N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: brbluewill on January 11, 2012, 11:32:18 PM

Title: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: brbluewill on January 11, 2012, 11:32:18 PM
personally i like the look of the track cleaner it might make the job a lot quicker :thumbsup:

Tidy Track Rail & Wheel Maintenance System - Model Railroad | Woodland Scenics® (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiH6qg6ruSw#ws)
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Fratton on January 12, 2012, 09:33:28 AM
Some very good products there sounds like they've been listening hard to what there customers want, because i have thought i need a better way to clean my track, and i need a loco wheel cleaner and the rail painter pen is too late for me but looks a fantastic idea,,,,

i looked here a minute ago  http://www.nscalesupply.com/Wsc/WSC-TT.html (http://www.nscalesupply.com/Wsc/WSC-TT.html)

there are packs of alternative heads, im not sure how the track grinding pads will be recieved but again im sure theres for and against camps, i have to say i can feel my wallet wincing already!!!!!
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on January 12, 2012, 12:54:04 PM
I have to say they look the dog's doo-dahs but the main box shifters don't list them yet. When they do appear at Rails, Hattons etc I will be in the queue and would pass on any review of such
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Bikeracer on January 12, 2012, 04:20:49 PM
I've got one of those wheel cleaning tracks and realised the other day that for a tender drive loco the loco wheels don't get cleaned and I hope I haven't damaged the traction tyres on the tender on my Peco Collet because I only realised afterwards what was happening.

Next time I'll have to look at taking the tender body off and removing the tyres first.

Wonder what happens when that push round track cleaner gets to a set of points ?

Allan
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on January 12, 2012, 05:36:47 PM
Quote from: Bikeracer on January 12, 2012, 04:20:49 PM

Wonder what happens when that push round track cleaner gets to a set of points ?

Allan

Especially if there is a slight code 55/code 80 mismatch :o
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: painbrook on January 12, 2012, 05:43:45 PM
For me it will all come down to the cost, some of those items can be made and some are already available from the likes Gaugemaster etc, thinking of which they sell Woodlands scenics items, so maybe they may know the cost. Cheers john.
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: brbluewill on January 12, 2012, 05:54:32 PM
Quote from: Bikeracer on January 12, 2012, 04:20:49 PM
I've got one of those wheel cleaning tracks and realised the other day that for a tender drive loco the loco wheels don't get cleaned and I hope I haven't damaged the traction tyres on the tender on my Peco Collet because I only realised afterwards what was happening.

Next time I'll have to look at taking the tender body off and removing the tyres first.

Wonder what happens when that push round track cleaner gets to a set of points ?

Allan

that was what i was thinking.i noticed on the video they never done a point which led me to think it might not.but i'm still buying one ;D ;D
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Calnefoxile on January 12, 2012, 06:08:28 PM
The track cleaner looks interesting, but the NGS's very own Richard Bardsley produces something very similar and much much cheaper.

http://www.mill-lane-sidings.co.uk/mlstrackmop.html (http://www.mill-lane-sidings.co.uk/mlstrackmop.html)

I don't have one yet myself, but must admit I keep meaning to get one.

Regards

Neal.
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: EtchedPixels on January 12, 2012, 09:27:05 PM
Quote from: Calnefoxile on January 12, 2012, 06:08:28 PM
The track cleaner looks interesting, but the NGS's very own Richard Bardsley produces something very similar and much much cheaper.

http://www.mill-lane-sidings.co.uk/mlstrackmop.html (http://www.mill-lane-sidings.co.uk/mlstrackmop.html)

I don't have one yet myself, but must admit I keep meaning to get one.

Regards

Neal.

Want one. I have one here which you are welcome to for the postage. I found the track tended to tear up the cloth  on things like easitrac which has fine sharp ends.

Alan


Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on January 18, 2012, 08:17:54 PM
I have it on good authority from my local model shop (Transport Models Preston) the new track stuff from Woodland Scenics is due to be shipped in February so they may be available in March
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Buffin on January 18, 2012, 11:49:07 PM
That's a very similar design to this wheel cleaner

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheel-Polish-Cleaner-N-scale-motorized-trains-/200665278343?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2eb8952787 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheel-Polish-Cleaner-N-scale-motorized-trains-/200665278343?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2eb8952787)

OK their instructions are in Japanese, but the youtube video is self-explanatory

津川洋行 ホイルクリーナー ソフト君 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlEl_IszIfk#ws)

