A common question is whether transformers for vintage American Flyer, Lionel, and Marx are interchangeable, and what to do if a transformer won’t work. The simple answer is, yes, a train from one of those makes will run on a transformer from any of the others. They all ran on 0-24 volts AC. There are [...]
All posts tagged lionel train
Transformers for vintage trains
Posted by Dave Farquhar on November 27, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/11/transformers-for-vintage-trains/
How to make Bachmann Plasticville buildings stay together without glue
A frequent complaint I see about the Plasticville buildings that people have been using with Lionel and American Flyer trains for more than a half century is that they don’t stay together well. This especially seems to be a problem with the modern reissues. Maybe the old molds are starting to wear out after all [...]
Posted by Dave Farquhar on November 26, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/11/how-to-make-bachmann-plasticville-buildings-stay-together-without-glue/
Fixing old Lionel tubular track
It’s that time of year again. Time to get that old Lionel (or Marx or American Flyer) train running before the winter holidays sneak up. More often than not, that means fixing up the track.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on November 13, 2010
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2010/11/fixing-old-lionel-tubular-track/
Lionel at Target
On Sunday, I went to Target largely because I had a coupon, but I also wanted to get a gift for my son.
I had heard Target was selling Lionel trains, and I’d seen a picture of the endcap, which included a Lionel teddy bear in addition to the trains. I wanted one.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on November 10, 2008
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2008/11/lionel-at-target/
Repainting rusty patio furniture
We have a metal chair and table we keep on the front porch. My mother in law gave them to us a year or two ago. They were a bit rusty but usable. But they’ve started looking a little too rusty lately, so this week I repainted them.
I spent $6 and about an hour doing it. They don’t quite look new, but they look a lot better than $6 would indicate.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on August 14, 2008
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2008/08/repainting-rusty-patio-furniture/
Make something! Fix something!
Clive Thompson: I’m sitting on the floor of my apartment, surrounded by electronic parts… It’ll look awesome when it’s done. If it ever gets done — I keep botching the soldering. A well-soldered joint is supposed to look like a small, shiny volcano. My attempts look like mashed insects, and they crack when I try to assemble the device.
Why am I so inept? I used to do projects like this all the time when I was a kid. But in high school, I was carefully diverted from shop class when the administration decided I was college-bound. I stopped working with my hands and have barely touched a tool since.
I can relate a little too well.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on March 7, 2008
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2008/03/make-something-fix-something/
Fixing erratic Lionel Fastrack
Modern Lionel train sets come with a new, more realistic track called Fastrack with integrated plastic roadbed and lots of ties with simulated wood grain that to many eyes looks better than the traditional three-rail track with just three metal ties per section, and it’s a lot easier to assemble and disassemble.
Unfortunately it’s also a lot more prone to manufacturing defects. If your new Lionel train slows down at some point on the track, or it has trouble tripping your accessories, you’ll have to either return your track, or do a fast and easy DIY repair.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on December 9, 2007
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2007/12/fixing-erratic-lionel-track/
Why your old computer or game system turned yellow
I found an article today telling why plastic cases discolor with age.
Executive summary: It’s the nature of the material it’s made of.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on September 3, 2007
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2007/09/why-your-old-computer-or-game-system-turned-yellow/
Is it OK to sell gifts on eBay?
This is a followup to Friday’s post. I really should let this go, but the journalist in me loves a great story, and this story has lots of twists and turns and weirdness.
I wrote on Friday about several people giving gifts to someone they thought was a disabled Gulf War II veteran who was getting into the hobby. As parts of his story began to fall apart, there was a falling out. For some people, the biggest slap in the face came when the gifts they had sent him showed up on eBay.
Posted by Dave Farquhar on July 16, 2007
http://dfarq.homeip.net/2007/07/is-it-ok-to-sell-gifts-on-ebay/