Hi guys,

I am expanding my little 4 track yard down the hallway. Orginally built I used a #4 Atlas turnout on the yard lead now with bigger motive power mainly 2-10-2s a Sd40 or two I need to make it bigger how much more space will a #6 require and would I need to relay the whole yard lead and  ladder track?

I should know this from helping to build a monster 40 track yard at my former club but that been at least 10 years ago.


there's the lead in question sorry for all the big hooks blocking the way but can't get new pics right now the batteries in the camera are dead.
Thanks
Stephen

  Hi Guys,

Thought I would share some photos of my ICRR #908 custom kitbashed by the most talented Lanny and  my repainted Bachmann Big Hooks done for me by my friend Alex in MA AKA Guilford Guy.


In the beginning it started life as a Rock Island 2-8-0 behind is a Hallmark  Brass model with all her defects.


Lannys version of IC 908 with a Centralia Car Shops steel caboose. Pardon all the junk as this will soon  be rebuilt.


2nd shot of 908



her big sister Proto 2000 2-10-2 #2924 IC's 2542 was this wheel arrangement before being converted into a 4-8-2


ICG big hook #100434 painted and weathered by Alex. The line now has around 10 big hooks. From Bachmann, Athearn RTR and Tyco. I have always loved big cranes since I got to ride one in the IC yards at age 10.





Former  Tyco Santa Fe big hook now in modern IC paint, guess next time I will have to find some Green Diamond decals and do a set for the steam era ICRR.



The Tyco Santa Fe  crane before repainting the black one is an old  AHM crane from the 1960s.

Stephen

  Hi everyone,

Got my wonderful kitbashed ICRR #908 but the pin on the tender where it connects to drawbar is broken any suggestions for a easy fix.

Will post photos once my site is back online.

Thanks
Stephen

  Hi Guys,

My dear friend Lanny  has one of my Proto 2000 2-10-2s at his locomotive rebuilding shop in Iowa. To be lettered IC 2906 or AKA 2542 before being converted into IC 4-8-2 and I need some help on how much coal and water a USRA Long tenders as seen with this model https://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-60018

Thanks
Stephen

Hi Guys,

I got several steam era IC car kits from accurail and if I follow the instructions and add the large fishbelly under frame then I have no room to mount the trucks IS this an error in the kit or am I missing something simple.

Thanks
Stephen

Hi Guys,

First off sorry for any weird typos,just got back out of the Hospital and 
the ICU ward how many years  of model Railroading funds did that wipe  out I
will find out once I gett the bills.

I got a new P2K 2-10-2 withSound IC of course and I cant get the drawbar to 
coupke to the tender what am I doing wrong? Also I cant get the bloody drawbar
to connect to the tender. I am begining to wonder if the 2ndone I got coming
in  will be instantly placed on Ebay or not. Also the P2K coupler on the
front was  laying inthe package broke any suggestions on adding a new Kadee #158 to
the  front?


Thanks

Stephen

  Hi Guys,

Been quiet for a little while been very sick and in hospital again due to stomach and throat problems. I got an orginal P2K 0-6-0 and the draw bar will not stay coupled. It has the plug in type with the connectors made into the drawbar anyone has any idea what to do the clips no longer clip onto the retainers.

Thanks
Stephen

Hi Guys,

I just got my 2nd 2-8-0 from Bachamnn and when I sat it in front of my two lemon Hallmark 2-8-0s the loco dementions matched perfect now here is the question. Would a new Bachmann chassis and motor fit on a Hallmark Boiler?



here's a shot with them side by side. The RI will soon be senttoTexas for conversion into a IC 2-8-0 or a close copy of one.

Stephen

Hi Guys,

I was wondering what do you do when the original box is to shortor small for the finished model? Good example Athearn BB 50' boxcars once you add Kadees the boxx is to short for the car with out the couplers being putin a strain. Or an Atlas U33C once the hand rails have been added they won't fit back into the Styrofoam inserts?

