Thomas Davis, those "center cabs" just won't look right unless they are orange !!! I have 4 of those shells plus parts. Ain't they GREAT ???
I haven't cleaned the shell yet, but from what I can see so far, I am very pleased with the detail and the overall quality of the shell and parts. I am leaning toward the earlier orange and green scheme (layout set in the mid 50s). Have a backlog of projects at the moment, and just getting started on new layout, so may be a while before it is finished and has a place to run, but at some point, it may be moving some cars around a steel plant and doing the occasional transfer run.
I just picked another six ESU Select Micro Sound decoders for steam locomotives and one ESU Sound decoder for the Con-Cor Pioneer Zephyr that I recently purchased. This sound decoder is specific for the Con-Cor Pioneer Zephyr. Staying cool and having fun with it........ Shades
Hi Shades, I know you favor the ESU decoders, as I do too, but have you thought about trying a Soundtraxx econami or waiting for their new Tsunami 2 ? I have listened to sound files for steam in the Tsunam 2 decoder, sounds pretty good and supposedly they have improved motor control. Of course only time will tell. Carl
I don't usually post on this, most stuff I get is pretty prosaic. But I just made an interesting purchase. Walthers flyer had a new deck truss bridge that I thought was like the International Bridge between Laredo, Texas and Mexico, where cars and trains interchanged between two countries. I designed a layout for some friends who want to build a Laredo layout. When we discussed it, and I went over my notes, I found the new bridge didn't fit the prototype as well as I had initially guessed. But that got me thinking about Tex Mex Rwy and I happened to see an ad for Tichy's N scale snowplow kit. Seen it dozens of times and ignored it. In deep South Texas, I don't need no steenking snowplow, to paraphrase something from a Cheech and Chong movie. The body of that snowplow, minus the rotary plow itself, seems to resemble one of Tex Mex's home-build boxcabs. One of the most unusual locos in US and I always figured impossible for ME to scratchbuild. But the snowplow makes a fairly approximate superstructure for such a beast. I have ordered one so I can take a closer look. Changing the subject from purchases, my idea for a Laredo TexMex layout ca 1970s-80s.
Carl: I tried a Soundtrazz Econami in one of my Mikado's . It still doesn't compare to the ESU decoders for motor control. I pulled and out and installed a ESU Lok-Sound select micro decoder in its place. I'll stick with the ESU sound decoders Carl. Years ago, I removed all the Soundtraxx steam decoders in many locomotives and replaced them with ESU Lok-Sound decoders. That's the only way to go if you have a choice. I first started to use ESU sound decoders in 2005. Staying cool and having fun.......... Shades
Yesterday 13 Bowser H-21a hoppers followed me home. It was a great find... reasonably priced, all different road #s in era-appropriate schemes. I may go back in a few weeks for some of the GLas that were on the shelf with them.
I got the 8 car set. I like them. I erased the 1956 re-weigh date and left the 1943 build date as I model 1949. Randy
Picked up a Pecos River sleeper last week, got it painted this weekend. Also picked up a brass caboose for a steal, this and a bay window project I'm working should finish out my caboose needs for a while. I oogled an overland Jordan spreader for a great price this weekend, couldn't quite justify buying it.....yet.
Well I traded a HO scale auto rack to my club (where they can actually use it) for a older Mrc sound decoder for my Ćp sd40-2, they have a bunch of n scale Mrc sound decoders, a hobby shop donated them when they closed their Conroe outlet, (hurricane hobbies, the Two owners are members of the club, and mainly used that store as a spoke to get to their store in Mexico). Donated some of the stuff that they could not easliy ship.
Just picked up 2 G Scale SOO 40' gondolas and 2 DeLuxe glow in the dark 2 bay covered hoppers. One set should arrive on the 28th. The other set on the 30th.
just got in the mail a kato pen central sd70Ace I got for 70.00 and to my surprise it has a tcs decoder inside. what a deal.
Well, between the wife and I, we way over spent at the N scale convention. First is the Kadee/ MT cars. 80 came from one vendor for $500. More MT cars Pat, with Trainworx's had some killer deals on blems. Got 10 of these 89' TOFC's for $6.50 each. The RI paint was the wrong color. Also from Pat, 45 100 ton quad hoppers for $125 without trucks, couplers and most without loads. 6 cars set of WP boxcars from Prototype Models. Kato ABBA set of F7's and 3 Kato/Atlas SD9's, all in Black Widow. Wife got this for the granddaughter to go along with the all the other Smoky sets and cars that we have. NOS Walther's non DCC turntable
Amusingly. Simply put, a customs snafu with an order of BLMA parts has forced my hand when it comes to making my own grab irons.
They are nice, but I have to add weight to them before they go on the layout. I also talked to George about doing a WP caboose 3 pack in the silver and orange paint as MT did back in '02 or 03. Should know what it will cost in a few weeks, and then I'll know if I can afford to do a run of 100 of the 3 packs.
Went to the National Train Show yesterday picked up Arnold U25C, Athearn auto rack car, Traiworx 85ft flatcar, and Spring Mills Depot carrying case. Can now stop using hard plastic cases that been braking couplers and knocking detail parts off.Should be able to haul over 200 cars easily. Dan
