Hi All

I am thinking of picking up a HO brass B&M R-1-d what I would like too

know which is the better model,,,the AHM or the Gem model???

Which one of these,,,run's the best,,,those of you that have one of these

model's would you please reply...Pat

Pat,
I think you have to take a chance on any brass locomotive done in the 60s and 70s. I have the Gem version of the R1d that I purchased on E-bay. The price was very low as there was a lot wrong with it. But with a new motor, lots of adjustments, a sound system, a DCC set up and a paint job to cry for, I have a beautiful engine that runs like a deer. I wouldn't pass this up as the R1d is hard to find and, as you can imagine, is very popular so don't wait!
Jim Lethbridge
P.S. If you plan to run it you'll probably have to have 24 inch radius curves.

I have 2 of the GEM Models B&M R-1d's. They both run fairly well considering that they were made in 1970, the same year I was born. I currently have 1 out to a hobby store in Ma to have it re-motored (they all have open frame motor's in them)with a new Can motor, repainted, DCC converted with a Tsunami decoder, and I'm also having LED's installed for head and tail lights. Once i get the first one back, the second will get the same treatment.

From what I understand (and this is only hearsay at best) the AHM models were rejects from the GEM line that were "reworked" and sold. I have no idea if this is true or not, it's just what I've been told.

James, could you either post a few pictures, or email me a few pictures of how your R-1d came out. I'd love to see it and get an idea of how mine may look here in a few weeks.

Michael

I have some notes on what I did to my AHM R-1d on my website:

http://www.faracresfarm.com/jbvb/rr/bmrr/steam.html#Models

It ran pretty well from the late '70s till the original gearbox
got too sloppy in the late '90s. Presently in the dead line
awaiting a round-tuit and some NWSL parts.

jbvb