Crossing Paths

Crossing Paths
Model Melbourne trams

Wednesday 24 September 2014

Service interuptions and some analogue running

It has been a month since Caulfield and I have done nothing since then, the layout has sat in the study as I left it when I came home on that Sunday night. The last weekend I started the getting 'the band back together', all that was needed, was a flick through of the October AMRM  to realise that I still have some work to do.

As part of the reinstatement of Victoria Street, the DC option has now been fully integrated, this now allows one tram at a time to be test ran to see if it should be fitted with DCC, and also gives those other pieces of rollingstock in my collection a chance to stretch their legs.

Since the conversion to DCC some two years ago, some trams and some new purchases have not the opportunity to get out of the display case and 'cut a notch'. Thus now introducing a rogues gallery of ring ins of my DC fleet......

 
A Walters Birney done up as MMTB X 217 with arse about doors
on a Tyco/Mantua Chassis.

 
A Tyco/Mantua tarted up as MMTB U 205
(Pretty much a dead ringer)
  
 
But wait, there's more waiting to become something else...
(and they all work!)

 
A Cooee Collectable Restaurant Tram with A Bachmann Brill Mechanism,
(this has a lot of potential with DCC/lights)
 
 
A Kochi 600 Hasagawa 1-80 kit with a Bachmann Brill Mechanism,
(The panto is pushing the body down at the No1 end,
another DCC candidate)

 
A Kato Hanover/Hiroshima Tram,
(Now this is a well built model)
 
 
A Double Truck Birney (Ken Kidder???)
This will need some work as it runs the old school
pick up from one side of one bogie, pick up from the other
side/ bogie, and it runs like a dog!
 
 
A Muni Boeing LRV by Mehano, this could have potential for DCC/Lights,
but could do with a better mechanism.
 
 
This is the RTR DC stock that has been waiting to have a crack, there are also some other projects/kits on the back burner waiting for their chance.
 
From under the wires and the smell of ozone of the rarely turned motor.
 
Regards Glenn. 
 
 
 
 

2 comments:

  1. Hi Glenn,
    great to see another double truck birney in existence. I was given one of these for my 13th birthday many, many years ago. I was very excited because it was the only purchase from the Model Dockyard in Swanston St that I was ever the recipient of. Unfortunately my excitement didn't last very long. Like yours mine was an utter bucket of sh*t. It has never run properly and many attempts at using weights, gauging wheels, etc, etc have made no difference. I feel your pain. Mine lives in the "to do" box and every decade or so I get a slight urge to try again. It has seen more box time than display time many times over.
    I also had a tyco tram that clocked up many miles. It was a great unit until an overheated motor melted a beautiful sag in the side of the body. I even had an AHM tram and trailer set that ran at a scale speed of 600mph, oh the joy!
    Eventually finances improved and on a trip to Hong Kong I discovered Bachmans models of that city's double deckers. I now have a fleet of smooth running and great looking models. Now to build a layout for them.
    thanks for the memories
    Mark from Tottenham (long ago)

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    Replies
    1. G'day Bigbloke,
      This shell may be rebirthed as a 'what if' MMTB X3 710 (my idea), but more than likely on a Bachmann mechanism, with DCC and lights. Oh the joy of retro RTR trams/trolleys.
      Regards Glenn

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