Or you can get it for almost twice the price from Gaugemaster, who will doubtless provide a leaflet in English!
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: OwL on January 19, 2012, 07:14:17 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on January 18, 2012, 08:17:54 PM
I have it on good authority from my local model shop (Transport Models Preston) the new track stuff from Woodland Scenics is due to be shipped in February so they may be available in March

After watching the video, I must say im very impressed. Did your contact at TMP give any indications of price in GBP £?
Cheers Mate,
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: brbluewill on January 19, 2012, 07:24:32 PM
i think the track cleaning kit is around £20 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: OwL on January 19, 2012, 07:59:21 PM
Quote from: gwrwill on January 19, 2012, 07:24:32 PM
i think the track cleaning kit is around £20 :thumbsup:

Thank you :thumbsup:
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Fratton on January 19, 2012, 08:28:02 PM
For £20 I think I will definately buy one,,,, the gaugemaster and that othe whel cleaner differ from the woodland scenics one, they both have abrasive metal brushes where as the woodland scenics is non abrasive and in the absence of power conducting brushes power is applied to the back of the wheels in the centre,,,,
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: upnick on January 19, 2012, 08:59:02 PM
The wheel cleaner there in the video   Poliss  posted the link for them  from Plaza Japan a while ago 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheel-Polish-Cleaner-N-scale-motorized-trains-/200665278343?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2eb8952787 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheel-Polish-Cleaner-N-scale-motorized-trains-/200665278343?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item2eb8952787)

Same item as Gaugemaster  although cheaper  &   possibly quicker arriving with you  highly reccomend Plaza Japan's service  ;D   i   have one of the cleaners & they are superb  can be used on  DC  or DCC 
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on January 19, 2012, 09:33:38 PM
Quote from: owl729 on January 19, 2012, 07:14:17 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on January 18, 2012, 08:17:54 PM
I have it on good authority from my local model shop (Transport Models Preston) the new track stuff from Woodland Scenics is due to be shipped in February so they may be available in March

After watching the video, I must say im very impressed. Did your contact at TMP give any indications of price in GBP £?
Cheers Mate,

Sorry, Owl. Mark at TMP didn't have the prices but he will be getting some. Drifting off topic a bit, I like to support my 'local' especially as they donated to the raffle, but I needed some code 55 electro points and TMP were £2.50 per point more than Rails. Loyalty will only stretch so far :(
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Pengi on January 28, 2012, 11:17:07 AM
Have just received the wheel cleaner from Plaza Japan. Watched the video and noticed they are using cotton buds? Are these soaked in anything and does the track require any cleaning solutions? Sorry if this question is dense, have never had a wheel cleaner before and the instructions are in Japanese
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Buffin on January 28, 2012, 11:24:59 AM
The video shows the cotton bud being pressed against the cleaning strips too. There wouldn't be any point in that if it hadn't been soaked in cleaning fluid. So I did - for the strips and the wheels.
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Pengi on January 28, 2012, 11:30:01 AM
What do you use a cleaning fluid? Do you put the fluid over all of the cleaning strips?
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Buffin on January 30, 2012, 08:41:05 PM
I don't claim any special knowledge of cleaning fluids. As it happens I use isopropyl alcohol after reading a magazine article a while back. Doubtless there will be plenty of other ideas.

As it also happens, I'm using my cleaner to run in a loco at the moment. Not quite the same as running it round a huge continuous circuit, but I'm just leaving it to run on the cleaner for a while and it's the equivalent of a lot of trips between terminus and fiddle yard.
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Bikeracer on January 30, 2012, 09:41:50 PM
I wonder what the effect is on the rubber traction tyres on tender drives.

I've got one of those cleaners from Plaza and as far as I can see they're okay for diesels and loco drives,but for tender drive I'm not sure of the situation, and how do you clean the engine wheels apart from using a cotton bud or something soaked in IPA.

Allan
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Buffin on January 30, 2012, 09:56:21 PM
I put IPA on the wheels and the strips as the video shows, and then let it run against the end, so all the wheels come into contact with the IPA and the wheels get a bit of a polish. I assume from the video that that's the idea, anyway.

