※Model Trains

Kadee Conversion Guides
Kadee – Shop By Category
Kadee #5 (gearbox style) and #148 (whisker style) medium centerset are good starting place
Coupler machine screws are (1/16" dia.): 0–80 × 3/8"
We have a lot of Tyco Talgo X2F ("horn hook") couplers
The Bachmann coupler boxes we have are called HO F7 Universal Coupler Mount

Screw Gauges
Most common crews in HO trains: #0–80 × 3/8" machine screws (1/16" dia.) and #2–56 × 1/2" (3/32" dia.)

Websites: HO Seeker and Tyco Forums
Use Gardner Bender Ox-Gard OX-100 on all electrical contacts
Use a Dremmel tool with wire polishing bit to polish contacts
Use high temp disk break wheel bearing grease on the gears, do not use oil.
Apply one drop of oil to the end of shafts where thrust washers are. No more!!!
Can use baking soda with super glue to repair cracked gears because there baking soda causes the got to cure instantly. Fill a crack with solid baking soda. Add super glue on top. The baking soda makes cyanoacylate glues harden instantly.

Clean track with Goo Gone, never steel wool (wears it down).
Nickel-sliver conducts power better
Brass tarnishes and loses power conduction. Some people like the way is looks.
Code 100 - taller, most common. Not realistic. Runs any HO trains, even old, poorly made wheels.
Code 83 - More realistic lower height, similar in scale to main branch track.
Code 70 and 55 - Less useful for older trains. Most realistic for light rail scale.

Scenery Goals

1 AHM/Rivorassi 2 snap-in 6 wheel trucks (#505, https://www.kadee.com/ho-scale-couplers-c-274_276_284/505-ho-scale-ahm-rivarossi-6wheel-coupler-conversion-bolsters-p-368.htm)
1 Bachmann EMD FP7 B&O (#452, https://www.kadee.com/ho-scale-couplers-c-272_230_231/452-bachmannplus-f7-conversion-ho-p-360.htm)
#212 Talgo converter
Green tanker (medium underset, #27)
Pack of rings (where did I get these?)
1 Model Power caboose (#23)
B & O Coal car needs 2 wheel sets
1 Model Power 0-4-0 switcher locomotive (Need #37? Check height!!! #27 was recommended)
2 Tyco Alco locomotives
1 GE Tyco locomotive
1 Bachmann Santa Fe EMD F7B (need #22/32 https://www.kadee.com/hocc_bachmann.htm) (going to install standard couplers once we know the height)
1 Mantua Tyco EMD GP-20 Union Pacific (#28)
1 Smokey Mountain Express tender that needs one pair of wheels, 1 new truck with wheels with Kadee couplers
1 Tyco Shell gas tanker, a pair of wheels
1 Mantua Tyco Texaco tanker needs two new trucks
6 Rolling stocks that need about the same as Tyco
New York Central (http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/204295.aspx) If you are replacing the trucks, you may as well body mount the couplers. Kadee does not sell passenger car trucks.
Brake wheels (https://www.kadee.com/ho-scale-scenery-and-car-parts-c-274_279_298/) Hand brakes were added by law in 1910. By the 1940s, all of these companies were supplying hand brakes. By the mid 1950s, this type of brake was being phased-out, but you would still see them the 1980s.

How to mount trucks
Bachmann 0-6-0 Green Smokey Mountain Express is a major repair project (non-functional). Needs one plastic wheel axle (not used in current design, may be the same as 4-8-4 axle).
Tyco Rock Island has a dead motor
Repairs on non-Tyco locomotives
Model Power 0-4-0 switcher. Wheels need alignment.
Mantua Tyco EMD GP-20 Union Pacific metal rails