Rayman4449

Thanks for posting Jim, looks like it runs very smooth and it does sound really good. Interesting on the switch points. I know we talked about that in the other post.. let me know if you end up coming up with a good solution to grind out the inside rail and I found like you did that SS is very hard to grind. How many here have one of the 2-8-0s? Raymond

How many of you guys have an Aristo 2-8-0 Consolidation? I'm curious if anyone that has one can post some pictures (maybe video) and share their thoughts on it. I know I saw one in Mark's video from one of his open houses but wasn't sure if someone had some vid of just it. Raymond

Mark, Sounds like you did a nice bit of work to the Kalamazoo and now you have a great finished product Looking forward to seeing the pics of it as I'm not sure I've ever seen one before. I'm sure your son will love it, I think you said he was 5? Great age I tell you Raymond

Thanks for sharing Jim, great videos Raymond

Amazing stuff isn't it?? You bet, the second they release the app and add-on device I'll get it setup and let you run an operating session Raymond

Hey Joe, Yeah I do think ultimately that was what they were looking to do as I think sales really flattened out. Oh and I do agree on the Vision line stuff, it's part of their new top tier product line. Very very impressive stuff! Manufacturers keep raising the bar and we all benefit Raymond

Glad to hear that helped Nick. Let me know what you think on the roofing material too. Good point on the switch points Jim, that was something else I looked at a bit but never really turned into a full fledged project. The little bit of grinding I did on the rail was so difficult because it was stainless steel I got one switch to a certain point and stopped. I'll be interested to hear and see what you used and how you made out cause I would like my points to recess back into the side of the rail some. Raymond

Just as an FYI, the only sales MTH has had direct has been the inventory they are trying to finish clearing out, they don't actually have an on-going program to sell all their One Gauge product direct to the consumer. Generally when companies don't have product that's moving (as happened in G due to the economic collapse), they will choose to just clearance it out so they can convert it back into cash for reinvestment. In MTH's case it was likely to free up that cash for other scales that were more profitable and were still seeing decent sales. I think some other mfgs do this so they can have the capital to finish placing/paying for new large orders of a production run of product. MTH chose not to pick favorites amongst its dealers as some of the other G scale mfgs have done when they blow-theirs out and just chose to sell direct. As a dealer it would bother me more if the mfg I sold for picked another dealer over me as opposed to just them selling direct. To hear that even USA Train's inventory is very low is very troubling as well. I agree they are all probably trying their best to just weather the storm. When times are tough you may not have the capital to invest in inventory and instead need keep as much inventory converted to cash as possible to cash flow the business just to pay the bills. Hopefully things turn around sooner rather than later for it would be a disaster if we lost either USA or Aristo. (I think MTH is in good shape as they are so well diversified) I agree!! Those Lionel Vision line engines are just over the top, but boy are those things expensive! Hehe I know what you mean on the availability. Well I look at it this way, when it comes to affordable steam, they've rolled out more of the big famous steam than any of the others have to date so I'm grateful already for that! Raymond

Great video Mark and thanks for sharing So was the Pennsy Dash-9 factory original from Aristocraft? I have to say that is my very favorite new NS heritage paint scheme and it's going to be hard to not want to buy one. You had such a selection of stuff running that alone must have made the open house a very interesting and enjoyable time. Raymond

Hey Mark, I'm the same way, the steam engines are what I've liked best too. (Guess I prove that from the fact that all the MTH stuff I've bought in One Gauge is all steam haha) I agree and if I had to guess at the most likely new steam offering it would be either a Dreyfuss Hudson (4-6-4) or an N&W J (4-8-4) either of which I would love to own. I think both of those engines would have wide enough appeal to probably sell well. You know I hadn't even thought of them running a Reading T-1 and doing it in AFT colors, that's a good point. Same on the point of the Aristo 2 bay hoppers.. I think Chuck has a number of those. Chuck, do you have any videos of the 1:32 Challengers or Big Boys pulling those 2 bay hoppers? Just wondering how they might look. I know I've been happy with my Bachmann coal cars behind all my 1:29 and 1:32 engines. Mmmm my dream list... Outside of the Dreyfuss and N&W J, I would have to say a UP9000 (4-12-2) would be at the top, next would be a DD-40(although I know that's not a steamer ), Pennsy T1 (4-4-4-4) and Allegheny (2-6-6-6), ATSF 3751 (4-8-4). I would really still like to see an Aristo ATSF 3751, that would be one nice Big engine! I'd also love to see a Virginian AE class (2-10-10-2) but I know it will never be made in this scale. Virginian 2-10-10-2 (in O gauge): Another 2-10-10-2 (ATSF): (Talk about impressive sound and smoke effects, this is worth the watch) Pennsy T1: Raymond

Joe, that looks amazing! Are you taking an existing body and modifying it or is that completely scratch built?? Looks like you might mount it on a USA Trains SD70 chassis and motor blocks? Can't wait to see more Raymond

