Track and electrical/DCC
Preparing Flex Track for Painting/Weathering
Is it necessary to wash flex track in a detergent solution before laying it to prepare it for painting/weathering with acrylic latex paint, e.g. Polly Scale? I had read someplace that someone had reported adhesion problems in painting the plastic ties on flex track with these types of paints and thought the problem might be due to some residue on the plastic ties, e.g. mold release chemicals.
Thanks for your help,
Bob
MRC 0001665 Sound Decoder
Anyone had experience with the MRC 0001665 sound decoders?
Likewise the Digitrax Sound bug and SFX 0416 sound decoders?
any advice appreciated.
Peter
Sound only decoders
Hi guys,
I have a number of steam locomotives as well as diesels that have the normal decoders installed. Is it possible to install a sound only decoder that works in conjunction with existing decoder?
If so , can anyone recommend which decoder could work?
Would hate to have to remove the existing decoders. This would be very costly for me!!
PECO curved Code 83 turnout spring
I have several PECO code 83 turnouts, mostly the curved ones that are DCC friendly. These turnouts have a spring in the throwbar which keeps the points in place whichever way the turnout was last thrown. I plan to use Tortoise turnout motors. Should I remove the throwbar spring or is the Tortoise motor strong enough at 12 V to override the spring?
John
Soldering Problem
Has anyone experienced this problem when soldering: The solder is not flowing onto the rail. It just seems to "ball up" as soon as it heats up. I'm using a dab of flux on the side of the rail, but the solder will not flow. In fact, the solder will not stick to the tip of the soldering iron either. The solder is rosin core and I used it successfully the other day with no problems at all. Help please!!
Walthers Crossing Signals
I was wondering if anyone has tried these out at all, and what they think. I have a set, but I am looking at getting another for my railway. Are they good, or should I look else where?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2304
Digital switch control without DCC
Colleagues,
For my layout (swiss style), I'm looking for a system allowing to control all swiches, signals, etc, by PC. I know that it's possible by using any digital system (DCC or similar), but I don't want to install DCC on my layout, as:
- The central units are very expensive
- I have a very extensive engine collection, and I would not like to have to install a decoder in about 450 engines
Making Curved Crossovers
Following on from the "22 stories up" topic, I thought I'd break out the curved crossover issue, using curvable turnout bases, so we could expand on it a bit. It's definitely a complex piece of trackwork that needs a certain amount of planning ahead and really detailed "drawing out" on the roadbed, to make flow right. But I'm believe I can develop a simple method here that anyone can use to get good results first time.
Rail Colour (color)
I've watched many videos and it looks like modern mainline rail is a grey colour, is this because of the type of steel? Other rail is brown, rust colour.
My question is are mainlines grey and older track brown?
Mike Ruby
Curving Proto87 turnout kit
Hi guys,
I know I have seen this discussed by Joe Fugate, somewhere on here but I can't find it anymore! Tried the search engine and no go...
Could anyone point me in the right direction? I am at the planning phase of my layout and I'd like to see if it is possible to do so since I read on the Proto87 website that it is possible to curve the turnout kits.
Thanks for your help,
Chris
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