Quote from: conradin on September 11, 2007, 02:13:06 AM

Quote from: nscaler711 on September 09, 2007, 07:51:50 PM
People you have to get one of these!
i got one today and it runs so beautifuly for a standard line i am not even joking!!, a bit noisey but a bit of lube in the motor will shut her up!!!

It maybe a UP ( UP never owned any but i dont care!! ) but it runs awesomely!!

Exactly *where* around the motor should I lube?  I have a BN.

First, go to your local hobby shop and buy a bottle of PLASTIC COMPATIBLE oil.  Anything else will have the potential to ruin your loco.

Second, disassemble your loco far enough to see the shaft(s) where they enter the motor.

Third, apply ONE SMALL drop of oil on the shaft where it enters the motor.  The oil will travel down the shaft and lube the shaft bushings.  Too much oil can ruin the motor by softening the brushes or gumming up the commutator; ONE DROP ONLY!

Fourth, reassemble and enjoy!

Mike

Quote from: rains train on September 10, 2007, 08:54:12 AM
alright..., well, if anyone knows if they have a roundhouse and turntable to hold a 4-8-8-4 please let me know..

There are 2 turntables currently available to turn a big-boy.  The big-boy's wheelbase is just under 118' and the overall length is 132' 10", so even with the largest turntable, there will still be a bit of loco hanging over the ends of the bridge on this auto-indexing table from Walthers:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2613
The other turntable, also from Walthers, is a manual turntable that you turn with a pulley and string contraption.
Walthers just happens to have a roundhouse suitable for use with this turntable, and it is large enough to allow you to park a big-boy inside.  None of this project will be inexpensive, but with a little tlc, it'll be a source of pride for years to come.  Time to look for that second job!

Mike

Quote from: June on September 10, 2007, 02:47:52 PM
I have a 2-8-0 and run on DC.  Can anyone suggest which sound decoder I could purchase to install?  Also, is it easier to install it in the tender?  I am new to the hobby and need something relatively easy to install.  Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Bob

If you're new to this, a sound decoder in the 2-8-0 isn't what you want to start with.  The available room in the loco itself is barely large enough for the smallest non-sound Z-scale decoders.  I haven't tried yet, but have heard that the tender is also difficult to open up without damaging something.
I believe that the newest run of the "J" steamers is capable of having a sound decoder installed in the tender without too much grief.

Mike

Quote from: skagitcom on September 06, 2007, 07:30:18 PM
I see that Bachmann deletes messages that don't praise their customer support.

Where is the message I posted here last night, Bachman, concerning poor warrantee and customer service on the 4-8-4 Northern and J-Class 4-8-4???

I've seen quite a few messages that were less than complimentary about Bachmann in one way or another.  If nothing else, they are smart enough to NOT censor messages on their boards unless they violate basic TOS or decency guidelines.

Mike

Quote from: rains train on September 03, 2007, 04:46:22 PM
Thanks, anyone know if that Digitrax thing will work, and if the loco I want has sound?

Yes and no.
The Digitrax Zephyr is a solid entry level system than can be expanded somewhat in the future.
Before you make a final decision on which system to buy, I'd suggest that you download a copy of  each system's user manual.  See what is entailed in programming variables (CV's), making and breaking consists, etc.  Some systems are easier to learn than others.
The Atlas Alco doesn't have sound.  There are very few n-scale locos with factory installed sound decoders; the Athearn Challenger and the PCM E-8(?) are two that come to mind.

Mike

Quote from: rains train on September 02, 2007, 09:51:09 PM
tell me where i can get 1 please

You didn't specify what you want one of, so here is a link to Tony's Trains: http://www.tonystrains.com/index.html

Tony's sells all the major brands of DCC, and has some pretty decent comparisons and reviews.  There is also a page, "DCC For Beginners", that will give you a wealth of basic information about DCC.

Tony's is just one of the major players in the DCC market, so when you get ready to buy brand X, there are plenty of people here that can recommend their favorite dealer.