I am one that don't believe in throwing away boxes. I have almost all my Original HO boxes and 90% of the boxes my G scale came in including original shipping boxes. Heck I even keep my model ship boxes and we all know once we build that Prized model of the Mighty MO or the Bismarck they won't never fit back in the Box.
Thanks
Stephen

Hi Guys,

I posted this link on the HO forum for Lanny and others wanting detailed shots of a IC 4-8-2 and thought I would also share them here for people in other scales.


Here's the link to the collection.
http://steve.bill--porter.com/photos_taken_on_may_the_13th.htm

Enjoy,

Stephen

I have noticed over the last few days thatour post numbers are stuck as I was browsing my stats page on my profile. Is this some kinda error or what? I kinda like to use and see them so I know how active I am on various boards.

Thanks

Stephen

Hi Guys, Dumb question time, I need to replace the front coupler on a IHC 2-8-0 and for the world of me cant figure out what is holding it. I dont see a screw is their a friction pin I am over looking with my blind eyes.

Thanks
Stephen

  HiGuys,

Thought I would share one of my photo galleries of some of the old backwoods railroads here in Mississippi.

http://steve.bill--porter.com/photos_taken_on_april_29th.htm

Enjoy,

Stephen

  Hey Mr. Bachmann how about something for us ICRR fans at least you could take the 2-8-0 and paint and letter it for the IC after all is based on a IC 900 class. Or a nice IC 2-8-2 in plastic. I mean it looks like you got the east coast covered and the West coast but like so many other companiies no Mid America.



Stephen
in Mid Mississippi

 ???Hi guys,

I need a little ok maybe alot of help here. I went to the REBOXX site to look for metal wheels for some older Bachmann cranes 3 axle trucks and the site doesn't list a axle length for that truck it seems the Kadee 33" I have fit pretty tight and I can't get the Reboxx tool in their to clean out the axle holes.

I also have three TYCO cranes that are in need of metal wheels and they will be reapainted and detailed.
www.Reboxx.com
Thanks,
Stephen

I just recently picked up a new Silver Series 250 ton crane and boom tender, I was very surprised and impressed with these new models over the old standard line stuff.

I have owned and ran bachmann spectrum series locomotives for years starting with the 2-8-0 but these new MoW cars really took me fora suprise, couplers mounted at the proper height and metal wheels in proper guage. Very nice job in deed and very crisp paint.





what really shocked me was the two 51' floodlight cars, I picked up for $5.99 new on line. The flood lights actuallywork on these unlike on the older ones where I could never get them to work and I finallygave them away.


two thumbs up Bachmann.

Stephen

Hi Guys,

I don't usually post this late at night, but due to alotof things happening in my life today I can't sleep and was wondering.Has anyone on here ever ordered from www.firsthobby.com what kind of service and how well do they treat the customer. I wish I had a real LHS but all I got is a over priced Hobbytown (Hobbytheif) to my friends within a 40 mile drive of me and the other choices is  Memphis or New Orleans both about 4 hour drive one way and not to mention the price of gas. 

Thanks

Stephen

  Hi guys,

I got a quicky question for ya'll experts here on the board  I have a older Bachmann Big Hook aka wrecking crane and 3 TYCO big hooks. OK once ya'll quit laughing about the $4.99 TYCO specials on ebay. I need help on removing the plastic wheel sets from the 3 axle trucks the two outer ones pop out fine but I can't for the world get the center one to pop out and the ones on the Bachmann crane are way out of guage. All wheelsets on the 3 TYCO are in perfect guage for 1977 quality not to shabby considering how much dirt poor TYCO receives at times.

the fun part will be repainting them for ICRR and ICG and body mounting Kadees.

Thanks

Stephen

Hi Guys,

I was looking over some of my older less run models and model battleships in my display case and was wondering what is the best way to remove the fine dust that builds up on them? I have tried compressed air from a can in the past it gets some of it but not all same with small paint brushes. Any good suggestions out there?

thanks

Stephen

  I was in my local Wal-Mart and found several HO scale pieces of CAT branded models in diecast got a nice 163H motor grader for under 5 bucks. Now if only they will keep them in stock.

Dumb question what scale is 1:64 got a John Deere backhoe in that scale looks kinda big for HO or would it fit in.

Thanks
Stephen