Resurrecting One Of The Nicest Looking F-Unit Sets Ever! Varney's 1958 HO scale A.C.L. F3's A-B-B-A
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 มิ.ย. 2024
- A box of disassembled Varney's Arrived by Donation. Some time was spent figuring out how to get them back together and running the rails once again. How to clean and re-lube them, plus installing Kadee's on 3 different kind of Varney Chassis.
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Ron, I just wanted to say thank you again for the incredible job you did restoring my late grandfathers Lionel train set. I can’t believe how incredible it looks in person. Thank you again for everything that you did.
WOW!!!! THANK YOU OWEN and the McCarthy Family. I really enjoyed restoring that and it made it even better when we visited and I learned about what it meant to you and your Dad. It will be around for many generations more I'm sure!!
Absolutely gorgeous livery on those. Came into possession of a Revell ACL SW7 set from that era about 2 years ago when my in-laws were cleaning my mother in law's house after she passed. Cars dismantled and locomotive missing but figured aside from the locomotive I needed to wait til some sacrificial Revell stock showed at the hobby shop second hand bin and track down a Revell ACL SW7. Through some hunting and searching I got it back together again and posted pics on Facebook with attention to my two eldest brothers in laws on the assumption it was their boyhood trainset. You could well imagine my surprise when they replied back it wasn't theirs it was my father in law's brief foray into model railroading.
Neat to find family stuff long forgotten about and learn the history of them. Ive been longing for a Revell ACL SW7 since I first laid eyes on one. Such a nice livery!!
Classic Ron, first he raised the price of Tyco, then Mehano, Mantua, AHM, and IHC, now I expect Varney to go up in price on the ‘Bay. LoL. He’s the Gordon Gekko of Classic Model Trains, he can influence the market with a video. Again, thanks for hanging out and entertaining me.
Really enjoy watching your videos. The technical terms just make my day! Keep them coming!
This is cool as I model both the Florida East Coast line and the Atlantic Coast Line on my layout.
Ron, I love these history lessons being that I am an Aussie and know nothing of this over here. This is yet another reason why I love your channel so much. What no classic model this episode?.... It is nice seeing these old sets being refurbished and brought back to life.
Hello Tim! Glad your liking the history stuff :-)
I never used a torch on brushes, but I have used carburetor cleaner if they were extra gunky. Good job on the old Varney. They take some patience. I was working on making pulleys and using a belt instead of using gears on those motors to make them a little quieter.
Wow thanks for the preview that a video is coming and notification!
So you mentioned slot car guys give tips . One of mine from the 70’s was after we cleaned the commutator/ armature. We used a ball point pen ( medium or fatter) and burnished the edges ( gap between plates) we rubbed the ball point pen through there. Makes the brushes rub nicer as motor ran. We did it for speed back then. But I always do that procedure when working on Lionel motors.
Great Video! Thanks Ron !
Interesting tip there. Thanks Steven
That looks spectacular! I’m not really much into HO but I find myself learning more about it and the history of it. I can certainly understand how it took over as more or less one of the standard scales. Those Varneys were crazy expensive originally, definitely top of the line for the day!
Thank you for the info on HO seeker. Cool man.
Nice job restoring that varney f3 set!
Thank you Matt
Hey, Ron hot for sure out here on the right coast !! Nice job on the Varneys, you put some work into those units. I have a couple of Varney die cast F units - looking forward to restoring them in the future. Now I have a good reference. Love the channel- great stuff 33% here all the way.
Glad that Snickers Bar was handy, you almost had a meltdown - LOL.
I enjoyed the Varney history lesson. I have several diecast Varney F-units, and your research might help me figure out when they were born. LOVED the brass-plastic tirade. And the Snickers cure. That ACL ABBA set sure is nice to look at.
