I am very interested in purchasing an 0-6-0 as it looks far more like a 1950's locomotive than the 2-6-0. However, if I buy a brand new model in a never-opened box, what is the likelihood that it will run on DC without having to be reprogrammed by someone with DCC capability? Also, does the tender's coal load have to be carved out, or does it come with a drop-in oil bunker?

Mid-20th Century Modeler

Under which discussion board would Bachmann prefer commentary on specific SceneScape products to be addressed? The Plasticville USA category has so little activity that it could be renamed as "Plasticville USA and SceneScapes" without being a problem.

gmhtrains

I ordered my copy of the 2018 Annual on April 3, so know that the deadline for the $22 pre-publication price and free shipping has not closed yet. Go to the White River Productions website and the On30 Annual order form is located under "books", not "magazines". Last year I bought my copy at O Scale West, so know that it was released before the end of May. No word yet as to the publication date this year. -- gmhtrains

Has anyone used Walthers Cornerstone carfloat apron and/or carfloat (barge) in their On30 modeling? I am wondering if there is sufficient side-to-side clearance between two On30 freight cars aboard the barge, or if the overhead control tower on the apron has adequate clearance above a boxcar brakewheel? I am modeling a railroad inspired by San Francisco's former State Belt line, with much street-running near the waterfront and sharp 90-degree spurs into warehouses, many located on wharves. The railroad consists mainly of 18-foot cars and 4-wheel engines.

Gil
Eugene, OR

The year 2016 has ended and for the second year in a row only four new topics were discussed on this Plasticville forum. In fact, it was five years ago in 2012 when the Plasticville U.S.A. forum last considered an average of at least one new topic per month. I think that this minimal interest in Plasticville may be a contributing reason why Bachmann is in no hurry to create new structure designs nor to try to locate 60-year-old dies, that may or may not be usable, somewhere in China.

But the fact that Bachmann is not releasing new nor reissued buildings doesn't prevent anyone from kitbashing or kit-mingling new structures for the town. Unless you are a collector rather than modeler, a simple coat of paint can change a building's image. Repaint a roof from green to brown. Change house windows from blue to yellow. Buy a sheet of paper or actual wood shingles and reroof the building. Buy a second kit and make the building larger--longer, wider, L-shaped or even add a second story. A second or third kit doesn't have to be the same building. Instead of a second or third Plasticville kit, combine structures of different makers, or buy sheet styrene and scratchbuild the additional wall(s).

I recently saw an Ebay listing for six O scale Plasticville fire station kits, with all 24 walls, but no roofs. I have six Corgi and Del Prado fire trucks that I want to display in front of my station, so (with a high bid) now I have the needed walls to create a six-bay station, with both rear entrances and front doors for responding trucks. And a have eight or 10 plain walls left over for another project or two.

What kind of building do you need on your layout that might be a kit-mingling project?

Gul Hulin

Many members of this forum submit requests for new models from Bachmann, most frequently in the form of different steam locomotives. Requests for new passenger or freight cars are often in the form of new paint schemes for existing body styles (is there no end to billboard reefers?), rather than new molds (my choice would be a four-door baggage car).

But at this time I would like to suggest a new car design with a dual purpose: a flat car mounted crane that can serve both as a wrecking crane to lift derailed equipment at a collision site, and as a log-loading crane in the woods to aid in the initial loading of logs, and along the right-of-way to reclaim logs that have fallen from moving trains enroute to the mill. Availability of such a crane car could renew interest in the previously-released work train/logging camp "outfit" cars.

Gil Hulin

Although my main modeling interest is railroads of Mexico (circa 1980), I've decided to model the Missouri Pacific interchange at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo. As I have started to purchase MP rolling stock, I find that many cars have reporting marks for MP's subsidiary companies. i know what NOT&M and I-GN stand for, but have not yet identified WCW. Anyone know what this MP affiliate is/was?

Second, MP "Herbie" boxcars are plentiful in the model world, with Bachmann and several other manufacturers producing them. But in the prototype world did just one exist? Or did MP create a small fleet of "Herbies"? What would be the earliest year that the prototype(s) existed? Was this design offensive to Mexicans and thus kept out of international interchange?

Thanks for any information you can supply.   Gil Hulin, Oregon.

I recently purchased a Union Pacific 2-8-0 to convert to a National Railways of Mexico locomotive. Changes to the loco will be simple with repositioning the bell ahead of the smokestack the main visual difference. The tender will be a bit more involved, as the coal-burner will need to become an oil-burner. I've already popped out the coal load, but am wondering if Bachmann or a third party has ever offered a drop-in oil bunker? If not, it will not be difficult to scratchbuild an oil bunker, and it would even give an excuse to try Archer's rivet decals for the first time. But with so many resin castings on the market for Bachmann's On30 steamers, I thought that I'd inquire first if a replacement oil tank is already produced.

Gil Hulin
Modelling the NdeM, FCP, S-BC. Ch-P and FUS in 1980.

