What happened at your workbench today?

Madman said:
Another new toy for my Lionel layout. MTH Trains did a remake of the post-war Lionel helicopter launching flatcar, but with a different launching mechanism. It is somewhat of an improvement, but the copter is undersized for "O" scale. But still fun to operate.

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I think the boys in blue would call that 'tactical flying' - in fact, anything that is designed to change the colour of your underwear gets described as tactical flying
 
Madman said:
Another new toy for my Lionel layout. MTH Trains did a remake of the post-war Lionel helicopter launching flatcar, but with a different launching mechanism. It is somewhat of an improvement, but the copter is undersized for "O" scale. But still fun to operate.

Click to expand...
Do they still make stuff with the same play value these days?
 
Paul M said:
Do they still make stuff with the same play value these days?
Click to expand...

Yes, this model is a newer production. Pretty much everything Lionel made in the post-war period, 1945-1969 has been produced again. In the early years, 1970-about 1990, Lionel used the exact same tooling to reproduce the trains and accessories made after the war. From 1990 on some new innovations were added to those trains and accessories.

Most of the operating accessories originally produced in the P-W period used vibrator motors. After 1990 can motors replaced the vibrator type. Can motors allowed much quieter operation. Other things like die cast sprung trucks on rolling stock came along after the early '70s. As electronics became more widely used, the locomotives were equipped with sound systems and electronic reversing units, also known as E-Units.

Today's production is filled with detail, sound and other bells and whistles that were only a dream in the P-W era.
 
At the point where the 45mm and 64mm gauge part ways, this point was causing derailments. So on the bench it went for some "tender loving care".
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Naturally, the coursest file I have is an excellent vehicle for tender loving care.
IMG_20250326_142919882.jpg


The culprit is the bit that the green arrow is pointing at. Undergauge 45mm wheelsets will derail when pushed into it.
IMG_20250326_150020383.jpg


After reshaping it, I also needed to make sure it's as far from the curved through rail as it can be. The brown plastic podest that holds it has too much play.
So I made a wedge from some plastic offcut of a similar colour, and secured it with epoxy.
IMG_20250326_173229495.jpg


Now every kind of wheelset runs past smoothly.
IMG_20250326_171640260.jpg
 
InOtherNews:
Does anyone know if the LGB 65203 smoke stack (as in a 2070 'U' Class) will smoke reasonably at 12V?

Also, could someone pop a 2070 on the scales please?

I have one which has been gutted (all the weight removed) and want to get it back to near as-supplied weight.

Many thanks,
PhilP.
 
This is where I wish we were still using lead..
IMG_20250405_205631.jpg
Steel s/a wheel weights..
This lot will get the weight within 100g of the models original weight.
Getting them all in and secure, with the battery, and other electronics, will be tight.

PhilP.
 
Yesterday I had to pull up to repair a Trainline 45 point. The screw that allowed the point blade to pivot was allowing the rail to be misaligned. Inevitably it was one of my ballasted and glued points. On lifting with much foul language I tried to tighten the screw as I had thought it to have come loose. Of dear broke! So had to remove the blade, clean up the broken bit then centre punch put in the drill press to redril for a 10ba screw. I drilled all the way through to the rail so that I could effectively tap for 10ba. A shorter screw has been used and all back in place again. Fortunately all of the clamps were Massoth thus getting those undine was pretty easy, Hillman clamps can be a bit of an issue where ballasting has been glued in place. The hole can just be seen in the picture. Inevitably I trashed the Air Motor barb when pulling the point out (note to self take off air motor first) and it has been replaced by the brass Sunset Valley replacement obtained from Anything Narrow Gauge at some time in the past. It looks to be a replacement barb and elbow grouping. Pleased to see they are listing Air accesories again. The white is undried PVA that should clear and complete drying in the full sun today. Probably glued things a bit late yesterday.
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that air cylinder. i think i am going to dig out my old Technik lego sets.
My brother will kill me!
Lucky all parts can be ordered.
 
PhilP said:
This is where I wish we were still using lead..
Click to expand...
A lot of people are complaining about that.
Now i cast a lot, but is it doable that i am going to the sell section and sell some casts into the members desired forms?
Any shape they want?
 
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