I can’t stand the plastic stiff hose that comes with the Bachmann Climax and Shay. Any suggestions on what to use to create something more realistic?
Thanks
Hmm…define realistic… 
Wouldn’t know… Never seen one…
However, the plastic tubing that comes with the loco’s is hard to work with. Perhaps I am smoking crack?
Well, far be it for me to change some one’s smoking habits… I suspect this guy thinks it’s too hard to work with as well…
Now…I’m not sure what you’re trying to do with it…but I will agree that it is difficult to work with. And, I’ve only seen the modern version…not sure what the 1920’s version might have looked like. So…I painted mine tan…
but I NOW suspect it was something rubber coated and probably black… for all I know, that is the old fashioned one he’s hooking up to the Heisler…
I don’t have a geared locomotive, but if you are looking for something to replace the plastic “hose” with, why not get some black fuel line hose from the local auto parts store.
Timmy,
Look in the shoelace section at a Big Box. More than likely the round ones for hiking shoes should be about right. 
PS If you want to shape them: cut to length them thread a small solid wire all the way through, that should work a charm.
how about an old style airbrush hose?
Victor Smith said:Strictly speaking, the water hose used by geared locos is totally different to a fire-hose.
how about an old style airbrush hose?
The fire hose is made to contain water under pressure, but the loco hose, operating by a steam-induced vacuum, has to resist collapsing, rather than pressure.
As such, it was often reinforced with heavy-duty spirall-wound wire, giving it a peculiar spiral appearance like candy twist. this is why the hose was carried laid out in a straight line rather than being coiled up like a flat fire-hose.
The modern hose you see being handled by the fireman in the image is externally wire-braced but within the outer covering, giving it a smooth appearance - this is technology that would not have been available to the original makers of the hose. You’ll notice that it is a PITA to handle, a bit like a python with rigor mortis.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Terry A de C Foley said:Victor Smith said:Strictly speaking, the water hose used by geared locos is totally different to a fire-hose.
how about an old style airbrush hose?The fire hose is made to contain water under pressure, but the loco hose, operating by a steam-induced vacuum, has to resist collapsing, rather than pressure.
As such, it was often reinforced with heavy-duty spirall-wound wire, giving it a peculiar spiral appearance like candy twist. this is why the hose was carried laid out in a straight line rather than being coiled up like a flat fire-hose.
The modern hose you see being handled by the fireman in the image is externally wire-braced but within the outer covering, giving it a smooth appearance - this is technology that would not have been available to the original makers of the hose. You’ll notice that it is a PITA to handle, a bit like a python with rigor mortis.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Tac
I dont know quite how you got “firehose” from “airbrush” hose but nonetheless I wasnt referring to a “modern” coiled airbrush hose, but the older more rigid “bicycle pump” type braided hoses. They look dead on like the type of hose you described. I have an old Pasche hose and in a back issue of GR someone used the same old style airbrush hose affixed to a Bmann Shay, it looked spot on.
like this:
http://airbrush-outlet.stores.yahoo.net/6airbrushhose.html
When painted black and using the smaller threaded end it makes an effective looking water hose.
A drip irrigation hose.
A piece of shrink tubing.
OK guys…thats NOT a hose on a geared loco its a HARD SUCTION LINE. IT has to be hard and stiff to siphon water because the siphon is steam powered like an injector, the engineer kicks boiler steam through the siphon that creates a vacuum that sucks water up trough the hard suction pipe. They have to be that way or it won;t work. the same type of stuff is on most modern fire engines for the same reason. A soft hose would collapse, in the casre, Bachmann has it right…just paint it a flat black…
So that is where that thing goes! Who’da thunk?
SteveF
Victor Smith said:
Tac...I dont know quite how you got "firehose" from "airbrush" hose but nonetheless I wasnt referring to a "modern" coiled airbrush hose, but the older more rigid "bicycle pump" type braided hoses. They look dead on like the type of hose you described. I have an old Pasche hose and in a back issue of GR someone used the same old style airbrush hose affixed to a Bmann Shay, it looked spot on.like this:
http://airbrush-outlet.stores.yahoo.net/6airbrushhose.html
When painted black and using the smaller threaded end it makes an effective looking water hose.
Ahah! NOW I see what you meant! Thanks for the explanation. You are perfectly correct. I have three air-brushes, and they are ALL smooth-tube Paasche models.
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
Bart Salmons said:Yus, that's just about the same as I said, a couple of posts up top of the page....
OK guys......thats NOT a hose on a geared loco its a HARD SUCTION LINE. IT has to be hard and stiff to siphon water because the siphon is steam powered like an injector, the engineer kicks boiler steam through the siphon that creates a vacuum that sucks water up trough the hard suction pipe. They have to be that way or it won;t work. the same type of stuff is on most modern fire engines for the same reason. A soft hose would collapse, in the casre, Bachmann has it right...just paint it a flat black.....
tac
Ottawa Valley GRS
So…I wasn’t happy with my tan hose…and maybe too plain? What if it looked as if it were wrapped in wire?
Bruce Chandler said:
So…I wasn’t happy with my tan hose…and maybe too plain? What if it looked as if it were wrapped in wire?
Looks pretty good. tac Ottawa Valley GRS
Must have been a really quick stop to have nearly torn the sand dome off, headlight must have not been bolted on tight enough. Pretty fancy having markers on a Shay, or maybe your usings markers as headlights ?
Bruce,
I like the hose. What did you use? I’ve been looking and thinking to no avail. If I do much more thinking, I’ll need someone standing by with a fire extingusher!!! Thanks for sharing and for all of the inspiration you provide us.
Mario,
Awhile back, I had ordered some springs from McMaster-Carr. (What a neat place!) I use them as part of the mounting for the trucks on my rolling stock. I use about 3/4" per car…and the package was 5 pieces of 11" springs.
So, I was looking at this hose and decided to try the spring. It’s a bit too wide, but it’s hard to tell. If I were ordering one, I’d get one with thinner wire and closer in diameter to the hose. This one is .18" OD and .025" wire. Not sure what the ID is.
Anyway, I think I’ll leave it as is. It does make the hose easier to deal with…it just lays right in place.
Gary,
Ha! I never even noticed that dome. I’d guess you’d call me non-observant…or even clueless. It’s fixed now! Yeah…those marker lamps. The Shay was bought used with marker lamps on all corners. Hardly necessary, and in fact I ended up cutting the rear ones off as one had broken off and was just dangling there, with no good way to get a secure attachment. Snip!
Gary, Fixed!
…and now she can haul some cars!
