Dale and Karen, I have access to a bunch of You Tube Channels about Model Railroading. Most tend to be very focused on Teaching how to do Model Railroading. They tend to be somewhat Boring. Yours are not! I like the fact that you do not focus on one size/scale. Rather, you two tend to simply look at the history of Railroading and Model Railroading in your local. You always present as two people just having fun, doing what you enjoy! Thanks for having fun and so in the process making us have fun too!
My connie now runs after all these years in the box. New drive gear and removed the board from the motor. Crest train engineer on battery power. My wife couldn't sleep the other night because of me blowing the whistle in the garage. Thank you so much
Great fun!! I’ll make sure you save that whistle for the daytime hours!. The middle of the night is intended not for sleep but for building the darn thing so you can blow the whistle in the morning!
Everything is looking good. The couplers are really good looking and look more realistic. Getting the cut handle bar working was the icing on the cake. Really great job. Everything is coming into place on the layout. I have been playing around with arduinos to do some automation on my layout and like to setup a sound card like you did for the night time sound effects.Be safe and see you on Sunday.👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
All three are soooooo close to finished. Electrics working. Some paint on. Really all we still need to do is finish the marker lights, cab interiors and final paint. Got the working Johnston Bar working in my 34 yesterday!
Absolutely love the way you approach these conversions to the AMS couplers. The fact that you’re combining jewelry making techniques with model railroading makes it an even more interesting subject. Considering you’re able to produce actual working cut levers makes me wonder if you could make some animated uncoupling scenes on the unloading locations of your layout. Recently saw a vid from a fellow model railroader who added an animated guy on the front of the switcher waving to the engineer. Just guessing, but such an action would look awesome when your F-scale railroad workers would be able to do some actual uncoupling. Might not work on all the conversions you have to make. But still, might be a nice and interesting idea?! After all you both definitely got the skills to make it look absolutely awesome 😎
Even though I don't model large gauge your videos encourage me to try projects in HO. Fixed a Mehano 2-6-0 tender coupler. Next project fixing some Bachmann heavy weight coaches with sagging couplers. I need to keep the swing mechanism, as I have tight curves. Your project looks like major surgery made easy. If you'll forgive the pun, "Calling Dr Kildare". Listening to you I kept coming up with more puns. Anyway thank you.
That’s plan b. If this seems bad of fails in operating then the coupler comes out with ease. Than I’d totally replace the plate with brass and that’s the end. Don is doing that I think. He also replaced the rear steps with brass. I rebuilt out ok plastic. His look much better.
They look great. I do find that if ever a coupler fails and pops open, it's an AMS coupler. The Bachmann ones just seem totally solid and reliable. BUT,... any failures are rare, and I'm sure a little time adjusting will improve reliability. Anyway, brilliant work 👍
Hi. Yup the Bachmann work much better. Much. The AMS are stiff. Pin doesn’t always drop. So one knuckle is closed, one open. Then half way round inside a tunnel behind a bush if fails. And the locomotive and one car come out of the tunnel. And if you listen very closely you can hear the locomotive laughing. But they look great. And with a bit of work and after sacrificing a chicken or two they mostly work.
I wish I had seen your video a little sooner. Just bought some Kadee "Type E" G and #1 scale couplers to size up and try out on my 1:20.3 industrial equipment but I really wanted something with lift pin operation and no Kadee magne-matic brakes line hanging off the bottom. These AMS couplers look pretty good. The exposed centering springs are a little weird but I could see shaving them off and changing the centering spring arrangement to clean them up. Thanks for posting this, looks like I need to go order some AMS couplers before I commit to Kadee.
@@ToyManTelevision I got a set of the 1:20.3 size AMS couplers in the mail yesterday and they still feel a bit large for small industrial equipment, not really any smaller than the standard Bachmann couplers. They are really nice couplers though. These are going on a Bachmann 18 ton Porter, a Davenport side rod and a bunch of four wheel cars so I really want to get that 3/4 size coupler feeling. Think I'll try the AMS #1 gauge size (1:32) option and see how they look. Thanks again! Love your videos!
Dale: I've just had a brainstorm of a wonderful idea. You've done all of this engineering for a better coupling system with the Bachmann Locomotives, not only after the engineering and redesign work, but you have also fabricated the new design into a very obvious successful apparatus. So just how would you go about notifying Bachmann of your fantastic redesign; seeing if your work, in this regard, would be a positive for their manufacturing and if they would be willing to offer you a substantial stipend for your efforts?
Well.. they are a huge corporation out of China. And have little interest in large scale anymore. If the market shifts and they think they can pick up a few million is us sales perhaps they will rework the Connie. Don’t hold your breath. I have spoken to the US team and they have little influence on the company. Some, but unless they see a resurgence of large scale…
The problem is the solid plastic is a bit too high. If this doesnt work my plan is to unbolt the couplers and replace the plates with brass. Then remount to that. Not hard. but a bit. So we are hoping this will be fins. So far no problems.