That's quite a consist and the colour scheme is very eye-catching. I was having flashbacks when the carbon brush came apart. I had the same thing happen and discovered, as you did, that they can be soldered back together as long as there is existing solder on the carbon block. Crisis averted! A definite cost saving. Fun video. 😊👍
Thanks for watching!!
Ron you could add a big flywheel on that long shaft sticking past the gear on the powered unit, that would improve performance and add more weight to the unit
Really nice work again and great job figuring out all those coupler modifications 👍
Thank you
Nice show Ron, loved the snickers bar bit lol. The plastruct cement is great stuff. Nice looking train set…
Thank you John!
Hey Ron as always keep em coming I enjoy all your videos
Exceptional job at using a bunch of parts to make a very good looking A-B-B-A.
Thanks Richard, Yes I was hoping for just a A-B. got real lucky on the eBay
Ron, you should get the drill press accessory for your Dremel tool and install a foot switch. I've been doing a lot of coupler upgrades and the drill press gives you some nice straight holes for the 2-56 taps. It also comes in handy for polishing and cutting. The Dremel is stationary so you can maneuver the parts using both hands and the foot switch will power the Dremel on and off. This setup has definitely cut down on swearing for me.
Great video Sir . Those are some cool looking little trains . I named them " The Purple Rain " train set after Prince . Thank you .
Thank you!
Great job Ron fantastic work and I’m so glad you took a bite of that snickers bar. Lol
Hello WOZ! :-)
Terrific work Ron! As you know, I’m crazy about motors. So your job drove me nuts my friend. Thanks a lot for the video!
Hello Regis. I was surprised to learn they used 5 pole motors in there stuff back in the day. If they would have only used helical cut gears these would have lots of power and be quiet. Thanks for your support once again my Friend!!
I need to be on the hunt for this!!!!!
I agree. They are so colorful to look at
As always Ron, good to see you and drop by. I always learn something, you make the history entertaining and fun. Beautiful family of trains, I love the colors, wow.
Good thing you had your Snickers to bring you back ....lol. I love it.
Always look forward to the notification bell, keep up the great work.
33%er Cheers 🥂
Thank you Robert. Yes them ACL's are very easy on the eye!!
Another fantastic video Ron! Love the Snickers sequence! Take care, Jeff Hanna
Thanks Jeff 👍
Thank you for sharing.👍
Thanks for watching!
Great job Ron! That is a nice looking train too!
Thanks Bob
I suppose you already thought about it. But if you haven't. My advice would be to modify the last "A" unit with minimal amount of weight.
I really enjoyed the tutorial. You are very determined and creative. And it shows in the final product, your genius.
Thankyou for sharing.
I'm holding out for either a dummy chassis or acquiring the parts needed to get that chassis powered again. I dont want to destroy the chassis tho make a dummy
Here within the past month, I’ve been upgrading some of my rolling stock from horn hooks to Kdee couplers. So far I really love the progress I’m making 😉
Right on!!
33%er here with ya. Gosh, but ACL sure is pretty! Very classy. It, the Daylight and the Warbonnet schemes are three of the very best liveries of the early diesel era- simply beautiful!
I agree with you :-)
It was interesting watching you “manage” to get one functional locomotive “frankinsteined together from so many different era locomotives. The one thing I find amazing about manufacturers is the fact that sometimes things should just left alone. The drive Varney created, for the time was amazing, yet someone had to come along and “improve” it. The Zamac alloy was used a lot for model trains “back in the day” I have a Mantua/Tyco General made from it. I wonder just how many styrene shells Model Power made with the old Varney molds? I hope, maybe sometime in the future you will be able to get the other “A” unit running again.