Have Fun!
Mike

Quote from: Guilford Guy on September 02, 2007, 08:08:47 PM
It will but if you plan to continue in the hobby, don't wase money on an ez command. I know this is a Bachmann board but an EZ command can only do so much, and can only program loco numbers. Buy a digitraxx or lenz sys instead.

Don't forget NCE!

Mike

Quote from: TrainBrain on September 02, 2007, 12:09:19 PM
It's a GP of some sort...GP20?

Not quite, those are D-D trucks, not B-B.
Loco is an EMD DDM45 owned by Estrada de Ferro Vitoria-Minas in Brazil.

Someone else step up, I don't have anything to try to stump y'all!

Mike

Quote from: Frog Pulling Team on August 26, 2007, 11:39:52 PM
What locomotive is this.

Dunno about the high-railer, but the engineer seems to be making a strange fashion statement...

Mike

Quote from: Matt Bumgarner on September 02, 2007, 09:46:54 AM
I am about to start building a brick cotton mill with Micromark Brick sheets and Grandt line windows. One effect I want to create is the "arch pattern" of bricks above the windows, but I have no idea how to do this with either paper bricks or styrene for that matter.

Anybody have any ideas how to achieve this effect?

Thanks

Matt

If all else fails, you can always cut and paste individual bricks onto the face of the building.

Mike

Quote from: rains train on September 01, 2007, 01:28:08 PM
couldn't i just get a b-mann dcc ready engine and a b-mann EZ DCC system controller?

You can get a Bachmann controller and a Bachmann DCC ready engine, but you will also need  the proper decoder for the engine.  One of the most popular (and inexpensive) decoders for n scale engines is the Digitrax DZ123.  It is also one of the smallest commonly available decoders, however you will need someone with good soldering skills to install it in your engine.  To my knowledge, Bachmann does not sell an N scale engine that is "plug & play", meaning that you just plug the decoder into a circuit board on the engine.

Mike

Quote from: GlennW on August 26, 2007, 02:39:03 PM
The RR/Concor cars I was referring to appear to be the heavyweights. The RR/ConCor corrugated sided may already be gone. It's true, there may be more Concor smoothsides & Budd cars made in the future.

I don't know who is responsible for the moldwork, but Model Power still shows heavyweights in their lineup:
http://www.modelpower.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=205&Page=1

<sarcasm>Notice the excellent way the roof fits on the body</sarcasm>

Mike

Quote from: RAM on August 24, 2007, 12:06:19 AM
Some time back someone asked about plastic glue.  One of the replies said to buy a product at a home supply store.  That it was the same thing only much cheaper.  Any one remember what it was.  thanks

The OP was probably referring to MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone), a liquid solvent that is used to cement styrene and ( I think ) ABS plastic.  It is the major ingredient in most all of the hobby type liquid cements.  Good stuff, but read all the precautions about inhalation, skin contact, etc.  My personal recommendation is Tenax.  It doesn't seem to soften styrene as badly if you get a bit too much on your model.

Mike

Quote from: hotrainlover on August 18, 2007, 08:58:31 PM
Does anyone have knowledge of decals that are for harbors?  I have a water scene that has its own switchers.  I am hoping to find decals that said "Harbor", "Seaside", or even "Piers"; but cannot find them in HO scale.

I have tried Micsoscale, and walthers, to no avail..

hotrainlover

Indiana Harbor Belt, a fallen flag.  Don't kow if decals are currently available.

Mike

Quote from: nscaler711 on August 10, 2007, 08:44:30 PM
i need help on re-motoring an older Bachmann F7 or F9 (i cant remember but i do know that it was in the Highballer Train set.)
I want to upgrade it because it is basically fried.

Instead of spending good money on a trainset engine, why not buy an F7 from the "Plus" or Spectrum line?  While not the best thing on wheels, they are much better than the trainset stuff.

Mike