Hi!
With your help, I was able to get the motor & drive train of my two “excess” P2K PA/B sets running beautifully. They really are smooth runners!
Unfortunately, one of the A units is missing the two horns, and a few of the wire handrails near the center and rear door openings. I am really unhappy about this, for I take extremely good care of my RR “stuff”, and it is obvious that “someone” has mishandled the unit during the last few years.
Anyway, I called Walthers and the Parts Department does no longer has the “detail parts” package available for this loco. Frankly, the parts person wasn’t much help in finding a substitute and had little sympathy for my problem.
Soooo, I realize that there are other detail parts suppliers out there, but I am not familiar with them. Can you recommend who would have horns and railings that would work for this loco?
Thank you!
Mobilman44
Go out and spend a little $ and buy a 2010 Walthers catalog. Think of it as an investment and reference tool. You can then spend hours looking through it to find exactly the parts you need to replace the ones you broke off. squeek, squeek
Mister Pilot’s advice is a good suggestion, even if you don’t usually alter you locos or rolling stock, as the Walthers catalogue is a very good guide to what’s available. If you do enjoy modifiying your rolling stock, I’d also suggest a copy of Bowser’s catalogue, along with one from NorthWest Short Line, and Precision Scale, and maybe something for decals, too. I don’t buy new catalogues every year, but the old ones are handy references, even if the prices become outdated.
Check out Detail Associates and Details West for diesel detailing parts, including NBW castings, which will be useful if you make your own replacement handrails using .012" or .015" music wire. The wire handrails will look much better than those cast plastic ones, and they’ll be more durable and easier to paint, too.
Wayne
Silver Pilot
Excellent advice, but it ain’t all that easy. I have actually spent the bucks for Walthers HO catalogs since the mid-'70s, getting one every two years. I had checked out the 2009 & 7 books under detail parts and there is nothing at all specific for “E” units. There are a number of “F” unit dress up kits, but I don’t believe they will fit my needs. There are some listings for horns and railings, but most all do not have pictures or dimensions.
In writing the original posting, I was hoping that there was someone “out there” that had bought parts for E units and could pass along some advice/guidance in that regard.
Thanks!
Mobilman44
PS: Not sure what the squeak squeak was about, for the locos don’t make that noise anymore after a good lube and tune.
As the good Dr. suggested, start by looking through the DA and DW sections in Walthers. You also need to find a prototype picture so you know what kind of details need to be replaced/added. DW has a website, DA does not so looking through the catalog and matching details to a prototype pics is the best solution.
Ooops, I mentioned “E” units in my previous postings, but I meant PA units. Actually, detail parts for either would probably work out.
Oh, the original railings are wire, not plastic, and I’ll hit the LHS later in the week and see what they have to offer.
I really hope I can find something suitable, as I’ll be putting the two PA / B sets up for sale on Ebay next month, and having missing parts will surely hurt their value.
Thanks all,
Mobilman44
You might find the cab hand rails through the expanded line of detail parts from Cal Scale. Details West has several varieties of the OE air horns common to Es and PAs - plus mucho choices of upgrades. You could also buy some DOA PAs from either Ebay or HOyardsale and salvage the parts you need.
Duckdogger,
Yes, I’ve been checking Ebay for PA or E “DOA” locos for parts, but no luck yet. After some “homework” today, I hope to make it to the LHS.
I have to say I’m still a bit unhappy with Walthers/Lifelike for not having a supply of parts for locos that are under 10 years old. Buttttt, that’s the way it is.
Mobilman44
I had purchased 2 sets of the PA parts from Walthers in 2008. I also wanted the same parts for the E-units but they didn’t carry them… Like you, I am thinking why not? Stuff gets lost and broken.