Them dang bean counters mess it up with saving 1/2 cent a unit if we just......... I hope to get the other A powered as well
I wish I caught this when you started. Fun while it lasted, Jersey Bill
Thanks for watching
I had an AHM model horse trailer car in the road name I model (Central of Georgia) that had molded on coupler pockets. I couldn't get a Kadee coupler in there so I setup my coupler height tool and saw that I could remove the molded on pockets and add a Kadee coupler draft box. Worked out perfectly. Ah, yes, the old bread tie trick. I've also got a collection of plastic bread ties I use for shims. Great minds think alike. I get my weights from Harbor Freight so I don't pay shipping. Very nice restoration on those Varney's. Great looking A-B-B-A Atlantic Coast Line set. Cheers from eastern TN
Another thing that works good for shims is guitar picks. They are cheap and come in different thicknesses.
My Dad was from Savannah, GA! His favorite railroad was Atlantic Coastline!
Hello Rustylane, Thanks for watching :-)
Great way to start the weekend …great video!
Thanks Thomas
Awesome Video and very Nice Work Sir! Love that ACL paint Scheme and these Old Girls cleaned up Nice! Well Done Sir!
Thank you Eric!
That is a beautiful set!!!
Thanks!
Great Job. I enjoy your comments.
Thank you John!
Thank You Ron most enjoyable and informative too! What no classic model? Ats OK Varney's classic enough I Say! I have some to, and I luv em
Thanks William
Hi Ron & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Ron & Friends Randy
Hi Randy! Thank you :-)
Great video Ron…first time seeing that livery…thanks for posting and 5he history of Varney et al…cheers…
You've never seen a ACL? Well I hope it's memorable. Purple trains kinda stick out a bit you know :-)
@@classicmodeltrains nope, never…learn something new everyday…
@@classicmodeltrains oh yeh…nice move with the Snickers…
Another awesome job they look great love the show
Thank you Ray
That was awesome .... Cheers Ron 🍺
:-)
If I Had to Spend A Day Doin Something It Would Be Model Railroading One Way Or Another.
I agree with you there!
Loved the video, especially the snickers part. Keep up the good work 👍. I’m a N scaler, but I still like the H O stuff. Always look forward to the next one!
Thank you!
I'm a 33% Subscriber,
great video. I like this paint scheme.
Well done , that was a big job , regards 33% Marc
You the man! Really good job sir
Thank you Albert
Excellent, Ron!!
Thanks David
Wonderful video. Love being apart of the 33%ers... lol. Thank you for sharing 😊
Thank you James for your support
Great vid. Love the livery on that one ✌️
Thanks, yes its a great color scheme for sure
Good job. Love your videos as always.
Thank you!
Another informative video Ron...I was wondering myself about soldering the brushes back on. Don't know if you know it but if you turn your kadee coupler gage around the flat side is used to mark the height of the coupler box...this has helped me to get the locations right before I cut or glue on shims on many an install...
Keep up the great videos...
Rich...
Hello Rich, I was not aware of that trick with the height gauge. THANK YOU for sharing that with me!! Will save some time for sure
Great work. Love it.
:-)
I’m glad you got these going again. Thanks again for what you do.
Hey Frank!! You were right, they're TH-cam famous now. Thank you once again for donating this AWSOME stuff to the channel!!
Do Your Thing Ron!👍👍👍👍.
VROOOOoooommmm.........! :-)
Grew up in the era early 60s, seen Varney boxes at the hobby shop, i got into Blue Box Athearn.
I always enjoy getting the notification bell, I love seeing thus stuff. Southern West Virginia was Tyco country, Hills dept store, carried all kinds of Tyco and slot cars full line and it was cheap.
I spent a lot of time in the hobby stores in the early 80's. I do wish I was around for the late 50's and early 60's though.
Now, that's making a whole lot of useful out of a bunch of broken. Great work...
Thanks MC. Kinda reminded me of your model collection back in the day. "Now what can I build with all this stuff?" :-)
This is such a beautiful thing you do...its slwsys like Christmas 🎄 for me..
I dont have yhe know how or knack to do this so watching you is joy
Nice work Ron! Those old meat grinders always have been noisy. Nothing can be done with!
