It’s episode 273 of Cody’s Office, and Group Technical Editor Cody Grivno is in to talk about the new Atlas HO scale ACF six-bay cylindrical covered hopper, the Menards HO scale M&Ms UFO scene, and the Trains Minnesota Railroads DVD! He also offers some helpful modeling tips, and answers viewer mail.
An Atlas hopper, a Menards UFO scene, and a new DVD! Plus modeling tips and viewer mail
By Sammi DiVito | August 23, 2021
| Last updated on February 13, 2023
Watch ep. 273 of Cody's Office!
Thank you again Cody for good info and helpful tips… especially the truck tuner.
I’ve always used Acetone to clean my track but make sure you’re in a ventilated area when you do so.
Mineral spirits can case build on plastic wheels
Use clipper oil
To clean wheels cloth across track and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
This concerns track cleaning. There was a good review of track cleaning solutions in Model Railroad Hobbyist within the last year. The end result was that karosine was the best solution for track cleaning. The reason for this was that the kerosene filled in the small defects in the metal that causes micro-arching of current.
As kerosene is fairly inert, it shouldn’t attack plastic wheels, but I would definitely test a scrap piece of plastic first.
Mineral spirits are both effective and trouble free. They also keep the rails conductive, according to Model Railroad Hobbyist tests.
Did the 120 seconds include removing the trucks and old couplers? I noticed that you started the video with them off. In any case, it is impressive how much you can accomplish in 2 minutes.
Re: Track cleaning. Joe Fugate had a very complete article on track cleaning in the MRH magazine including a table of solvents showing their dielectric constants (how likely they are to cause arcing). See https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mrhpub.com/2019-05-may/online/index.html?page=9 for the article.
I’ve alway used alcohol for the hard to clean spots on the track between sweeps with the old standby, of a masonite pad under one car to clear the dust and some oily dirt. Clean the masonite pad with on old toothbrush. Works great. If after the masonite a engine stalls anywhere then out comes the alcohol and a clean rag.
why am i not receveing emais from codys office anymore thanks gary wise really like your show
I have have mostly Atlas track and switches but do also have a few Peco switches and track segments (n-scale). After originally using alcohol to clean track, I switch to mineral spirits as it contains less water and therefore oxidizes less frequently than alcohol. I did wipe the rails clean frequently to knock of the dust and dirt. However, I recently applied Sanchem Inc.’s NO-OX-ID “A SPECIAL” to my track and have not had to clean my track in over 6 months. I came across a rather lengthy discussion on this product and the specific instructions to apply it on an n-scale train board about an article from another publication. YMMV.
Good Luck,
Daron
Sanchem Inc.’s NO-OX-ID is listed as a ‘grease’. I don’t care how low the viscosity, grease will attract dirt. It is used to prevent oxidation on aluminum conductors. Nickel silver track does not oxides, that is why we use it.
If you still have plastic wheels, i cannot imagine the filth that will build up on them.
Thanks Cody, 🐾🚂KY.
I have 2 steam engines a 4-6-0 and a 4-4-0 that the front wheel sets like to derail very easy in switches. The front wheel sets are sort of free floating. Any ideas?
What has happen to Gerry’s Back on Track? Episode #9 appeared in mid July, where is episode #10? Hope Gerry didn’t get off track
Thanks Cody, Excellent show as always. On cleaning track, I have the Pieco track and I use alcohol to clean the tracks without any probelms and the track does get clean. You might want to pass tis on.
Thasnks again, Jerry Ryan
I also use alcohol, 70% isopropyl applying with a soft lint free cloth. I’m afraid that mineral sprits would leave a film on the rails that would attract dirt.
I have always used 70% alcohol to clean the “nickel sliver” track. IF, by some occasion, there is “gunk” on the track, I have a sanding block with 2,000 grit “wet’n’dry” sand paper that I moisten with the 70% alcohol to scrub the rail, then always clean with a piece of denim cloth, again moistened with 70% alcohol.
If anyone is worried about the water in the 70%, go to 91%.
A number of years ago, i was told that using the 2,000 grit parer would scratch the track. First, nickel silver track is quite hard. Second, 2,000 grit polishes the track, if you are still concerned, use 4,000 or 5,000 grit wet’n’dry with the alcohol.
Adding fiber washers to clear wheel sets from rubbing the car frame is effective but adding too many washers can impact your coupler heights as well causing additional problems. Add them judiciously. Thanks
Cody
I’ve been meaning to ask this for a while. Why can’t you give the Built date of the railcars you show? It would help when you model a certain time on if the car would fit.
PJ Mattson MMR.
Cody,
I have a HO Scale Athearn Wide Vision Caboose with no window glazing. What would you recommend to use for window material?
You can get the windows from Athearn….