Simple Upgrades for Older Brass By Bruce A. Knapp Common Problem Check List 1. Motor [noisy, dead segment, etc.] 2. Bear Box {worn gears, worn bearings, etc.] 3. Transmission Tube [broken, loose, etc.] 4. Valve Gear [burs, clearance, etc.] 5. Basic mechanism [out-of-quarter, out-of-alignment] 6. Mechanism Lateral Play/Wheels out-of-gauge 7. Locomotive Weight and Balance 8. Lead and Trailing Trucks [clearance, springing, etc.] 9. Tender [weight, trucks, etc.] 10. Draw-bar [height, “finger”, etc.] Recommended Basic Tools: Miniature Screw Drivers Miniature Nut Drivers Modeler’s Knife w/asst. Blades Needle Nose Pliers Miniature Files 25-35 Watt Soldering Iron Forceps Asst. Tweezers Dremel [or similar] Rotary Tool Precision Mini Mallet [Brass Head] Optivisor [or similar] Magnifier #61 through 80 drill bits Asst. #41 through 60 drill bits Pin Vise Scale Ruler Jeweler’s Saw Zuron [or similar] micro shear NMRA Standards Gauge A screw starter/gripper [I like Walthers} Miniature Machinist’s Vise Modeler’s Saw and Miter Box Miniature Wire Strippers Small Pane of Glass For More Advanced Work: NWSL Gear Puller NWSL Quarterer NWSL Gear Alignment Jigs NWSL Sensi-Press Miniature Anvil Brass Clinic P.2 For More Advanced Work [cont.] Micrometer Dremel Drill Press [for your rotary tool] A Resistance Soldering Unit An Electronic Multi-Meter Optional: A 5 lb. Sledge Hammer A Book of Ancient Mayan Curses Ear Plugs for your family Industrial Strength Valium Supplies: Asst. LaBelle Lubricants Denatured Alcohol [for cleaning, not consumption] Rosin Core Solder Non-acid Flux TV Tuner Contact Cleaner Pacer Railzip Silicone Rubber Sealant 5 Minute Epoxy Asst. Varieties of “Super Glue” Model Airplane Fuel Line Asst. Screws [including metric] Asst. Nuts [including metric] Reference Materials: Northwest Short Line Full Line Catalog Walthers Catalog Bowser Repair and Parts Manual Suppliers: Your Local Hobby Shop Northwest Short Line A-line/Protopower West Balls of Brass Wiseman Model Services Greenway Products Micro-Locomotion.