Stan,

Thanks for the correction.

Patrick

I just looked at the switch stand on the Bachmann Store and would reverse what I said in my last post due to the color of the targets. I think red should indicate a divergent route and reduced speed while the green target would indicate high ball. Of course you could repaint the targets the correct colors.

Set the circle to indicate when the switch is lined straight or for the main and diamond when it is lined for the divergent route.

I'd like to mention the systems from RCS-RC in Australia and Del Tang in England. These systems use the RC vehichle standard DSM2 on 2.4 GHz. One of the reasons I chose these brands is because they weren't proprietary and if they did go out of business, I would be able to get components to continue to make my models work. I've ordered directly from both of these companies and shipping has been easy and painless. The customer support that I've gotten from both of them has been outstanding, my emails with technical questions have been answered very quickly.

If you're looking for a plug and play system, checkout RCS-RC. Tony has specific instructions for many of the Bachmann locomotives. Del Tang is a little more for the tinkerer. David offers his transmitters  in kit form as well as built. Some of his receivers are very tiny and people are using them in smaller scales. My first experience with DSM2 was with an HO Plymouth locomotives I converted. I used a receiver from Del Tang and built one of his transmitters up. It worked so well, that I decided to use it on my 1:20.3 scale equipment.

Patrick

Any announcements yet from the NMRA convention?

I'd recommend Super Clean, a degreaser made by Castrol. I bought mine at a O'reilly's auto parts.  Seemed to work better than brake cleaner. Soak some cotton balls in it and let sit on the decal. You can use wooden tooth picks to help scratch off the decal. 

Patrick

Mickeykelley,

I hope your not right. Given the history of Bachmann releasing 1:20.3 models of Blackstone's 1:87 models, I think it's a possibility and would fill a market. I don't think Bachmann needs t release any more locomotives in 1:20.3 but but rerelease some of there past offerings. Look how popular the Connie still is. There are no bachmann passenger equipment to go behind the beautiful K-27 and C-19, and few freight equipment currently in production. Time will tell. Only a month away.

Patrick

I'm anxiously waiting the July announcement. Hoping first for some 1:20.3 passenger cars. Fingers crossed.

Patrick

I can speak from my experience operating K-36 and K-28 class locomotives on the D&SNG. On the locomotives, there are large hoses (4" or so) on each side of the front of the tender coming out of the bottom of what is referred to as the tank leg. Water is gravity fed from there into the injectors which are mounted under the cab. Up in the cab are the injector starting valves which control the steam to the injectors and how much water is fed into the boilers. Too much water for the amount of fire, the boiler pressure drops. Too little water for the amount of steam the locomotive is using, the water in the boiler drops, causing a dangerous situation. As a fireman, you try to balance these variables out while the engine is working. When going up grade, the water in the tender rolls to back of the tender. At a certain point, you may not be able to feed the injectors while there is still water in the tank. A situation, you do not want.

This is basically the set up on all rod locomotives. I do not have any experience on geared locomotives but imagine it is similar with a pipe/hose or combination running from the water tank to the injector, then a pipe to the boiler check valve and into the boiler. Hope that's helpful.

Patrick

Thanks Bach-man,

I looked at Krylon's website and it looks like most of their paints are sold in rattle cans. I'm looking for something I can spray with an air brush.

Thanks Bill.

I'll be re painting my connie tender with an air brush soon. What are some products that match?

Bruce,

Nice looking  kitbash! Great thing about Bachmann products is there not too expensive to cut up. I still think Bachmann should release there own 1:20 version of the Annie.

Bill,

Waiting to save up for a sound system but plan on using a phoenix pb8. I have to other locos that I'll do at the same time and I'll get a programming cable, so it's a bit of an investment.

Bill, Kevin and Bruce,

All very inspiring models! Kudos to your visions and completing them to fruition. I kick myself for not buying one when they were on closeout but am continuing to look on Ebay.
I think I would do a conversion similar to Kevin's. This makes me question why Bachmann didn't produce a center cab diesel that was modeled after what the EBT and D&SNG operate instead of the generic standard gauge/narrow gauge version. Making a similar model in On30 and HO may have something to do with it. I Kader has a relationship with Blackstone/Soundtrax and often the Bachmann 1:20th releases seem to coincide with what Blackstone is releasing. Blackstone is currently working on K-28s and K-36s which I think is smart because lots of people have seen these operating in person and ridden behind them. I don't think Bachmann needs any bigger locos, per recent posts, people still consider the Connie there favorite.