I did it again I was working on a project  spectrum 2-8-0 and I thought the draw-bar pegs on the engine looked bent in,so I thought I will just stick my exato knife in between and straiten them   and you guessed it one snapped off.  I have done this before and hard wired the tender to the engine.  However has anybody else done this and is there a better way to fix this?

I know I could disassemble it and replace the frame(I do have a spare parts 2-8-0 ) this seem like more work than just wiring them togather.

I picked up  a a non running  Bachmann 4-4-0 fixed it and tested it out on my layout. It pulled this train in the  video up a 2% grade. I was impressed. ( I added a dummy knuckle coupler)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvzvgJTKO7c

I have been building a set of 4 Milwaukee road F7s using Bachann F7s and Older spectrum(black gear) drives and plus chassis converted to dummies (white split gears ) I bought one more used spectrum F off feebay. I tested it with out removing the shell and thought it was the older spectrum until it ran,it is so quit and smooth and after removing the shell found out why it is  the new DCC drive.

It is tempting to convert all of my Fs to this new drive.   

Side note,I run DC and the speed range of this engine is very close to my china made atlas engines.

Nice job Bachmann

I have some Plus F7s that I have painted up for Milwaukee road. I have converted then to dummies ( white cracked gears ) except for one F7A that is the older nonDCC spectrum with black gears.I have thought of ordering some replacement wheel sets from Bachmann to power some B units. My question is the photos of the new replacement axles show white gears. Is this a older photo or is it a new plastic that does not crack ? 

I got a box of non running N scale engine off feebay,one is a heavy 4-8-2 after I took it apart,I found that the motor is stuck. I did get to free up a bit ,but it is binding like a brush is jammed ,I also found a hole melted on the tender shell above the decoder,the decoder is also melted on one spot.

I am thinking of  a kit bash by converting this to DC and using a spare J tender and maybe adding the delta trailing truck from the K4 . ( I have a freelace line )  Bachmann does not list the motor for sale on this engine,also the web site does not show the chassis explode view so I could see the motor part number to match up with different engine.

Does any body know what other engine uses this same motor or can this motor be repaired. I assume the motor puked and this took out the decoder ,  or maybe the other way around.

Bachmann is there any talk of releasing the N&W 4-8-4  J with DCC and sound?

I stripped the paint off some older Bachmann Plus/spectrum F units and painted the units for Milwaukee road and added slight weathering (layout era late 50s) and am very happy with them.
The f7B (plus model) has white gears that are cracked so I converted it to a dummy. The third engine is the Bachmann GP7 ( yes I know Milw did not has GP7s but it is close enough to a GP9 for me)  Also runs great and the speed range (DCC on board )   is not too different from  the Fs even thought I run DC . The Bachmann  paint strips well with  91% isopropal alcohol.   

Just thought I would share.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ScCixcBWk

Here is my Bachmann USRA 0-6-0 that I modified. I added detailing to the cylinders and a different  air pump. I filled down the inside of the boiler shell above the motor brush,this lets the shell sit level on the chassis (now there is a new shorter motor so this will but unnecessary on new releases) I also added a short spectrum tender with the old Atlas 0-8-0 tender shell.

Bachmann is there any plans on adding a spectrum tender to the USRA 0-6-0s ?

I was thinking it would be nice to see kitbashed or weathered  Bachmann steam locomotives.
Lets see your Bachmann steam   Here are two of my projects

 This is a lightly weathered USRA 2-10-2 with delta trailing truck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257l9FI-gQs


Milwaukee Road C2. Its a 2-8-0 with a Bachmann USRA short tender with a Atlas 0-8-0  tender shell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuzgTGgs1bc

This is a  1st release DC  USRA 2-6-6-2 that I weathered and added a delta trailing truck. I runs very good. It is from my freelance M&W railway I use Santa Fe numbers on the tender because the first steam that I got were lettered for santa Fe and all I have to do is remove the letters from the tender and keep the large numbers. Also it is easy to find santa fe steam and decals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVZr4iB6ITw

I just finished a 0-8-0 using a Bachmann 2-8-0 boiler and cab and the spectrum USRA short tender chassis . The drive is  from a  Japanese company it has scale 52" drivers. I have been using only Bachmann spectrum tenders behind most locomotives. I had to shorten the boiler on the cad end so that the cab would fit around the wide motor of the chassis.
      Bachmann parts are great for kitbashers,even thought right now they are out of 2-8-0 shells.
Here is a short before and after kitbash video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgjYRcrwqSc


Thanks Bachmann for your great tenders.

Bachmann do the trailing trucks on your K4 mount the same as your other engines? And second will they be available as separate parts? If the answer is yes to both,this would be great for those of as wanting to convert our Bachmann engine to delta trailing trucks.

thanks RGW

Just saw a brass K4 for sale on Ebay for buy it now price $300 and it does not look nearly as good as Bachmann's. Does the price of brass engines go down with new release of better running and looking plastic engine?

Just picked up a used Spectrum 2-8-0,but it is in Southern green. I want to strip the paint from the boiler and cab,in the past I have used  91% isopropol alcohol on Bachmann diesel shells,but
has any body tried removing the paint from there steam locomotives? I would just order a new shell,but they are sold out.

I just ordered another spectrum tender for a project. I t is so nice being able to fix poor electrical pick up or just changing the look of a steam locomotive up by adding a spectrum tender.

So thank you Bachmann for selling them separately.

Now that  the the real J is up and running. Might it be a good time for Bachmann to  release there N scale J with  DCC and SOUND. I believe the 2-8-4 has the same driver size ( Exhaust rate should be the same) so would not the same sound decoder work with only different whistle?

the work has already been done with the 2-8-4 so I think adding it to other  LARGER N scale steam would not be too hard.
Bachmann what do you think?

Yes I know I can add my own sound, but I still run DC so I need dualmode.

I ordered a N scale FM h 16 44 shell from Bachmann and it was send out the next day. I ordered it Wednesday the 18th and got it today Monday the 23d. I wish all service/parts departments worked this fast.

Thanks Bachmann.

 I just order a shell from Bachmann for this engine and  plan to strip and repaint this  shell ( bought a lot of chassis but no shells) Are the hand rails friction fit or are the glued on?
I need to remove them to paint the shell up in Milwaukee road colors.

I had to unsolder the stock coated wires and add my own between my 2006 release J tender and engine because of the coating coming of and causing intermittent shorting.
I ran great except I burnted out the head light checking the connections on the engine board( LEDs do not like track voltage) to find which one were motor leads. Then 6 month ago it quit so I just remove the tender board and solder wire  to the tender leads work great again      UNTIL  I put the boiler shell back on.  Yep metal boiler was shorting the frame haves up front by the stack
so I painted it and will add more tape.

I know the stock wires had problem with the varnish flaking off  you can solder wires between the stock connection ( I only used two wire no room or patience   for more )

I really love my DM&IR 2-10-2 .Runs smooth,looks great ,but the traction is lower than what other Bachann 2-10-2s. I seen to remember on some forums that other had  added a thin piece of tape under the bearing blocks to lower the wheels with TTs.

I could not find any info by googling this.does anybody remember  the details?      

Side note:I file off the trailing truck detail and added delta side frames to match the DM&IR prototype.