I got the McKinley explore set and like to put a dcc chip in. first how to remove the shell without tearing the bloody thing apart.

Making a press is easy if you have a vise clamp. first take two blocks of wood and drill a hole in the center, this hole is for the axle. then the rest is easy enough. put the new wheels on then press them together with the clamp. and do have a track or wheel gauge handy. And take very short distances like several thousands at a time.

Thinking about this the next question is the track stationary or movable. If it's movable it will make things a little more interesting. electric fence wire would work nicely. It's easy to get keeps a good shape and conducts electricity and heat very well. Then it's only connecting each section together. very fine rod crimped on on side of the line would work very well. I will see if i can make this work and post pics or video's on here.

very good work with those only one little problem. The base for lamp post would be concrete block. Oh that's easy enough use a piece of foam and drill or burn out the hole dia for  the pools and then paint concrete gray. And for your depot adding sign boards, clocks, decoration, platform # and other smaller details will make it more excellent.

It might be easier to have plastic clips to the road bed then glue on the poll. Which area are modeling after, rural interurban or streetcar traffic.

Working at the East Troy Trolley Museum. I found a love for the south shore steel side rail cars.
These are really nice cars to work on (first hand experience) and would make interesting models.
The other cars that I love are L-8 center cab, work car D-23 and crane car L-6.
http://easttroyrr.org/roster/13.html
http://easttroyrr.org/roster/l6.html
http://easttroyrr.org/photos/Cars/Line%20Car%20D-23/index.html#IMG_0978.JPG

A Logging Phoenix load would be interesting to see. I build all my cars just building a engine is going to be the challenge.

One thing with the trolly polls is you want a spring to push up on the poll fro the best contact. Working at the east troy railroad museum we use the rails as grounders for any fault in the power, then we don't fry the passengers or the car. another source would be BBC Salvage squad centenial car. have fun with the project.

My brother has been building gotland station and has it on NMRA facebook. buying locos from england have a different wiring system then ours. so if you want dcc buy it that way, wiring is a mess.

agree fully but also a k-36 would be nice after the k-28.

To answer your question emily is 2 1/8 " or 2.33".

I read about that in Live Steam. Puffing billy is 2 foot 6 inches not 3 foot like the Rio Grande. To see that loco run will be amazing first hand but for me to get there. chances not likely.

The best memory s are associated with smells or sounds. For me both come alive of fun youthful days, when I see my little cousins. Any time I hear the original theme song I smile and those memory's come back. The best part is that my cousins are playing with the same old wooden Thomas that I had when I was young. Now i can return that favor of getting them something for there Thomas set for birthdays or Christmas. Recently my brother and I have been buying electric Thomas for my cousins and breakfast with Santa. But have been replacing them with bachmann euro.

Nice work on a magnificent locomotive. One question for you is did you use a pre exciting boiler or scratch.

The best scale for ho narrow for a 2 foot track width is hon30. there are a few companies that make them, one I know of the top of my head is Railway recollections.
http://www.railway-recollections.com