Jim brings up a good point, I didn't even think about the battery... Gavin, I would guess that this is one of those things you will most likely get guidance and advice rather than a hard answer. For me, extreme cold temperatures bring two things to mind: 1) Possible damage to the electronics 2) Possible cracking of the plastic bodies on some engines. As far as possible electronics damage, I think the question would be would the extreme contraction caused by the extreme cold could cause issues with either the integrated chips or solder traces etc and cause something to sever. My guess is that it would probably be best to keep them in a temperature controlled environment like Jim does just so that the electronics don't experience such extremes of expansion and contraction, otherwise something could fail within a chip and you would never be able to identify what exactly was wrong. My reading just a bit on the operating temperatures of Integrated Circuits in general shows mfgs do list minimum operating temperatures, one I saw was at -40 deg C. So generally I would say probably not good to expose any train electronics to extreme cold. (This would go for all electronics not just any particular manufacturer.) With that said, automobile mfgs have quite a bit of electronics in their vehicles today and they seem to hold up so perhaps electronics are more durable than we might think. On the plastic bodies/frames, if the plastic used is a harder type of plastic, it will likely be more susceptible to cracking if exposed to extreme swings in temperatures. Another reason to maybe keep them inside. None of this is hard fact but just my own thoughts... Raymond

Thanks Joe. Yes it is Aristocraft. I didn't realize they were out of stock on them, hopefully they will make another run here at some point soon because if I needed more switches I would buy more of these. The plastic has held up well after years in the sun and have felt they are well made. Nick, I bet it probably will fix it too. That is shinle under the rail. I went with rolls of 'rolled roofing' that I got from Home Depot. Each roll is 35ft long and 36inches wide so it allows you to minimize the number of pieces and therefore the number of seams you have so it gives a pretty uniform look. Overall, I've been very happy with the decision to use it. For more info you can see my Modifications/Repair page and see the Layout section: http://www.rayman444.com/Roadbed.htm Hope that helps. Raymond

Fixed it, when entering the URL when using the image button, you have to use the http:// before the www. for it to work. Raymond

hmmm my linked images aren't showing up. Posted a question to get help on how to fix.

One issue I encountered on my layout for some time was the periodic issue of rolling stock (freight and passenger) wheels occasionally hitting the frog point and sometimes derailing when entering the mainline from the side of the switch. After watching the cars go through the switches and doing some testing I determined that the wheels were being allowed to move too far over when going through the frog allowing the wheel's flange to catch, sometimes ride up on and others derailing on the frog. The cause of this was the flange rail guide on the other side (other rail) for that path wasn't over far enough (closer to the other rail) to actually touch the passing wheel and thus guide the wheel/truck through the frog properly. As you can see in the first photo, the flange guides are already as close to rail as possible as the bottom of the rails are touching. Here is the original flange guide configuration: What I found necessary was to remove the flange guides and grind down the lower base of the flange guide rail with a bench grinder to allow the top rail of the flange to be moved close enough to the outer rail to actually have an impact. As a part of this I gave the flange guide a slight bend and ground down the top edge of each end to provide a little more gradual transition. On the bottom of the switch, you may need to open up the retaining screw hole in the tie so you can slide the rail over. Here is the final result: To determine the desired position, I took measurements of the back to back distance between the inside of the wheels of my diff mfg engines & rolling stock and picked a test car that was representative of the group and did testing. (particularly I used a car that was giving me a problem) The key was to move the flange out just enough so the rolling stock that was giving me the problem was properly guided through without causing binding with it or any other cars. This actually was fairly easy and found it to not be that big a problem to do. If you set it up so it just takes care of what you need for a specific car, you shouldn't have issues with the rest of the fleet... there will be enough play to allow slight variations in other engines and cars so that it works fine. Since the modification I've been perfectly happy and have had no problems. Love my affordable Stainless Steel #6 switches Hope someone finds this useful. Raymond

I for one really appreciate the fact that we have a new forum and will definitely look forward to being an active member as well Raymond

Here is an image from the catalog. (attached) MTH's direct sales have been to blow out inventory which is really no different than what USA Trains and the other G scale mfgs have done. USA has used a select dealer on ebay to quietly blow out product in the past... a year or so ago they were blowing PA units for $200 or less each. I've found most dealers never really stocked much G/One Gauge because its just too expensive to keep much on hand and just place orders for inventory direct from the mfg. When you ordered engines or rolling stock from RidgeRoadStation for instance, you had to wait till they placed their order and got delivery. Really when you look at it, the price will return to normal if not increase after they are sold out... about a month ago we saw an MTH One Gauge GS-4 sell for $2000 on ebay. Single Channel TIU is supposed to be in the works and PS3 is now out for O gauge which should be the same board as used for G. If they do produce this new engine, it will be PS3 for sure. PS3 should be available for personal upgrades within a year. I think this will be a great forum Raymond

Mark, I didn't see your reply when I replied last... I completely agree, would love to see the N&W J class. While storage space is getting tight I would definitely make room for a J! The interesting thing I read was it sounds like if they had to do it over again they may have gone with 1:29 over 1:32. Either way I'm still really wanting a DD40 and while I prefer my Aristocraft Dash-9s with their great detail, quality and 1:29 scale, I'll spring for DD40s in 1:32 if they come avail. Raymond

Goodness sorry to hear that. Thanks for sharing Joe. Raymond

Thanks for sharing that Joe, I just heard about this as well. Here is the link www.mthtrains.com/content/catalogs , see page 5. In the latest interview with Andy Edleman back in September, he did re-affirm MTH was not exiting G scale. In a separate discussion he indicated that MTH actually had another engine already designed and ready to go, they were just waiting till the economy improved some. My main personal interest will be in new steam or in a DD-40 but this is good news that a catalog may be close. On another note I just heard that HRTrains may be looking to either sell out or shutdown. This is very unfortunate and just another example of just how badly this recession has hit our scale. Ridgeroadstation just exited without bothering to sell out. St Aubins closed. Only thing we can do is to just continue to positively support all the mfgs in the scale, we don't want any of them to go the way of LGB. Raymond