Modeling topic
Periodic stopping of BLI SW7 with QSI decoder
I recently got a Broadway Limited SW7 with a QSI sound decoder from an estate sale. The engine stops periodically and starts by its self. The lights stay on so it is not losing contact and is not shorting. The engine stops , the sound slows down, but does not stop and the in several second it will start up again and the engine sound rev up. It is not always at the same place and seems to be independent of the speed. Does this sound like the decoder is on the way out??
Bill Feairheller
salvage track work and turnouts?
Have any of you tried to reuse flextrack and turnouts that have been ballasted? This is higher end track and turnouts (plastic ties) that has been nailed to homasote and then ballasted the usual way. Is there a way of removal that works good? Is it worth the effort? Or is it best to toss the old trackwork in the dumpster and start new? HO scale. Thanks.
Lightweight rocks
Many years ago, I started casting rocks using Plaster of Paris. Lately, I have been casting rocks with Lightweight Hydrocal to save some weight. (A couple dozen rocks can add a lot of weight to a portable layout.) Most recently, I have tried using Lightweight Spackle in regular rock molds. It came out surprisingly well.
Basic question about operating with car cards
I just finished an operations session using car cards, and found it both daunting and frustrating. It is not the first time I've operated on this layout. I was running an extra freight with pickups and set-outs, and the train was limited to a total of 7 cars plus caboose.
What I found difficult to understand is how to decide whether to pickup cars first or to set out out first. In what order?
I looked through Tony Koester's book and I see nothing addressing this.
Hornby Dubio crane
A friend of mine found some rolling stock in the trash { He works for a hauler } one is a crane made by Hornby Dublo / Meccano Ltd , with three flatcars all made of metal . There is also what looks like a rocket launcher all metal made by Tri-ang / made in England . I'm hopping my photos will post with this , having trouble posting photos . I watched the 2 min. video and still haveing trouble . Any info is appreciated . Jim Ross .
Main Level Progress and Building the base for the Helix
The past couple weekends have seen more progress on the main level benchwork, including building the base for the Helix.
HO Brass Auction - Items require work, do not run
On Friday I received a package containing two brass locomotives. These locomotives were described as models that would not run and that were shorting out when applied power to them. The warmning was very prevalent, it was in the headlng of the posting as well as the body of the posting.
I decided I would buy one or two of the will not run items, I was buying them stickly for parts. The auction was quite large and the two items i bought went for about one third the price of what the locomotives that ran fine were fetching.
Tyco engines re- motor worth it?
I have two old Tyco diesel locomotives A GP-20 and a Alco Super 630. I would like to add DCC and sound to these engines but hear that the old TYCO motors draw too much current and will burn out the decoder. Has anyone experience with adding DCC and Sound to these engines? Has anyone swapped out the old motors for new ones?
Thanks in advance,
Thom
Everyone, Thank you for your responses, this was my first post to this forum and I appreciate the responses. Sorry it took me so long to reply. Thanksgiving got in the way.
SCARM layout software v. 0.9.23
The new SCARM v. 0.9.23 is ready – download it from www.scarm.info :)
It comes with several new features, many updated libraries, some bugfixes and improved functionality. The most important new features are Background image, the Ballast roadbed in 2D and Track Heights numeric input.
See about the new features and more about this update in the SCARM Blog post SCARM v. 0.9.23 Released.
My Essex Terminal Black Bridge basic scenery
I thought i would try my hand at a bit of scenery on my layout starting with this bridge scene, Will need trees bit more ballast water. Following soon.
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