I'm trying to complete the layout from the book HO Railroad From Start to Finish and it seems that some of the products are no longer being made. I've got a list of all the products used in the book and was wondering if anyone could help me out with suggesting either somewhere (besides eBay) to find the particular product, or a suitable alternative that could be used in it's place.

Some of the things (like the Floquil and Poly S Paints) aren't that critical to the layout while others (like the Faller Gravel Tipple and Overhead cranes ) are. Anyways, here is a quick list:

Critical:
Manufacturer                    Part ID       Description
Activa                              999   Rigid-Wrap (3 Rolls)
Alexander Scale Models    2705   Chimney
Alloy Forms                    2013   corrugated fence kit
Columbia Valley                      187   Gas Pumps
Faller                              164   overhead cranes (2)
Faller                              193   Gravel tipple
Magnuson Models              537   "Practice Kit" store
Model Power                       455   Burlington Mills Factory (2)
Wm. K. Walthers            3000   Don's Shoe Store

NON-CRITICAL
Manufacturer          Part Number         Description
Northeastern                      181   1/16"x5/64" stripwood, 24" long (2)
Northeastern                    3004   HO 1 X 6s
Northeastern               3012   HO 2 X 4s
Northeastern               3040   HO 6 X 6s
Northeastern                  111   0.02" X 0.04"
Northeastern                  113   0.02" X 1/16"
Northeastern                  115   0.02" X 3/32"
Northeastern                  117   0.02" X 5/32" (3)
Northeastern                  157   0.04" X 2"
Northeastern                  180   1/16" square (2)
Northeastern                  231   1/8" square (1)
Northeastern                  378   1/16" square clapboard siding (1)
Floquil Paint                 130009   Primer Spray, 1 Can
Floquil Paint                 110132   SP Lark Dark Grey
Floquil Paint                 110009   Primer
Floquil Paint                 110011   Reefer White
Floquil Paint                 110013   Grimy Black
Floquil Paint                 110087   Depot Buff
Floquil Paint                 120085   Antique White
Floquil Paint                 110081   Earth
Highball ballast                       10   Dirt
Highball ballast                      124   Cinders (N scale)
Highball ballast                      171   Light Brown Earth (fine)
Polly S Paint                 500014   Grimy Black
Polly S Paint                 410030   Reefer Orange
Polly S Paint                 410070   Roof Brown
Polly S Paint                     500082   Concrete
Polly S Paint                 500011   White
Polly S Paint                 500060   Khaki
Polly S Paint                50030-8   Brown
Polly S Paint                 501997   Stainless Steel
Polly S Paint                              Antique White
Polly S Paint                 410073   Rust
Polly S Paint                              Dullcote
Polly S Paint                 500030   Blue
Polly S Paint                 500051   Grass Green
Polly S Paint                 500305   Battleship Grey
Polly S Paint                 500820   Earth
Polly S Paint                 410011   Reefer White
Polly S Paint                 410012   Reefer Grey
Polly S Paint                 410020   Caboose Red
Polly S Paint                 410031   Reefer Yellow
Polly S Paint                 500103   Brown
Polly S Paint                 501990   Bright Silver
Polyterrain                               146   water gel
Polyterrain                               303   matte medium
Polyterrain                               833   black acrylic paint
Polyterrain                              7007   Mud


Thanks ahead of time for color suggestions and alternatives / locations to find some of this!

Tim

Just thought I would share a couple pics of my layout in progress..

My TCS T1 Decoder arrived today and I installed it into my Walthers Trainline GP9 according to the pictures on the site and the wiring diagram. I hooked up my Dynamis EZ Command and nothing. The handset signal meter shows nothing and the left hand LED on the Command Station is solid green and the right hand intermittently flashes orange. I disconnected the Dynamis and hooked my old non-dcc power pack up and the loco works fine, so I don't believe its the decoder or the installation.

Anything I can try to troubleshoot? Not sure if the Command Station isn't working or if the controller may not be working properly.

Thanks for the help!

Is there a particular gauge / length of wire needed to connect the power to a track? I connected my Railpower controller to my track with standard 14 gauge wire left over from a remodel and it works fine unless the wire is too long, which seemed strange.

So I finally have my table built using hardboard for the top / surface. I laid the cork board track bed and now I'm trying to nail the track down with track pins, problem is they are so thin that they don't penetrate the hardboard and instead end up bent.

So I thought I'd just drill the hole for the pin, but problem is I can't seem to figure out what size bit I would need since they are extremely tiny pins.

Anyone know if they are standard size?

Thanks!

Can anyone please help me out? I'm looking for:

1) A good recommendation for a book on benchwork

and

2) Help figuring out how to build a table that will disassemble into smaller pieces when not in use.

also any good web site resources on bench work would be great as well.


Thanks!

I just purchased a Dynamis DCC Controller in the scratch and dent section of the local hobby store. Does anyone know if this will work with a non-DCC locomotive?

Hello everyone!

After my previous post about being new to the model railroad hobby and asking what next, I've come to need some advice on a Train Set. Now I know I'm posting this on a Bachman forum, but please if there is another manufacturer out there that will fit better then please suggest it!

Now, I'm looking to model some of the track in and around Champaign, IL which was located on the Illinois Central Line as well as the Peoria and Eastern Railway company (part of the Big four Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis Railway). I found a great roster of IC Steam Locomotives here: http://www.illinois-central.net/Steam%20Roster/SteamRoster.html

Alternatively I'm looking at creating a steampunk railroad to incorporate with my fantasy minis from my board games.

Anyways, for the Prototype, what would be a good approximate starter set ?

Thanks!
Tim

Hello everyone!

So I was out shopping for a Christmas present for my soon to be 15 month old son and since he likes Dinosaur Train I thought maybe he'd like an actual train set. We had gotten him the Thomas and Friends wooden railway and while he sort of likes it, he's not that into having to push the train himself. So I happened across a Bachman Thomas and Friends Troublesome Tracks set in the Scratch and Dent section of the local hobby store. It was basically just the track and controlled. It was missing the locomotive and the two cars. I then happened to find the James locomotive and car for it and after it was all said and done I got the set for $75 (also with a Thomas and Friends wooden railway 15 pc expansion set).

So I got a great deal! I get it home and put it together and its missing the power connector that snaps on the track. So I took a couple of insulated wires from an electronics kit and made the connection and low and behold it works great! Best part is the laughter from my son as he watches it go around. :-)

Anyways, now I'm hooked on the idea of model railroads..... So, where do I start? I know this is a Large Scale set and so I was looking at perhaps getting a small HO scale set to start off with and go from there. Any suggestions? I'm more drawn by the system of track and control and the possibilities of railroad crossings and bridges and tunnels than I am about the locomotives themselves. I mean just not that into historical accuracy as I am more of the "fun" part of just building.

So any suggestions? Also don't want to break the bank (which looks all too easy to do in this hobby! )
Also suggestions for my son to at least let him explore the trains and if he likes it be able to "grow" into more sophisticated setups. I don't want to "force" him to like something his dad likes if he's just not into it, but want to foster that I will be into whatever he is into. :-)

Thanks guys!