Next time you need a small level, look to your cell phone,
specifically an iPhone 5 with the iOS software. Believe it or not,
the software has a function for the phone to act as a level.
This is a really cool tip, I had no idea that this was here!
It also works on the iPhone 4s in iOS7 using the built in compass app.
Hi Your column is great keep up the good work. I am doing several ATLAS O locos for a friend and have had limited success with the speed step 1 thru 5 performance.. The 2 motor setup used by most O scale 2 rail locos is not the best for switching. We have had some success with TSU 1000s installed MOTORS in series. but getting the CHUGGLE out of the zero to speed step 5 has been a struggle. And I would like to verifiy that there is no momentum from zero to speed step one??? YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE! Thanks BILL P
Can I recommend you make your comment on two motor Atlas O locomotives a post of it's own - perhaps in http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/forum/16 - Locomotives and Rolling Stock
I think it will get more attention that way.
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
and check out the O gauge railroading forum, they've been discussion that problem for years over there. BTW. Those 2 motor locos were probably the main reason I decided to get out of O scale, they made me stop and evaluate what I wanted to do and how best to do it.If Atlas had made all their locos with the sweet switcher single motor drive I'd probably have been too far into the trap to get out....DaveB
I did order the discs. I was OK with the price but to charge $18.00 for UPS ground on something that weighs less than a pound is offensive. We might as well be on ebay.
I had an O scale Rich Yoder 45 Ton locomotive with two motors that ran like a watch on DC but terrible with a Soundtraxx TSU 750. I tried everything but no amount of fiddling would get it as smooth as on straight DC. Soundtraxx came out with a matching decoder to the 750 with motor and light function only. It was a tight fit but I got it in there. I used it for one motor and the lights and the TSU for the other motor and the speaker. Using Decoder Pro I gave them separate addresses and speed matched the motors and then consisted them. Ran great after that.
Ive been slowly switching my fleet of rolling stock over from the #5's to a more scale Kadee like the 58 or 158. Ive run several trains with mixed sized knuckle Kadees and havent had a problem on our clubs modular layout with sometimes, less then stellar trackwork. I have found the same thing shown in the photo with both couplers not being level with eachother on the knuckles "centerline". I would say, if your swapping out a more realistic scale head coupler from the existing #5, which in my opinion looks better on many of todays highly detailed RTR cars, it might be worth considering adjusting the #5 equipped cars to the correct height according to your prefered height gage (I like the kadee one personally) and then go back adjust all the scale knuckles according to the #5 centerline.
Im planning to leave alI of my steam era rolling stock with #5's on them, mainly because im a modern era modeler and as expensive as bulk packs of Kadees are, I dont want to see a pile of #5's go to waste so using them for the older stuff just to run at shows and exhibits is perfect for me. That said though, I personally have two Kadee height gages, one for the #5's and one for the scale head #58/158's. There is a difference in height but I havent had a problem but I prefer to leave the difference should there be a situation where my equipment is mated up to another members rolling stock.
Im wondering if the problems that Mr Norm Beveridge's club had was because of the difference in height for their respective coupler and some adjustment in height would have gone a long way.
I very much like the idea of using the ultra thin disks, but my unsteady hands create something quite a bit larger. Any ideas on how to cut the gap with a rotary tool on a turnout or any track that is already assembled or installed on a layout?
Comments
Level app for cell phones
This is a really cool tip, I had no idea that this was here!
It also works on the iPhone 4s in iOS7 using the built in compass app.
- Bill
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modeling the BNML in HO Scale, Admin for the RailPro User Group, & owner of Precision Design Co.
slow perf of two motor ATLAS O locos
Hi Your column is great keep up the good work. I am doing several ATLAS O locos for a friend and have had limited success with the speed step 1 thru 5 performance.. The 2 motor setup used by most O scale 2 rail locos is not the best for switching. We have had some success with TSU 1000s installed MOTORS in series. but getting the CHUGGLE out of the zero to speed step 5 has been a struggle. And I would like to verifiy that there is no momentum from zero to speed step one??? YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE! Thanks BILL P
Love the super-thin gap
Thanks for the heads-up on the Dedeco cutting wheels.
FYI, they also offer a box of 25 for $13 (if you don't need a box of 100.)
Signalguy
Can I recommend you make your comment on two motor Atlas O locomotives a post of it's own - perhaps in http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/forum/16 - Locomotives and Rolling Stock
I think it will get more attention that way.
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
Jeff Shultz - My blog index
MRH Technical Assistant
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/jeffshultz
two motor Atlas O locomotives a post of it's own
and check out the O gauge railroading forum, they've been discussion that problem for years over there. BTW. Those 2 motor locos were probably the main reason I decided to get out of O scale, they made me stop and evaluate what I wanted to do and how best to do it.If Atlas had made all their locos with the sweet switcher single motor drive I'd probably have been too far into the trap to get out....DaveB
Read my blog
The thin discs
I did order the discs. I was OK with the price but to charge $18.00 for UPS ground on something that weighs less than a pound is offensive. We might as well be on ebay.
Two motor locomotives=2 decoders
I had an O scale Rich Yoder 45 Ton locomotive with two motors that ran like a watch on DC but terrible with a Soundtraxx TSU 750. I tried everything but no amount of fiddling would get it as smooth as on straight DC. Soundtraxx came out with a matching decoder to the 750 with motor and light function only. It was a tight fit but I got it in there. I used it for one motor and the lights and the TSU for the other motor and the speaker. Using Decoder Pro I gave them separate addresses and speed matched the motors and then consisted them. Ran great after that.
Peter
Kadee height.
Ive been slowly switching my fleet of rolling stock over from the #5's to a more scale Kadee like the 58 or 158. Ive run several trains with mixed sized knuckle Kadees and havent had a problem on our clubs modular layout with sometimes, less then stellar trackwork. I have found the same thing shown in the photo with both couplers not being level with eachother on the knuckles "centerline". I would say, if your swapping out a more realistic scale head coupler from the existing #5, which in my opinion looks better on many of todays highly detailed RTR cars, it might be worth considering adjusting the #5 equipped cars to the correct height according to your prefered height gage (I like the kadee one personally) and then go back adjust all the scale knuckles according to the #5 centerline.
Im planning to leave alI of my steam era rolling stock with #5's on them, mainly because im a modern era modeler and as expensive as bulk packs of Kadees are, I dont want to see a pile of #5's go to waste so using them for the older stuff just to run at shows and exhibits is perfect for me. That said though, I personally have two Kadee height gages, one for the #5's and one for the scale head #58/158's. There is a difference in height but I havent had a problem but I prefer to leave the difference should there be a situation where my equipment is mated up to another members rolling stock.
Im wondering if the problems that Mr Norm Beveridge's club had was because of the difference in height for their respective coupler and some adjustment in height would have gone a long way.
Chris.
Wobble Wobble
I very much like the idea of using the ultra thin disks, but my unsteady hands create something quite a bit larger. Any ideas on how to cut the gap with a rotary tool on a turnout or any track that is already assembled or installed on a layout?
JP
Riverside CA