I have bought two Spectrum SD-45s and both had a sun shield broken off when I opened the case. Is this a common fault with this model? The sun shield seems to stick out above the sides of the case, so when the top of the case is fitted it puts pressure on the part and can break it off. I would really appreciate knowing if anyone else has had this fault. Otherwise it's down to my own clumsiness I guess.

Geoff.

That is where I got my user name from!
The movie may seem a little dated now, as tastes in comedy have changed over the years, but I still enjoy watching it. No bad language, no sexual innuendo, and the interaction between the three main characters is excellent. Thanks for the links.

Geoff.

Have you seen the Lance Mindheim shelf layout East Rail? You may find some inspiration here.

http://www.lancemindheim.com/

Geoff.

Thanks John,

Backwoods Miniatures also use Sommerfeldt pantographs, so that looks like the way to go.

Geoff.

Thanks for your replies, some food for thought there.

geoff.

Does anyone know of a supplier for O scale pantographs? I want to convert a combine for use on an interurban but using a pantograph instead of trolley poles. Pick up will be through the track, so the overhead is not live, it's just for appearance.

Thanks if you can help.

Geoff.

Thanks to you both. Mission accomplished! Lights now working in both and not too stressfull to do the work. Watch out for those small screws, they bounce when dropped.

Geoff.

My Spectrum HO 2-8-0 and 2-10-2 both have failed headlights. The reversing lights work OK, so I assume the lamps have failed. They used to work OK. I need to gain access to the light fittings to change the lamps. After reading other posts on this forum I tried giving the boiler fronts a good pull to remove them, but to no avail. Either I am scared of doing some damage, so don't pull hard enough, or the fronts are held in by some other means. Could they be glued or are there small screws somewhere that I have to remove?

Any advise will be welcome.

Geoff.

My new 2-10-0 has just the pick up problems described by morrisf. And the cure he suggested works for me! The problem seems to be that the contact strips are slightly too long, which causes them to be bowed upwards in the middle when fixed in place at the factory.
To make a suitable insulating shim I first cut one out of paper, it's cheaper than plastic sheet when trying something for the first time. Cut it to fit inside the cover plate and cut out sections to avoid the location screw bosses and strips up the centreline of the cover. Once I had installed this and found it worked, I used it as a template to cut one out of 0.010" plastic card, the only thickness I had to hand. Be carefull not to bend or damage the contact strips when re-assembling the cover plate.
With this in place the loco runs like a dream. Thanks morrisf and everyone else with sound advice on this forum.
Geoff.

Thanks Glenn. Nice to know somebody is still doing them. Santa Clara is a bit too far for me, but I'll be watching for any future ads, wish I knew the name of the company and their web address if they have one.

Geoff.

Hi all, this may not be the place to ask but I don't know who else to turn to. Are Central Locomotive Works still in business? They made O scale kits but now I've googled their site and to be honest it is incomprehensible!

If they have given up kit making did someone else pick up their kit business? Hoping somebody can help with this.

Geoff.

Problem sorted! I wiggled the wire from controller to track and everything started to work! Symptoms of a faulty wire. Now there is a taped up fold in the wire and I am running trains on DCC. Headlights on and off, two trains on the same track at different speeds and directions, what a revelation!
Thanks for the advice guys.
Geoff.

After a year of running my On30 trains on dc I finally bought an E-Z command dcc controller, and now have problems. When running my Davenport and consolidation on dc they run quietly and smoothly at all speeds, and the headlights work. On dcc the lights do not work and there is a buzzing/humming sound at low speeds. In fact their behaviour is the exact opposite to that which I expected. What am I doing wrong?

All the equipment is Bachmann, and I am test running on a stretch of straight E-Z track with no switches. Could it be the E-Z command that is at fault? I also have a brand new railtruck that I have never run in case I'm doing some damage to the decoders.

Any advice will be gratefully accepted.

Geoff.