Recent content by fieromike

  1. F

    how goodare

    The only caveat I can think of is that one of my #5 turnouts had the guard rail gapped a bit wide, causing the wheels to ride up on the frog. A bit of filing with a nailfile(!) took care of the problem. I have heard of others having this same problem with some of the #5s but not on the #7s. I...
  2. F

    Kato 24815 Unijoiner

    Rerailer, Was: Kato 24815 Unijoiner Right, the tool comes with the rerailer. I don't need it since I don't use Unitrack, so I thought I'd pass it on if someone needed one. The rerailer isn't a section of track like Atlas's, but a portable ramp that you sit on the track and run your cars down...
  3. F

    Kato 24815 Unijoiner

    On a related note, are the unijoiner tools hard to come by? I bought a rerailer (nice) and there was a tool included in the package. I don't use Unitrack, and thought I'd pass the tool on to someone that might need it. Mike
  4. F

    Atlas vs Centerline Track Cleaning Cars

    I have, and am happy with the centerline car, but I've read that the Atlas car is also very good. If you have, or are considering DCC, there is at least one decoder available for the Atlas car; the Centerline car does not use electricity. Mike
  5. F

    DCC just can't choose

    Both Digitrax and NCE have their manuals available online: Digitrax.com: Index to Application Notes, Manuals and Instructions NCE2 Mike
  6. F

    New airbrush, need compressor

    You mention quiet as one of your wants. All diaphragm compressors are noisey, but one made from an old refrigerator or window a/c compressor will be the quietest. Make sure that you use an oil separator, or you will be repainting a lot! Another option is the conventional piston type air...
  7. F

    How to convert LL F40 and GP38 to Microtrains ?

    Dave, I used the M-T 1015/1016 on my Northern. M-T's conversion chart shows the 2-6-6-2 should use the 2004 coupler and the 4-4-0 takes a 1049, whatever that is. The 2004 is the same one used on the Spectrum 2-8-0's tender. YMMV, Mike
  8. F

    sectional track popped out of rail joiner how to fix?

    You could use a method similar to that used to replace a bad turnout. On the rail end that is raised, cut the spikes off of 2 or 3 ties so that you can slide the rail joiner back far enough that the matching rail will drop enough to slide the joiner forward and do its job. You may have to rewet...
  9. F

    Truck pin falling out

    I've also had a few truck pins fall out over the years. My fix is to use a tiny dab of Walthers "Goo" (contact cement). I use a toothpick to put it in the bolster pin hole in the chassis, then push the pin (with truck) into place. You don't need much, just enough that the pin gets some Goo on...
  10. F

    Living Room table layout

    To reduce photos to a manageable size, I use a small program named Irfanview (hey, I didn't name it!). You can quickly load, resize, and save a photo before Photoshop finishes loading. It also has a much shallower learning curve. Mike
  11. F

    Reader's Digest Makes N Scale Locos??

    But it amazes me that people will occasionally pay good money for one that is listed right above or below one that the seller can't give away. I had thought about an auction that would feature a picture of one of the engines as a 5lb sledge hit it into oblivion. Shipping charge would be $.50...
  12. F

    Kato 2-8-2

    I'm sure there is a story behind that! I'm not sure I want to hear all the gory details! I just finished the Bachmann 2-8-0 from hell yesterday, so y'all have my sympathy... Mike
Top