Ok, ok,  now I can't even seem to put in the correct direct link.  I just clicked on it and it popped up that the page cannot be found.  So, hold off until I can figure out what's going on.

Scot,

I must ask for your help again.  I've found the hearld I would like to download in my Bachmann profile, and after putting the URL in all I get is a red X.  I'm trying to download the Rock Island Hearld found at http://geocities.com/heartland/prairie/5726/rock.gif.  I apologize for being so analog, but I grew up in the era of vacuum tubes and crystal radios. 

Great topic....keep it going.

Scott,

Where did you download your Lehigh Valley shield?

Craig,

On another thread the Bach-man said there was a problem with it and he is refering it to his IT people.  Check back every so often.

Mr. B.,

Any word on the private message issue?  I tried to send one today and received the same syntax as Zanthian mentioned on the 9th.

Gene,

You are absolutely hilarious!  Its' like I'm sitting in my english/lit class from many, many years ago.  I feel like Plato sitting at the feet of Aristotle...or wait, was it the other way around?  I know...I feel like Charlie McCarthy sitting on Edgar Bergan's knee. (Let the younger members figure that out)

Paul,

If that is item # 301-03 the deminsions are 3 1/16" wide and 2 11/16" high.

Stewart,

I apologize my friend....absolutely no smack-down was intended.  I have always been anemic in math and was suffering through the ratios several of you were mentioning above.  I have a close friend who is a mathematics professor at the University here and he was discussing the string theory with me and a couple of other friends the other night and I must admit my eyes started glazing over and mind became numb.  This was what I had in mind when I mentioned it in my previous post.

Still friends?

Alex,
I, too, used the method the Bach-man suggested.  I bought two Woodland Scenics rock molds which have 4 to 5 different molds in each piece.  I made about a dozen different rocks using plaster of paris and turned some upside down when I was applying them to my layout.  It gives a long continous strata of rock without seeing the same rocks repeated. It just takes a little shaving and sanding to join all of them together.

Maybe the NTSB should look into this.  Who was the manufacturer?

Jim, what you said makes sense to me.  All of that math above was giving me a head ache.  I'm just glad no one asked about the "string theory".  No telling where that conversation would go.

Just to throw my 2 cents in, I try to buy from my local hobby shop every chance I get.  I'm afraid the small brick and mortar shops are slowly going away as the internet and on-line purchasing increases. I blame no one for seeking the most economical priced item they can find, but that still doesn't replace the one on one visit to your LHS.  Particularly if that person is well versed in his products.  There are times you can meet your fellow model railroaders and develop a good relationship.  Also its good to inspect an item before you purchse it...this can't be done through mail order and the internet.  Yeah, I may pay a little more, but for me it's worth it.

Thanks Gene.  That does it, I too have limited soldering ability so I'll wait until Bachmann comes out with some....if they ever do. (hint, hint Mr. B)

As far as the Walthers link Nigel provided, they do show wheels in the picture.  Seems a little misleading in a way.  It would also be nice if they would mention that assembly is required.

Jay, come to think of it, it might have been ordered through Walthers rather than Atlas.  It's been some time ago and I've slept since then.