does anyone know how to custom make different radius curves and switches with efficiency?

because I could use some tips and tricks and maybe a tutorial if there is any, or a website. Planning a big winter layout much like the american flyer rochester display layout but using lionel O27 Track and including a yard somewhere within

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KJVCUnuoE4


any info would be much appreciated thank you

Do you know if the upcoming saddle tank 0-6-0 with DCC is going to come with a Tsunami sound installed  option??

I may be 21 but at the ripe age of four i was obsessed with this film ever since I saw it, it is by far my favorite railway movie of all time. The year it was made? 1932 and you thought newer movies blow you away?!? These guys were severely underrated for their time period:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j1BWGK525A

I have the full movie taped on VHS and there were a ton of great steam scenes, this was the milwaukee road mountain route before they converted over to electric

of course I mean I'm modeling a locomotive after a model of another modeler known as the great poo-bah, "The Wizard of Monterey" of course I'm speaking of John Allen, as an early model railroading Icon, he paved the way introducing the numerous ideas we now call everyday modeling. His model railroad came to be known as the Gorre and Daphetid

Onto the project: an extensively kitbashed 4-10-0, I've studied this locomotive for years, it is one locomotive of two known surviving locmotives that escaped the fire that copletely demolished a perfectly wonderful piece of art. Andy Sperandeo has this locomotive in his possession as he was a close friend of John's.

To date only one person has replicated this locomotive, built by Dave G. of the yahoo group dedicated to the memory of this artist

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GandD/

you can see the photos there if you join, as well as a whole boatload of information.




*Cropped photo from a slide (*courtesy of the NMRA)

i recently acquired a decent amount of parts to build the locomotive, the most basic would be a Varney heavy consolidation boiler (got two of the same varney engines at the Springfield show)



and I just won a spectrum 2-10-0 with sound on ebay for about $132 tonight

and I'm hoping to crop the decapod down for this boiler to fit on the mechanism(believe me I will) and I have to replace the cylinders(with varney casey jones cylinders) and the main siderods(replaced with longer ones) all so I can fir the 4 wheel pilot under it(also casey jones)


the only fear I have is will the decapod mechanism stand up to this massive weight increase? As the new boiler is going to weigh a whopping 20+ oz. I have a spectrum 2-10-2 that is out of commission because the teeth on the gearing(from motor to axle) chewed itself out(which I still have yet to replace those gears)

I will update on progress as the locomotive comes in the mail and I do some work.(with being unemployed I tend to have  an excess of time to squander) 


Opinions and any help would be useful if anyones willing to share

Okay now with a reverse loop module, how would one say wire this?:

I bought a Spectrum Explorer set on ebay for a really reasonable price $80 for a DCC 2-8-0 and 3 pass cars an oval of track and all the rest and I gotta say that was a steal. But I also know I might not like having B&O pass. cars or a couple other things, but I'm skeptical about the EZ-track

if you use it, how do you like it, does it stay clean for a while? Anything pros and cons, because I might just keep the track instead of selling it


as for the 2-8-0 I'm thinking of remocing the boiler for a different project and replacing it with either the old plastic bachmann Reading Boiler(suped up) or a varney heavy consolidation boiler(still reading prototype buut I'm worried about having to cut into the mechanism to make it fit)

tell me what you guys think

Is it possible to buy Sound decoders seperately for certain engines with the 8 prong plug? I'm buying some DCC installed(no sound) locomotives however I'd like to add sound to them, is this possible?

thanks in advance

I've noticed that when you ordder N scale parts there is a vast majority of parts to look at and I find that very useful especially considering u can buy and chassis without buying the actual whole tender, however it would be such a convenience if the HO section had that kind of selection.

hey guys,

i recently downpayed for a new spectrum 2-6-6-2(my hobby shop lets me down-pay for locos and other helpful things in this harsh economy) and since its the only model in the shop theres something wrong with it when test. Its one of the newer ones with DCC and sound and its brand new in the box however the rear drivers on it dont work? I was wondering if any of you guys might know the problem so I can fix it when I've fully paid for it.

And one more thing for the Bach-man: considering an american spectrum 2-10-2, the plastic gears for the motorization have worn down, I tried contacting service department and they said they have no spare parts for this.

They told me to send it in but I don't want to ship this thing away because of the massive work I've done to its restoration(it was a used model from GG) and it runs free without the tender because I had to rewire it. As well as the fact I can't afford to ship it

I called NWSL to see if they could make it and I don't want to wait forever for new gears to come in.

I need my roster together for self-volunteer'd christmas Display I do every year here in Bristol Connecticut at rockwell park for the holidays


any help would be much appreciated

Thankss

i kinda think that up to this point bachmann would at least plan for a heavy steam mikado thats USRA or different as long as its a heavy


also cannot wait to get my hands on a JS class since I already have an SY and a QJ

hey guys, its rye guy, i went sunday, and i took pics so go to this link for a slideshow

http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g65/ryeguyisme/train%20show/?action=view&current=7eae6f1f.pbw

i didnt really go all out i just took photos of ideas i want to try so feel free check them out

I'm back and im working on a christmas layout for a christmas event in my town , maybe if i can get this old school digital cam fixed i can show you all. anddddd..... I've organized my workshop area, and for a kitbasher like me thats no easyfeat

With Special Thanks to Rich for the parts I kitbashed this IHC loco into a Chinese upgraded US war Dept. loco



the coal car is from an MDC 3-in-1 kit that I kitbashed

I remember a while back someone said they had parts for an SY mike from a kitbashing project, does anyone have any parts by chance?

thanks,
Rye Guy

i was on the bachmann china site and i saw this in the product section

do you know if this going to be available in the american market?