You might also want to check with Hartford Products. At one time they sold all the detail parts for their kits separately.

I am considering installing AirWire900 in my K27, Connie, and 36 ton Shay. I am wondering what amp hour rating for the pair of 7.2v batteries I should use, which manufacturer is best, Ni-MH or Li-ion technology, manufacturer and model number for a charger, etc. Also, can anyone make a recommendation for an AirWire900 supplier other than CVP products themselves?

From the little I know so far about the product I have made a couple of assumptions that I'd like verified.
1) The system works like "standard" DCC whereby one controller can have multiple engines doing different things on the same track.
2) All the receivers in the engines can operate on the same 900 MHz frequency and that the locomotive addressing takes care of differentiating which unit is being "talked to".

In regards to the actual installations I assume that the K27 and Connie would be pretty much the same with all items going into the tender along with the Phoenix 2K2s that are already there. What about the Shay? Is there enough room in the tender portion of the engine for all the electronics, batteries and Phoenix model 97 and Big Boost board? If the 7.2v battery packs won’t fit, what will? Do I need a “battery car”? I can also use suggestions on how to separate the power pickups from the motors in the power trucks and routing the wires to the tender section? The shay does have the newest trucks installed.

Any comments will be appreciated. I hope to get this all accomplished this spring and am now starting to install the roadbed and track. Doing so with out having to run wires all over the yard is the only way to go.

Thanks,

I built the Banta conversion kit without any major issues. The kit instructions call for the use of .020" brass rod but none was supplied. Instead there were 2 pieces of .016" and 3 pieces of .032" stock. I used some .020" rod I had on hand for the cupola grab irons and the upright supports for the long handrails and the supplied .032" stock for the handrail itself. The .016" stock was too flexible to be used. The other changes I made were the addition of some fabric glued to the top of the cuploa ( with white glue) to give it a little texture and the shortening of the skylight cover pieces to just cover two skylights only. The cupola was then positioned directly above and between the coach side windows and the baggage door. The paint colors I used for a perfect match were Floquill engine black for the cupola roof, the ladders and the handrails and pullman green for the cupola itself. Give the cuplola roof a couple coats of gloss clear dope and it will match the coach roof.

Mr. B,

For some reason the photo album is no longer sorted by date. I'm not sure if it's something I'm doing on my end or if something happened the last time you were in there.

Does any one have plans for building a carrier for large scale locomotives? Something that would make it easy to transport locos such as the "K" and the Connie from the basement to the yard without having to disconnect the tender and make several trips. It could also be used for storage of the engines when not in use. Any plans or links to existing plans would be appreciated. No sense re-inventing the wheel if it's already been done.

I also met the Bach Man at the WGH show today. A very nice individual in deed. The Bachmann display area was shall we say "cozy'. Mr. B had his Thomas display layout along with two others in the booth leaving little room to view them. Unfortunately, the K 27s were out for catalog photography. Probably a good thing considering the limited display space. It took the WGH Show to get me to drive down to Schaumburg again. I did it for almost 26 years when I worked across the street from the convention center.

I served in the USAF 1961-1966.
Airborn Electronic Countermeasures repairman (30153B).
School at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi
Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio SAC
Wurtsmith AFB, Oscoda, Michigan SAC

I would check with the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Co. They have a website, www.crrm.org, I believe. If anyone has a reproduction of the map, they would.

Looking at the photos caused a light to go on... The AMS couplers are mounted higher because they are at 1:20.3 scale height where as the Bachmann and Kadee height gauge are at 1:22.5 scale. It seems that even though the new Bachmann cars are 1:20.3 scale, the couplers are at 1:22.5 height. Make sense?

The weather is nice and the rain has stopped.

How about someone posting a few photos of the various couplers mated together? i.e. a B'mann and a Kadee hooked up; a Kadee and an AMS(Accucraft), an AMS and a B'mann, etc.  It would provide an interesting perspective.

And while on the subject of couplers; What about those on the upcoming K27s? Any changes recommended or anticipated?

I'm actually looking for you. After all these years I figure it was time to meet you in person.

It must be Trainfest.

Mr. B,

Who will be representing Bachmann Industries at iHobby in Rosemont, IL, the World's Greatest Hobby Show in Schaumburg, IL and at Train Expo in Milwaukee this year?

Saw it after I posted.  Thanks