One of the things I like best about the Bachmann forum is the sharing of ideas .
What works for one may work for others .I want to share what I found that works great for me ,very cheap too and under $3.00 .
Shur Line ( the company that makes paint brushes ,etc .) has a Trim & Touch Up Pad .They are sold most every where ,WalMart,Lowes,Home Depot,Sears.
It is a six inch handle with a slide on pad .Comes with two pads which can be washed .The pad is 1 1/2" W X 2 1/4" L .The pad is very soft with a thin foam pad under it.The soft pad is on a plastic slide on base . The pad is made for painting and staining .I spray alcohol on one pad and use the other one for wiping the track off . You can find pictures of the Trim & Touch up Pad on the internet .Lowes website has one pictured .I believe they are listed for $2.54 .Some have been listed on Ebay in the past .
Hope this may help someone .Have fun and enjoy the hobby .

I just purchased a custom sized backdrop ( 20" X 60") for my small HO layout.
Should anyone be looking for ideas I suggest you go to backdropjunction.com.
I liked what they offered and received an excellent product and service.

Would appreciate information on how to have a trolley bell clang sound that is independent of the car itself .There have been post about the ITT module which sounds great .However ,does anyone know how to hook one up?  Can they be connected without soldering connections ? How about mounting the push button switch ,etc .Hope someone can help me on this .Thanks ! Art

Just a brief comment for what it's worth . I wanted to display two airplanes but  can not hang anything from the ceiling .I tried something and I like it.
Took a 3/8"  36" clear acrylic dowel / rod ( from Amazon ) and cut it in half .
Drilled 3'8" hole in platform for the clear dowel with the airplane super glued to the dowel .Again, I think it looks neat .Sorry I can not post a picture .Art

Hi !  Does anyone know if someone sells an HO gauge stationary American flag mounded on a pole with  base ?  The only one I have found is the electronic one and those that are on a  frame or building .Thanks for any information you might give ! Art

Recently I posted a question related to cleaning wheels on the DCC Peter Witt street car .I would like to share what I discovered is the best way for me to clean all wheels .
1- Connect two straight sections to EZ track rerailer connected to small Bachmann DC power pack .
2-Cut 1 1/2" X 4" piece of coffee filter paper .
3-Place paper tightly over the rerailer next to power cord . Tuck paper under rerailer and spray with isopropyl alcohol ( first aid stuff ).I use small spray bottle ( old lens cleaning bottle ).
4-Run unit back and forth over paper.
   Paper towel can be used but the coffee filter paper works best with cars with low clearance . Hope this helps someone . Have Fun  ! Art

The only DCC I have are two HO  Peter Witt street cars .I have always cleaned locomotive and trolley car wheels by placing a small piece of paper towel over the track,wet with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol , and running the cars across the paper towel .Always making sure not to get alochol on the paint .I am having trouble doing this with the Peter Witt cars because they are very close to the rails .Any one have a better way of cleaning the wheels ? I also use the " Tidy Track Roto Wheel Cleaner " However ,seems to me the DCC units need to be kept extra clean,more so than the DC ones . Thanks for your input ! Art

Yes,I am sort of a neat freak .However ,each time I picked up my Bachmann DCC Control Center I always had two wires come along with it .I had them taped together until I discovered 1/4" split loom would not only look very neat but do an excellent job of holding them together .Loom comes in a number of sizes .1/4"fit two wires perfect . It is very inexpensive and comes in different lengths .It is  flexible plastic tubing with a split in it .All you do is open the split and push in the wires .Maybe this is well known to some of you .It was not to me .It should be sold at places that sell automotive wiring .Maybe even sound systems .I found mine on Ebay .Hope this helps someone .Feel free to email me for additional information . Art

Can pictures be added to forum posts ? If so , How is it done .Art

I would like to know if the highrailer wheels on the Bachmann pick up truck and bus are needed to run them ? Looks to me they are only there to represent the real thing .If they can be removed it would be easier to place them on the track .Thanks for anything you might share .Art

Thought I would share how I have four complete HO  loops plus one Bachmann Reversing Track all on a 4'X6' platform . Here goes :
   1- Outer Loop
       12-18" radius EZ Track
         8-9"  straight EZ Track( one left,one right ,3 front &3  rear )
         2 -1 1/2" straight EZ Track ( one front, one rear )
         2- 3" straight EZ Track ( one front ,one rear )

    2-Bachmann Reversing Track (  Makes a horse shoe bend between
                                                     first & Second loops )
                                                     
          8- 18" radius reversing track
          3-   9" straight reversing track
          2-   9 " straight reversing end tracks that come with set .
          2-   End bumpers
                NOTE - This required the Bachmann Reversing set plus one
                            extra 9" straight and 12- 18" radius tracks .

    3-Second Loop
       12 -18" radius EZ track 
         2-  3" straight EZ Track ( one right side one left side )
         2  - 9" straight EZ  Track ( one front one rear )

    4- Third Loop
         12- 18" radius EZ Track

    5- Forth inside loop
         12- 15" radius EZ Track
                    NOTE- Since Bachmann does not make a 15" radius
                                rerailer I used an Atlas Terminal Rail Joiner.

Hope this information might help someone .
  Enjoy !
    Art         

I would like to share how I got two loops of HO EZ track on a piece of plywood 38" square .
( 1 )  The original 12- 18" radius EZ  track that came with a Bachmann set  fit nicely on a 38" X 38 " piece of plywood.
( 2 ) 12- 15"  radius  EZ track will fit inside the the other loop .Since Bachmann does not make a rerailer connector track in 15" radius I used an Atlas 842 HO Terminal Rail Joiner .The two wires attach directly to the rails .
Hope this helps someone who needs a nice setup in a very small area .
NOTE - 15" radius is not for long cars .I use it with Bachmann Highrailer Bus, Pick up Truck and Trolley Car .
Enjoy !
Art

I just purchased a new Spectrum DCC Peter Witt street car . I am using it on my DC system .This is my first ever DCC powered unit .When I first turn it on it only will move slow . After it warms up it runs faster but always takes more power than other Bachmann PCC street cars . Is this normal for                    operating DCC on DC ?  Thanks for your input . Art

My Bachmann auto reversing track works great .However ,the slowest speed setting is rather fast . Is there a way to make the throttle control have a slower start up speed ? Another question is if the auto reversing track could be used with a more sensitive power pack ? Thanks for your comments .Art