat base. Just trial and error :)
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.
  12. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    I have honestly considered buying one for a custom painted SW1500 for the Pacific Electric in the 1940's paint scheme
     
    BNSF FAN likes this.

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