Nickel Plate L1a 4-6-4 update

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

just finished a work session on this engine, sheesh the problems.

Sometimes models are made too accurate, the cab roof extends out and on shaper curves touches the tender, shorting out.

Solution, remove front washer on tender truck to lower it replaced with a smaller washer, painted liquid insulation on tender/roof where touching.

unreliable power contact on drawbar, added 2 pin wired connectors between engine/tender.

Rear trailing truck crossbar touching drawbar bolt, shorting…

solution-grinded off metal for clearance and removed washer on drawbar pin, had to add kadee coupler pocket mod to prevent drawbar touching frame.

Front pilot truck real left wheel touching inner piston, shorting

solution- paint piston back insulation paint and outside of wheel, bent span bar to shorten length of it.

Engine still kept shorting out after all these fixes…found left front driver touching inner frame and spring detail when pushed in,

Solution, file frame cover back, and bend spring detail in slightly for clearance.

Already with Soundtraxx decoder and superbright LED with working mars light, NOW it runs smooth…woops, derail, drawbar low…er, return spring on it and bend up…okay, runs fine now.

now it runs fine.

Next step is to install the QSI titan decoder, get the marker lights and number boards working, it will be dandy.

The photo is an early shot before any work done

2

I have the same engine, without the elephant ears. It is untouched and other than checking the the engine and keeping it in good operating condition about once a year I am surprised at how well mine runs.

I would guess that taking the engine apart into a number of pieces for cleaning and painting can cause the problems you describe.

Certain items/pieces no longer align the same way. I did have one engine that after I painted it I had to add insulated washers to a number of spots on that engine. However, if shorting was the worse thing I had to address I would be lucky.

Post a picture of the engine once you are through.

3

Sounds like the solution to most of those problems would have been larger curves?

Sheldon

4

I had one of these beautiful Hudsons years ago. Mine was well made but did have a lot of shorts. It wasn’t keen on anything under 24"R curves even after a lot of tweaking. It was a nice engine and pulled well. I think it was probably the best looking 4-6-4 built, especially with the ears. Roger Huber