Atlas did one several years ago.
Pictures and review:
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/atlasshay.html

Mike

To whet  your appetite, here is John Sing's "X2011 West" Facebook page.  Lotsa pictures!  Find Bachmann's BIG HO surprise!

Mike

On another board, a note was posted that using brake fluid will do the job.  Again, use carefully, but it is supposed to remove the lettering without damaging the underlying paint.  In all cases, try it first on a non-visible part of the model (like the bottom of the tender).

Brake fluid is a oood paint  remover if you want all the paint removed, but not as a spot remover.

Mike

A little digging revealed L&N 781 as an E7A.
Almost impossible for us normal folk to tell the difference from a front on picture.

Mike

An upcoming FP9 in HO:
http://www.rapidotrains.com/fp9_1.html
Also includes a bit of history on the prototype.

Mike

If you want a wireless DCC controller, NCE and Digitrax are the two big dogs in town.  Bachmann has their Dynamis which is an infrared controller similar in function to your tv remote.  Go to the respective mfgr's web sites and download the user manuals.  Read and see if you understand most of what you see there.
Going wireless will do nothing for you as far as wiring/installing decoders.

Be advised that none of the NCE systems will run a dc loco, DCC only.


Something you might want to do before you buy a system is to read the manual for each that you are serious about.  Does it answer your questions, or leave you with more questions?


Mike
Happy NCE owner

Rapido didn't reemerge. Rapido Trains are a completely different company from the defunct Arnold Rapido from Germany.  Their stuff is "state of the art"!


Mike

Not here!

Uh, guys,
The Dynamis system is infrared as opposed to your radio systems.  I believe the OP was concerned about certain wavelengths of light affecting his system.

I'm not aware of any standards or recommendations for engines, but rolling stock is covered by NMRA RP20.1 (pdf)http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/pdf/rp-20_1.pdf(N-O scales shown).

Mike

For those of you that are using the white foam on your layout: be aware that the stuff is flammable!  The pink/blue foam will also burn as long as you hold a flame to it, but the white foam will continue to burn after you remove the ignition source.
If you don't believe me, take a sample piece of each type outside (near the garden hose) and hold your lighter or a match under it.  DON'T breathe the fumes!

m

If you really like those engines, you can buy replacement geared wheelsets from Northwest Shortline.  They use aged delrin for the gears, and the wheels are nickle silver.  Not inexpensive, but high quality.

Mike

Try writing CV#08 with a value of 08.
That is what Digitrax and several others use.
For NCE, it is CV#30 with a value of 02.

Mike

It depends a bit upon your town's coffers.  There is always dirt, but the dust is not welcome, so small towns used caliche or just oiled the dirt or gravel.
Moving up, they used asphalt and concrete, but concrete was/is much more expensive than asphalt.  Everything pretty much the same as now.

Mike