@the Bach-man

Still wondering when the new lot of N 2-8-0 parts will be added to the part catalog.  We've had no update since before the model was released.

-J

Would still love an official reply from the Bach-man re @DaveGard 's question as to "when parts for the new-2-8-0" will be restocked into the parts store.  

Several key small parts for the 2-8-0 have been out of stock for years, with no fresh inventory.  And the re-issue has been out for months now.  Any guidance for when we can expect 2-8-0 parts re-stocking?

Correction:
1.  Remove rear truck screw (long screw attaches to the top)
2.  Remove the aft coal board.
3.  You will see a slot on the back of the coal load.
4.  Stick a jeweller's screwdriver into the slot.
5.  Work out the load and tender deck (still a PITA) but helps if you pry up from the back too at same time you lift with screw driver in coal board slot.  
6.  Also (and only if no sound, DCC etc tender) you can also push up against the lid using a small driver inserted via the truck screw holes.  

(Note: all of the front detail (including the front of the coal bin) remains with the shell.  The lid only includes the coal and the reader tender deck, but is ~10mm deep.  And it is possible to remove w/o step #2-4, if you can get purchase via bottom of the coal in the front (via the slot under the front of the coal bin) but again, the front wall of the coal bin is not an element of the removable part. )

Thx Mark! 

Obtained a N4-6-0 with wires cut apparently from an aborted attempt at a tender swap.  To be clear I'm trying to confirm the connections of the 5 black wires that go between the loco and tender.  (The one red wire from the loco motor obviously connect to "M+" of the DCC board has a short section of red insulation wire is still attached.)

I have the DCC N4-6-0 drawing (http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/dwg/dwgs/N_BALDWIN_4-6-0_EXPLODE_DRAWING_N514X_(1).pdf
) , but as the lighting PCB is not well labeled, this does not seem to be enough info.  Also the labels on this drawing relate to the pad info for connecting a replacement DCC (unused as this tender had the stock DCC).   This document claims the wires are uniquely colored, which is not the case on this loco (all are black save one red, same as in Mark's photo on http://www.spookshow.net/loco/spec460.html).

After the red wire reconnect to M+, my guess is the black wire from the loco motor to the DCC PCB at M-.   (Duh.)

Then the four black wires coming from the lighting PCB.  Here is were I really need the help as this lighting PCB02 is pretty messed up.  Large balls of solder and other stuff (black paint? flux? charring from either arc or poor soldering skill?)  As such the labels on the lower half of the front of the PCB02 are not legible.

Orienting this lighting PCB with the flat edge down, on the back, centered between the two lower pads I can make out what seems to be a capital letter "A".  But the rest of the writing on the back sees to just be the part number.  

Scrapping the char flux and solder on the PCB front a bit, I think I see what was once a printed "R" near the locomotive right side screw hole.... which seems to be an electrical connection to the right half of the chassis and thus the right track.  On the back side of PCB02, I see the top wire through holes have PCB traces to the two  screw holes.  So my guess it that these top wires are for the "R" and "L" on the DCC board, locomotive right and left side respectively.

Deductively, that would make the two lower pads on this PCB02 (near the flat edge) for running the LED (L- and L+).  I can't make out the cathode or anode of this LED, but scrapping some more charred flux off the PCB, I think I can make out a "+" on the front near the lower locomotive right wire through hole.

As I'm not keen on toasting this DCC board and/or the LED from a crossed wire, can anyone confirm this to be correct?

Summary of my guess:  

Motor:
Red wire to "M+"
Black wire to "M-"

PCB02:
Black wire at top locomotive right to "R"
Black wire at top locomotive left  to "L"
Black wire at bottom locomotive right to "L+"
Black wire at bottom locomotive left to "L-"

Hey Mark, 

If you still have it out, could you provide some dimension of the new motor?  Length of case, as well as length w/ worm, height and width. 

Cheers. 

Thx All.

Mike C: Your LED + resistor may work... at least for a while. 

But understand your replacement circuit has no zener diode, and thus no voltage regulator (unless your new DCC board provides a voltage regulation for its lighting circ).   Without a voltage regulator, at high speeds, your LED may see too much current - leading to significantly reduced life - and at some range in lower speeds (at least in DC and depending on your circuit in DCC) the brightness of your LED may be a function of the same current fed to the motor, and thus your bulb will emit variable brightness. 

The lighting mods I'm designing include additional functions toggled with DCC ops.  Namely both a) reverse headlight dimming along with an added backup tender light, and b) constant brightness circuit for additional light features being added.  Was simply exploring it the stock PCB could be used.

After 3 emails with Bachmann I still don't have an answer.  They've been helpful and gracious ...  but so far not useful. 

In their latest reply to my request for the specs on the three components they used in this board, they finally admitted "they might only exist in some Chinese factory somewhere".  My guess?  The Kader group's Dongguan, China plant.  But Bachmann Part Dept was kind enough to provide me two gratis PCB so that I could "mess around and see what they come out at".

Ok,  thanks... but seriously? 

So now I either need to build a logic board that can determine the zener's breakdown voltage (see http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Zener-Diode-Identifier/step2/Identifying-an-Unknown-Zener/).  Or more likely, just scrap the whole Bachmann headlight board and design my new lighting package denovo. 

How about a non-DCC version of the Ten Wheeler (N4-6-0).  Would be a very simple release.

Any update yet?

How about a prototypical GE/Wason Doodlebug?  Might only require a new shell to go over a modified EMC Doodlebug chassis?

QuoteThe one group of items that I could really use are "heavyweight era" 4-axle passenger cars

Not a loco, but still +1 for Piyer's request.  Love to see some small baggage / combines prototypical for the AT&SF.

Heck, I would be happy if they just released more heavyweight era 2 axle passenger trucks!  Hunt for swap meat fodder is getting old. 

And while I'm at it, how about some refresh on out of stock parts?  TT for the N2-8-0?  Any N scale Bell!

I'm in the process of designing lighting mods to the Bmann Spectrum N2-8-0 (DCC ready).  So I'm attempting to figure out the components of the stock PCB02 (811xx-N81101).  Later I intend to add DCC & sound.  But the first step is to understand. 

The easy part was the resistors:  the three SMD 682 are all 6.8kOhm.  But the specific specs of the stock zener diode and the LED (845xx-10080) are both a mystery.

Bach man, can you provide a bit more details on this PCB02 than are available in the online diagram or the package insert? 

Cheers!  (Big fan of the Connie - I already own 5 and looking for more).