I recieved the following on the Pennsy list that I am on. I am not sure if this is true or merely a rumor, but the person listed the following for Life Like's second run of the 0-8-0. April 2001 0-8-0

I live near Chicago. What show? Don Lewis

Someone was nice enough to send me pictures of two Bachmann HO scale shays that were at the Chicago Show. If these pictures are any indication of the quality of these engines, than they are possibly t

Pet grumble of the moment. Why do model manufacturers persist in making the running boards of their models with simulated chequer plate? It was used on some later engines, but for most North American

"aidrian.bridgeman-sutton" wrote: Just put very thin scribed and stressed plastic or wood on top of that checker plate. It will simply look like it is sitting on a supporting framework if anyone notic

Hi guys, I just bought a nice little birthday present for myself. A Westside Model Company, HO Santa Fe, Fireless Cooker, 0-6-0 ATSF #2299. I've never seen a 'bottle' rigged for steam like this one is

I have a Porter Locomotive Works catalog that shows a fireless cooker as a stock item, ugly ugly ugly. But beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder. When I lived in Indianapolis in another lifet

At least at one point, there must have been more interest. In the late 1950s Aristocraft (Polk Hobbies) imported a wide ranging series of smaller 1860-1890 era steam engines in HO: the 2-4-2 Columbia,

Step one of my Mantua project loco is a success. While I can still find the part numbers let me explain what can be done to improve the looks of the Mantua Pacific, and other similar Mantua locomotive

At Chicago Show Bachmann announced that it is upgrading its N&W J to the Spectrum line. When I first heard this , I was very happy at the thought of having an accurate model of 611 on my layout. Well

Recently on eBay I bought a Class B two truck shay, wood cab, straight shack. It didn't run, so I took it apart and found a large open frame motor, flywheel and 8 wheel pickup. The motor does not have

I found your posting very interesting and potentially useful, as I am looking to replace the pilot on my IMC Mogul (mfrd by Mahano). This is a fine running loco, in the Premier Series, but the pilot i

Started painting a Mantua Pacific this week. Soap and water wash followed by a pickling bath, and then a coat of dark gray auto primer. The primer is sticking well and is about the right shade, a very

Yes, even black has nuances just like all the other colors. Some of the other lists I'm on get into huge disagreements about colors, and I say if it hit you eye they way it should, then it's right. We

Unless you're using dry transfers apply a gloss coat BEFORE you decal. If you don't, they will silver no matter how much setting solution you use, and the carrier film will be extremely obvious. You m

First, get out the leaf blower..... HUH? Yup. I weathered a few of my steamers last week and thought you might get a laugh at me about this. My train room is in a 24X26 building out behind my house, a