Recent content by BrownMouse

I just bought a 1954 model railroader in pretty good condition (not quite mint, had a somewhat torn page, but quite readable) for $3.50.

Ray, could you describe how you made those link and pin couplers? Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread, but it seemed like a good idea to ask out here, instead of a private message, in case someone else was interested. Thanks, Elnathan

Actually, I was just having some fun, it wasn't really meant to be a serious question... Mountain Man, Interesting idea. Also think about what might have happened if 5' or 5'6" had been adopted? My point (as much as there was one) was that prior to 1870 or so 4'8 1/2" was the narrow gauge. If...

Around 1861, about 53% percent of the railroads in the US used 4' 8 1/2" guage, the others using 4'9', 4'10", 5' (21%, and popular in the south), 5'6", and 6'. So, for example, if I model 4' 8 1/2" southern railroad during the 1855-65 period, am I a narrow gauger? Just askin...:mrgreen:

If you are going to use wood, use bass wood or a harder wood. balsa is very difficult to cut cleanly, IIRC. It has been awhile since I have used it.

Thank you all. The problem is that the motor is likely to be in the tender too (since the 1850's locos are so small), but I guess I can manage an N sized decoder if necessary. IIRC, the motor I am planning to mount draws .5 amp at stall, so I should be fine... Elnathan

Yes, I should have mentioned the Mantua/Tyco general. However, it is pretty oversized, I believe, and the later ones have solid drivers with faux spokes. Don't know about the others.

Ok, here is a silly one. How big are decoders? I am planning to scratchbuild a 4-4-0 American, and would like to leave the option of fitting a DCC decoder at some future date open, but I have not been able to find out the answer to that rather basic question. Thanks, Elnathan

Hi, While glad to see to see that there is someone else out there who likes CW-era trains, I have some bad news - There is practically nothing out there. the only 4-4-0s made in N are the Bachmann models of the Jupiter and 119. The Jupiter is probably your best bet. Bear in mind though, that the...

I don't really run anything, but my two locomotives are both 1860-70 4-4-0s, and I'm planning on building a third. Current pipe-dream layout is a struggling Reconstruction-era road using a mix of older, pre-war equipment and a few "modern" pieces, loosely based on the Western North Carolina...

Jim, a PM has been sent.

Just the plans. MR ran a series from October '97 to April '98 on scratchbuilding a ten-wheeler that I am going to use for basic directions. Of course, if you know of any articles dealing specifically with building 4-4-0s, or any early locomotives, I'd be glad to hear of them, but I think I am...

Thanks again, hminky. I am sorry about taking so long to reply. I had actually looked through that book at the hobby shop back when I was mainly concerned with finding the Model Railroader issues that dealt with the scratchbuilding of a tenwheeler, and vaguely remembered that it was lacking in...

I don't know if this is the proper forum for this, but I can't think of a better one... Having located a source for spoked drivers as well as other useful stuff in the form of Alan Gibson (Thanks, hminky), I now have run into another problem- plans! I am having trouble locating good drawings...

Well, thank you all. I think I will go with Alan Gibson's wheels.