Bachmann Aero Train..Anybody messed with one?

[LV LOU]

I have a old Bachman Aero train I'd like to improve.I have two powered locomotives,and after a little messing around,I have them running WAY better than I expected...[More on that in a minute..]I want to strip it and repaint it into the red/white scheme,and get the cars coupled closer...I figured the easiest way to couple the cars closer was to just shorten the bottom of the car..One major problem..I can only get the bottom out of one car,the rest are glued tight.Are all of these cars glued,or did the last guy that owned mine just overdo it? There are other clues mine were messed with..If the cars aren't glued normally,I'll pick up a few online.
  Now,as to the work..I found that on these locos,and also old Arnold FA's and F's,the big gear on the truck is just too sloppy.I take the small spacers off old motor shafts,and use them to shim the gears up so there's no slop,I actually try to get them in a little tight..Make a huge difference in how they run.They can never really break in if they're flopping around..My Aero Train is actually quieter than a Trix U28 I had running at the same time..I just did two ABA sets of Arnold FA's I have,also.They now sound comparable to Atlas FA's..

[Philip H]

Bachmann did an aero train?  I remember their turbo train - which had ride height issues as well as motor and detail issues . . . 

[sirenwerks]

Yea, I thought Con-Cor did the Aerotrain.  I am holding out for Rapido to do the Turbotrain though.  I recently stumbled across some great CN footage of the Turbotrain and want one.  Then again, I'd like to have a RI Aerotrain too.

[LV LOU]

Yeah,Turbo Train ..

[peteski]

Lou, that ting is so toy-ish looking (looks like shrunken down Lionel tinplate toy) that I wouldn't even attempt to make it into something even resembling a scale model    I'm patiently awaiting the Rapido version....

[LV LOU]

Well,certainly nice to find out I'm too stupid to work on model trains..Thanks for all the help...

[Philip H]

Well,certainly nice to find out I'm too stupid to work on model trains..Thanks for all the help...

Lou,
Peteski has certain standards, but when he says he wouldn't do something, it's often a veiled invitation to prove him wrong - at least that's how I read it.

In any event since Rapido is not anywhere near a N scale Turbotrain, your stuff would seem to make sense for someone wanting this train on their layout.  Your motor mods sound a lot like what Ron Bearden was doing for his brass electric build up thread.  and I agree, they would make the thing run better.

On the coupling - why make the bottom shorter?  why not devise a closer alternative coupling method that's body mounted?  SOme pics of the underside might help elucidate this.

[spookshow]

Boy, I dunno. Based on the picture on the box, I don't think close-coupling is an issue at all!



Oh wait, nevermind   



Cheers,
-Mark

[Puddington]

Well..... "not anywhere near".... I'd say we are closer than "not anywhere near", but further away than "close to but not quite there yet".....

The Turbo in N scale is most definitely on the Rapido Trains Inc. "to do" list. That said, it won't be done until we can do it to the exacting standards that Jason sets. (You have to remember, this guy dreams of Turbo's... yep; seriously; he has vivid Turbo dreams.... frightening eh ?)

N scale presents a number of challenges that we are working through..... I will be the first one to scream from the top of the mountain when we are ready to go with the Turbo; CN or not; it's the "iconic" Canadian passenger consist of my youth and I will run mine into the ground when I get it.... But I (and you) won't get it until we can get it... "right". 

[randgust]

If I had the challenge, I think I'd get one of the Tomytec mechanisms and only use one truck.  The truck sideframes are removable, so it's an inside-frame drive.  It's smooth and powerful and has a traction tire if you want it, or you could swap axles with the truck you aren't using and make it all solid wheels.  See Plaza Japan (ebay store) for those chassis.  I rather love 'em.   You can put any motor on that power truck you want, or use what comes with it.

Somebody....maybe in HO instead of N, came up with a way that the distances between cars increased as the cars went through curves.  I think that's what you'd need to attempt here.....somehow.

[peteski]

Yes Lou, I dare you to make a silk purse out of this sow's ear!  Go ahead, prove me wrong.