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All of the missing pieces are pretty common and can be found at trainshows focused on HO and N scales cheap by buying the pieces individually or canibalizing junkers. Otherwise you can spend more than what the set is worth. The only Bachman worth buying is Spectrum steam. Spectrum diesels are...

I have a Bachman Plus F7 set and it is like you say. A noisy amperage hog but no stalling or jerking. It draws enough amperage to burn crud off the track so I give them a few laps when I begin an operating session..LOL..... After several minutes of running, the aroma of hot grease brings back...

I like it.

jsoflo, I agree that Kato engines are generally easier to convert to DCC than Atlas but it's really a mixed bag and depends on the engine I think. There are no retro-fit boards yet for the new SD-40-2's and modifications need to be made. The Kato mikado is like a chineese jigsaw puzzel getting...

Nice work. Backdrops make a significant difference in the feel of a layout.

The difference between "DCC ready" and "DCC compatible" is DCC ready engines have a provision for a DCC board with electrical contacts where you just pop it in. In the case of newer Atlas engines, they usually come with an electronic board that controls the headlights and this board is replaced...

Wish I could help. I have Kato standard SD-40's and they work fine on 9 3/4" radius Life Like Power Lock track and switches. I was shocked the other day to see my Intermountain tunnel motors work as well on this track....double headed and through the switches.

My druthers would be to make up an adapter car or two with a Rapido coupler on one end and a knuckle coupler on the other. This isn't difficult to do if you can find a 1990's Atlas car equipped with Rapidos. replace one Rapido truck set with an Atlas accumate truck set.

Kato makes in most cases the smoothest, most reliable diesels with superior electrical pick up. They seem to run for ever with the least maintenance compared to others. The couplers are mediocre and break easily under heavy load or when lashing diesels. I've replaced them with Micro Trains...

I like it and the operation is well thought out. They only thing I would change is to cut down the number of spurs in the yard. It's too crowded in my opinion and will make making up trains tedeous. It also imbalances a good track to scenery ratio. The length of a spur should have at least 8"...

I used hot melt glue to secure Life Like Power lock track on my 2 x 4 portable layout and it works fine. The track prys up easily and the glue peels off easily allowing you to change things without making a mess or ruining the track. The Wallmart craft section sells a mini gun for $1.99 and a...

Looks like Bman EZ track which I'm not familiar with. If it's like Kato, the switches are "power routing" explaining the lock ups when you change switch positions. The feeders to the inside loop look to be on the straight leg of the switch cutting power to the outside loop when switched...

I got started with a Life Like Yardmaster set for $60. It's headed by a smooth running well detailed switcher followed by cheapy cars and power pack. The power pack and cars work fine, just not as good as the quality stuff. It comes with roadbed track that locks together and stays together. The...

I will believe it's your first N scale layout but have trouble believing it's your first layout. Very nice work and looks like something I want to accomplish in N scale. Someone else asked this too. Is that Kato Unitrack?

For transporting cups of hot cocoa, a three rail O gauge train work best for that. You'll need to find a hot cocoa machine with a spout that loads the cup. Coffee shops are a good start to find one. If you want to mess with N scale, I suggest a Kato K-1 Unitrack loop, a Kato F3 diesel and an...

You will spend twice as much as you anticipate and wake up the next morning with buyer's remorse which will soon vanish. Then you go out and do it all over again. Train stores that are well stocked with N scale are a big rush and you can't stop making trips there. I want to caution you about...

An Atlas maintenance kit that includes grease, oil, and lubricating contact cleaner is a good investment along with a tube of MASS metal polish to clean wheel wiper strips. I tear down my engines and using a track eraser, scrub all the metal contact parts with these cleaners. I scrub gears and...

Nice plan. Widening it 6" on each side made a world of difference. Now if you can just add an additional inch to each side to give the track some land where it meets the edges. A 32" x 80" hollow core door slab cut down to 56" long would make a great layout base because it would be light and...

Bachmann makes a depressed center flat car with a missle. I have one and it is sharp. You could easily paint it in military colors. Micro Trains makes two US Army sets. One comes with flats with military vehicles and the other comes with troop cars. http://www.micro-trains.com/army%20sets.htm

There is a thread about these on Trainboard.com http://www.trainboard.com/ultimatebb.php/ubb/get_topic/f/9/t/005762/p/1.htm Apparently the modelers version is not out yet and the trainset version is noisy plus has chunky detail and the nose is wrong. They rave about Kaslo FP-7 shells that are...