I hated the plastic miolded horns on my micro-trains f-7, so I took a couple of old tack nails and a grinder and with a small pair of needle nose pliars proceded to grind down a couple. I like the look much better. I scraped off the old one with a hobbly knife and repainted the UP yellow.
joes, those look just great. that is one of the weak points of the casting. small horns are hard to find. very nice job. dave f. p.s. i like the weathering - really brings out the details.
Nice idea! Paint the trucks on the UP units silver, more like the proto-type and you'll be stylin'! Also, on the windows, get some Micro-Sol window maker. It works awesome! I've used it on all my loco's and caboose.
Those cast on horns are a real sore point of the MTL shell. We were talking about that just yesterday. Your solution is a good one Joe. Lets see more pictures! -Robert
Joe, Great weathering job! It really enhances the locomotive. The horns like really good. I never liked the cast on horns. They just don't look quite right. I am impressed! Rob
Thanks again guys! Yeah, I figured what the heck, I didn't think anything would look any worse than the horns that were already on it! Kurt great idea with the trucks and fuel tank, now I have something esle to do! By the way Rob thanks for noticing the weathering on it. I hadn't planned it, but the paint didn't match perfect with the clean look, but, if you add a little grime, you can't tell. [ December 19, 2005, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: JoeS ]
nice!!! i think i want to buy one now! but how is the running quality compared to the märklin f7? i have also ordered a jürger track controller to my suitecase layout now! cant wait to drive trains in the car! battery controll is great!!!!
I like the way mine runs now. I cleaned it up with buggy blast and then relubed it. I get very good perfromance. I can't compare it to the marklin f-7 so maybe someone else can chime in. Yes I agree, the jorger makes everthing run better.
There is no comparison between the MTL F7 and the Marklin (sort of) F7. The MTL is a tank and will pull 50 cars or more by itself. In my experience it also runs smoother, but may be louder. Prior to the release of the GP35's and all the AZL's, the MTL F7 may have been the best runner in Z scale. I think they also cost about half as much as the Marklin F7's The mold is starting to show age so the details aren't as crisp as they were when MTL first came out with them (compare the F7A to the newer B unit), but there is a rumour that they might get redesigned if the GP35 is tremendously successful. On using the track nails for the horns, you might even be able to shape a little bit of the bell shape using putty behind the head of the nails. Randy Smidt
Buggy Blast is an RC car cleaner for engines. It is safe on the engines. Another brand I have used is Nitro. You would be amazed how well it cleans. You just spray right on the motor and the carbon and grime comes right out. It dries very quick. Follow the precautions on the can and work in a venilated area. After it dries lube up and give a run. Works great.
Most people would say Label oil, (I think that is how it is spelled) but I couldn't find any so I talked with people at my hobby store and they recommended Hob-E-lube Ultra light oil HL653. They said it was the same. I don't know weather it is or isn't, but I have been using it for about a year seems to be ok. However I use all oil very sparringly. I like cleaning with the Nitro or Buggy blast becasue then I know I have a clean engine and the only oil that will get on it is what I use. I am always over paranoid about an over oiled engine.
Speaking of over oiling, those Bachmann Spectrum steamers are dripping with oil. Everyone I put on the JJJ&E gets a thorough overhaul before it's run. Stay cool and run steam....