Just a couple of personal comments. I think you have too many links on the rear cut bar. On full size stock, you probably do not move the lever more than 80 degrees. On rolling stock that is being used, the inside of the coupler actually gets polished by the opposing coupler. A half decent railway is likely to apply a graphite paste to parts to reduce wear. Enjoyed the video.
Can't leave those screwdriver machine screws like that! Get in there with you Dremel and carve them to look like the nuts & bolt ends on either side! 😄
I was going to rework the Rio Grande version to 12, but after really digging into the three FCM locomotives I've opted to go with #14. But I still may paint as 12. 12 is the prototype Bachmann used. But 14 had more interesting paint in the photos Ive seen. BUt the photos are few. So 12 may have had the same red areas at that time.... ANYWAY, 12, 13 and 14 are basically the same locomotive but as FCM reworked them each ended up a bit different.
Dale and Karen, I have access to a bunch of You Tube Channels about Model Railroading. Most tend to be very focused on Teaching how to do Model Railroading. They tend to be somewhat Boring. Yours are not! I like the fact that you do not focus on one size/scale. Rather, you two tend to simply look at the history of Railroading and Model Railroading in your local. You always present as two people just having fun, doing what you enjoy! Thanks for having fun and so in the process making us have fun too!
Everything you two do, you show in great detail how you do it. I appreciate it very much, thanks👍!
THANKS!!!!
My connie now runs after all these years in the box. New drive gear and removed the board from the motor. Crest train engineer on battery power. My wife couldn't sleep the other night because of me blowing the whistle in the garage. Thank you so much
Great fun!! I’ll make sure you save that whistle for the daytime hours!. The middle of the night is intended not for sleep but for building the darn thing so you can blow the whistle in the morning!
Very interesting and skilled problem-solving. Definitely not boring. Well done.
THANKS AGAIN!
@@ToyManTelevision You're welcome.
Great video never thought I could make chain loops with my KD pliers thank you.
Everything is looking good. The couplers are really good looking and look more realistic. Getting the cut handle bar working was the icing on the cake. Really great job. Everything is coming into place on the layout. I have been playing around with arduinos to do some automation on my layout and like to setup a sound card like you did for the night time sound effects.Be safe and see you on Sunday.👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂
The sound is so easy and fun…
Looking forward to seeing the Connie rolling down the track . have a great week
All three are soooooo close to finished. Electrics working. Some paint on. Really all we still need to do is finish the marker lights, cab interiors and final paint. Got the working Johnston Bar working in my 34 yesterday!
So cool 😎!! I'm the prototypical type and I dream of a day when that can be fabricated for N scale.
Absolutely love the way you approach these conversions to the AMS couplers. The fact that you’re combining jewelry making techniques with model railroading makes it an even more interesting subject. Considering you’re able to produce actual working cut levers makes me wonder if you could make some animated uncoupling scenes on the unloading locations of your layout. Recently saw a vid from a fellow model railroader who added an animated guy on the front of the switcher waving to the engineer. Just guessing, but such an action would look awesome when your F-scale railroad workers would be able to do some actual uncoupling. Might not work on all the conversions you have to make. But still, might be a nice and interesting idea?!
After all you both definitely got the skills to make it look absolutely awesome 😎
Even though I don't model large gauge your videos encourage me to try projects in HO. Fixed a Mehano 2-6-0 tender coupler. Next project fixing some Bachmann heavy weight coaches with sagging couplers. I need to keep the swing mechanism, as I have tight curves.
Your project looks like major surgery made easy.
If you'll forgive the pun, "Calling Dr Kildare". Listening to you I kept coming up with more puns.
Anyway thank you.
Ah yes Kildare. Dates us all. Man, woman, birth death …infinity…
Nice work !!
THANKS!!!!
Great improvement. I would have tried to use some brass backplate to be able to set the coupler at the best height, with still a lot of strength.
indeed
That’s plan b. If this seems bad of fails in operating then the coupler comes out with ease. Than I’d totally replace the plate with brass and that’s the end. Don is doing that I think. He also replaced the rear steps with brass. I rebuilt out ok plastic. His look much better.
They look great. I do find that if ever a coupler fails and pops open, it's an AMS coupler. The Bachmann ones just seem totally solid and reliable. BUT,... any failures are rare, and I'm sure a little time adjusting will improve reliability.
Anyway, brilliant work 👍
Hi. Yup the Bachmann work much better. Much. The AMS are stiff. Pin doesn’t always drop. So one knuckle is closed, one open. Then half way round inside a tunnel behind a bush if fails. And the locomotive and one car come out of the tunnel. And if you listen very closely you can hear the locomotive laughing. But they look great. And with a bit of work and after sacrificing a chicken or two they mostly work.
