I came into some used brass locomotives in HO scale and they need some work. I was wondering if anyone knows of an online source for repair information, drawings, parts lists or How to I.D. what I have. Also some place that has on line price guides.
Thanks
Brass engines are hand built models, made in Korea or other locations and don’t normally come with parts lists and/or repair info. The best bet would be to check with the importer, but don’t expect too much if the model is very old. Many of the older importers are no longer in business.
Price guides - are you looking for parts prices or prices on brass models?
Bob Boudreau
Possibly Caboose Hobbies.
Keep in mind brass locomotives are usually short run items, with each run being different. The importer may or may not have assembly documentation from the builder.
And none of this will be online.
For transaction prices of models, ebay is your best source.
Can you suggest any books or web sites that will have information on the building or repair of HO engines and cars in general?
I am looking for a hobby that I can do with trains. I had to move to a small House after loosing my job and I do not have room to start a lay out. Perhaps working and fixing model trains will have to do for now.
Thanks to All
Jack
Here is a book that may help you: http://store.yahoo.com/kalmbachcatalog/12210.html I believe it is mostly plastic models covered and generic info. The parts listing you are seeking are useless if the parts are nonexistent. Line art is fine if the engines are basket cases and you are unaware of how they go back together. If the engine is complete you can disassemble one truck at a time, using the other as a guide. These locos are not automatic transmissions with many parts, which can be installed wrong or backwards. Very simple and basic. This is why no one has authored a model specific repair manual. If it is a steam engine and the valve gear has to be disassembled, you can always make a diagram before you start. NWSL http://nwsl.com/ makes some replacement parts for the more popular brass engines. If the locos have minimal run time they will probably just need a good cleaning and lube. I do not know how to ID brass but I would think that maybe on the bottom of the trucks or fuel tank is a manufacturer or importers logo. This could be a starting point. A digital camera would be nice. You could take photos and post them; someone here might then ID it for you, especially if the body is off.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Your might want to get tight with the dealers in brass locomotives, on the assumption that they are likely to know where to get parts, if they exist, and how to fix certain problems, at least more so that mainstream model railroaders who don’t have uch exposure to brass.
Here’s some links:
http://mitchells.com/brass.shtml
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/brass/brasspg.htm
http://members.aol.com/DeansBrass/default.htm
After looking through these pages, looking for manufacturers names, contacts for dealers, importers and manufacturers, you’ll probably be in position to run a few google searches and then start narrowing the field for some actual contacts towards what you need.
If you have access, such as through a friend or a very well stocked public library, to old issues of Railroad Model Craftsman, Bill Schopp used to have regular articles on modifying the repairing brass steam locomotives back in the 1960s.
At the very least his articles give good info on how these engines were put together back in Japan or Korea.
But as the fellows above point out, you are not going to find a repair manual or exploded drawing such as you can find for Mantua or Bowser or Varney.
Dave Nelson
I Thank You all for your input. It is my 1st time using a fourm like this.
The responce was better than I hoped for.
Thanks Again.
Jack