Where does a body get parts around here?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a bunch of things I need for my loco projects.

I have several kit locos I want to remotor and re-gear. Where would I look?

I have 2 0-6-0’s that I want to convert to 2-6-2’s by adding front and rear trucks. Where can I get the trucks?

I need a light bulb for a Rivarossi Heisler, but the wire has to be insulated and fit down a very skinny tube. It is not shown on the parts list. Ideas?

Edit:

Oh yeah, where do I get custom decals?

2

Dr. Frank from the castle up on the hill uses the grave yard I’ve heard!
Radio Shack has a variety of low voltage lamps (1.5, 6, & 12 volt ) with insulated leads as I recall, and some 12 volt micro lamps that you could cover the bare leads with “shrink tubing” for insulation.
You might try Walthers for the trucks, and/or wheel sets and fabricate a lead truck bracket from brass. As I recall you were having problems with a Camelback unit that could be an “organ donor” until you find some replacement parts from other sources.
Will

3

Check out the Bowser company’s Web site. They carry a lot of detail, repair, and remotoring parts. Northwest Short Line is another good source of remotoring parts.

4

To remotor and regear, www.nwsl.com

5

I am very lucky in that I have a LHS 3 miles from me which does only model railroaring. I usually go to him with want list if he doesn’t have it in stock I break out the good old walthers catalog, get the number and have him order it for me. If it not in walthers it is time to make a list of NEEDS and start hitting train shows. Also whenever I take a trip I look up LHS where I am and check them out carrying my list of NEEDS. By the wat my NEEDS are life sustaneing, with out them I would die.
Les

6

I’d love a Dr. Frank’s lab. My graveyard is mosly deisel stuff though. I’m not ready to disect the 2-8-2 yet, but I’ve thought about it. I think I’m going to return it. I was told it was a working engine. I’ll hold out for something better.

7

For virtually all your remotoring needs, go to NWSL.

For parts, first try Bowser (good prices, fast delivery) and then Precision Scale (better parts, horrible delivery, more expensive). For more obscure stuff, also check Greenway Products and PIA, inc.

There are lots of small light bulbs on the market. Model Power sells pre wired 5v and 15v bulbs. Check Walthers.

As for custom decals, either contact Rail Graphics (probably the best in the hobby to deal with), or browse around in the Great Decals website to look for smaller batch manufacturers who might have a better deal:
http://www.railgraphicsdecals.com/
http://www.greatdecals.com/

http://www.nwsl.com/
http://www.bowser-trains.com/
http://www.precisionscaleco.com/
http://www.greenwayproducts.com/
http://pweb.jps.net/~pia/index.htm

8

Thanks guys.

I never realized decals would be so expensive. A 25 sheet minimum. I can picture using them up for 20 years or so.

9

You can always get decal paper and an inkjet printer and make your own. t the rate things are going, I may have to do this myself, thee seem to be fewer and fewer decals available.

Definitely Bowser for steam loco parts - that includes Cal-Scale. Details West and Detail Associates have mostly diesel parts but there are a few steam parts. The Bowser site covers most of their stuff, but even better is to look under the detailing parts section of the Walthers catalog. LOTS of options there.

–Randy

10

The Motor Man is a great place to get motors. Here’s a link;

http://www.micro-loco-motion.com/

Some pretty fancy stuff indeed! You don’t need to get all fancy if you don’t want though. But if you want the best, he’s got that too.

As far as decals go, I made my own. I did find that the trick to getting really small fonts was to use Microsoft Publisher for car data plates and such. Logo’s and stuff were better in Excel. Just set up a whole sheet at a time to cut down on waste. I printed like 6 sheets for about a buck or two a sheet by the time you figure in the sealer and everything.

I’ve got a link on my computer at work for some of the other things that you asked about. I’ll post it when I get there in the morning (before all the insanity starts!).

11

Leading and trailing trucks try BOWSER, Rivarossi parts try Golf Manor Hobbies at www.GOLFMANORHOBBIES.com or ph (513) 351-3849 3pm-9pm EST, I can’t help you with the decals…Sorry.

12

Ray/Orsonroy mentioned Greenway. This is a great resource that is not known as well as it deserves to be. They are a welcome sight at each year’s Trainfest in Milwaukee. They frequently carry spare parts intended for brass locomotives, things which are otherwise hard to come by. I got replacement lead trucks for a brass 4-8-2 that I frankly thought I’d never find anywhere. They also have cabs, drivers, motors, trailing trucks, pilots, smokebox fronts, stacks, all manner of parts.
Their website is in Ray’s posting above but here it is again
http://www.greenwayproducts.com/index.shtml

Dave Nelson

13

Try

http://www.bowser-trains.com/pdf/cary_parts.pdf

for lost wax castings. They may also have other things like trucks and so forth, I haven’t had time to look.

Also, for motor issues try

http://www.ablehobby.com/a%20line%20%20repowering%20page%201.asp

You might find what you need there. The prices are good too.

14

I clicked on it when Ray mentioned it, but just quickly. I did it again and it finally dawned on me. IT is only 40 miles away from me. I feel a road trip coming on.

Chip

15

Definitely check out Greenway. Not only do they have their own line of parts, but they tend to buy up overruns of brass engine parts. I turned a Mantua 4-6-2 into a Santa Fe engine by hunting around at Greenway’s booth in Milwaukee until I found a brass cab, pilot assembly and trailing Delta with booster (which only set me back about $40!). Greenway and Depots by John are about the only reason I go to the Milwaukee show.