Hello Ray. Yes I remember visiting with you about these a few years ago now it seems
I was looking forward to a "Guess who this beautiful girl is".
I was running out of time on this vid
Hey Ron great video, I enjoyed it very much. One note.....have you considered some 'Bullfrog Snot' on one or two wheels of the power unit. I t helps with tractive effort.
Thank you Howard. I will never use bullfrog snot. always looks bad when applied. I dont believe in "mechanic in a miracle liquid"
That is awesome
Thank you
You're welcome
Can’t wait for this
First commenter!
@@classicmodeltrains I love all your videos
I think you should’ve kept the loop layout, your choice but I think these locos need bigger areas to continuously run
I completely agree
Another interesting, informative, and entertaining video! Well done. I started to get a bit worried for you a few times there but as usual, you pulled it all off in the end. I too have issues with those truck frames where the screw is pretty much inaccessible. They need to be tightened, but getting to the screwhead with a screwdriver is a PITA. I wonder how they do it (did it) during production. Must have had a specially designed tool for it is all I can think of. Anyway, thanks for the video and appreciate you taking away time from your layout / work room move to do so. How is that project coming along, BTW? Need to post some updates on that as well....inquiring minds want to know. :)
Hello Tim. My projects go slow because there the 3rd thing I have to do. Day job 1st, property maintenance 2nd, trains and train vids 3rd, then work on my RV's. Plus drink a beer. so not as much as I would like to have done is done yet. But making progress
We just went through massive flooding here in north west Iowa, south east South Dakota and south west Minnesota.
OH WOW!! Didnt hear about this. Hope you and your neighbors are doing all right
We are okay, Google Rock Valley Iowa flooding and you will see it all
Send some rain this way, none in 2 weeks and pushing 100° here this weekend. Those nylon liars. 😂
Had our first 100 degree today
I have two Atlantic East Coast units. Can't remember who made it but both of them bent themselves almost in half.
Pot metal frames
Thats too bad. Hopefully the frames can get replaced
I have a ton of that N scale Arnold track if you want it.
A Feller could always use more N gauge track :-)
Hi Ron, great video. Thanks. Watched to the end. Have you ever come across any Australia locos etc?
I never do. I have my eye on a couple that Tyco made for Australia but there pretty rear to find for sale here in the states.
@@classicmodeltrains Thoroughly enjoy your videos. Thank you. They have that certaib "no Bullshite" factor to them
Hey Ron! Is there any one specific metal wheel and axle replacement you recommend that I can use for my 45 year old Tyco HO car trucks?
Looks like Varney the purple dinosaur
Its a nice color for sure
You should have been a character on trailer park boys
I could never "get into" that show for some reason
I own one of those I was planning on selling it but if you want you can have it!
I'm looking for a "A" shell for sure!!
Never had ho from that era. Lots of athearns. They look amazing but seem to run not so good. But I am happy to see the mueseum will be happy you didn’t turn these shells in restomods but maybe you should do they fit on top of athearn blue box?
I hear the shell will fit a BB with very little modification
@@classicmodeltrains are you nearby in Montana? I am in Saskatchewan
@@N_scale Billings
@@classicmodeltrains regina Saskatchewan
Been to billings many many times
@@classicmodeltrains th-cam.com/users/shorts12S2MtYCh18?si=URUJzSAq_hff4Djo
Most of the time a fart can be HEAVY! Whhhooo who let that one loose, check your shorts!
:-D
33% Al Gorithm comment! 👍👍👍👍👍
Thanking you!!
Sweet. Forgive me. I meant to say SWEET!
Thank YoU!!!
Assembly diagram 😂
Illustrated parts breakdown :-)
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz..........LOLOLOL " kidding" it was a good video, Thanks again....
:-). I can get a bit long winded some times
@@classicmodeltrains No it was all good thanks, looking forward to the next video.
Well it's definitely not SE7EN. Whew .😅
:-)