I've called Bachmann twice over the past 2-3 weeks or so and no return calls.

Before Christmas, my inlaws bought my son the "Thunder Valley" N scale train set for Christmas at my local hobby store.

I bought a bunch of track to make a unique layout along with a HO and O gauge layout on the same board.

Everything was fine and then all of a sudden the engine doesn't go anymore. The front light comes on but the motor does turn. Sometimes you can get a hum out of it. I tried to move the wheels with my fingers and it doesn't help.

Since my inlaws bought the set and I don't have a receipt is there any way I can get the engine fixed/replace under warranty?

Bachmann please help me!

Bill

So I have to host them and then use [img] tags?

Just wondering if you can post pics on this message board.

I'd like to share what I have been doing, pictures would make it much easier to explain!

I tried a few weeks ago but it wouldn't work and the image was 100k.

Bill

Hello all,

I ordered some Bachmann grass mat for my basic layout and was wondering what is the best way to glue it to the plywood.

Should I just use regular white glue for the edges and center, use a spray adhesive, roll it on?

What would you guys suggest (least painful way).

Open to suggestions....

Thanks,

Bill

Hi guys,

My son got a Thunder Valley N scale train set for Christmas and loves it!  My wife always wanted a train set so she got the Explorer N scale set, both are brand new, factory sealed.

The Thunder Valley set came from our local train shop and the Explorer was bought off of Ebay.

Why would the sets have different couplers, they are totally different from each other and are not compatable. Was there a change over? The Explorer couplers don't seem to hold as well as the Thunder Valley set.

Since I plan on buying more cars down the road, which style is the standard and stays hooked the best? 

Any links and or pics that can help me out?

Thanks again!

Bill

Quote from: Mike on January 09, 2009, 08:20:39 PM
Another method I use for creating ground cover is stop by Lowes or Home Depot paint department and buy some "oops" miss-tinted paint (20-$40 gallons go for $3- $5). I usually find tans, browns, and/or greens which can be mixed together. After painting the surface, I sprinkle a little dirt, sand, moss, lichen, etc. and let it dry. Blow away the residue after drying and it looks great. Good luck with your trains.- Mike

Thats a great idea! That would be a cheaper way to give my board some grass.

I stopped by Lowes and they dont have green indoor outdoor carpet in stock yet, probably in about a month. I think I'll just end up doing the above, the end result will look better than green indoor outdoor carpet plus my son can help more.

Thanks for all the replies guys, I really appreciate it!

Bill

I'm going to stop by Lowes tomorrow and see what they have. My hobby store has a vinyl backed fake grass which is nice but its $30 a roll (50 x 100")

We want to keep it simple and cheap but dont want the plain plywood look.

Bill

its going to go on plywood with somekind of covering, maybe indoor outdoor carpet, fabric from Joanne Fabrics, or the fake green paper, which ever is cheapest.

It's going to be more permanent as we dont have a basement and have limited space in our house.

Bill

I'm going to be building a small multi gauge layout soon and was wonder what are the proper nails/brads for HO and N EZ track.

I'm guessing I need the smallest diameter 1/2" long nail for the N scale EZ track and probably 3/4" long nail for the HO EZ Track.

My local hobby store only has nails for the regular track.

Anyone know the exact size I need for both track sizes?

Bill

Hi guys,

Since my son and I are getting into trains. I want to mount the track to a piece of plywood.

I remember as a kid there was green "grass" paper you could lay down on the plywood. It worked but kinda made a mess and could tear.

Is there anything better that can handle a little bit of abuse?

What about fabric from a fabric store like Joanne Fabrics?

My board will probably be about 50" x 75"

Just want something simple, looks good, cheap, and can take a few bumps here and there when we move the board.

Bill

Hello guys and (hopefully girls),

My name is Bill.  My son Zachary got a new Bachmann N scale Thunder Valley train set for Christmas. Lets just say he is VERY excited. Even though he is only 7 years old, he treats the new train set very good. We decided to go with N scale to save space. We also have a few HO trains along with a 2 Lionel sets, one from 1957 and our newest from 2008.

The goal is to have a really cool N scale layout, then have a HO loop around the N Scale and then an O Scale Lionel around the HO Scale. That way we can have all 3 major train scales on one board.

He got extra EZ track so we can do a unique layout but first we need to do a "compact" figure 8 layout. I bought a 30 degree cross and it won't work, do I need a 60 degree cross track? All of our curves are 11 1/4" (same that came with the set)

Is there a easy way to learn the angle and degrees when it comes to model train tracks? Any online tutorials?

How many and exactly what EZ N Scale track pieces do I need to make a "compact" figure 8? I really don't want to use a 90 degree cross or a over-under.

Thanks for reading, I'll be in here often..

Bill