Are all Bachmann Doodlebugs identical. Will the custom shell I have fit on any Doodlebug chassis?

Mr. Bach Man:
As the quality, and the price, goes up on model locomotives, modelers, or at least I, will be taking better care of them and the increased quality will make them last a lot longer. Is there a "rule of them" that states how long replacement parts will be made and sold? It seems that the demand for parts will go up as the locos last longer. As an example, I was looking for a part for an Athearn switcher, that they still offer, and the part was no longer available. I believe auto makers must make replacement parts for 10 years and look how long cars are lasting now. 

I believe MDC/Roundhouse made a considerable number of various Gorre & Daphetid rolling stock. I see some on e-bay.

I have cars with both metal & plastic wheels. There is an obvious difference between the two. However, my 10'X20' layout is a switching layout and I much prefer the plastic wheels to keep cars from rolling away when spotted.

Can't resist. Listing on E-bay for a Bachmann PRR F7 shell states that someone has added hand rails and stagecoach style luggage racks on the roof.  Good laugh to start the morning.

How do you, safely, remove the shell from a doodlebug without damaging it?

Thanks, I'll take a look.
Walt

Thanks.  I'll give it a try.
Walt

Two things.

1) My K-4 runs fine but it has a shimmy that would put a belly dancer to shame. I doubt I could do anything about it but, just maybe, there is. There's a lot of play in
     the drivers. It's one of the first runs so it has some smiles on it.
2) It needs lubrication. The instruction sheet shows how the underframe comes off, but it won't budge after the two screws are removed.  Are there more holding it on?
     Any help would be appreciated.

let me understand.  You just removed the casing on the wire, you didn't cut the wires, they are still connected.

Several years ago I purchased a Bachmann American Freedom GS4 locomotive model #50205.  Box states it's a DCC equipped locomotive w/DCC On-Board. I purchased it to upgrade my AFT Bachmann PLUS GS4. I use straight DC.  It runs great but I found that my switching operation was not friendly to backing up this loco, which I do into stations.  The wires connecting the tender to the locomotive were stiff enough to constantly derail the tender.  I though about adding more weight to the tender but it looked too difficult.  I went back to my PLUS model and it backs without a problem. The new loco, which has been run only 3 or 4 times, has been sitting in the box ever since. Although this loco has DCC on-board, it is not equipped with sound.  I am thinking about selling it. E-bay is listing two Bachmann-PLUS AFTs one for $275 buy it now and one for $299 starting bid price.  There are five DCC models listed, with sound, ranging from $247 to $319.  I can not find my exact model, 50205, on E-bay, or even on Bachmann's site, and have no idea how much to ask for it.  It's an up-grade from the PLUS models and less than the DCC models with sound.  I was thinking a fair price would be $225.  I guess the model I have has been discontinued.  Any suggestions.

I'm looking for the small Plasticville Church. I e-mailed an e-bay seller of an HO listing and he gave me the footprint of 3 3/4 X 5 38.  I Also e-mailed a seller of and O scale church. He gave me the same dimensions.     That's too big for the space I filling. Is there and N scale version?

Thanks.
Walt

Just took it out of the warm soapy, Dawn, water.  It has not been painted, color in and out is the same even color, oxide.  Hope it works. I decaled an undec last week and it came out lousy. The Dullcote looked like I sprayed it with a light coat of powder and, the decals never "snuggled" down. I think I was getting a dry spray from being too far away. If the decal film on the first one would have been hidden by the Dullcote, it would have looked OK, a little weathered. Thanks for your input.
Walt

It's a Front Range 40' box car. I didn't think brand would make a difference. Styrene is styrene.  What I don't know is if undec cars are painted before shipping and if that makes a difference.