Quote from: agm1904 on December 14, 2010, 11:57:22 AM
I have a old 2 8 0 engine in need of a cab roof. It's a Bachmann n scale
Can anyone tell me where I can get one.

Depending on how old it is - you might find a cab in the Bachmann parts list for the spectrum N 2-8-0.  If it is the older model based on the Reading 2-8-0 I would suggest using heavy cardstock or .005" or .010" shim stock (available at auto parts houses) to form a roof.  You can cut the brass shim stock with heavy sissors and attach it to the existing cab with ACC cement.  You might have to experiment a little but you can do an acceptable roof using shim stock and painting it.  If it is the Reading model the roof is red,  the SanteFe model  is black.

Qucik suggestion Don - visit you friendly hobby shop and pick up a NMRA 'N' standards gage.  It comes with clear instructions and will give you something to check clearances easily.  Generally, you will need about 12 mm of clearance from the outside of the rail head to the closest structure or about 17 mm from the centerline of the track to the closest structure.  In reality you will need more than that on curves because of "overhang" of some model rolling stock and locos.  I would use at least 20 mm minimum clearance everywhere except straight, parallel tracks in the yards.

Model C&O? Want a "new" model loco? Start with the Bachmann Northern; replace the tender with a long USRA or long vande.  Re-letter for C&O J class.  Overall the loco is a fairly good representation of the C&O J class 4-8-4  some units had solid pilots and detail variations not hard to simulate.  Check out the C&O Historical Society web site for photos of several examples.

Quote from: clark on August 20, 2010, 10:55:56 AM
how do you determine which decoder to use in older locomotives?

Most Z scale decoders work in N scale.  Digitrax, TSC, Litchfield Station, WWW.trainweb.org has links for hundreds of N scale installations, often to more than one option for a loco.  The new smaller Bachmann decoder is an excellent coice if your loco has room for it.  Drop-in decoders are available for a lot of locos from several makers.  I like the Bachmann, the  Lenz Gold Mini, the TSC M1 and the Digitrax DZ143 decoders.  A decoder rated at 3/4 to 1 amp shold handle any N scale loco that you might want to run. TSC has a "no fault" warranty - if you smoke it, they will fix or replace it.  Join the ndcc group on yahoo for a lot of info and links ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ndcc/ )

Trainworld has a 4 car set of Model  Power corrigated side streamliners for under $40.  SP paint job.  Scalecoat II "Wash Away" (S56) will strip the paint without damageing the cars.  eBay usually has something on their listings.  Rivarossi and ConCor are worth looking at.  Lima - PMI - AHM and Rivarossi all had decent heavyweights and the ModelPower heavyweights were made by PMI/Lima.  The Bachmann Plus heavyweights are good examples of 60' heavyweights but the lighting pickups put a heavy drag on the cars - take them off.  M.B.Klein in Baltimore usually has a fair selection of available cars at reasonable pricing.  The ModelPower heavyweights have poor trucks but MTL or American Limited trucks work with them.  Pennsy heavyweights often were fitted with 4 wheel trucks available from American Limited.  The most common Model Power heavyweights are painted for Amtrak phase 1.  They can be stripped with Wash Away.  Microscale has a wide range of passenger decals.
   The Kato cars are excellent!  also pricey and a limited selection of paint schemes.  Current ConCor cars are limited production paint jobs so check out the web site for availability.
   Depending on the road that you model you might have to use custom painted and lettered cars.  If so, it really doesn't matter which make of car that you get.  You will have to disassemble, strip, repaint and reletter them so go for cheap.  When you reassemble them use MTL, American Limited or similar good rolling trucks that will take MTL couplers.

Try NWSL - they should have something that will work.  A phone call should get you in touch with a machinist in-the-know.

Thank you for the link to the NMRA announcements. 
    I have seen some "carping" about the tender but since I am an ole man I don't mind kit bashing to get the look that I want.  Off the top of my head - the Athearn/Roundhouse small steam tender body can be adapted; the Bachmann 4-4-0 and short USRA tenders are appropiate;  the model Power steam tender body will work for shorter tenders.  All of these can be readily found on the web and at swap meets.  With over 600 shortlines and several hundred abandoned lines since 1930 no manufacturer can produce everything to satisfy everyone!   This new 4-6-0 with a little help will round out my stable of motive power for the Ma & Pa between 1910 and 1955. 
   The Bach 4-4-0 for the Baltimore and Leheigh engines that started the M & P, the MP 4-4-0 for the "new" Americans that lasted until the50's, the Athearn 2-8-0 for the early consolidations; the Bach Baldwin 2-8-0 for the "late" (1910) consolidations; the Bach 0-6-0 for the switchers; the Bach doodle bugs for #61 & #62; the Bach or Atlas GP7/9; Kato NW2 and Life Like SW8's & 9's and now the Bach 4-6-0 retendered.  So I am pretty satisfied - that is better than I could do in HO scale.  The only thing that I lack in N scale is a reasonable running and looking 0-4-0 and a good 4 wheel, 4 window caboose.
caboose.
   

Looks pretty good!  I model the Ma & Pa and substituting  a 4-4-0 tender with a coal load and digitrax DZ143 will get you real close to #27 or #28 which ran into the 1950's on the Ma & Pa. The Prarie tender would also be close.

I have seen posts referring to a upcoming n scale 4-6-0 but I can't find any photos.  Can you aim me towards a photo of this proposed model?

May I suggest that you look at "The Ma & Pa" by George W. Hilton; currently published by the Johns Hopkins University Press and google the Maryland and Pennsylvania RR for more info.  The Ma & Pa has been described as a "model railroad built on a scale of 12" to the foot..."

A similar line could be "imagineered" into your railroad's region and justified by a need to move farm products, small manufacturing output and people between the rural areas and the "Big City" beginning around the year 1900 and continuing through the Korean War.  This would allow you to incorporate both 50' and heavyweights on short trains hauled by a 2-8-0 or even a 4-6-2 or the new 4-6-0 or even an F unit or early GP that your road had picked up used.  The Verde Valley Tunnel and Smelter RR had a couple of 2-6-6-2 locos from Alco that they used to replace double-headed 0-6-0s.  Think about the typical Rock Island Rockets of 2 to 4 cars and an RPO or REA express car.  Up until about 1972 or 73 you could still find RI Rockets running the midwest with 2 or 3 passenger cars and a few freight cars.

Since your railroad would be "filling the gap" you could justify interchange with the bigger roads and possibly an interurban or another short line.

I missed the announcement and can't locate a photo. Can someone steer me to a photo.  Contrary to some of the posts here, many shortline and branch line roads ran the ten wheeler well into the 50's .  The Maryland and Pennsylvania RR had operating 0-6-0, 4-4-0, 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 locos in service up until the day that they ceased operations in Maryland.  They also operated SW, NW2 and GP7 locos.  The steamers all wore boiler top headlamps and some were super heater equipped.  Some tourist roads continue to operate 10 wheelers.  In fact, Canadian Pacific 4-6-0 #972 was operating excursion trains on Ma & Pa trackage in the 1970s.  These units all used short to medium USRA type tenders as befitted a railroad with less than 100 miles of trackage.

If Bachmann does have a 4-6-0 10 wheeler in the pipeline I for one will have to have it and the DCC tender will go to another loco and be replaced by a medium or short USRA tender.  Actually, a tender from the 2-6-2 could be used as a base unit and there are scads of them on eBay and at swap meets