Salvaging Sierra Cars

[trammayo]

Neil`s (Riograndad) excellent thread on upgrading his Sierra coaches, reminded me that I had some awaiting the kiss of life.

I`d bought two off ebay and, apart from the usual window problem, a really good clean-up was the order of the day. Here they are on my track for the first time after removing the dirt and glueing in the glazing ....





I notice our cat Mae has managed to infiltrate both pics despite there being only a short time between them!

Anyway, the vendor said he had two more C & S coaches plus a caboose and, if I wanted them, I could purchase direct from him at the same price as the ebay close-out. Perhaps I should have know better but, I figured, four is better than two. So I said yes and paid with PayPal.

Many weeks passed before the parcel arrived at my son`s. He said everything had come, had opened up the outer packing and all seemed OK. 

OK they were not! A further couple of weeks passed before we were able to go up north - a visit and a collection - but I was looking forward to seeing those recent acquisitions. So, after a cup of coffee, I delved into the packaging. Only two boxes - no caboose - and I proceeded to open the two. Glazing out but, judging by the rattle, the windows were inside the coaches.

Broken coupler - no problem - but there were four broken wheelsets. Again, apart from one that was a broken casting, the other were the long-standing Aristo problem of ageing plastic. There were other areas of damage and I was annoyed.

Anyway, even though the transaction was well outside the PayPal time limit, they asked me what I wanted to do. In the end, I asked for a refund to cover the non-arrival of the caboose - which they gave me. When we got home that night, the boxes were put on the shelf.

So, this morning, I got them out to have a look at what needed doing .....











There were no screws for the roof of one car and the stove stack had been butchered, but they were not too bad internally.

One little problem awaits - each coach has side mounted internal lights and they fit into the bodywork. The open mortice for each lamp is covered on the outside by tiny gold coloured panels.
One coach has its` set of ten in position and I have found five or six in what`s left of the packaging. I might use some gold foil wrapping paper and double sided tape (and take some of the bling away by spraying with matt varnish) or might use some gold spray paint on some clear sheet and cut out (still need the double sided tape.

 

[Riograndad]

Well Mick,they should keep you busy!!!at least they came with some interiors,do the lights and smokestacks work?It seems there are quite a few of us with some of these little beasties that need some attention,keep us posted on your progress

 

[trammayo]

Hi Neil. I haven't tried them electrically yet, but I have been removing the pick-up bullets and springs (what's left of them) to reduce drag.
They really need new wheels - I spent yesterday afternoon trying to repair the wheelsets (I have bodged them and they run as true as any Aristo wheelset does ). I have a brand new stove somewhere - thought it would do for a signal box - so I might try one out!

 

[Riograndad]

Yes Mick,I had the same problem with drag on the D&RG cars,although i do need some more pick up bullets,kept the wheels and will be using them on the rebuilds as at the moment they sporting plastic wheels,not using track lighting on those,so not a problem wih drag issues,one thing i can say is that I have no problems with running any of the car trucks,all mine run fine

 

[trammayo]

I'm thinking of buying some wheels and cascading the Aristo ones to stock that needs (or would be better with) metal wheels. Going to experiment today if rain allows (the rain is needed - ground as dry as an old.........)

 

[Riograndad]

Good idea,you`ll find a use for them no doubt my builds are on slight hold,design change on the seating:'(

 

[trammayo]

Well, the wheels are purchased and are currently on their way to my son's - thanks to John at Trackshack! Only thing is, there's a 100 miles seperating us! I get all sorts delivered up north - it helps me get things off ebay when the seller only posts to the UK - so I am awaiting a replacement rear light for the car and, as soon as that arrives at No.2's it will be a day visiting and returning with a collection of purchases

 

[trammayo]

Wel I did do some testing - inbetween the sunshine and showers. One car had a complete set (of six) lighbulbs but I had to take the roof off to screw the bulbs in and, also, glue another section of window glazing in position.

The car was placed on the track, lights were switched on and the power was turned up .....



