I am having a problem finding parts for old AMH and Rivarossi steam engines, I know that they have been out of production for a while but I really like the old stuff because I can retro fit them. I am looking for parts or substitute parts for the details like grap irons and rails and parts for the drive trains like, connectors and linkage arms, spacers and such. Does anyone know any place that has parts?
Also I need new motors and headlights, does anyone have a suggestion on replacement motors and LEDS that can be used in these old engines? Any help is welcome.
siderods/linkages/etc - try some of the parts manufacturers - I bet they’d fit relatively well… well, as long as the screws were the same size…
grab irons and the like - small diameter brass wire
You might also be able to check out ebay and get the Junk/parts locos relatively cheap…
Motors - NWSL (I think) sells replacement can motors…
Lighting - you’ll need to be creativ with this. If you’re going to be using LEDs, you might need to add a directional lighting control (esentially a diamond of diodes), and some from of a resistor.
The Rusty Spike (by Dave Loman) has some nice tutorials of basic electrical wiring. THe next installment is going to focus on LEDS and diodes I think. Should be up within a few days (probably by saturday). The first two tutorials though will go a long way to explaining the “electricity math” that you’re going to have to work out to determine how large of a resistor to get.
If you email me a list, I may have something you’re looking for. I know of at least one guy on the Yahoo Groups who says he has quite an inventory. It can be tricky because Rivarossi went thru several iterations of the same locomotives throughout the years, but I’m pretty well versed in what parts were used in a given version.
You might want to join Rivarossi_AHM_IHC_Bachmann_Steam_Modelers and post some requests there. Also do a parts search on eBay; that’s where I’ve bought most of mine. There are white metal and brass detail parts out there that might be a substitute for the missing detail.