Joe,

I finally had the chance to get out to my train shed and check on the model names and numbers you requested.  In my consist is number 2429 - Livingston, 2423 - Hillside and 2421- Maplewood.  While out there I ran them for a few revolutions and the "dreaded flicker" has returned to two of them.  One car, the 2423 - Hillside, still seems to illuminate ok with only slight flicker.  Now why on this earth would all three work somewhat satisfactory about 2 weeks ago, but now two have returned to their flicker?  My track is near new without any corrosion or rust.  I am just as perplexed as I was before.

I await your advice.

Thanks, Bill

I hope to attempt spray painting my O scale F-3 in the Rock Island Rocket scheme.  It is comprised primarily of three colors, aluminum-white, Maroon and Red.  It's not too unlike the Santa Fe war bonnet scheme.  My question is this.  Sections of the carbody will have to be taped while painting the remainder.  What type of tape should be used? I'm thinking of using blue painters tape since it doesn't stick very hard to styrene.  However I'm curious if it allows under spray beneath the tape?  Also does it conform and protect the molded parts like the rivets and other detail parts?  Other than blue painters tape, is there any other on the market that could be used for modeling?

Thanks, Bill

Joe,

I'm currently out of town and will give you the info when I return home.  Thanks for your patience.

Bill

Joe,

Great advice about cleaning the bolsters!  There was a goodly amount of grunge on them.  After cleaning the lights worked much better than before.  There is an occasional dimming flicker but the lights stay on.  I can live with that.  I haven't bought any conductive lube yet but will do so my next visit to my LHS.

Thanks for the great advice.

Bill

Joe,
Thanks for the quick response.  There are single rollers on both ends. Bulbs are the bayonet type which have been cleaned with a light Emery cloth along with the rollers.  I have three passenger cars and all three flicker but at different places on the track.  When the cars are idle, all lights remain on.  It's only when they are running do the lights flicker....and I might add they stay on mostly for about a second or two then flicker off for a split second, then back on again.  I talked to a guy at my LHS and he said that is just typical for post war Lionel cars.  Do you think Bachmann's conductive lube would help.  I'm a bit leery about putting any lubrication in an electrical connection.

I recently ran my old post war Lionel passenger cars and remembered how the lights flickered while running.  I have cleaned the electrical pick up rollers and checked that all wires were tight and properly connected to the light harness.  Still they flickered.  Does anyone have any idea how to overcome this problem short of replacing the entire lighting harness?

Thanks, Bill

Do another project!  Do another project!  I really enjoyed your series.  I've printed all of the pages of this thread and have placed them in my "Bachmann scrap book".

Bill

Joe,

Thanks for your quick response.  I plan to run an old Lionel Alco with 4 lighted passenger cars and a lionel switch engine periodically.  Not much else will be drawing power.  Would a 90 amp transformer be sufficient?

Bill

As I mentioned in another thread I'm just beginning in O scale and have a few neophyte questions about this gauge.  The only transformer I have is a MRC280 which I use on my HO layout.  I've connected it to several sections of O scale track and none of my o gauge engines run.  They hum, but no movement.  I've connected this transformer through Cab 1 which is DC. Both Cab 1 and Cab 2 provide 14.5vdc and 8.5va. I don't know how many watts the transformer is rated for.  I have two questions:  One, is the MRC280 transformer insufficient to power an O gauge engine? And secondly, before I connect the AC (accessory) terminals up to the track and risk smoke and fire, should these terminals be used for power?

Thanks guys.  That's exactly the information I was looking for.

Bill

I've been in model railroading for years, but this is my first foray into O gauge.  I have come across some O gauge engines and cars but I don't have any track.  My fist question is: what is the difference in O gauge and O 27 track?  Are the two compatible with each other?  In other words are the codes (height of the rails) compatible as compared to code 83 and code 100 in HO scale.

Thanks, Bill

Jim,
I find that very interesting.  I was under the impression that oil allowed gunk and grime to adhere to the wheels which caused a build up affecting conductivity.  What kind of oil did you use?

Bill

Roger,

As a follow up to the thread I just sent you, search for a thread entitled "2-8-2 kitbash for RogerT" dated October 20, 2007.  At the bottom of that thread is a picture of the conversion.

Bill

Roger,

I did a quick search and found a message you wrote to someone named Lanny back on January 22, 2008 about the conversion of a 2-8-0 to a 2-8-2.  I remember seeing a thread started by Lanny which had some pictures attached showing the conversion.  I must add that the work was beautiful.  I could not locate that particular thread, but with Lanny's name as a starting point maybe you could find that particular thread.

Good luck, Bill

I've resonded to you off line.