A photo of the facilities ....



Next, the roof was refitted and the stove`s smoke stack was inserted (fiddly little job locating the jack plug end into the top of the stove. The stacks from three coaches did not work (might need some attention) but the fourth one did. I took several shots but failed dismally to capture the copious smoke ....



My spare stove - I don`t know if I`ll use it on one of the cars or save it for when I rebuild my signal box in the trailer ....



The signal box when first built - just printed and stuck on a ply box - need to make it more realistic...



Next, a look at the bodged wheelsets - just a piece of plastic tube from a hand wash bottle forced onto the stub axles .....



The other truck - one bodged set and one original showing the cracked plastic axle joiner ...



I have still plenty to do but I think they`ll look half decent for next year`s show outings. I don`t know about the the wheel pick-ups so I`ll reserve judgement until I fit the new wheelsets. Whilst they work, there is a lot of drag. I`m hoping the polished and plate wheelsets will reduce the friction. If they dont, then the plungers and springs will be removed for safe keeping. On the garden line there isn`t too much of a problem but, in the trailer with all its` R1s it will be.

 

[trammayo]

Having got most of the damage sorted, and fitted a Bachmann knuckle coupler to one of the cars, I decided to see how they would haul has a complete rake. Two of the cars have wheel pick-up and the interior lights working. I didn`t try the smoke stack/s again, although I plugged in the new one - then realised it was too tall compared to the others (must be for a caboose).








The unlettered Black Annie offers an opportunity to run stock from different roads without looking out of place and has a nice turn of speed. However, there was a noticeable slowing down because of the drag caused by the pick-ups. The best wheel pick-up sets by far are those bearing fitted LGB ones but I would need eight for this rake! When I collect the new wheels I`ll retry with the pick-ups.

Still need to do some more detailed cleaning (nooks and crannies) and try and touch up damaged paintwork. I have already sprayed up some clear plastic to cut out the tiny gold coloured panels (when I get time).

 

[trammayo]

A couple of days ago, I sprayed a piece if clear plastic with gold paint. I was trying to replicate the colour of the little external panels on the coach sides. Not the best match and, my plans to replicate the black lining out also failed - the fine tip CD pen line was about three thicker than the original - so I settled for plain gold.

The tiny vertical panels are 22mm x 5mm  so, I reckoned that the strips gave a width of 44mm. I stuck a piece of double-sided carpet tape to the back of the sheet i was cutting from the cut out the two strips. Before any more cutting was undertaken, I scored the peel off backing along the centre line to enable easier peel-off from what would be 5mm strips.

I then cross-cut the strips to give the required size, then cut a slight curve in the top edge to fit the recesses. Then it was a case of peel and stick.....











Sorry for the quality of the close-ups (down to my usual quality).

I`ll now wait until I get the wheels.

If anyone wants to glue their windows back into their Sierra coaches, I used a glue for hard PVC (from the builder`s merchants - same as used for waste pipes).

 

[Railfan]

That's a lot of work for such a tiny area, but it really looks good in the cars. Great job!

 

[Riograndad]

Coming on well Mick,excellent idea with the exterior panels,pity about your wheels but hopefully new sets will solve the problem of drag and hope you can get those stacks working,keep us posted.Neil

 

[trammayo]

Thanks for your comments both. I am a lot happier now than when I received them - I was really p++'d off at the time!

 

[Riograndad]

So I would have been(so thats how you spell it )but when they are done,you will have a very smart rake of cars Mick.

 

[UKSGR]

That's a fine looking rake of coaches. Do these not have the battery box underneath so the pickups don't have to be used? Also, that loco looks great hawling them. Is it the one of locos you bought from me?

 

[trammayo]

So I would have been(so thats how you spell it )but when they are done,you will have a very smart rake of cars Mick.

I daren't post anything with eye and ess letters - so I used two Es (or should have done ).

