I agree, max[uk], the ability to customize locos was a big deal to the bashers.  I've often thought that Bachmann should drop back to On30 locos like the Mogul, except maybe with DCC.  Simple details, plastic boiler, and [hopefully] lower cost.  Maybe even some interchangeable parts, so tooling could be used across several models.  Or, maybe HO tooling for mechanisms could be used, with new bodies in On30, just like the bashers have been doing for decades.

Maybe the sky isn't falling, but it sounds like it might be awhile before the we see any new skies. 


manager

Thanks Scotty, that's it.  I thought that photo #3 showed the "russian iron" version, but it's hard to judge color in photos like these.  The photos are a great help, but the lighting in the room was pretty poor.  Hopefully we can get some photos from Chicago, and see what these look like on their wheels.

CP

Over on the On30 Conspiracy at Yahoo Groups, there is a folder in the Photos section that shows some paint samples of the 4-4-0 at some sort of convention.  The Photos folder is NMK-01, and all I can tell is that they were shot by "Engineer Nate."

Color arguments aside, the paint schemes look really nice, and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Any progress on the comparison photos?  That Russian Iron Boiler version looks really nice...

Thanks for the info on the Tweetsie 4-6-0, Jim.  It's really hard to judge the relative size of locomotives in photos.  It's not as big as I expected, but still pretty large compared to the current batch of Bachmann On30 gear.  I think a smaller, more generic 4-6-0 would be more likely from Bachmann. 

Just out of curiosity, how long is the Tweetsie 4-6-0, including the tender?  Then we can figure out how that compares with Bachmann's Mogul and Connie.  I get the feeling that it's on the large side for On30, and Bachmann might be more likely to go with a "catalog" engine.  This would be my preference, depending on the size.  It looks like a slightly entended Mogul.



For what it's worth, one of the guys over at the On30 Conspiracy bashed a nice 4-6-0, using a Mogul-sized boiler and cab, and an HO Tyco 4-6-0 chassis with a new motor.  It might sound odd, but it turned out great, and looked completely plausible.  And I've seen some great 4-6-0's bashed from Bachmann Moguls, although it looks like this project would be a challenge.

Rio Grande Hobbies has some re-lettering sets specifically made for the 2-6-0.  I haven't bought these, but I do have some of their resin kits, and they are qhite good.  Here is a link to their Ebay store, and you can probably buy decals directly as well.

http://stores.ebay.com/RIO-GRANDE-HOBBY-COMPANY

I've noticed that my DCC locos don't turn on their headlights until I press the Function 10 button.  Do the headlights work when you do that?  Also, you might see what happens to the background noise when you press Function 8, which should mute all sounds.  You may be hearing static, but it may also be the "background noise" that locos make when sitting still.  The hiss of steam sounds a lot like static.

I've been thinking of taking the Davenport apart, planning to replace the cab with something more rustic, but your email got my curiosity going. 

The instructions are right, you just have to remove the screws on each coupler.  But then you have to remove the coupler pocket at each end.  These are the black things with 3 slots, that the couplers are sticking out of.  The pockets pull strainght out the front and back, and this "unlocks" the body.  It did take some effort to remove the body on my Davenport, but not too much.

I do hope that helps.  These things are such intricate little puzzles.

I've noticed that the chuff rate for my Forney is too low, on both DC and DCC.  There should be 4 chuffs per revolution, but the Forney is about 1/3 that rate, out of the box.  All of this can be adjusted, and I need to take the time to reprogram that setting.  But the sound quality is great.

Also, in terms of radius, I find 22 inches radius to be pretty minimal for the Forney.  26 inches is better.  18 inch radius barely works.  I've thought about buying a short tender from Wiseman Model Works.  Some folks have chopped off the back end of the Forney, and replaced it with the Wiseman tender, which allows it to take tight curves much better, and gives it a real small, funky look.  But I've got too much on my workbench already.

Dustin, there are low-cost airbrushes that are much cheaper than a new loco.  And, you gain the satisfaction of making something unique.  Don't dismiss the idea until you do some research.  It's not as expensive as you think.

If it helps Chris, I've got 4 moguls here, and none of them have driver problems.  I've never heard of this problem before, either, so my guess is that this is a rare problem.  Which means the service dept. should be able to help you.

Great idea Norman, lots of us would like to see some of the various Disney locos in On30.  Not to mention all the Disney fans out there.  I'm sure that licensing and the complexity of the paint schemes would be issues, but it's a good looking locomotive.



Image from Mouseplanet -- check www.mouseplanet.com for more/

Bachmann's 2-8-0 is an excellent intro to On30, and I did buy one with the sound pre-installed.  Very nice.  One evening the kids and I hooked up every freight and passenger car we had to it, and it pulled them on level track with no problem.  It's a very impressive bit of scale engineering.

There is a good online article on how to install sound in the 2-8-0 yourself, which you might find interesting.  Harold's site has lots of useful info.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/of_sound/

Excellent suggestion, Bob, count me in.  I have seen some very nice 10-wheelers bashed from the Mogul, and I may give that a try some day.  It's certainly going to be easier to bash the Mogul than any of the newer, mostly metal locos.

Which raises this question: Has Bachmann considered making more "Silver Series" type locomotives, similar to the Mogul?  I'm sure there are manufacturing and money factors, but I would think the Christmas train set and Collector market would be ready for something new.  Not to mention the On30 bashers.  There is a rumor on this board that Bachmann has sold over a million Moguls over the years...  If that's true, it would certainly point to a demand for more lower-cost plastic locos.