Golden White seems the best to my eye for steam locomotive headlights.

The headlight and class lights on my modified Bachmann G scale connie (bashed into a K-27) #461 have 3mm Golden White LEDs.  K-28 #473 has bulbs.  Color wise they are pretty close.



I get my Golden White LEDs from UlrichModels

Recently got a Santa Fe 4-8-4 (#3783).  What a great running locomotive this is.  So smooth.

I added Soundtraxx Tsunami sounds to it.  It looks really nice pulling a string of my old Athearn Santa Fe heavyweights.

Next on my to do list includes changing the couplers to Kadee, adding an engineer in the cab, and add an ATS shoe for 90mph running.

Thanks Bachmann for really improving the running characteristics on this classic big steam locomotive.

Up the master volume (CV 128) on the S4, or better yet lower the volumes on the other locos.

Most locos with factory installed sound come with way too loud settings as the default.  The Bachmann S4 on the other hand is just about right as set from the factory.

This should have come with your S4, but if not, here are the multiple CVs that you can change to your liking:

Soundtraxx Bachmann S4 Manual

Quote from: gijoe80 on October 14, 2012, 02:08:30 AM
I have one that is chrome plated ....It is a Santa Fe 307.

307 is an A unit, not a B unit.

I thought the S2s were due sometime in October.  But things change, so I'll wait for the Bach-Man to give you a definitive answer.

I'm eagerly anticipating the S2.  The S4 was a real winner.

Sidewalks

I use the sidewalks made by Scale Structures (S.S. Ltd.)

They make two versions.  One with rounded corners (SS8011) and one with square corners (SS8014).  I use both.  The rounded corners work great for street intersections.

They are the present day version of the old Magnuson resin sidewalks.  Easy to cut easy to paint and they look nice.

Parking Lot (Streets)

I use thin .010 Evergreen styrene sheets for parking lots and streets.  I just cut it to the dimensions I need.  I paint it with Floquil Grimy Black.  Road stripes are 3M pin stripes.


Here is a photo showing S.S. Ltd. sidewalks and the .010 styrene streets on my HO layout (If you right click view image it gets a lot bigger):

Are the Alco S2s (HO scale) currently available or are they due out at a later date?

Specifically product number 63405 (US Army)

My Bachmann Santa Fe Alco S4 (photo below) is a winner all the way around.  I'm really looking forward to adding the new Army S2 to my HO scale military base.

I really like my new Bachmann Alco S4.  Great running loco with excellent sound.  And fairly easy to modify to look a little more like the prototype.






Thanks for such a great loco Bachmann 

Mandy Patinkin is another:

Mandy Patinkin Trains

This is a request for the Bach-Man to forward to those who are currently working on the sound specs for the new HO scale Alco S4.

I'm going to purchase the Santa Fe S4 with sound (product #63204).  Since some of these models will be equipped with Soundtraxx sound, I'm hoping that the horn included with these locos will be the Wabco A2.  That is the prototype horn for these locos according to this Santa Fe website (Santa Fe Horns)

Soundtraxx has the Wabco A2 horn available (Link to Soundtraxx Wabco A2).  And it sure sounds right for a Santa Fe Alco switcher.

So if isn't too late in the development phase, I hope the Bach-Man can forward information about using the Wabco A2 on the sound board for the new Alco S4 model.

Thanks,

Matt D


Almost forgot.  To those who haven't yet heard about this new Alco S4 from Bachmann, here is a link to some information on it:

(Model Railroad News)

Quote from: Paul M. on August 30, 2007, 09:12:58 PM
Tell me about the HO motel... You kitbashed it, right?

It started out as this:Bachmann HO Motel.  I bought two kits so I could have a two story motel.

The roof comes sloped, so I had to add styrene to make the lower roof flat.  Then I stacked the second motel on top...pretty simple actually.  I added railings, a stairway, neon signs, interior lighting, drapes, figures, and a coke machine.  Painting made the biggest difference.

It was a fairly simple project, and well worth it.

I'm not sure where the $100 is coming from...perhaps you mean the original pieces from the 50s.  Yes some of these in like new condition with the box can get quite pricey.

I don't think Plasticville is "junk".  In fact the original pieces from the 50s are anything but junk.  However the newer pieces color choice could be better, which is why I prefer the original pieces from the 50s and 60s. 

But Plasticville is an easy way to have an instant town.  I've built several buildings for my HO layout (Magnuson, Suydam, Campbell, Walthers, etc...) and while they may look realistic, they take a long time to finish. 

For my O scale layout I had to go with Plasticville.  O scale and Plasticville just seem to go together.  Can anyone honestly tell me this looks like junk?











Here is what you can do with HO Plasticville: