A somewhat somber update regarding the custom engines I've been working on.
Firstly, starting with the three-truck Heisler logging locomotive:
After a little over a month's time in the shops, the Heisler has, unfortunately, had to be scrapped to numerous issues, which shall be listed here and as follows:
1.) Custom-designed side-rods for the third truck (a.k.a. the tender) have been unstable and not even the toughest superglue has kept them securely held together.
2.) Side-rods for the first truck (front wheels) are too difficult to fine tune, and have no free motion within the front wheels of the engine.
3.) The back chassis (a little ways behind the engine cab; underneath the fuel/water tank on the locomotive) is showing signs of potential breakage, which means the entire engine would have to undergo an immense overhaul to have mended.
4.) Creating custom wheels for the front truck has been contemplated; sadly, due to lack of proper funds, will not happen as of now.
5.) The third truck's drive wheels are too large to fit comfortably beneath the tender, which would require careful sanding down of the truck's inside; last result ended in disaster with support shafts snapping clean free when completely avoided by hands and tools.
6.) Only available motor for the Heisler overheated, smoked, and consequently refuses to become operational again.
Sadly, the Heisler will remain in pieces, but not abandoned until fully operational.
Onto the custom Union Pacific FEF #844!
The few problems are as follows:
1.) Lack of proper funds and measurements prevent me from purchasing the appropriate smokebox door for the engine, and consequently the appropriate decals for the locomotive and tender.
2.) (Just in case anyone may be traumatized with what is to come, you aren't alone with this horrendous surprise) Running plate of the locomotive has snapped cleanly above the driving wheels; I have no idea how it snapped, but it decided to after I had removed the battery cover for some gentle dusting. On the plus side, it makes accessing the drive wheels and removing the tender remarkably easier than before.
The more important, and immensely fortunate, news is that this custom engine is still up and running properly for steam on my Christmas layout when set down around the Christmas tree. Other "updates" on some Fisher-Price TrackMaster models include painting of buffers and couplings on engines, whose said details were coloured in with a Sharpie marker.
Firstly, starting with the three-truck Heisler logging locomotive:
After a little over a month's time in the shops, the Heisler has, unfortunately, had to be scrapped to numerous issues, which shall be listed here and as follows:
1.) Custom-designed side-rods for the third truck (a.k.a. the tender) have been unstable and not even the toughest superglue has kept them securely held together.
2.) Side-rods for the first truck (front wheels) are too difficult to fine tune, and have no free motion within the front wheels of the engine.
3.) The back chassis (a little ways behind the engine cab; underneath the fuel/water tank on the locomotive) is showing signs of potential breakage, which means the entire engine would have to undergo an immense overhaul to have mended.
4.) Creating custom wheels for the front truck has been contemplated; sadly, due to lack of proper funds, will not happen as of now.
5.) The third truck's drive wheels are too large to fit comfortably beneath the tender, which would require careful sanding down of the truck's inside; last result ended in disaster with support shafts snapping clean free when completely avoided by hands and tools.
6.) Only available motor for the Heisler overheated, smoked, and consequently refuses to become operational again.
Sadly, the Heisler will remain in pieces, but not abandoned until fully operational.
Onto the custom Union Pacific FEF #844!
The few problems are as follows:
1.) Lack of proper funds and measurements prevent me from purchasing the appropriate smokebox door for the engine, and consequently the appropriate decals for the locomotive and tender.
2.) (Just in case anyone may be traumatized with what is to come, you aren't alone with this horrendous surprise) Running plate of the locomotive has snapped cleanly above the driving wheels; I have no idea how it snapped, but it decided to after I had removed the battery cover for some gentle dusting. On the plus side, it makes accessing the drive wheels and removing the tender remarkably easier than before.
The more important, and immensely fortunate, news is that this custom engine is still up and running properly for steam on my Christmas layout when set down around the Christmas tree. Other "updates" on some Fisher-Price TrackMaster models include painting of buffers and couplings on engines, whose said details were coloured in with a Sharpie marker.
Residential train-afficionado in training, and Thomas & Friends fan.
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