You can buy direct from Bullfrog Snot, you can either click on their ad or use this link:

http://www.bullfrogsnot.com/

John
Ztrains

Thanks
Walter in Ottawa ,Canada

Dario

RESULT: I have had these little Z scale steamers pulling 20 freight cars with the BullFrog Snot applied. I use it on all my Z scale locomotives. I don’t like any Marklin Z scale trains at all because the big Z couplers look to fake.

The Marklin 81418 is probably one of my favorite Marklin locos, a beautiful model. Although the model is an electric with pantographs, the heart of this model is a steam loco mechanism and steamers can be a bit finicky. Worth the effort, but they are typically a little more work.

Having sat for several years I would err on the side of safety and clean it before running, I’d assume that there is a bit of HOS happening here. If you want to test it just a bit, you can put the locos on the track and apply a little power, just for a moment. If it runs, great. If it lurches a bit, then runs… not too bad. If it doesn’t move at all… it’s likely going to need a good cleaning to get the hardened oil out of there.

Really many, if not most, Marklin locos are prone to HOS and it’s just a good idea to get them cleaned regularly by yourself or an outside shop. Once they’re taken apart and all traces of the old Marklin oil are removed, they can be lubed up with a good oil, such as Labelle #108. The Labelle oil is synthetic, not petroleum based and therefore less likely to dry out and become sticky over time.

Of course since your layout hasn’t been used in years, don’t forget to clean the tracks thoroughly before testing any trains.

John Cubbin
Ztrains.com

I just read about steam engines and hardened oil syndrome on your site. I have a Z layout, nearly finished about 6 years ago, and then had to stop. I am now finishing it.

I have an 81418 Mini-Club that has never been run, still in the box and another electric from a freight starter kit that has only been run a few minutes, years ago. Seems I should clean and re-oil these before using. Are these devices prone to HOS?

Regards,
Scott

Right now, as John made reference to, “going under the hood” is a must if you run steam by Marklin. Don’t be daunted, they are very robust and you will learn so much by just doing it. Proper cleaning and lubrication is a must!

Even the old MTL moguls are using Marklin mechanisms. I must add, the use of Gaugemasters and a good speed controller like the Jorger or Snail Speed Controller is a must to get those locomotives to run slow and steady.

I do not own any Tenshodo steam because I just don’t like the look of steam that is not NA. Everything I have heard is positive though. I will say if I had not had a pay freeze I’d own one just to tinker. However, with times tight, I will wait for AZL.

Sum of the whole. Z steam, when running well, is a sight to behold. However, it takes work and some research for sure. Quite frankly if not for the MT moguls, I might not have even entered Z scale and I would have stayed in N completely (heck they have just about everything now).

I think when AZL gets that Mikado out, it will be a watershed mark like the Kato Mikado was in N scale. Why we do not have NA steam with Kato style tender pickups is a mystery to me. Model RR in Z needs steam. More importantly good running steam.

I’m glad we could be of service to you today. There’s a good amount to be learned in Z, especially if you move towards things like DCC, very exciting stuff! As I always suggest with new Z scalers, start small and get a feel for the equipment and most important… enjoy the process!

John
Ztrains

Cheers
Mike
Prince George B.C. Canada