 

[trammayo]

Indeed the loco is one of the two I got at a bargain price from you! Well chuffed pleased!
The cars don't have battery boxes - although the previous owner has butchered the underside of one car (and a Bachmann J&S probably ) and attached a battery box.

I could do the same thing I suppose - although I would make some simple boxes - although I'm not sure what voltage the smoke unit is if I wanted to run that too. I used to have the lights working on the older J&S cars but the newer ones with inferior wheel contacts were just like pinning the brakes down

 

[Waldgrun]

Having over the years. obtain various Aristo Sierra Cars, both open and closed curtain types. I have had to do some things similar to you in bring items up to a standard. But one thing I note that you have not thought of is making one vehicle into a currant collecting coach and using through wires to feed current through to the next coach.
I used closed curtain types with no interior fitted two LGB light fitting to the roof and Aristo smoke unit, to start with stripped the coach right down ,separated the two floor sections, I was even able to fit slide switches taken from scrap solar lights into the proper places I recall having to drill a couple of small holes to allow the cable to pass out from the coach. Also I put a couple of small holes in a small plastic moulding under the coupling which guided the cables out along the coupling. The end of the cable where fitted with Viessmann plugs and sockets.Which using Rule 8 look like air brake couplers.
So one set of B.B. pick up fitted axles is used to power two vehicles, cuts the cost and the drag right down.
If I can find where I've got the coaches stored, I will take some photos.
One strange thing is a year or two back, at the Llanfair show the other half obtain second hand a complete set of Christmas North Pole & Snowflake coaches. The previous owner had fitted them with aristo ball bearing pick up wheel sets, and then refitted the bullet (drag) pick ups, somehow I think they didn't find any improvement to the running properties. Needless to say soon corrected.

 

[beavercreek]

Lovely rake Mick, looks superb on your line.
There is something about the little Sierra cars.

I had one of the Sierra cars that I got for a fiver and it was in a pretty bad way underneath (no wheels, broken bogies etc) so I opted to use it for something else.
After a bit of distressing and the addition of some signage ....The Roadkill Diner

I have four diners on the layout ranging from the top-notch `Lorraine`s Diner` to the the much, much seedier one, the `Roadkill` establishment.

It is a hangout for ladies of a bad reputation and there is even a fatality due to food poisoning with county coroner already on the scene!




`Ladies` at work




The converted Sierra car is by the bottom right hand corner of this night scene of the township of Point Rock

 

[trammayo]

Having over the years. obtain various Aristo Sierra Cars, both open and closed curtain types. I have had to do some things similar to you in bring items up to a standard. But one thing I note that you have not thought of is making one vehicle into a currant collecting coach and using through wires to feed current through to the next coach.
I used closed curtain types with no interior fitted two LGB light fitting to the roof and Aristo smoke unit, to start with stripped the coach right down ,separated the two floor sections, I was even able to fit slide switches taken from scrap solar lights into the proper places I recall having to drill a couple of small holes to allow the cable to pass out from the coach. Also I put a couple of small holes in a small plastic moulding under the coupling which guided the cables out along the coupling. The end of the cable where fitted with Viessmann plugs and sockets.Which using Rule 8 look like air brake couplers.
So one set of B.B. pick up fitted axles is used to power two vehicles, cuts the cost and the drag right down.
If I can find where I've got the coaches stored, I will take some photos.
One strange thing is a year or two back, at the Llanfair show the other half obtain second hand a complete set of Christmas North Pole & Snowflake coaches. The previous owner had fitted them with aristo ball bearing pick up wheel sets, and then refitted the bullet (drag) pick ups, somehow I think they didn't find any improvement to the running properties. Needless to say soon corrected.

Hi Brian, I did think of it but, like most things these days, most of of my thoughts are only fleeting

But you are right. I favour the LGB BB wheelset - I have a LGB Drover's Caboose fitted with them and they are simply the best! I don't really need the lights (or smoke units) on as the extra current draw on my trailer layout might be a problem.

I look forward to seeing your photos and thanks for your suggestions