Author Topic: Caveys ACDC SUPER Custom Train Mods - ACDC Pro - Bigger than Ben Hur.lol  (Read 15702 times)

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Offline Caveoftreasures

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Caveys ACDC SUPER Custom Train Mods - ACDC Pro - Bigger than Ben Hur.lol

AIM
I wanted to make a few Mods for my ACDC Pro, and I wanted something no one else on the planet has done, so I went out n did some research.
I already have the Gibson Guitarrs, the ACDC Drums, the Mirror Lightning Bolts and the Bell Mod, plus the Gold Bell I have customised, but I wanted something that would just blow all that away big time. So after looking at the black train that some people have purchased from the Premium or LE ACDC versions, which is small and costs too much for a piece of plastic, I decided to go all out !

WHAT TO GET
2 x weeks ago, I went to a professional level style hobby trainshop that specialises in real trains n railway track and train locomotives and real passenger cars and all the bits n pieces that the serious train collector would buy to make run around a train set up. This is where I found what I was looking for. The stuff is very expensive, but is top notch quality. After looking thru several cabinets, and going thru a few hundred boxes, I found the special train locomotive I wanted and the passenger cars to go with it. Since STERN PINBALL is in Illinois, I found a locomotive called the Illinois Central Express.  
Then, I found some passenger cars that have Milwaukee on them, again something that was as close to Stern, or something I could relate to Stern so these will do just fine.  I then purchased the proper steel track that the trains run on etc. Note - the locomotive and passenger cars are heavy, made of steel, and actually run, not just for show, good expensive kit. The company who makes this stuff has been building train stuff for over 42 years.
I spent too much, got some extras, but thought why not, you only live once.

WHERE IS IT GOING
On the ACDC Pro version, there is alot of Real Estate area, unused n free in both back corners of the playfield, and space behind the machines backboard.
I have 10 different things I want to do, but this will be the surprise that people will see once I finish the install. I also have proper paints, and some ideas to glam some things up with both silver chrome and gold chrome paints. Everything I do will be removable, and wont be permanent the way I install the railway track, the train locomotive, and the passenger cars.
All designed to be one super dooper custom ACDC train set mod which I reckon will fit in with the playfield and be a striking and visually fun addition.

More later once it is installed.

I have included a few photos, but its only half of the stuff and more to see after the unveiling.
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
"Cave of Treasures" 55 in my collection

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Offline Caveoftreasures

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a few more photos

The passenger train colours will fit well because of the current stock yellow n silver colours etc that will fit well with the ACDC playfield colours.
This is why it took so long to pick the right stuff, because I did not want to repaint anything unless I had to, and keep close to original, real train colours which people would see in the state of Illinois regularly perhaps.
A small colour mod to the locomotive may be in order.  But so many cool options. I will take more photos of all the working parts cause these items are a definite work of art and some serious effort has gone into the designing of this stuff to make it work so well on the tracks once a small voltage is added.

Stay tuned.

Installation is next n photos of that will come when the time is right.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2013, 05:06:55 PM by Caveoftreasures »
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
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Into  Stern -JJP - Cars , Road Bikes- Jet Skis - Star Trek n Sci-Fi & Electronics    
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Offline MrMaloo

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Can't wait to see what you're going to do with that train Brett . Sounds awesome ..  ^^^

Offline Caveoftreasures

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I said company was making this stuff for 42 years, its actually more than that, they have been making this style of train stuff since 1932, which is apx 82 years.

http://www.walthers.com/

they have some very very cool stuff.  this stuff looks like alot of fun and would be a rage to build n play with.
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
"Cave of Treasures" 55 in my collection

Into  Stern -JJP - Cars , Road Bikes- Jet Skis - Star Trek n Sci-Fi & Electronics    
Beware of Stalkers & Walkers when playing The Walking Dead

My 7yr old son Hunter is my best mate in the world !

Offline Cursed

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Sounds great Brett, will be keen to see what you do with this!

Looking forward to the updates.

Offline Caveoftreasures

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Thankyou.
I am just reading their April monthly specials/stock catalogue from Walthers USA, and am realising that we pay say $200 for a item here in Australia thru the railway shops, where if I buy stuff from now on directly via the Walthers internet site, the savings can be up to 90 percent off !  Instead of paying $200 for something, u could be looking at $30 to $40 only !   Wow, will only be buying directly from now on.

