I was pretty proud of the brass Ridgeway spark arrestor I scratch built for my 2-6-0. That was until I saw a commercial one on an e-Bay loco. I asked the seller where he got the C & S style bear trap; but, he didn't remember. I've seen a similar item in cast brass, but it was in HO.

Anyone know where I might find a couple of Ridgeway spark arrestors in On30?

YES, There are screws hidden inside the Spectrum passenger cars!!!

If you can see in the windows, you'll notice there's four screws. Two for the trucks, the other two hold the frame, metal weight and the car floor as a sandwich assembly. Disassembly starts with removing the roof.

If your passenger cars are like mine, the documentation that comes with them is minimal, at best. But, if you paid attention, then you remembered they are advertised as having removable roofs. They simply snap off, start by getting a thumb under the roof above the door at the overhang, catch the edge and gently apply upward pressure.

With the roof removed, you'll have direct access to the lamp unit. With the wires unsoldered, remove the floor screws. Now is the time to release the four dis-assembly tabs below the bulkheads. Run a thumb thumb nail in the frame/body joint while trying to get one of the ends to free-up. It's easier to do than to describe.

I've disassembled all of my cars for a change to custom colors. Since I'm all thumbs, I remove the couplers and end pieces to prevent damaging the small stuff while prying the frame and body apart. Be advised, that still leaves the truss rods vulnerable while you are trying get a good grip for the final separation. I install my uncoupling linkage detail (like B'mann uses on the locos) while the end pieces are off the car.

Thanks for the heads-up, Bach-man.

Now I have to convince Mrs Santa that I need another loco.

Any idea of the minimum radius curves for the new 2-6-6-2s?

I recall my purchase of the Spectrum 2-8-0: There had been no mention of a minimum radius in the specifications; however, there was a small slip of paper in the box with a note recommending a 22-in radius as the minimum for the 2-8-0. I'm curious if they have done the same thing with the  2-6-6-2.

My 2-8-0 came with a little tag suggesting 22-inch min. curves.

With those couplers, it's not market ready for the existing On30 market. Judging by its truck's proportions, does it really look like a narrow gauge?

This may sound unconventional, but I use a paint brush. I used to use sewing machine oil that came with a long needle applicator, but the individual droplets were too large and tended to mess things up. Now, with a tip of the brush, I have more control to apply the oil sparingly.

Pete

An architect's 1/4" scale works wonders.

Great idea, works for me. Wouldn't hurt the pax cars, either.

El Loco,

I don't think so. During my fruitless research, I recall a reference to the thing coming with another B'mann loco. That's what lead me to think it's a tool or gauge.
Now, I'm wondering if it's just packaging material to protect a chip (if shipped separately), but why would the chip not be installed?

The mystery continues,
Pete

Eric,

I was hoping that some information had surfaced in the past 6-months.

Pete

 ^ With it's size, the only place it can fit (unaltered) is the cab ceiling; but, the holes are wrong to accommodate the steam dome, and it's an awkward location for a decoder.

My new Porter 0-4-2 just arrived and I have the same question that wilsonbrucea posted last September:

QuoteI just purchased the 0-4-2 Porter and want to know what a mystery part is that was packed with the loco.

The part is a rectangle of black styrene 1 1/8" x 1 3/4" with two holes in it and the part number M3259C cast on it.  This part does not appear anywhere on the exploded parts diagram.

What is part M3259C?
jmooney said he'd searched google with no luck.
And, peterherron opined that it may be the front of the fuel bunker, but the part is much too large for that, and it doesn't have any sort of finish.

I wonder if it's a template, gage or tool of some sort. Any information will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Pete

Tim and jpipkin

Many thanks for the data. I'm in no way married to the OE couplers and wouldn't mind converting to a simpler system.

Cheers,
Pete

What's the minimum radius curve you've successfully run a Bachmann Porter? Meaning no disrespect to EZ-Track, I'm open to hand laying tighter curves than are available from B'mann. I'm guessing the 0-4-0 and 0-4-2 are similar in their turning habits.