You could try Methyl Ethyl Ketone, MEK, available at paint and car parts stores.

Tac & Loco Bill,

Thank you for your service to our country...........

On pages 344, 345, 362 & 369 in Narrow Gauge Country by Mallory Hope Ferrell, contains enough pictures of consists with drilling equipment to answer some of your questions.  You may want to contact Mr. Ferrell as e is a wealth of information and does model the Colorado narrow gauges in On3.  His E-mail address can be gotten from the Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette, in which he has a column.

Several years ago I bought bearings from an ad in "Finescale Railroader", I bought a ton of them, they were Timken bearings and very cheap.  I've installed them in all my rolling stock including Bachmann.  You drill out the journal with 1/4" drill 1/16" deep and snap in the bearing - the inside diameter of the bearing matches Bachmann axles perfectly.  You my be able to get the Company phone number from the Finescale Railroader website or Russ the publisher.

Dave,

Try this website:

        http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/shay_tips.html#sound

It should be of some help.............

A good substitute is the grease sold in pool supply stores for lubricating the plastic valves on hot tube and pools.  It's plastic compatible, will not separate under high heat, repels water, is clear, doesn't stain and best of all it sells for about $2.00 for a couple of ounces.

Gion,

Go to "hyaklocoworks.weebly.com" he has down loadable diagrams for your 2-8-0.

Kalmbach's 800 Customer Service is very responsive and goes out of their way to help.  I had a billing problem on some DVD's and they stayed on the phone for 30 minutes resolving the problem.

RMC on the other hand insists that subscription questions, problems or change of address be handled via the mail.  They do offer a subscription Email address, but do not respond or acknowledge your inquiries to it.  I've sent them 4 Emails in mid March and have yet hear back.

Jon D. Miller had a string 6 - 8 months ago addressing how the circuit board on his 4-4-0 was fried and had pictures showing how he removed the board and rewired every, try that thread or E-mail Jon directly, He was a great help to me with this......

I bought the Bachmann Gear Grease some time ago, and mine when opened (at room temperature) was a pink liquid slightly heavier than water, I didn't want to risk it on gears so I use it as a heavy gear oil an axles, side rods and the like.  I don't know if I got a bad batch or not, however I found a substitute from a pool supply store called "Lube Tube" non toxic, compatible with plastic and forms a seal around axles inside the gear box so it's great for outdoor use here in Florida. 

Jon,

An excellent suggestion, perhaps also include the minimum radius for each locomotive as well....

TrainHigh,

My Spectrum 4-4-0 length is 26 3/8" from the tip of the cow catcher to the tender foot boards.  The height from rail head to the top of the Cab is 5 1/2", the Whistle is the highest point on the locomotive at  7 1/4" ( the whistle is approximately 1/4" higher than the stack).

My Spectrum 2-6-0 length is 26 3/8" from the tip of the cow catcher to the tender foot boards.  The height from rail head to the top of the Cab is 5 1/2", the Whistle is the highest point on the locomotive at  7 1/4" ( the whistle is approximately 1/4" higher than the stack).

These are both the Russian Iron Denver & Rio Grande models.

My 4-6-0 Annie measures the same as Jon's, however I have the "Bumble Bee" version and the highest point is the whistle, which is 7 7/8" from rail head to the top.

Loco Bill,

The Grease is called "Lube Tube", available in any swimming pool supply store. Features listed on the bsck of the tube are "Waterproof, non-toxic, biodegradable, prevents rust & corrosion, compatible with plastics, metals & rubber, non-dripping, non-flammable, non-staining and odorless". All for $2.95.

John

Sorry about the partial post, but I've had mine running in the Florida sun and salt air since September 2002, only requirement - lots of lube. I use a grease intended for plastic pool valves, it with stands high heat, impervious to water (both fresh and salt), doesn't throw off the gears, plastic compatible and only cost about $3.00 an ounce.

Like Dave, in New Zealand, I've had Tender version 2-4-2 running in thew Florida