The Most Wanted List

[spookshow]

I was too slow, lol.

-Mark

[basementcalling]

I was too slow, lol.

-Mark

Forgiven if you were distracted by a loco creeping tie to tie on your test track

[Albert in N]

     Thanks for the Tichy Train Group source.  Their RR crossing signs look good to me. 

[ski]

Pre-assembled decent looking pre-wired modern hooded signals. Like the HO Atlas/BLMA ones.

Been asking for N scale ones for years, including directly to an Atlas rep at a big national show.

I am guessing it will never happen. 

[Rossford Yard]

I haven't read this through, so I apologize for any repeated ideas.

My roster could use some Belt Ry of Chicago Alco C 424 units, an EJE SD38-2, and maybe the IM GP 10 in those Chicago area paint schemes.

All other rolling stock has been brought out, although I probably have space for an auto rack unloading area now. So, any that cost less than $50 each would get my attention. Otherwise, they won't.

It will probably be too late for any new style Peco track (cross thread idea, I know) but I would still love to see it come out.  Speaking of track, with so much pre-weathered rolling stock out, could pre-weathered (with more variation than the ME weathered track) be far behind?

[haasmarc]

OH YES, PLEASE, especially B-mann's making it so you can get the glazing out of the windows.  I have had a B-mann undecorated NE/USRA II caboose for years.  The red looks close enough to WM's red.  I have had the WM round herald decals for years (I might have to get out the decal film).  I have not worked on it because I will have to mask out every tiny window and tape over the trucks and couplers.

I have two LL NE/USRA II cabooses with the round herald that I found at a show so many years past, but the B-mann version looks so much better.

I wholeheartedly agree on removing the windows in the Bachmann NE caboose.  Sometimes they pop right out and then you have one or two that are just nasty.  I was removing windows for another Reading caboose and one of the door glazings was destroyed during removal so it just sat on the workbench.  Then I started looking at doing a LV bicentennial caboose which has end doors with portal windows so they would need to be replaced anyway so making lemons out of lemonade.

 I used one of the red undecorated ones for my Reading caboose.  I cheated and used my laser cutter to cut the masking for the windows when applying the clear coats.  I had to mask off the sides and ends to paint the roof as well but that is easy.  I'm not sure why you can't just remove the couplers and trucks instead of masking them...

[John]

A working layout 

[djsmeltzer]

Tichy Train Group has you covered - https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/p/2622-crossing-sign-crossbuck/Default.aspx

-Mark

Scale Signs is another option.  https://scalesigns.com/collections/n-scale-railroad/products/n-2008c-faded-white-crossbuck

[nkalanaga]

For crossing signs, if you have a home printer, it isn't hard to make your own.  Two lines of type, in a suitable font, on cardstock.  Cut the "boards" out, glue them to a post, you're done.

No need to get fancy and make the full crossbuck, just make two boards, as that's what most prototypes did.

[basementcalling]

For N...

2. C30-7 - BN and ATSF
3. CF7
4. "Next Level" track. This could be C40 Turnouts, Peco C55 NA, or something else or all of the above.   Just, something that improves the hobby.  It's time.

#2 would be even better with the Phase II cabs without the rounded windows on the sides.
#3 question of the year will be whether Atlas or Rapido can get an N scale version of their new HO models to market first.
#4 getting close to 60 years of N scale and we still run on butt ugly track.

[spookshow]

For crossing signs, if you have a home printer, it isn't hard to make your own.  Two lines of type, in a suitable font, on cardstock.  Cut the "boards" out, glue them to a post, you're done.

I would normally agree, but the Tichy signs are just so nice - extremely realistic looking, and not much thicker than paper. Way better than the crap that Bachmann (et al) used to sell. And at $5 for 18 signs, one of the last reasonable deals left in model railroading.



-Mark

[thomasjmdavis]

I would normally agree, but the Tichy signs are just so nice - extremely realistic looking, and not much thicker than paper. Way better than the crap that Bachmann (et al) used to sell. And at $5 for 18 signs, one of the last reasonable deals left in model railroading.



-Mark

I'm also a fan of Tichy's freight car and MOW car kits at $10 ea.  (ok, yes, 20 years ago, they were cheaper, but in the modern day, $10 for a unique piece of rolling stock is a great price) And their windows and doors.  One of the few bright spots for those of us who like to put stuff together and paint it ourselves.

[Wardie]

1. U18B
2. Alco S-1/3
3. A non slinky, close coupling reliable coupler
4. Robust, readily available reliable c55 track, with North American tie appearance(looks as good as Atlas, works as well as Peco)

[nkalanaga]

I'll agree on their MOW kits - the best wreck crane in N scale.  I even have one on my narrow gauge.

I've been making my own signs as long as I've had access to multi-font printer, first at work in the early 90s, so that's the first way I think of.  Buying them is definitely faster, and probably easier for people not as used to computers, which could include a lot of older modelers.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Like this? https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/c/n_signs/p/2622-crossing-sign-crossbuck/Default.aspx

I love those things. They're perfect in so many applications.