Anybody know if Bearcomarine is still in business? Reason I ask is I've become very interested in building an HO scale model of a McMyler Coal Dumper. I already know of the Garden State Model Railroad clubs working model and the post here on MRH about the "N" scale model that was started but looks like the poster never finished. I've also surfed the net and downloaded every picture I could find.

I looked at the Bearco's site. It's still up but if you click on purchasing plans you get a 404 error.

The school year began last Tuesday, and I welcomed back last year’s seventh graders, now railroad veterans in eighth, along with the crop of new seventh graders. The sectional railroad is still in summer storage but I have the Inglenook set up in a corner of the room, available as a teaching aid for learning the basics.

On another thread, there were some actual experience comments about trying to use modular/sectional methods to build a home layout. This is an approach we're calling TOMA - The One Module Approach.

Rather than hijack that other thread, I've moved that TOMA comment here into a new thread and I'd like to explore the topic with anyone who has actual experience trying to do TOMA-like methods for building a home layout.

This is my first foray into engine kits in more years than I care to type.   My last adventure was an MDC 3 truck Shay.   As I was struggling through that project, nice brand new ones came out that looked good and ran good right out of the box.  I relieved my wallet of some money and relieved me of the stress of trying to get that kit to work.  :)

Now I have a 4-4-2 Atlantic Roundhouse kit I got at a train show for $35+Tax.  ( they were very adamant about charging tax).