In the 1970's I purchased a four-wheel, N scale "bobber" caboose that I would have sworn was made by Bachmann. Today I have searched the internet, starting with eBay, and cannot find an N scale bobber from any manufacturer. Can anyone remember when Bachmann discontinued this model, or in fact did Bachmann ever produce a bobber? I don't actually need any kind of a caboose, but have decided that this short four-wheel underframe is what I want to build a group of small flatcars upon in On18 scale. That is, O (1/48) scale operating as 18-inch narrow gauge on standard gauge "N" scale track. See the Railway Recollections website for the gas-electric locomotive that I will be using. Or do you suggest any other N scale standard gauge car approximately two inches in length? Various hopper, ore or tank cars may be short enough, but do not include the flat platform on which to build. I will be operating cars carrying boxes of fresh fish from the waterfront docks up a hill to the cannery on the bluffs above. On30 refrigerator cars will haul the processed fish from there to market.

Gil Hulin
Eugene, OR  

I am preparing a clinic on modeling Mexican railroads in N scale for the N Scale Enthusiasts' national convention in Sacramento, CA, in late June. I consider Atlas, Micro-Trains, Intermountain and Wheels of Time to be among the leaders in producing (1970s-'80s vintage) Mexican motive power and rolling stock, but don't want to overlook Bachmann if it has produced South of the Border N scale equipment that I am unaware of. Does any reader, or the Bach Man, know of any Bachmann-produced NdeM, FCP, S-BC, Ch-P or FUS equipment? I am more interested in this period than in the 1990's FNM era or the post-2000 freight-only timeframe.

Gil Hulin

Numerous participants in this forum seem to use one or more hollow core doors for a layout base, according to various comments. I would like to know how many different methods of wiring such layouts exist among this readership. Do some modelers run the electrical wiring through both the top and bottom skins of the door, and then deal with all connections from the underside of the layout/door? It would seem easier to drop wires through only the top, and connect them inside the door's hollowness after removing larger access holes from the underside.

How about making electrical connections to the "outside world?" If wires to the power source are fed through holes in the framing that forms the door's edges, then there would be no wires on the layout's underside to snag on the table or sawhorses that support the door.

I want the door to be as easy as possible to transport to a few public shows per year, as it should draw attention due to its northern Mexico desert setting. A year ago I decided to model a typical Mexican mixed train of 1980 vintage in N, HO, S and O scales. Although not planning to lay track in all four scales, I quickly discovered that N scale offers the most variety in adobe structures.

I selected 1980 as the era that I would model for two reasons. That was the year of my last Mexican rail trip, and the National Railways of Mexico (NdeM), Sonora-Baja California (S-BC), Ferrocarril del Pacifico (FCP), Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico (ChP) and the Ferrocarril Unidos del Sureste (FUS) were all actively operating both freight and passenger services then. By the year 2000 all five railroads were gone, along with nearly all passenger trains other than Mexico City's growing commuter network.

Although Bachmann has not yet joined the party, many N and HO manufacturers have produced equipment factory-painted with Mexican roadnames, and Microscale has added several new N and HO decal sets within the past year. I expect to operate 100% Mexican motive power and 90% Mexican rolling stock, the main exceptions being MoPac and Tex-Mex boxcars.

Gil Hulin   

I recently purchased my first Bachmann H-16-44 (Baby Trainmaster) diesel second-hand because it is custom-painted for Mexico's former Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway. The model is great, except for the wobbly handrails that appear to be blowing in the wind. I see that Bachmann has new, replacement handrail sets available, but wonder if they would look any better? It appears that the problem may be the Delrin-like plastic that makes the handrails flexible and resistant to breaking, but at the same time fail to hold a rigid shape, either horizontally or vertically. If you have this model, or other Bachmann diesels from the same time period (late 1990's?), is the problem typical of all "long hood" models? Both end handrails came loose in the box and I have not tried to install them yet. It also appears that the mounting holes in the body shell may be too small for the pins on the handrail stanchions, and attempts to glue Delrin to styrene are never fun.

Gil Hulin
Modeling Mexico Railroading in Oregon

Has any On30 modeler tried adapting Knapford Station, Bachmann's HO-scale "glass" covered passenger terminal, for use with their On30 trains? Because of On30's overhang on HO-width track, I suspect that the high level platforms would be the first pieces to go. But then high level platforms and back-woodsy narrow gauge trains don't go together, anyway. And I think that the canopy support posts would need new bases to extend their height above On30 locomotive cabs and smokestacks.

So, while the question of whether Knapford Station could be adapted to On30 use remains, the question of whether any/many modelers would want to is perhaps more at issue. On30 modeling attracts more would-be loggers and miners than fans of passenger train operations. Certainly plenty of On30 modelers do run trains with one each of Bachmann's baggage, combine, coach and observation cars around in circles, but how many actually operate passenger and headend trains that set out and pick up mail storage, meal service and sleeping cars en route?

