I have been pondering this for quite a while, I have heard that with woodland scenics Mod-U-Rail & other components, using track nails often doesn't work, and the tension of flex track (which I plan on using) can actually move the nail and distort the track & foam. But I have also heard that in humid conditions woodland scenics glue can cure incorrectly and also cause distortions. But I have come up with an Idea and I need you guys to help me generate a go or no-go opinion. I have gotten the Idea of using both. As in, say I am using a 2" riser, I'll trim 1/4" off of that, and cut a piece of 1/4" plywood to the same dimensions/radius ect., glue that on top of the riser so I still have my 2" elevation, glue track-bed on top of that, lay down the glue, lay the track, and nail it into place as a redundancy just to be sure that track doesn't bend over time, using the plywood to provide a rigid structure for the nails. Could something go wrong that my 13 year old brain isn't seeing? Thanks in advance!

Wow, it's been a while since I posted here, Ive been over on my roller coaster sites... Model Railroading is majorly an off season thing...

BUT anyway. When I think about starting a layout, I get stressed over two things, location, and era, I've decided on a southeast location with it's mountains and all, with a wharf or two. But my major thing is what era to model in??? I love the old Iron horses, and the newer diesels. (Sorry gene!) But I have an idea, what about a double deck staging yard An upper one for the older ones and a lower one for the modern trains or vice versa. But, I'm not sure if this is practical, has anyone tried this or thought about it? Any help appreciated!


Ope! Just remembered the term! Staging Yard!

No, I do not have a problem with it lifting the tender off the tracks, I have a problem with it breaking, I have, well had two perefect running spectrum engines, a Consolidation, and a J-2, the Connie, may have been the way i was unplugging it, I avoided that technique with my J-2, I had it sitting in it's box, for oh say 2 weeks, I take it out for use and, a wire was broken, it was not like that when it went in. Now I must spend $40 to get them repaired, and for a kid with a $13 allowance $40 can be quite a bit. Has anyone else had this problem? And a side note to Bachmann, why not try using more flexible wire, and connectors easier to disconnect, I know requests like this get annoying, but a 13 year old boy can't exactly replenish $400 worth of equipment easily, No? 

I need someone to help me ind a reliable source for HO Scale switches for my layout, and though it may at the least a year before I even sniff a piece of flex track and wood for benchwork, I'm getting everything laid out now. Now I plan on using Micro Engineering Code 83 flex track, but that is it, I need to know, where I can get #4-#8 straight rack switches, and #6-#8 curved switches with an outside Radii of no more than 48" I was going to use Peco Electrofrogs, but I have decided to just use regular insulated turnouts and paint the frogs and guard rails steel gray. Does anyone know of a reliable supplier of the turnouts described aside from Peco or Shinohara? I am indeed willing to make sacrifices such ans the curved and #4 turnouts as they would be rarely used anyway. Thanks in advance!

I need to know can i send in my spectrum connie in the box for my C&O J-2 (well obviously I can send it in in any box) I need to know if i could have the box and foam returned with the replacement. Many thanks! -Jake

When I just noticed that in the box of my C&O J-2 there is a pair of Bentendorf (sp?) trucks what are they for? I'm just curious, becuase they don't look like they can be used on the engine or tender.

I recently purchased this engine, and just yesterday I bought a Digitrax decoder for it, now before Install this thing, I need to know where the capacitors are, so I can cut them, Now, I know that they look like mustard-yellow M&M's with legs, but there are four, two circular and two squareish, are all four capacitors or just two? Thanks in advance!

Where the heck are these things coming from?! I've found like 10,000,000,000 of them on eBay but none here or on www.MicroMark.com are they being stolen from the warehouse or something?

I just got my J-2 4-8-2 with flying pumps and Vanderbilt tender (runs GREAT, and if you saw my last thread, I dont have to swap out lights! came with amber ones installed!) And i also recieved the bag of cinders. Now I know I need a Dilution of white glue and water, but what ratio woud be good? Please and thankyou!!

Are the head and backup lights on the C&O 4-8-2 #543 pure white or amber? If they are white i would like to put some Micro Mark DCC friendly Grain-of-rice amber lamps in them, Has anyone Had any experience with this? Replies will be greatly appreciated! 

I have just bought a New-in-Box 4-8-2 heavy mountain on eBay for $120, I do have future plans to buy a Soundtraxx tsunami for my engine, in the mean time i will just use a Bachmann decoder. Now i am just stuck here, is a Mountain classified as Medium or Heavy steam? I would think Heavy due to the fact that it is a Heavy Mountain but I'm not sure. Please and thank you!

I'm getting a tsunami decoder for my spectrum 2-8-0 Connie. Now, i have noticed 2 capacitors near the DCC plug, when installing a tsunami is it necessary or even helpful to cut these capacitors? Please and Thank you!