Search results

I've been wanting to get the MP Pacific myself. I've read that they are noisy but the critic I read said "the noise is acceptable if the loco isn't run a 160 mph." No one else seems to make a 4-6-2 on N scale, so I'll have get one (even if it becomes a yard dog) to complete my O.B.S. collection...

The only practical building material I can think of is 2 or 4inch Styrofoam. I'm re-insulating and drywalling my "train room" so I'll have some time to think about it. If I do a lift gate I'll start a thread on it. I need to figure out how to post pictures. Thanks for all the advise, guys! Dave

How hard would it be to build a "lift gate"? I'm a retired cabinet maker, so I've got those skills and tools but that little "N" track worries me. Are there any "tricks" I should know? Dave

Oh! Good point! Does anyone ever "bank" their track? Don't prototype tracks have banks? Dave

40" radius? That would take an 80"+ wide bench? That would be nice but I just don't have that kind of room. I've decided to go with 48"sq.s at either end of my 18ft room as turn-arounds with 23" radius' and a 16" bench connecting the two. It's K.I.S.S. for me, for now. Dave

Well, I figured out what a "Shark" was last night (very cool). Now, I'm puzzling over "Babyface". Dave

Then, what's a "Bulldog" nose? I've cleaned out all the used book stores locally and still don't know "---- from shineolla". So, what is a "Shark" or a "Centipede"? How soon will our Spec. F7 be here , Cannonball? Thanks, Dave

Well, I found the F unit I've been dreaming of, "Seaboard Air Line, EMD FT A/B but it's from MT and at $230, all I can do is beat my head on the wall. For now, I think my best option is to buy the Spectrum F7 and try my hand at painting it. Please let us know how the Spec. F7 runs. Do any other...

I bought a couple of Bachmann sets just to get started: the 4-8-4 Empire Builder and the 4-4-0 old timer set. I've only one complaint; the transformers get extremely hot. I bought some HO B-mann e-z track for my Grandson and a 0-6-0 loco and some rolling stock so he could keep model RRing at...

Thanks Triplex, that's a big help. What do I need to know about nineteenth century trucks? Dave

Bettendorf, arch, Andrews, roller bearing, etc, etc, etc. I really do try to research this stuff for myself, as I learn a lot from wandering through the files but time constraints sometimes forces my hand. Could someone give me the "101" on this subject. How, when and where are these trucks...

I think the trailer/camping-park would be nice. I've thought about doing the Tee-pee shaped motel tourist trap/park when I can; if you want to scratch something easy. Is that your "hurricane simulator", center, background? ;0) Dave

Hey Buzzword, It's called e-z track for good reason. Don't make it harder than need be. Each section of track should have one "connector?" at each end, left and right (male and female). It's just a matter of sliding the rails together carefully. Run your finger across the rails once you've...

Hey Fellows, I'm in the same boat. I need to convert my Bachmann equipment to MT couplers. When should I use "medium" or "long" shanks? I'm not sure my rolling stock is worth the $'s and effort but I definitely need to convert my loco's: 4-8-4, 2-6-6-2, and an "old timie" 4-4-0. Dave

Yesterday, when I asked my six year old grandson Ben, how fast he was running our new Atlas Shay (he was braking it in) he replied, "40 per cent of available power". Today I moved the refrigerator out of the area where we are building our lay-out. We now have an eight by eighteen foot space to...

I've been through the files 'cause I don't want to bother y'all with the same old questions but I just didn't find an answer. What is the maximum possible radius I need to worry about and why. I want to do the "Orange Blossom Special" and I thought I read somewhere that the F7's take an...

It seems the answer is, what ever looks right. The 2-6-6-2 Mallet pulls well so I'll take the suggestion of running it through some nice curves and scale the design to the loco's performance level. You Guys are remarkable and it's an absolute pleasure to chat with you, thanks. Dave

Hey Guys, I can't thank y'all enough for all the help. I'm pretty sure I've got it worked out. I hope for now I'm good. Dave

24 X 60 = 1440 / 160 = 9.0, NOT 90, I misplaced a decimal point. That changes everything. Imagine the manic activity we'd perceive if we could look down on ourselves from a 1/160 bird's eye view. Are we wandering into "relativity"? Dave

I've been thinking about this all day. An "N" mile is 33 feet, an "N" day is one and a half hours. But I just can't squeeze those apples and oranges into MPH. I've been working with 100 inch's of track being crossed in 10 seconds, but I'm missing somthing simple. Dave