not adviseable to use this locomotive with ez command of any other dcc (digital) controller unless you first install a decoder.


This.  Elucidate, please.

Rich C.

Jeffrey;
Why do you say that?

Rich C.

Ken;
That is some great modelling work.  Especially the trestle.  Imagination is a part of me that doesn;t work too well; so I will steal parts of some layouts that catch my eye.
Rich C.

Penn 1974;
Go to the Kadee website.  Overland 4-8-4, eh?  I am surprised that a brass model would have plastic wheels.  For what they are charaging, I would have thought (that they) supplied decent wheels, rather than that plastic garbage.

REF:  Kadee
Precision Scale
Greenway

These guys all have top notch wheels.

Rich C.

Jim;
Regarding those "88" wheels.  I have used the 'prototype" wheels, and am not crazy about them.  They look good, and to the manufacturer's credit, are very accurate.  But, I would rather the security of RP-25 or the like.  I know that I probably won;t have to  fish a train our of a tunnel because of those wheels derailing on my "expertly done" track.  How have you fared with them, or do you use them?

Rich C.

Jim;
An alcohol stripping proceedure has been around for a long time.  WHen I was stationed in Indiana, some guy over in Peru was using it in '67.  This was before the really decorated models came around.   The one thing I  did read was that; regarding brake fluid on the newer plastic compounds that make up these really nice engines-don't use it.   Not sure i remember where I saw it, but the brake fluid will make the newer compounds very brittle. 
Your idea of using the zip-lok is a good one.  The only thing I would be concerned with is how effective that smaller amount of alcohol would be on a larger model.  One of the things that I like is that you can actually 'see' the object.  This means that you can open the bag, and if you have to, use a stiff brush or toothbrush, etc., to assist the task.

On a different note; Did Roger T. fall off of the side of the earth?
Rich C.   

Nevin;
you can pick one up right at 'parts and service' section of this site.
Rich C.

Of course you can; just close your eyes, click your heels together three times, and...
Actually, looking at it, there are a couple of options (if you are a masochist) that wold probably work.  Like I aforemention ed, this is not for the faint-at-heat...  If you are really hot for this, get the whole valve gear assembly.  it's there; live and in living colour...

Rich C.

ACY; you are correc-it from correcticus! 
Bachmann, as well as others, not to be left out of a rather lucrative segment of this market, did, indeed, offer "painted/unletteed'.  Now, did they offer 'unpainted', I don't offhand remember.

Rich C.

Richards Electric:  Electrician here, at yoru service, Ma'am...
Hey Jim; what was it you asked me about?
Hey red hot dog; what does the motor say on it?  I think if you look really good, you will see a "D.C'. thing there somewhere...   And Like Hunt says...
Being as this is the season for giving, the house call today was free...

Rich C.

As one ho likes to tweak and rebuild models to my liking (there are lots of us), I can think of many ways to 'customize' that tender; and Bachmann has a variety of compatible tenders, possibly to your liking.  Oh, and remember; on NdeM locomotives, the headlight was on the smokebox.

Richa C.

Suggestion:
Go to "PARTS, SERVICE&INFORMATION" and find hat you are looking for there.  If you have never attempted work on valve gear, you'll NOt want to tackle this puppy right out of the chute!  Advice from someone who builds this stuff up:  Get a new whole underframe assembly-you will know what I am talking about when you look at the part4s breakdown.  Putting the superstructure onto a new frame/motor/valvegear assembly is by far, the lesser of all devils! 

Rich C.

Bless me, Fr. brock, the devil made me do it...

Rich C.

Passenger trucks are available from numerous companies.  Start with 'Precision Models' , and Walthers.

Rich C.

What is undercoated?