I'll second the Ma&Pa 2-8-0 idea - the light ones or the heavies.
Wade

That would be great! New Zealand's narrow gauge lines are fascinating.
Wade

epeorus
Its there under rolling stock kits and detail parts on the last page.
Wade

I believe the cupola kit at the Micro-Mark site is the Banta kit. I haven't done this exact kit but other Banta kits are ready made to fit. Usually cutting is kept to a minimum. You will be surprised how nice it goes together. Laser kits are thin flat sheets of wood cut with a laser for perfect fit and detail. I usually finish mine with thinned water based paint then a dull clear coat. The effect is wonderfully weathered wood.
Wade

BaltoOhioRRfan you're in a good spot. I worked at M.B. Klein part time through the mid '90s at the old store and never spent less than my paycheck. That 20% on top of already great prices is tough to resist. Lucky for me I also worked full time as a stationary engineer. My fleet is Ma&Pa, Alphabet Route roads, B&O, GM&O, M&StL, RI and CGW. All transition era.
Wade

Quote from: ebtnut on March 25, 2008, 01:11:30 PM
The Richmond 4-4-0 is pretty typcial of the type being built from about 1890 into the early 1900's (the prototypes were built in 1901).  It might be a bit too modern for the 1880's, though.  Ma & Pa 4, 5 and 6 ran into the 1930's, when No. 4 was retired.  No. 5 was retired in about the mid-1940's, while No. 6 lasted until the end of 1950.  No. 6 was the only one of the three to get modernized with the piston valves and steel cab.  The model will likely pull up to 8 small, free-rolling freight cars on level track, thought that is probably its limit. 

Accually #6 lasted into '52 and it even got a superheater, #5 was retired around '36 but did get a steel cab before retirement (I heard it was wrecked - not too bad but not worth fixing in the Depression) and #4 was retired in '47 and kept her wood cab to the end.
I can't help it - Ma&Pa is sacred in our family. By the way, the Bachmann #6 is such a good runner it has displaced my brass #6.
  Wade

I like that idea but its not for me. I would suggest a different direction. Fairbanks-Morse H20-44s haven't been done yet in plastic. I would like to see Bachmann produce them in Pittsburgh and West Virginia and Akron, Canton and Youngstown.  Fairbanks-Morse sold a hand full of this model to some big roads too. I would also buy Spectrum F-M H16-44s in P&WV.
Wade

Yes sir Mason Bogie is my vote too. I'll buy more Maine 2ft based models too.
Wade

Nice decal job. If Bachmann produced an accurate model of Western Maryland  or Delaware and Hudson challengers, I would buy one of each road number.
Wade

Vince,
Check out Mount Blue model company. They have SR&RL short caboose kits.
www.mountbluemodelco.com
Some of their kits requior Bachmann cores.
I second the motion for small Forneys and outside frame prairies.
Wade

Excellent !!!!  Not for me - yet.
Wade

IHC (International Hobby Corperation)engines run well enough but lack detail and sometimes prototype.

BLI (Broadway Limited Imports) engines run very well but have a range of detail depending on price. They follow real prototypes but are expensive.

Bachmann is as good and often better than BLI in most respects but not every road name offered  follow prototypes. This is a good compromise considering price. ( Not a problem for me - I model M&P)

Proto 2000 Series by Walthers are well detailed and prototypical but are sometimes not the best pullers and are somewhat expensive.

Someone else take over - I've got to go to work
Wade

Please please please pleeeeeeeeeeeease say its true!!!!!!
Wade

Ned;
They do use rail joiners. Soldering is not required but for a long term layout is a good idea to maintain good conductivity as the joints will corrode and cause power loss.
Wade

I Love electrics too but we're talking steam. I'll bow my head to an Allegheny -they are the kings- but we need some Western Maryland or Delaware and Hudson Challengers. Or how about B&O EM-1s. Or even WM Potomacs or Decapods. Potomacs for speed and Decapods for lugging.
Wade