Thank you both for your quick response. I will see what I can do. Again, I appreciate your feedback. All the best!

Please be patient! I have a first-run K-27 and back in 2008 there were several postings about replacement of the counterweights as delivered. At that time I went ahead and requested replacement weights which I received. Unfortunately, I did not follow through and replace them. Well, now I want to, but as I look through the old postings, the links with the instructions with pictures no longer work. Can you point me in the right direction to get the instructions?

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone, for your help. I'll take it to the shop near my Dad's place next weekend when I visit my folks and see what they can do. This is a great community!

I was setting up a simple loop of track for my 90-year-old Dad to run using a forney and some skeleton log cars and cupola-less caboose. My 21-year-old nephew in his zeal to help me unpacked the log cars and dropped one on the floor. Of course it's the more fragile part that broke - a coupler. How easy is it to replace the coupler and where can I get another?

Thank you.

Dear Bob,

Great video, but I believe the locomotives are K-36s, not K-28s. Great fun. Thank you for sharing the link.

I used a Q-tip to apply the stuff in a small and inconsequential place. No real harm, no foul, and I was able to return the stuff to the store for a full refund. Whew!

Now, having recently read a post on the ON30 side of this site, I learned about Chameleon which is plastic friendly, comes highly recommended, and is carried by one of my "local" (50 miles away) hobby shops. I will be in that area later this weekend and will pick it up at that time. Those who commented on the product practically swooned over it. (I hope it wasn't from the left over M.E.K. fumes they may have been exposed to before finding Chameleon.)  I'll keep you all posted.

Thank you all again for your interest and educational/entertaining comments.

ELO stands for Easy Lift Off.

http://www.ehobbies.com/flo542143.html

Good luck.

Well...I can tell you what not to use and certainly to read the instructions first...or PHEW! That was close. 

To remove the lettering paint, my local hardware store recommended M.E.K. Because I am cautious at heart, (please note the span of time between my last entry and this one) I read the can's label where it stated that it may damage plactics and to try it on an inconspicuous place. Using a Q-tip I dabbed a little of it on an out-of-the-way place on the inside of the tender. Yikes! It started to eat the plastic!

So, I'll check on the dot 4 brake fluid or just bite the bullet and use the manual method with the fine steel wool. More later. Happy New Year!

Good read if nothing else. However, I live in a similar climate here in Utah. I've inadvertently scrambled a few electronics myself. I tell you what! There's nothing more exciting than to see a lightning bolt zap from your fingertip to the expensive wall control of the bedroom light in the pre-dawn hours of the morning. That was a $100 plus light show par none.

Thank you for the story. I just wish I understood half of what you were relating about the e-innards of the K.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dumb question: What do you use to remove the dot-4 brake fluid residue? Thanks.

OK. No more procrastination, I received the decals. I'll give this project a go over the Thanksgiving Day weekend and post the results.

Most excellent! Thank you. I'll keep y'all posted. Now, where did I put m'courage?

What did you use to remove the lettering from the tender. This looks outstanding and, as always, well documented. I am looking forward to reviewing the information you include via the URL when I have a moment. Thank you, again, Kevin.

Thank you, Kevin. The photos look great. I'll try to do the same with mine and share the results. It's a great hobby.

Thank you. I'll look into your suggestions as well. As soon as I get the decals I ordered and have exercized what courage I have. I'll post the results.

Kevin, I'm still looking forward to your photos. Weathering a lciomotive is somthing that that I have not yet tried.