For interest, their catalogue below which has got some amazing stuff in it.

http://aws.walthers.com/63019_AprFlyer.pdf

Also, I went for a modern spin on the train/locomotive (rather than the old stle ACDC train), cause I plan on having it all set up to look like a special Illinois STERN train delivery of a massive amount of ACDC pinnys to market. or a massive amount of ACDC pinball parts delivery to the STERN factory depending on how u want to interpret waht you see once the mod is all set up.
I plan on sending Gary Stern and Steve Ritchie some photos when it is done so they can see just how cool some ACDC mods can be done on a larger scale. Because Gary has been around the Illinois Railway all his life, he should relate to it alot, and hopefully some others at Stern will as well.

I will have the Super mods finished by next weekend, and will upload before I am away for bus and out of net range.
« Last Edit: April 14, 2013, 06:03:52 PM by Caveoftreasures »
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
"Cave of Treasures" 55 in my collection

Into  Stern -JJP - Cars , Road Bikes- Jet Skis - Star Trek n Sci-Fi & Electronics    
Beware of Stalkers & Walkers when playing The Walking Dead

My 7yr old son Hunter is my best mate in the world !

Offline coon82

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Although never owning any, I've always been a big fan of the hobby train sets since I was very young. Another expensive hobby as you said Brett, but it's interesting to hear about the massive savings going direct to Walthers. If only the internet was what it is now when I was in my teens....

During my recent trip to Sydney I had a good look at Hobbyco in the Queen Victoria Building. There is so much cool stuff there, including many model trains and all the accessories you can imagine.

Your mods sound interesting,and will add a real personal touch. Looking forward to the photo's  ^^^
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Offline v8racefan

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Looking forward to the train mods Brett,  just remember the engine must have the red ac dc horns  *%*
Pinballs in my collection Elvira, Stern Grand Prix, Bally Corvette, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Judge Dredd, Black Rose and Data East Guns n Roses.

Offline Cursed

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Any updates Brett?

Offline Caveoftreasures

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Just waiting on a few special stickers I need, then I can start with some photos.

Its looking excellent. AND then last night, I woke up with a MAD idea for my X Men Pinball machine, which I should have done within a few days as well.

Will spend my day off tomorrow doing more on ACDC Super Mods. Coming along nicely. Got a few extra things coming from the USA, but they are just little additions to finish it off nicely.

Will have some photos of everything by the weekend coming, and some progress photos within a few days.  ^^^
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
"Cave of Treasures" 55 in my collection

Into  Stern -JJP - Cars , Road Bikes- Jet Skis - Star Trek n Sci-Fi & Electronics    
Beware of Stalkers & Walkers when playing The Walking Dead

My 7yr old son Hunter is my best mate in the world !

Offline Caveoftreasures

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I forgot to update this thread.
When machine comes out of storage soon I can update.
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
"Cave of Treasures" 55 in my collection

Into  Stern -JJP - Cars , Road Bikes- Jet Skis - Star Trek n Sci-Fi & Electronics    
Beware of Stalkers & Walkers when playing The Walking Dead

My 7yr old son Hunter is my best mate in the world !

Offline pinsanity

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One year on from soon to be released from storage and close to three years on from the thread itself being posted.

Packages of train carriages and tracks are great to look at, but any photos or updates of this actually materialising.  @@*

Offline Caveoftreasures

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Machine is in storage. Sometimes some personal changes in life take a lot longer than you first plan on.

Gee mate, you certainly do have a lot of time on your hands and must have a very unusual fascination with me if u are trolling thru 3 years or more of my posts.

Would you kindly and simply just leave me alone.

I will update the thread when the machine is out of storage.
I didn't spend all that $ on the stuff I took photos of above for no reason. It was to customise the ACDC Pro and to make it very unique. I think the train stuff has done that.
Train mods on ACDC are popular and look good.

« Last Edit: March 18, 2016, 02:18:19 AM by Caveoftreasures »
Behind every garage door could be a pinball collectors
"Cave of Treasures" 55 in my collection

Into  Stern -JJP - Cars , Road Bikes- Jet Skis - Star Trek n Sci-Fi & Electronics    
Beware of Stalkers & Walkers when playing The Walking Dead

My 7yr old son Hunter is my best mate in the world !