Aw, cheer up, esteemed Curmudgeon.

First of all, even the 1:1 guys had to turn theirs upside down to work on them or lubricate them:



So, doing the same for the model should be a mere trifle.

My bet is, if there's some joint project with Aristocraft headed up by Mr. Ames, that the kind of Glastnost involved in THAT kind of accord will take a whole LONG time.

That should leave plenty of room in the tender for the proclaimed "Easily Converted for Battery Operation" and "Room Available for Sound Installation" on the ones we'll see anytime soon.

Noah E.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
An EZ-DCC.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two sound decoders, for my EZ- DCC.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Three five amp boosters, two sound decoders for my EZ-DCC.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters, two sound decoders for my EZ-DCC.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Five friggn’ amps!
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Six powered axles drawing
Five friggin’ amps!
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters, two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Seven breakers blowing
Six Powered axles drawing
Five friggin’ amps!
Four bags of railclamps three five amp boosters two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eight amps that were five amps
Seven breakers blowing
Six powered axles drawing
Five friggin’ amps!
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine mis-programmed CV’s
Eight amps that were five amps
Seven breakers blowing
Six powered axles drawing
Five friggin’ amps!
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten books explaining
Nine mi-sprogrammed CV’s
Eight amps that were five amps
Seven breakers blowing
Six powered axles drawing
Five Friggin’ Amps!
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters, two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven miles of wiring
Ten books explaining
Nine mis-programmed CV”s
Eight amps that were five amps
Seven breakers blowing
Six powered axles drawing
FIVE FRIGGIN AMPS!
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters, two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve track cleaning methods
Eleven miles of wiring
Ten books explaining
Nine mis-programmed CV’s
Eight amps that were five amps
Seven breakers blowing
Six powered axles drawing
FIVE FRIGGIN’ AMPS
Four bags of railclamps, three five amp boosters,  two sound decoders
For my EZ-DCC.

Yep.  He's back.  How could I resist, with the Bach Man's devotion to baseball (even if his loyalty is a bit misplaced) surpassed only by his affinity for model trains?? 

Mikey at the Bach

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Spectrum fans that day;
    They thought of two eight two,  but knew not how far away.
    And then when Dizzy died at first, and Lenny did the same,
    A sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.

    A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
    Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
    They thought if only Mikey could but get a whack at thatâ€"
    We'd even put up money NOW with Mikey  in the stack!

    But Shay preceded Mikey, as did also Amy Lake,
    And the former was a nightmare and the latter was a fake;
    So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
    For there seemed but little chance of Mikey's getting to the bat.

    But Shay was well received, to the wonderment of all,
    And Lake, the re-invented, made woodburner fans highball;
    And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
    There was Lake safe at second and Shay a-hugging third.

    Then from a six chime whistle's throat arose a 14 (L);
    It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
    It knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
    For Mikey, mighty Mikey, was advancing to the bat.

    There was coal in Mikey's tender as he stepped into his place;
    There was oil in Mikey's bearings and a headlight on his face.
    And from the pilot to the window where the Hogger sat,
    No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Mikey at the bat.

    Ten thousand eyes were on him when they named him at the show;
    Five thousand tongues protested when they couldn’t tell us more.
    Then while the rumors abounded and many started shooting from the hip,
    Mikey’s faithful placed their hopes on one container ship..

    And now the Christmas announcements were posted on the board,
    And Mikey’s fans were watching it, anticipating word.
    Close by the new arrivals the text unheeded spedâ€"
    But there was no sign of Mikey.... "Strike one," the umpire said.

    From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
    Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
    "Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some one on the stand;
    And it's likely they'd have killed him had not the Bach-Man raised his hand.

    With a smile of Christian charity great Bach Man's visage shone;
    He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
    They waited for the Toy Fair, and the posts of what was new;
    But Mikey still had not been named, and the umpire said, "Strike two."

    "Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered fraud;
    But one scornful look from Bach-Man and the audience was awed.
    They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
    And they knew that Bachmann wouldn't let their hopes all die in vain.

    The cheer is gone from Mikey’s fans, his fans anticipate;
    But news is scarce, and Mikey seems prototypically late.
    And now the fans must wait for fall, and then they’ll finally know,
    Whether or not long sought for Mikey really is a “go.”

    Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
    The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
    And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
    Let’s hope it’s true in Mudhen-Ville, and Mikey won’t strike out!