Super's Mod's, Customs, Layout's & Video's 👍

[Super]

Finally completed all these mods that have been sitting around in various stages of completion.

The first three are related: Starting with “The Polar Express” which started out as “Not A Hero” This Trackmaster Hiro was bought new and the engine was the loudest I have even heard. I swapped out the motor with a Power Dash and greased up the gears in this Flat Drive hoping that it would help...NOT! It was even louder. So loud that even my Grandson had to turn it off because it annoyed him. So loud that it could be heard above 10 other trains running at the same time. When Ucwepn reviewed the new Paxton and Luke he said that their new Flat Drives were very quite so I found 2 Paxtons and a Luke really cheap on Ebay to rob them of their drives. I had to modify the new Flat Drives framework to fit in the Hiro, installed a Power Dash motor and the new Polar Express runs quietly and swiftly on the way to the North Pole. The final modification will come when I receive the 2 Polar Express Coaches which are on their way. You will notice the numbers 1225 on the engine and tender, this is in reference to the Pere Marquette 1225 that was used as the model and sound for the movie. We have rode this behemoth a couple of times as it is still running about 45 miles from us.

Normally I have a big box of engines that came with various purchased lots on Ebay that are either being salvaged for parts or waiting for resale on Ebay. When my Grandson saw the Paxton and Luke in the box he said no way. He wanted them defaced and put into service. To my surprise he didn't want me to remove the Luke letters so all that was done to “Fluke Luke” was to replace the face with a smoke box door and to upgrade the motor to a Power Dash.

The “Union Pax-ific” Diesel (Paxton) is quite handsome, we love the original color and stripe. Replaced the face with a grille to keep the fast & quiet Power Dashed flat drive diesel cool. Decals added for some detail.

Last we have something that has been in the works for a long time. “Too Black” the rapper was originally my first attempt at a 3 volt powered duo with a AA two pack mounted in the trailing engine and wired to the motored first engine. We weren't impressed at all with the speed so the batteries were removed and its back to “C” size 1.5 volt but with a Power Dash motor. Speed is about the same but I think that in this type of drive the gearing is geared slower. Faces were removed and replaced with some embossed hobby plastic. Not that happy with the looks but it was my first.

Sorry, that was a bit long winded...on to the pictures.


The Polar Express





Fluke Luke





Union Pax-ific






Too Black