| One of the distinguishing problems with brass | | | | away from the wheels. Be very gentle with |
| and electricity is brass is an electrical | | | | this process. It is easy to break the solder |
| conductor with a tendency to short out a lot | | | | joint and now you have a worse situation. |
| and can create a blue electrical show that is | | | | Only a slight movement will fix the |
| not wanted.This has been a common problem | | | | problem.The next item is the draw bar and the |
| with Brass Steam Locomotives. The Asian | | | | post on the tender. Many times the draw bar |
| manufactures have tried very hard to create a | | | | has not been fixed properly to the frame. |
| model that is as accurate as possible in 1/87 | | | | There are insulating washers that must be |
| scale. In doing so many times the tolerances | | | | installed properly and the solder joint must |
| are so tight between the pony trucks and the | | | | not come in contact with the frame. The draw |
| cylinders that you get continual shorts. This | | | | bar is intentionally isolated from the frame |
| may also be true with the trailing trucks and | | | | since it is bringing the power from the |
| the cab of the locomotive.This being an | | | | tender to complete a circuit on the motor. |
| intolerable situation for the hobbyist one | | | | Make sure that you have the + & - wires |
| wonders what he or she is to do to take care | | | | soldered properly or your engine will go the |
| of the problem. There are several methods to | | | | wrong way.The last problem is the body of the |
| alleviate the nuisance. The most common way | | | | locomotive. There are times when the |
| is to paint woman's clear nail hardener on | | | | manufacturer does not align the body to the |
| the wheels of the pony trucks or the trailing | | | | frame and the two parts may fit as far as |
| trucks. This is temporary since in time the | | | | mounting is concerned but the body is |
| nail hardener will ware off. However, by | | | | slightly tilted to the right or left. This |
| placing a thin coat of clear epoxy on the | | | | may allow the body to touch the drivers which |
| cylinders or cab body will generally | | | | will cause a short. To remedy the problem |
| eliminate the problem.The best method is to | | | | remove the body from the frame and examine |
| find the exact wheel set that goes on the | | | | the body and frame interface for areas that |
| locomotive for both the pony trucks and | | | | may cause Sparky to appear. You might have to |
| trailing trucks. The key is to find a set of | | | | gently pull the body inwards or add an |
| wheels that are insulated in the middle of | | | | insulation pad of fibrous material that will |
| the axle. This may be difficult for the type | | | | squeeze down on the frame yet keep the body |
| of locomotive you have. | | | | from interfering with the drivers. At all |
| | | | times be careful not to distort the brass |
| Now that the standard among Railroaders is | | | | body.The best way to locate sparky is to turn |
| all freight cars and passenger cars must have | | | | off the lights and run the engine in the dark |
| metal wheels that are insulated to stop | | | | and watch for blue sparks between the various |
| Sparky and reduce dirty tracks. You may be | | | | parts that may come in contact with each |
| able to find a set of wheels among the | | | | other.Joy Ball has been involved in the |
| different wheel sets for the fright cars that | | | | restoration and maintenance of a variety of |
| match in size and characteristics which will | | | | Brass Model Locomotives. Through her years of |
| satisfy your need.The other shorting problem | | | | expertise, Mrs. Ball has perfected the art of |
| is piping that hang down near any of the | | | | train restoration often spending countless |
| wheels. To solve this problem, carefully bend | | | | hours preserving vintage Brass Locomotives to |
| the overflow pipes and other items that may | | | | running condition of even the newest Brass |
| be coming in contact with any of the wheels | | | | Model Replicas. |