Hello everyone:

Hey Bachmann when are you going to have a E-Z Track bridge available?

you have the trestle set, it would seem natural to have the bridge.

I know of a few bridges that can be retro-fitted, but what about the kids and people who are new to this hobby?.

the trestle or elevated pier set is kinda lame if you don't have the bridge.

this would be an easy seller for bachmann also.

just a thought

take care
George

Hello Everyone:

I thank all of you kindly for the replies.

see I have a bit of a dilema.

I have a nice O scale layout, but my nephew wants me to do a HO scale one.

I am debating on whether to use Atlas track or if I should use E-Z track.

I recently purchased a two spectrum sets cheap,

two exlporer steam sets for $75.00 each with 22inch radius curves,

and a Warbonnet by athearn with 18inch radius e-z track.

I know how to weather the Realtrax by MTH to make it look better.

but I am wandering if I should go with the ez track.

I am not into the dcc thing yet, I am an old fashioned modeler that uses blocks and switches

I want to build a layout that I can run a challenger or a mallet on, I noticed the new spectrum 4-8-2 needs 22 inch radius according to bachmann.

so that means I would have to run 22 inch on both mainlines or 22 inch on the inner main line and a larger one on the outer.

I have used the Atlas RTS software, but there is a problem a lot of the radius bachmann uses is not on the RT software.

the table I have is 6ft by 9ft,  I want to run two mainlines, and then go from there on the design.

this is the reason I was wandering on the switches, I don't want to mess up and use the wrong ones for the larger engines.

I just got back in to HO scale even though I have been buying a lot of stuff of and on for the past 2 years.

in O scale 3 rail it is a little simpler for the radius, that's why I hope I am not bugging anyone with these questions.

I found out that the model power steel bridge works with E-Z track without mods, so that is one hurdle down.

any input will be greatly appreciated.

take care and thanks
George

YES I am a LOOPER

Hello John


that's odd.

I had a K-4 that had a similar problem, for some reason the side rods were binding and stopping the engine, and they were tight.

so I took them apart and noticed warpage, I put it back together and sent it to bachmann, and it came back as good as new.

take care
George

Hello Everyone

I am sorry for bashing the 80's model, but there was a lot of problems with it.

the plastic sleeves that connect the drivers always cracked and break, this caused a lot of the drive wheels to either slip or pop off.

then the motors, Bachmann should have done what rivarossi did, use can style motors back then, not the pancake junk, they are hard to get parts for and a pain to repair.

the 80's ones are good for the bowser repower kit,

I own the spectrum ones and I love them, no complaints here, they are dcc ready, but I don't use dcc my layout isn't big enough in my opinion to use dcc.

take care
George

Sorry to hear that

sounds like a belt, I purchased a new 2-8-0 spectrum from Train world and it had a similar problem, Train world took care of it

good luck

George

OH boy what fun

Tan or Brown Boxes 80's-90's

white box with blue details plus line 90's

black boxes that say spectrum newer stuff.


the older engines were glossy and some of the colors were incorrect, they had horn hook couplers.

the newer ones have a matte finish on them with better details and knuckle couplers,

the older ones were junk, sorry bachmann, most of the people who owned them bought repower kits for them, the newer ones are great from Bachmann.

take care

George

Hello Everyone:

I wish I still had my Trains Big Boy Issue from the 50's still.

on the original Bigboys, I seen pictures where a long Vanderbilt tender was modified to hold just water.

as mentioned on here, a lot of the water tenders were end of steam made items, mostly from older tenders.

check out some of the older big boy pics sometimes you will see them as for the newer use one for the Union Pacific challenger, I have pics of it somewhere where it was stripped down to it's original black paint.

there is a brass replica out, it costs about $150.00  , best bet get a Monogram model kit of the Big boy and do a conversion on the tender, there is a conversion kit for it, it costs $35.00

then there's the rivarossi option, rivarossi produced one for the excursion train and it is hard to find, it is usually $100.00 when you can find it

I hope this helps

take care
George

  Hello Everyone:

it has been a while since I went all out and did a new layout with Atlas tracks, I have a small layout using E-Z track, but I want to do a more realistic layout with my nephew.

the question is this.

what Switch track would be compared to a 22 inch radius.

I plan on using code 83 track

I know there is # 4 , and such, but which one would I use that would give me the 22 inch radius turn?.

I am building a basic 2 main line layout with sidings and more, but all of the mainlines are going to be using 22 and 24 inch radius turns.

I run Big steam engines

I like e-z track for it's ease of use, but I want to build another serious layout like my O scale one.

any input is helpful

take care and thanks
George

Hello Everyone 

a 2-8-2 would be nice, there is some alternatives on the market but they are kinda high for some of us operators.

also how about a a nicely priced 2-8-4

I am a Nickel Plate fan, and I would like to see someone other than Walthers or Rivarossi producing a nice 2-8-4

take care
George

Hello Everyone

if you are not worried about the paint on the locomotive, use Castrol superclean.

this stuff loosens glue, it removes paint from plastic also.

get the one in the antifreeze size jug, then get a small rubber maid container with a lid, one that is 8 inches long.

put the engine body in there after you removed all of the metal parts, let it soak for a day or two and the glue will be loose

remember to wear rubber gloves, this stuff is caustic to metal and skin.

it easily washes off with soap and water

take care

George