Track and electrical/DCC
Wire strippers are not small enough
to strip decoder wires . What are other ways to strip them itty bitty wires?
Thanks
RJ
Asking for advice about LED's in an Athearn Genesis F unit
I am going to install LED's in an Athearn F unit. I have the resistors and I have done this in other engines. It was easy in my Proto's, but I think these will be a little trickier. It looks like I will have to glue them in place somehow. I was thinking about tacky glue or hot glue for projects (low temp).
Any advice from experienced modelers on this subject would be greatly appreciated. I ahve recieved some of the best advice here, and here is where I came.
Jim Lowery
Installation of MRC Sounder Steam 1665
I have a question on installation of an MRC Sounder decoder. This is the 1665, a generic steam locomotive sound-only decoder. The instructions from MRC are rudimentary; they only state it needs to be wired to railpower. I have done that. I need some advice on how to mount the decoder itself.
I put it in a Harry Potter Hogwarts Express for my daughter. She loves it! I temporarily stuck the decoder in the cab with a simple Lenz decoder. I want a better mount, though.

Decoder for Bachmann (ALCO) HO 2-6-0
I have an HO Bachmann 2-6-0 I bought about a year ago that is ID'd as "DCC ready." Taking apart the tender, I see the connector that I believe is designed to take a decoder.
I'm very new to the DCC thing. How would I determine what decoder to use? I would like to get one with sound which I realize will be more expensive. Do I only have to consider the footprint or are there electrical considerations?
If it will help, here's the applicable portion of the parts breakdown.

LED turnout position indicator
I needed a way to let me know the position of a hidden turnout. This solution can't be original - it is too simple - but it does the job.
The control does not have to be a dpdt toggle - it could be from a switch machine. I use a Tam Valley relay on servo.
Atlas and Fast Tracks Jigs
I have some questions regarding using my atlas flex track and Fast Track jigs...
I have alot of atlas code 100 flex track. Too much to replace. However, I would like to use the fast track jigs for my turnouts. How much of a problem will it be to use a code 100 fast tracks jig (using ME code 100 rail) and then transition it to the atlas code 100 rail? I know the profiles are different, but can they be joined? What rail joiner do you use and how much work is involved?
As far as code 83 looking better, I agree but can't afford to replace all my track.

To Tortoise or not to (Tortoise). that is the question?
When I’m busy on the Railroad I like to keep a background task running in my brain that is working on the next (or next but one) job to do.
Turnout control is on the ‘to think about’ list and I am having difficulty in making a decision.
I’m torn between 2 extremes I guess:
On the one hand we have the super cool visuals of the Tortoise and on the other hand we have the utter simplicity of a piece of 032 wire and a micro switch with finger control.

TCS WowSound - I'm excited
Okay, I can't be the only one who's recieved an e-mail from TCS with the link to their new product video. Looks exciting. I'll be curious to see how it competes/compares with the Tsunami and LokSound (roughly comparable price & size, from the look of things).
difference between Duplex and Simple Radio Throttles
that is the questions :
what is the difference difference between Duplex and Simple Radio Throttles?

Open frame motors and DCC
As I mentioned in another thread, I have a couple Mantua engines to rebuild. Both of them have open frame motors, like the one below (photo from ebay) and both of them run surprisingly well for not having been cleaned or run in years, if not decades. I'd like to keep the motors, if possible.
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