Very nice Sir Alex,

Can't wait to see the finished product and once again thanks so much for doing these  for me.

Stephen

Hi Paul,

I found them on M.B. Klein's site under Special Deals in the HO section.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/category_s/1020.htmthey have alot of good deals hidden in there on Bachmann stuff. My last two orders was from First hobby to get two ICG cabeese for a steal at $34.00 each from Centralia Car shops.

Stephen

wowzers, amazing track work thank goodness the ICRR didnt have anything like that in the area I am modeling lol.

Stephen

Hi Guys,

I just got my first order in from First Hobby and boy am I impressed. Very well packed and timely shipping, not like some places I have ordered from almost no packing and the stuff packed in like sardines. Large box tons of Styrofoam peanuts and boy does this Centralia Car Shops caboose look nice. In fact I am ordering Road number #2 now from First Hobby and the prices are good and a very nice selection of items.

Thanks again

Stephen

Thanks guys,
For the suggestions if I could ever find my little fancy measuring tool I could measure the axles but it and my pin vise both seemed to have vanished sinceI have been sick.

Most of my trucks didn't need a tool to ream them out but I got a batch of Bowser hoppers awhile back and no matter what wheel sets I tried the trucks seemed to have the brakes locked so the reamer came in handy there.

Thanks

Stephen

 ???Hi guys,

I need a little ok maybe alot of help here. I went to the REBOXX site to look for metal wheels for some older Bachmann cranes 3 axle trucks and the site doesn't list a axle length for that truck it seems the Kadee 33" I have fit pretty tight and I can't get the Reboxx tool in their to clean out the axle holes.

I also have three TYCO cranes that are in need of metal wheels and they will be reapainted and detailed.
www.Reboxx.com
Thanks,
Stephen

I just recently picked up a new Silver Series 250 ton crane and boom tender, I was very surprised and impressed with these new models over the old standard line stuff.

I have owned and ran bachmann spectrum series locomotives for years starting with the 2-8-0 but these new MoW cars really took me fora suprise, couplers mounted at the proper height and metal wheels in proper guage. Very nice job in deed and very crisp paint.





what really shocked me was the two 51' floodlight cars, I picked up for $5.99 new on line. The flood lights actuallywork on these unlike on the older ones where I could never get them to work and I finallygave them away.


two thumbs up Bachmann.

Stephen

I use Kadee and Intermountain when I can find them. It seems like lately everyone is out of the 33" Intermountain metal wheels as I have tried 4 places on line and everyone is out. I would ream the trucks first a must on most Bachmann older rolling stock. I just got a new Silver Series 250 ton Big hook and it is one of the nicest Bachmann freight pieces I own all wheels in guage with metal wheels and couplers mounted at the right height.

Kadee also makes a good free rolling wheel sets and trucks. they are lighter than the Intermountain but just as nice for the price.

Reboxx makes metal wheels with different axle lengths, butI have never used them myself.

Stephen

Thanks guys,

I have just made a pretty big order up for them including a Centralia Car Shops ICG caboose. Which I haven't been able to find anywhere else in stock. Along with a few other nice items.

Thanks


Stephen

Hi Larry,

The Spec models do have much greater detail than the plus. I have owned both Spec and Plus versions of several Steamers sorry no diesels all Athearn, Atlas and Proto 2000 in that field.

But in comparing my plus N&W J 4-8-4 to my new Spec version, theSpec version has crisper paint and lettering and runs much much smoother. Its like comparing 1990s TYCO Steam to the stuff we see today, I consider the plus more of a train set engine and not a model. Also the Spec models have a much better motor in my opinion and DCC can be added alot easier to Spec than the old Plus series according to several friends who have done it. I run only DC and cant comment on that from experiance.

I am sure others on the board can answer your DCC questions much better than I can.

Stephen

My ICRR version 4-8-2 will handle22 inch radius curves but at very slow speeds and nothing smaller than a #6 Atlas custom line turnout, don't even try it on a #4 custom line and goodness forbid a Snap switch with a 18" radius. Mine had a warning in the box do not operate on nothing smaller than 22" radius. I got a Bachmann 4-8-4 spec J and it don't like nothing smaller than 24" radius. And if your curves are not laid perfect forget 22" radius.

Stephen

I am still reading it, but I am clueless when it comes to most English Steam Even tho I have gotten to see some in operation in 2001. And I am far from being a Thomas fan.

Stephen

Hi Guys,

I don't usually post this late at night, but due to alotof things happening in my life today I can't sleep and was wondering.Has anyone on here ever ordered from www.firsthobby.com what kind of service and how well do they treat the customer. I wish I had a real LHS but all I got is a over priced Hobbytown (Hobbytheif) to my friends within a 40 mile drive of me and the other choices is  Memphis or New Orleans both about 4 hour drive one way and not to mention the price of gas. 

Thanks

Stephen

Hi JR,

It really depends on what kind of work load they have, some of mine have came back in a few weeks others took 2 months.

Stephen

  Hi Kevin,

The Orange Bachmann crane is the same way with the kadees. I mounted them with thick CA and there is no way to remove them. Most of my big hooks are shelf queens at the moment due to no room on the little 4x8 layout.

So far the count is 3 Tyco 1 Bachmann and one AHM, the AHM is the worst it derails every few inches but it was made in 1960 and very little can be done to the fragile trucks to make run better.

I got 4 more older Bachmann big hooks I am bidding on ebay for about $6.00 bucks each.

Stephen