How to build a 4.5v Gordon

... pulling his express coaches (or what I believe are, some clarification would be appreciated)...

Those blue and white coaches are supposed to be narrow-gauge coaches, they came with Skarloey. more here:

http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Agnes,_Ruth,_...d_Beatrice

Gordon's express coaches look like this:

http://thomastrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/...ress_Coach
also available in red & cream, and blue & cream.

That's almost like the same speed as the 3 Speed RC one on full power! On a side note, your Gordon looks like it's in mint condition. Where'd you get it from?

Did that video inspire you?

Thanks, I actually bought this Gordon brand new several years ago for my nephew, when he lost interest he gave them all back. He wasn't used much because he wasn't very fast at all.

It did inspire me to make a 9v James, which i'm refurbishing again for an upcoming post. I actually got the idea to use the flashlight battery pack from another post. I like that a 9v connector is used, I was able to get a 5 pack of those from radio shack and the great part was that the wire is a thicker gauge and the length was perfect. There is enough lead to go right to the power train assembly replacing the flimsy stock wiring.

With loco-tender combinations that have the batteries in the tender, that kind of traction loss can be caused by a lack of flexibility in the coupling between the two. Try bending the coupling slightly so that it is a very shallow 'U' shape (lower in the middle than at each end).

Thanks for the great idea I will give that a try tonight, I'm going to order several replacement "permanent" connectors as many of mine are brittle or broken

Those blue and white coaches are supposed to be narrow-gauge coaches, they came with Skarloey. more here:

http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Agnes,_Ruth,_...d_Beatrice

Gordon's express coaches look like this:

http://thomastrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/...ress_Coach
also available in red & cream, and blue & cream.

Thanks for the informaiton! Well it sounds like I need to start looking to get a couple of express coaches now that Gordon now has the ability to be fast! I also just noticed that the narrow gauge coaches I have one is made by trackmaster and the other is made by Tomy.

I'm going to order several replacement "permanent" connectors as many of mine are brittle or broken

I'd be very interested to hear if you find any. I have made my own by cutting them out of a polythene food container lid (no names, no parties), then punching the holes with a leather punch.

[Super]

There are these from a reliable seller. I have many on hand just in case. They are great for wired tenders that the wires are not broken but the coupling is. You can also just use the bottom part without the wired hoop. He is a member here at BPT and he even made an instructional video.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110840453347

I just ordered what looks to be the same thing on ebay aswell, but this is a 5 pack, i'm not sure if its the same quality but for the price its worth a shot!

I really like the 2 piece design idea, but my only concern is if the 2 pieces lock together instead of flopping round on the mount pins, but I guess I'll find out!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161948133243?_tr...EBIDX%3AIT

[Super]

I had never seen this seller, nice find Anc

Thanks the seller also has a kit with the fixed 2 piece couples, several standard couplers and the triangle bit screwdriver aswell

[ripley802]

Thanks the seller also has a kit with the fixed 2 piece couples, several standard couplers and the triangle bit screwdriver aswell

I have purchased several of that type of set. Very nice qualitity and you get a free screw driver, although I have misplaced all of mine...

I have purchased several of that type of set. Very nice qualitity and you get a free screw driver, although I have misplaced all of mine...

Yeah, the free we tools I get with anything are usually not the best quality either. I actually use a torx t-7 bit in my micro screwdriver ND it takes out the triangle screws no problem as an alternative

Yeah, the free we tools I get with anything are usually not the best quality either. I actually use a torx t-7 bit in my micro screwdriver ND it takes out the triangle screws no problem as an alternative

I use a regular screwdriver that's been re-modelled to a triangular shape using a bench grinder wheel. It takes about 30 seconds to do this.