Track and electrical/DCC
The Pitfalls of MY DIY Turnout Construction
Well this week I decided to try my hand at building turnouts using Joe's CVT/PC tie technique.
To begin I printed templates of the turnouts I want to build. I printed the picture of the CV Tie Strip with the ties replaced with PC ties. This was the first pitfall I encountered. I started to modify a tie strip for my jig when it occurred to me that while Joe's example was a #6 turnout, I'm building #5's! Stop the presses!
Track to choose to get things rolling?
Ok I am still in the planning on using Fast Tracks down the line but right now to get things rolling on the layout. I have three choices to look at, all code 83, they are Peco streamline code 83, Atlas custom line Code 83, and Walthers/Shinohara code 83. Which of those three do you all recommend in terms of Reliability first, Detail second and Cost third.
Anyone remember the Mod to slow down Booster 5 was Recomendations for new DCC boosters.
All; it turns out I had another booster 5 still in the box I had bought, so I guess I'll try and mod the booster 5's to slow them down, I know if you change R5 to 19.6K it slows the trip time to 130ms, is this slow enough or is there a different mod I need to try and find somewhere?? I'm going run the EasyDCC setup until it gives me problems and then switch, I can't justify changing at the moment. Thanks for any answers you can give.. I tried wading through the EasyDCC forum, but it seems like anyone who knew anything about it has moved on.
Old Code 100
I have some old Code 100 rail, some of it flextrack, from the late 1970's that I inherited. I sue code 83. I'm not using it and have half a mind to pitch it unless someone can give me a better idea.
Thanks,
Rob Carignan
Question from the long experienced
I am working on a 4x8 for the up and coming generation (my 5 year old)
I've been using atlas code 100 NS track (flex and TO's.)
The dumb question of the day:
If you KNOW a layout wont last more than 2 years, is there REALLY a reason not to use Brass track? i'll still use NS for the Flex, but MAN oh MAN, the price on brass turnout outs is CHEAP, well not really cheap, more like, FREE + shipping.as compared to new code 100 TO's at an average of $ 18 a piece......
are there any real techniques to minimize maintenance?
frog numbers and track radii
If a Peco code 75 small radius point equals 24" when it comes to curve radius, is this equivalent to a #4 switch in U.S. Terminology? What then does the curved leg of a #5 switch equal?
I've been trying to find a conversion table somewhere but have had no luck.
Peco express radius by the inch except for the code 83 line which is expressed in U.S. style frog numbers, so what is the equivalent of a #5 in inches?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Warren
any info of the controllers i have?
i just got the controllers... dos anyone have any info of them?
sorry sor the pic
Wiring a helix...
OK I have my plan for my staging and then some... Now for some questions regarding the helix.
1) I have taken your advice and split the lower staging from a "80ft run" to about 40ft by 40ft.
2) At the end of one run there is a helix. it is 2 levels (33inch rad.)
3) It goes up to my yard on the second level.
How do we deal with this. Before I started reading up on this stuff I thougt that I was OK, now I realize there are some parameters that I need to consider.
O Scale DCC/sound question
I have an older Atlas SW-9 in mint condition. It has a single can motor and runs like a watch, less than 1 smph both directions, competely silent. What could be the problem????? High stall AMPS over 2.5. It would definitely smoke a Tsunami. Josh at Tony's Trains says the QSI Revolution U can handle it..............I'm not so sure about that.
Anyway, I'm curious what others are doing to add sound to these big fukllk size O scale locomotives???
Thanks,
Peter
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