Lionel Train Forum - Lionel Trains




Author Topic: Custom MU Hoses for F-Units  (Read 2414 times)

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile

  • Total Badges: 11
    Badges: (View All)
    Level 3 Combination Level 2
Custom MU Hoses for F-Units
« on: September 22, 2013, 09:42:07 am »
Hello again!

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions or ides for creating custom MU hoses and other detailing for Lionel Santa Fe F-Unit Diesels. Particularly, FT Diesels?

I am wanting to start adding more detailing myself to make them more prototypical.

Also, any ideas on adding windshield wipers.

Thanks

(PS- I do have to floquil railroad paints for ATSF Red and Silver where I am going to do some additional painting for extra detail such as the gauges on the gas tanks)

Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook


  • Toy Train Infidel
  • Global Moderator
  • *****
  • Posts: 483
  • A Child at Heart, Still Plays with Trains.
  • Location: Couch Mt, overlooking scenic Lone Star, Tx.
    • View Profile
  • Scale(s) Modeled: G-1:22.5 & 1:24, Standard Gauge,  O/O-27, Wind Up, S scale & N scale.

  • Total Badges: 33
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 6
Re: Custom MU Hoses for F-Units
« Reply #1 on: September 23, 2013, 09:52:53 pm »
Saturnmist09,

Here's what I came up with for the MU hoses:
For the hoses themselves, take a piece of solid core wire with a black covering, cut it slightly longer than you want the hose to be.
Strip one end 1/16" or so then bend the stipped wire at a 90 degree angle.
Strip the other end 1/8", then cut the covering 1/16 and slide it up on the stripped almost to the end, leaving a small piece of the stripped wire exposed, say 1/32 " or so.
Take some brass paint and paint that end, to simulate a glad hand.
Take an appropriately sized piece(s) of plastic/styrene cut into a rectangle & drill holes the same size as the stripped wire, paint it the  color you want it, then glue the other end of the wire that you made the 90 degree bend into the holes.
Glue the whole thing to your locomotive.  If you want to simulate bolts, an escutcheon pin or track pin can be cut to the right length, holes drilled into the rectangle of plastic/styrene near the ends and glue them in place., then painted.
OR
You can purchase an MU set, I believe they're available from MTH and mount them.

Hope this helps.
Dave

« Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 02:55:05 pm by djacobsen »
Railroad Crossings: Mother Natures way of thinning the gene pool.

  • New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4
    • View Profile

  • Total Badges: 11
    Badges: (View All)
    Level 3 Combination Level 2
Re: Custom MU Hoses for F-Units
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2013, 11:19:24 pm »
Thank you! Great ideas. Also, any on windshield wipers that I can place over the molded in clear plastic one's? My goal is to get a premiere line set of f-units until I can purchase a true set of Lionel Legacy or MTH Premiere line Santa Fe Warbonnet A-B-A F Unit Diesels.

 

Member Photos

Recent Threads

Reassemble of a Lionel 313 Bascule Bridge by WestPAKid
March 02, 2026, 06:37:34 pm

Re: Horn Operation in Santa Fe diesel?? by mtnman1
February 08, 2026, 11:12:59 pm

Re: Horn Operation in Santa Fe diesel?? by mtnman1
February 08, 2026, 11:08:53 pm

1972 Lionel 6-8111 DT&I Repair and Modification by Gary M
February 07, 2026, 09:19:20 am

Lionel in England by John Bull
January 31, 2026, 05:50:09 pm

Menu


Donate to LTF Here

Lionel Trains

Lionel Train Forum - Model Train Forum

©2012-2023  LionelTrainForum.com