Last year I purchased a spectrum 2-8-0 (best steam loco purchase ever), but the beautiful quality of the engine reminded me of the lower quality of my older IHC models. On the spectrum (AT&SF 2526) the firebox, smokebox, and rods are painted in a graphite paint. I would like to paint my other models with the same color (if available) or a similar graphite to cover the hideous fake chrome look.

Would testors offer a paint like this or any other modeling paint company?

I have several proto 2000 GP30s and GP9s. On the boxes they have a DCC logo, but do not say ready or equipped. I opened up one of them and there is a circuit board wired to lights, motor and some resistors on the board. It looks as if there are eight pins with wires coming from them so I'm guessing that could be a decoder already in place. I currently just run them DC, but I am currently making plans to convert all of my locomotives to DCC. It doesn't look like there is a place for a decoder to plug in. Does this mean it is already equipped? By the way these were made by life-like before the walthers buyout.

I have an asortment of models from Spectrum and IHC steam to proto 2000 and athearn desisels. I do not run much now because I just have a smaller "portable layout" until I can build a real layout. I use mostly athearn blue box kits and some bachmann cars, but I have never cleaned the wheels on the engines. They seem pretty dirty and I can see the electrical contact performance dwindling when I run them. I don't have much money to spend right now, so what are some good, cheaper, chemicals that can be a good wheel cleaner?

I have a IHC mike and I like using it for long frieghts. I just ordered a spectrum 2-8-0 and I want to use them in tandem with the mike in the back, but the mike doesn't have a front coupler, just a fake one. I can get some kadee boxes and couplers, but I don't know how to install it. Any suggestions?