I haven't got anything with a tender drive, sorry :)
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: OwL on March 01, 2012, 09:56:08 PM
Just spotted this on Bachmann website. They have announced today that this has been released in UK:

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/ (http://www.bachmann.co.uk/)
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on March 02, 2012, 08:30:56 AM
Thanks for that, Dave. :thumbsup:
As soon as they appear at the major shifters I'll be in the queue.
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Bikeracer on March 02, 2012, 12:22:25 PM
Think this'll be my choice...
http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=320 (http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=320)

Allan
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Jack on March 02, 2012, 06:42:22 PM
Quote from: Bikeracer on March 02, 2012, 12:22:25 PM
Think this'll be my choice...
http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=320 (http://www.dccsupplies.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=320)

Allan

It's a wide heavy lump of brass. I hope you've got a strong loco to pull/push it, my Dapol 58 struggled, I used a Farish Diesel in the end. If you've got platforms, they don't like them either, the clips on the cleaning pad make the CMX very wide so as to catch your platform. I don't think the CMX is very keen on Peco Code 80 either, the cloth pads have a tendency to catch on the frogs of point work.

I use to think they were the bees knees for track cleaning when I first ordered mine. I've gone back to MK1 track rubber and elbow grease with occasional use of a lint free cloth with Isopropyl Alcohol on it.

Jack

Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Bikeracer on March 02, 2012, 09:38:10 PM
Thanks Jack for that info,it's stopped me making an expensive mistake......back to I.P.A. and an old handkerchief for me then.

Allan
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: bbdave on March 02, 2012, 09:46:27 PM
I just use a piece of pine block soaked with I.A. and my track rubber it keeps my track fine

Dave
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: OwL on April 05, 2012, 09:03:06 PM
Has any body seen the tidy track in any stores in the UK yet? Im very eager to get one. A review by anyone lucky to have one would be more than welcome? :wave:
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on April 05, 2012, 10:23:40 PM
Quote from: OwL729 on April 05, 2012, 09:03:06 PM
Has any body seen the tidy track in any stores in the UK yet? Im very eager to get one. A review by anyone lucky to have one would be more than welcome? :wave:

They're not in the country yet I believe, Dave. Osbournes have them as pre-order and they are listed on the Hattons e pages. Hattons are the cheapest so far. I have been saving my pennies (and 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p's) to buy the entire range
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: davieb on April 20, 2012, 04:06:39 PM
hi all  :wave:

just to let you all know (if you didn't already) that the woodland scenics track and wheel cleaning items are now
available in the shops  :thumbsup:

i have picked up one of the wheel cleaners from my local shop and will try it later and post a bit of a review if i get chance

dave  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: brbluewill on April 20, 2012, 05:14:36 PM
Quote from: davieb on April 20, 2012, 04:06:39 PM
hi all  :wave:

just to let you all know (if you didn't already) that the woodland scenics track and wheel cleaning items are now
available in the shops  :thumbsup:

i have picked up one of the wheel cleaners from my local shop and will try it later and post a bit of a review if i get chance

dave  :thumbsup:

where?? i cant find the track cleaner anywhere
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: davieb on April 20, 2012, 05:39:33 PM
i picked up mine today at Transport Models in preston

they had a display of the full range of track and wheel cleaning products

dave  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: brbluewill on April 20, 2012, 06:33:53 PM
Quote from: davieb on April 20, 2012, 05:39:33 PM
i picked up mine today at Transport Models in preston

they had a display of the full range of track and wheel cleaning products

dave  :thumbsup:

cheers davie just ordered the track cleaning kit :thumbsup: thanks for your help ;)
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on April 20, 2012, 08:46:50 PM
I have 10 items from the Tidy Track system on pre order with Hattons so hopefully I'll get 'em soon
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Pete Mc on April 21, 2012, 01:05:40 AM
Bloomin heck Mick,how much is all that lot gonna cost?

I'm thinking of using a piece of 2x1 and a strip of artificial chamoix leather along with a dribble of ipa when I can get hold of some.
I'm also gonna get a second Peco wheel cleaning kit and glue em together so I can just put the cleaning bristle bit on the track and push the loco onto it.
Saw this in the latest issue of Model Rail.

Pete
:Class37: :NGaugersRule:
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: Newportnobby on April 21, 2012, 02:04:42 PM
Quote from: Pete Mc on April 21, 2012, 01:05:40 AM
Bloomin heck Mick,how much is all that lot gonna cost?


Pete
:Class37: :NGaugersRule:

All in the interest of doing a review for the NGF of course ;D
Title: Re: new loco and track cleaner
Post by: anselm on July 04, 2012, 11:34:46 AM
Quote from: newportnobby on April 20, 2012, 08:46:50 PM
I have 10 items from the Tidy Track system on pre order with Hattons so hopefully I'll get 'em soon

Have you tried the Tidy Track system and what do you think of it?  I'm thinking of buying the kit but would like to see a review before splashing out!

Thanks

Ian