Here's a link to a photo of the "hanging" ceiling layout Davis Hobby Supplies has here in Portsmouth VA:

http://www.davishobby.com/images/the_master_sm2.GIF

The photo doesn't show how it's attached to the ceiling and I've never looked  , but from what can be seen in the photo it's just acrylic round stock and brass pipe fittings.

Bob D.

steamrusty, I didn't see exactly what I was looking for but thanks for letting me know about them, have it linked now.

Bob C., thanks, figured as much.

I already have a length of brass wire ready to start cutting/bending.

Bob D.

I recently bought one of these 8-wheeled cabooses:

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=255_443_463_464&products_id=2975

I'm getting ready to paint it and have taken it apart.  This particular model has rubbery plastic hand grabs, does anyone make metal parts to replace them or do I need to roll my own?

Bob D.

I saw a fireman, but no engineer.  They have a sitting figure that may work, but I'll keep looking

Bob D.

Thanks guys!  I'm on the hunt for an engineer and fireman for my Ten-Wheeler, then start making comparisons.

Bob D.

Is the 4-6-0 the only engine offered in this "scale"?  If so, why?

Bob D.

Thanks guys!

While I've done plenty of HO and O scale decaling, I've never tried any G scale, yet.  There's an art store nearby that had a good selection of Woodland Scenics rub-on lettering so maybe I'll stop by there before I venture into getting some made.

Bob D.

Thanks Chuck, I'll check them out.

I prefer decals over rub-on lettering, never had much success with that (maybe it's time to learn to do it right?).

Bob D.

I got the engine back together, including the smoke box switches.

It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, there's quite a few interlocking parts that have to go on in order.  Now all I need to do is add the name of my RR and an engine number.

Next to do is to remove the lettering on the caboose and re-letter it for my RR.

I think I'm going to call it the "PORTSMOUTH BELT LINE RAILWAY" unless I can come up with a better name.

BobD.

Thanks Bill!  This means my "Annie" I recently bought is actually a Ver. 5 engine 

Not too upset (it runs well now that I've fixed things, zero cost but a few hours of labor involved), but the seller will not be getting any more of my business.

Admins, this needs to be a sticky!

Bob D.

Good luck with the move Bill, hope everything arrives OK and you'll be back to running trains soon.

Bob D.

The Annie I recently bought had some broken parts, I fixed them with MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone).  It works well on styrene and so far on whatever the Annie is made of.  I bought a quart can of it at a local hardware store.  It'll take paint off in a hurry and well dissolve styrene if left in a bath of it too long, makes a good putty though for filling holes 

Thanks Joe, I'll leave both switches in their places.

I'm slowly re-assembling the engine, I installed mini plugs on both headlight and backup light so I can easily take things apart in the future.

Bob D.

Thanks Bill!  I also had forgotten about jumpering the wires if I take the switch out, I'll probably leave it/them in.

There were narrow-gauge RRs in Virginia, I even have a 3 foot length of narrow-gauge rail an ex-coworker brought me from when they were clearing land for his house near Sunbury NC.  I think it was the Suffolk & Carolina RR, later renamed to the Virginia & Carolina RR, then P/O the old Norfolk Southern Rwy.

Yeah, a fictitious narrow-gauge RR in VA will do nicely!!!

Bob D.

Chuck,

Yeah, that would be great.

I don't know how deep I'll dive into the G-scale/gauge pool, but let's just say I haven't touched my O-scale stuff since the Ten-Wheeler arrived a couple of weeks ago, I feel like a kid in a candy store 

I got out of HO for various reasons, one of which was I found myself counting rivets too often.  I got into O-scale to have some fun, but there's not much available that's accurate for Seaboard Air Line (rivet counting again?).

This time, in G-scale/gauge, I'm not going to let that happen.  I'm making up a fictitious RR so anything goes at this point.

I'm still debating the colors I want to paint the engine (always liked the GN Glacier scheme), I want something so that the decals I'll make can be seen (can't make white decals so they're out).  Most likely black decals on the engine and caboose (should come in today), rolling stock will probably stay as is.

Thanks again!

bob D.