I have some Athearn Ready To Run passenger cars that I want to put lights in. The trucks are all plastic, 6 wheel trucks. But the mounting bolster is off center, between the first and second axles, making it difficult to change the trucks. Also the rear wheels on each truck, do not even touch the rails, and are lifted slightly off the rails. The cars actually ride on four wheels at each end. They run OK, but I am puzzled why they are like this. My problem is how to get power to the lights in each car.
Since I usually keep my passenger cars together, I am considering some kind of power pickup, or even a bunch of batteries in the baggage car, and connecting the rest of the cars together, using the Miniatronics polarized mini connectors. This would not be unprototype, as real trains are all connected to the engine by thick power cables, running the length of the train.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
if this is ho you could use rechargable batteries in the baggage car. if it has opening doors you could put a plug inside a door.
First off, try loosening the screws a bit that hold the trucks on, just enough so all the wheels sit on the track. Do the cars have weights in them? 85’ cars should weigh about 7-9 ounces. Rapido makes the “Easypeezy” passenger car lights that are battery powered (self contained).
Modelmake 51 said it all!![:)]
Here’s a link to Rapido’s Easy-Peasy lighting system:
http://www.rapidotrains.com/lighting.html
Hobo,
Six wheel trucks? You’re referring to the Athearn Heavyweight passenger cars like this one: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH78775
May be helpful if you posted a photo of the wheels actually not touching the rails. That’s definetly not normal. Without seeing it a reasonable guess would be that either the truck frame assembly or the axles themselves are slightly bent. Remove the trucks and check them carefully with the axles on and then with them off.
Once you determine that the truck frames are straight, consider replacing the wheel/axle sets. I’ve been using P2K, but there’s a good variety to choose from several manufacturers.
For interior lighting, click on this thread linke below and check out page 2 of the thread. Very good info from DCFixer.
http://cs.trains.com/forums/2/1403799/ShowPost.aspx#1403799
Hope this helps [;)]
Lights. They look so good. I have tried a number of things. There are very small batteries (type N cells) and holders from Radio Shack. One such cell is small enough to fit underneath a passenger car. It solves the flicker problem completely. Trouble was, insufficient brightness. I put a pair of 1.5 volt teeny-weeny bulbs in the car but the light wasn’t bright enough to be seen unless the room lights were darkened.
Then there is the super-capacitor route. These things are about the size of a silver half dollar coin and have humongous capacity, up to 1 whole farad. They can keep the lights on for 20 seconds after track power goes away. The super caps are fussy, they are polarized, requiring a full wave rectifier to give you DC. They can only withstand 5 volts, which means you need a 5 volt regulator to charge them. To drive the 1.5 volt lamps, a second 1.5 volt regulator circuit was required. I build all this stuff and it fit inside an HO caboose. It was fun to build, but I don’t think I’ll do another one.
Right now, I buy a light kit from Walthers. It’s a plastic bar, running the length of the passenger car ceiling, with three lamps, and an electronic regulator to keep the brightness constant. Although designed to fit Walther’s cars, it goes into IHC cars, no sweat.
For electrical pickup you get metal wheels and make axle wipers from phosphor bronze. Don’t use brass, it isn’t springy enough. Don’t put wipers on the wheel treads, the frictional drag is too high, put the wipers on the axles. With good track and a car weighted up to NMRA standards the lights don’t flicker much.
Make sure the roof of the car is light tight, otherwise the whole car starts to glow in the dark. I used some shiny Christmas decoration tape to light proof my roofs and reflect more light out the windows.&
Thanks for all the good info, guys. The Easy Peasy batteries at $5 per car seem a bit pricey.
I want to post some pics of the Athearn trucks, when I get a chance, and see what you guys think. It doesn’t look right to me, but I have five of them that are all like that.