i'm looking for a 1/24 or so model (or toy) of a construction type self propelled derrick on tank treads.  it doesn't have to be accurate, i use the 10 foot rule.  i found a really neat one for $2,100.00.  can't remember the source; matter of fact, i couldn't forget them fast enough.  i was thinking more along the lines of lunch money.  if any of you guys have any leads, i'd really appreciate them.  thanx, and happy holidays.

i have a very unimaginative oval under my patio cover.
i will be very happy to discuss this at length.

was in durango couple of years ago
they were rebuilding  473 bumblebee, painting it black
museum director said engines should be black
i asked about green boilers
he said railroad didn't have extra money
used whatever paint they could come up with
happened to be green
incidentally
if you saw the layout in "trains" mag awhile back
five narrow gauge engines under steam
that's "creative license"
was there in june, 2008
473 was all apart
"Trains" suggested in july, 2008 was under steam
no way

if you're going to durango, go on down the road to the cumbres & toltec also
the durango yard is behind a fence
at chama they give you a map and tell you to make yourself at home
just don't climb on anything
on the durango train, upgrade to one of the cars with seats that face outward
get seats facing east
they tell you to keep your arms inside due to tight clearances
that worked fine until we came up to the "high line"
everyone came over to our side, cameras hanging out everywhere
thought we were going to tip over
don't even think about breakfast at mc donalds

i have a midwest quarry
took it out of the box to see what it was  (is ?)
has never been under power
everything i have is for sale
make me an offer
by the way, i like it a lot

how do you suggest i do that ? ?

I must have a big "X[" on my back as far as b'man is concerned
years ago trainworld had a close out sale
drgw full baggage maroon for maybe $10-12.00
I ordered four,
hell no, while I'm at gimmie five
they showed up, i was happy
put them on the back shelf in the "to do" rotation
years later, opened one
had a coupon for free catalog
1994 (or 5)
so trainworld had them for five years
then dumped them
I had them for five more years
ok
my little empire runs around under my patio cover
so i put it up there and shoved it down the track
three feet away
"stuff" came flying out, car nose dived
I was standing there for a while in a "wow" moment
took a half hour but i found all the axles
come to find out
if you put the car on a table in front of you
look straight down the clerestory
chimney under your left pinky
both sideframes on your right were warped
all five cars
can't be accident
nod and a wink
after ten years, why bother ? ?
then I saw notice in some mag
can't remem which
b"man re-issued flat kits
surfed around
ordered three boxes
those of you "challenged", that's six cars
all hook n loop as before
then, rode narrow guage trains in spring '08
wife suggested models of cars we rode
flat kits were back ordered til late "08
ordered three more boxes
those of you "challenged", that's six cars
all sagging
well, the trucks are worth it 

hey jd
good reference for home schooling
half the fun from b'man mail order is to see what you get
b'man quality control is nod and wink
got several flat car kits few years ago
came w hook n loop couplers
b'mans catalog showed knuckles
ad from which i bought them showed knuckles
instructions in box showed knuckles
not to worry
kit came with extra hook n loop couplers
instructions showed how to replace one w the other
wrote b'mann
offered to trade hook n loops they are so fond of
didn't hear from
didn't expect to
next order of flat kits bodies were warped
put a straight edge on them
they sagged an eight inch
well, trucks are worth something

yes and no
the gramps field was brought in in maybe '37 or so
crude was piped to chama
loaded on gramps cars
sent east to alamosa
only about 20 wells
fields around farmington came in year or two later
crude went to durango, then north
don't know where pipe came from
i have or have seen pix of trains full of pipe
in both chama and alamosa
was destined for farmington
if you're going to model from chama to alamosa
would have gramps cars back and forth
pipe cars back and forth
as i said elsewhere i am not model railroader
i have a bunch of toy trains
anything else would insult you guys
i get flat car kits and do "good enough" stuff with them
among other things,
i have a pipe "three-fur" load with a big christmas tree
gets attention

does the box for your thunderbolt set refer to "as seen on tv"
for how much $$$

no 473 was black in 1958
turned into bumble bee whenever
in june 2008 was being re-built
painted black
museum director jeff ellingsworth told me
steam engines should be black
icons gone
no gramps cars
no bee

caboose 0579 is now sort of a red primer
white grab irons

i am not a model railroader
i have a toy train
the grand kids love it
i get "stuff' at garage sales
repaint to what i can use
that's why i have a spray rig
come to tnink of it
i did have a green thingy come thru her
few years back

that was my second attempt
i'll do more gooder
my box has yellow rectangular oval like old tv format
says
                AS SEEN ON
                       T.V.

printed on factory box, not a sticker

loco bill
i asked about my thunderbolt express set
"as seen on tv"
maybe you missed it or thought i was kidding