By augmenting a Bachmann passenger and baggage car fleet with cars and kits from Mount Blue, Wiseman and San Juan, an equipment pool for local, overnight, mail and express trains can turn an On30 passenger "train set" into a passenger operation with variety. Bachmann two-door baggage cars and reefers can be relettered for express company ownership. Very few prototype "baggage cars" were actually used for passengers' checked baggage; the vast majority carried mail or express, and usually the car next to the Railway Post Office stored the mail sacks that were being worked en route. Mount Blue makes kits that turn Bachmann passenger superstructures into four-door baggage and RPO cars.

Rearranging the window pattern might be the only change needed to turn Bachmann, Wiseman or San Juan coaches into sleeping cars. Canadian National's operation of the 42-inch gauge Newfoundland Railway was North America's last use of narrow gauge sleepers well into the diesel era. As for converting Knapford Station to On30 use, Merida, Yucatan, had North America's last covered trainshed serving narrow gauge trains into the 1980's.

Gil Hulin     

Has Bachmann released any HO rolling stock with Mexican roadnames in the past 10 to 15 years? Other manufacturers' products seem to sell out before the cars even arrive, and anything Mexican on eBay fetches prices two or three times the original MSRP. I am not seeking roadnames of the 21st Century, but the NdeM, FCP, S-BC, Ch-P and FUS cars of the early 1980's. I feel there is a larger market than most US manufacturers realize.

Gil Hulin
Eugene, OR

While moving I lost the Hayes bumper auto-reversing track piece that is key to making the special track function. I currently have a query sent to Bachmann's parts department asking if the bumper section is available for separate sale. If not, has anyone examined this piece to the extent of being able to explain what wiring and parts are needed to turn any straight or curved auto-reversing section into an end-of-the-line piece? I plan to install the reversing line inside a large industry with a diesel critter shuttling open flat cars between two warehouses, so the end-of-line trackage doesn't need to look pretty.

Gil Hulin
Eugene, OR

I am not a Plasticville collector nor have I purchased any of the various guide books to Plasticville history and variations. I did own many of the O/S buildings in the early 1950's when my 60-plus year adventure in model railroading began. Looking at the hundreds and hundreds of structure kits and built-ups available today in Z, N, HO, S, O and F/G scales, it is amazing that the Bachmann Plasticville line can claim perhaps the only hospital, turnpike toll-booth, TV station and adjustable height apartment house in any scale. Most "craftsman kit" manufacturers today lean towards railroad-oriented structures, with obvious reason. But Plasticville was and is a fully-developed community with numerous buildings unrelated to the town's railroad.

I would like to know what was Plasticville's last completely new tooling? Has a new building been created in the last 30 years (since 1980)? I am not one who is asking for new structures, but find it amazing that enthusiasm and interest continues for a product line that has remained unchanged for decades.

Gil Hulin
Eugene, OR




 

Bachmann has sold an awful lot of billboard reefers, but has anyone used the Atlas O ice house and icing platform to service these cars? If you have, did you (1) elevate the tracks to get the rooftop ice hatches closer to the icing platform, (2) shorten the numerous platform legs to reduce the platform's height, or (3) simply leave a significant distance for the blocks of ice to fall before reaching the tops of the cars?

Since option 3 is not visually pleasing nor realistic, and option 2 requires a lot of pre-assembly planing, cutting and gluing, option 1 may be the easiest to model. The subroadbed can be built up an inch or more to raise the level of the reefer rooftops close to the icing platform level. Then a brick, concrete or wooden retaining wall would be added next to the elevated trackage on the side facing the icing dock.

Gil Hulin

It seems that 95% of the posts on this board concern steam locomotive issues. How many readers model a post-steam era railroad, or one that is at least 80% dieselized? And of those in this category, how many care if their locomotives have sound? A dieselized On30 layout could have a few Bachmann Plymouths, as well as Boulder Valley, Backwoods Miniature and Mount Blue conversion superstructures over HO or S scale mechanisms.

Every time the subject is raised as to what new motive power Bachmann should produce, the response is almost 100% steam. If the question is what internal combustion locomotive would you most like to see, what model would top your list?

[I model a 1950 transition era railroad with a 50-50 motive power split.]

Gil Hulin
Eugene, Oregon

A meeting only for On30 modelers will take place June 4, 2011, at the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club in Portland, OR. Hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and admission is free. Attendees are invited to bring one or two examples of their models. Other activities may include up to three clinics by Oregon O scale structure manufacturers, a display of On30 modules from Washington and California clubs, and discussion on future gatherings. For more information contact Gil Hulin, ghulin@earthlink.net.

Although the billboard reefers are colorful, I would like to see the On30 refrigerator car offered in the Railway Express Agency scheme, suitable for inclusion in either freight or passenger trains. Of course, I want the classic lettering and herald with Railway Express Agency spelled out on the red diamond on dark green car, rather than the later appearance with revised herald showing only REA initials on a brighter green carbody.

Gil Hulin
A fan of mail and express trains