wire size?

[richg]

The #30 wire looks quite small but it is the size in HO scale locos. I have some #30 wire wrap wire but it is solid wire with a very thin tough coating. I doubt it is used much anymore. It requires a special stripper. !970's, 1980's technology.
The colors are pretty much standard for DCC and I would recommend you try to stick with it.
Tan and striped are not included as those two colors are used with a couple different decoder companies.
The colored shrink matches the wires. A hair dryer with a funnel attachment works well for shrinking the stuff. I have a professional heat gun I picked up some years ago. Even a clean soldering iron tip works if you are careful.

Rich

[utdave]

Stripping small wires     i use a bic lighter, heat the end and pull off,  if  its to much just snip off the extra.     then can be used for heat shrink  on your connections as well.   

[Doneldon]

Yes, 30 gauge wire is pretty tiny but it's adequate for the short connections inside of a locomotive. Just don't use it anywhere else.
I'm aware that some people use it for track feeders but I think they are a poor choice for that application. I don't hesitate to use 28
or 30 ga wire inside of locos or buildings but I always use at least 24 ga for feeders.

                                                                                                                                 -- D

[electrical whiz kid]

Yeah, Rich-but that might be one reason why the old timers wear dentures...  Kind of humourous when one thinks about it.
Rich C.