Ha! Sounds about right. You'd think AMS would at least supply the chicken 😂
I wish I had seen your video a little sooner. Just bought some Kadee "Type E" G and #1 scale couplers to size up and try out on my 1:20.3 industrial equipment but I really wanted something with lift pin operation and no Kadee magne-matic brakes line hanging off the bottom. These AMS couplers look pretty good. The exposed centering springs are a little weird but I could see shaving them off and changing the centering spring arrangement to clean them up. Thanks for posting this, looks like I need to go order some AMS couplers before I commit to Kadee.
I m using Kadee on my 1/2” stuff. The don’t look as good but they look pretty darn nice. But man do they work well!!
@@ToyManTelevision I got a set of the 1:20.3 size AMS couplers in the mail yesterday and they still feel a bit large for small industrial equipment, not really any smaller than the standard Bachmann couplers. They are really nice couplers though.
These are going on a Bachmann 18 ton Porter, a Davenport side rod and a bunch of four wheel cars so I really want to get that 3/4 size coupler feeling. Think I'll try the AMS #1 gauge size (1:32) option and see how they look.
Thanks again! Love your videos!
Looks good Thanks
Thanks
Interesting point about the couplers and how rusty they get...
Love the look…
Dale: I've just had a brainstorm of a wonderful idea. You've done all of this engineering for a better coupling system with the Bachmann Locomotives, not only after the engineering and redesign work, but you have also fabricated the new design into a very obvious successful apparatus. So just how would you go about notifying Bachmann of your fantastic redesign; seeing if your work, in this regard, would be a positive for their manufacturing and if they would be willing to offer you a substantial stipend for your efforts?
Well.. they are a huge corporation out of China. And have little interest in large scale anymore. If the market shifts and they think they can pick up a few million is us sales perhaps they will rework the Connie. Don’t hold your breath. I have spoken to the US team and they have little influence on the company. Some, but unless they see a resurgence of large scale…
I converted my American flyer polar express engine from a 2-8-4 to the 2-8-2 mikado the other day
FUN!!!! This is our favorite part of the hobby, Building stuff. We only run it because we can. BUt its the building we love...
@@ToyManTelevision I’m with you I like customizing stuff
What type of airbrush setup is that? I have my Connie on the bench and wanted to finish the painting before putting it back together
Could you put a thin shim to slightly lower the coupler so it’s more inline with the car couplers?🚂🚂🚂
The problem is the solid plastic is a bit too high. If this doesnt work my plan is to unbolt the couplers and replace the plates with brass. Then remount to that. Not hard. but a bit. So we are hoping this will be fins. So far no problems.
Just a couple of personal comments. I think you have too many links on the rear cut bar. On full size stock, you probably do not move the lever more than 80 degrees. On rolling stock that is being used, the inside of the coupler actually gets polished by the opposing coupler. A half decent railway is likely to apply a graphite paste to parts to reduce wear.
Enjoyed the video.
Can't leave those screwdriver machine screws like that! Get in there with you Dremel and carve them to look like the nuts & bolt ends on either side! 😄
With paint they look ok. Unless you get your nose right down in there. But I was thinking of filling the slot. But then I’d never get it back out.
After you spray the coupler and knuckle, how do you prevent the moving parts from getting painted shut? Do you operate them while the paint is drying?
Nope. It’s a very light spray from the airbrush. And several coats. Super fine coats. Mo problems with things sticking
👍👍
The cut bar should be operational at this scale
Agreed. Accurate and fun!!
I wish they were operating at o scale
Railroads don't paint the couplers because it could hide a crack in the metal during coupler inspections.
Did you go back and silver solder the bottom loop on the tender?
I also reported some 'sex spammers' who posted in these comments.
Hi. No on the bottom loops. The inside parts of the knuckle More of this sex spam... Good hell.... THANKS!
The close appearance to AGS (FCM) #12 is always a bit jarring. Fired the locomotive for a few years and what a classic design.
I was going to rework the Rio Grande version to 12, but after really digging into the three FCM locomotives I've opted to go with #14. But I still may paint as 12. 12 is the prototype Bachmann used. But 14 had more interesting paint in the photos Ive seen. BUt the photos are few. So 12 may have had the same red areas at that time.... ANYWAY, 12, 13 and 14 are basically the same locomotive but as FCM reworked them each ended up a bit different.
Real railroads don't paint the couplers, because it would be harder to check for cracks.
And pointless. Anyway, some kid with a rattle can will paint anything. Even a coupler.
@@ToyManTelevision It is actually an FRA rule, that also applies to steam locomotive tender draw-bars and main driving rods.