Modeling topic

Strange Peco Turnout

Mon, 2021-09-13 17:47 — railandsail

Recently posted turnout photo on another forum,....

that turnout photo you posted,...where did you get it, or identify it??

It does not appear to have the same contact tabs as many of the older ones?

And, is this some sort of new tab,..... sticking off the end of that point rail?, ....or perhaps some sort of optical illusion?

Blue Painters Tape

Mon, 2021-09-13 17:03 — pierre52

Having spent a fair chunk of time in my workshop of late (Covid Lock down), I had one of those realisations that the subject of this topic has become one of my go to "tools".

Yup, common or garden 1" Blue Painters Tape.

I am sure that most of you are only too well aware how versatile this product can be, but I thought I would share 10 examples of other things i Use the tape for.

Miniature turnout decoder

Mon, 2021-09-13 09:21 — Pygmalion

Dear fellow hobbyists,

I have recently decided to develop a turnout decoder to suit my particular situation. I am a model railroader who does not have a fixed and permanent layout, instead I build my layout as I have opportunity and time. Of course, this means that no two layouts are the same and that individual turnouts (many of which can be controlled electrically) change places. To deal with this situation, I came up with a miniature decoder that is attached to each individual turnout and draws power and commands directly from the turnout's tracks.

Crossroads

Sun, 2021-09-12 21:18 — RandallG

After going through a move, I don't have a layout anymore, and nothing was salvaged from the old layout. Not sure where it could be built, but I do enjoy building and painting structures. I won't be using photos as a finish like our good friend Mr. Sutton who has mastered the process. just going to build up a bunch for a small city maybe add some traffic lights. I guess it will be a sort of diorama. It could be added to a layout later without any problems. In a way, it could be the start of a mini, or micro TOMA project. Unfortunately I have no interest in a switching layout.

Building of the Little Pacific railroad EP 6 (Start of narrow gauge and mountain) - Video

Sun, 2021-09-12 19:42 — John Graser

Layout tour

John Graser's blog

Making an MOW scene

Sun, 2021-09-12 18:15 — Rockcity

Operations

Making an MOW scene

Moderator note: We prefer videos to be embedded so that our readers don't have to navigate away from the forums.

Yard Switcher Protocol

Sun, 2021-09-12 18:13 — CharlieM

OK you guys with knowledge of real trains, help me out with some yard switcher protocol. I'm modeling the transition period from steam to diesel with an occasional GP38-2 thrown in. My first question is: would a road switcher (GP7) returning from a local run with just a few cars be allowed to spot them to yard tracks or would regulations/contracts insist the RS leave them on the A/D track and let the yard switcher (H-10-44 or NW2) move them to other yard tracks?

Old Block Occupancy Detector - Need Information

Sun, 2021-09-12 14:51 — W_P_Maier

I have an old block occupancy detector that has gone bad. It has three detectors on one circuit board and is connected by an edge connector. The board is marked with "EDA" and "402-U". Does anyone have any information on this device? A pin-out on the edge connector would be most helpful. Thanks!

1 comment

Gaps in curves without kinks?

Sat, 2021-09-11 12:51 — lineswestfan

Trackwork

I have a curve and I need a gap in it. I want to keep the industrial area off of the main line detection circuit.

The radius between the two turnouts is not close enough to a commercial curve, so I'm using flextrack (the radius about 16" in N scale). I tried using insulated joiners at either end, but they don't hold the curve. Either the track pops out or there is a kink at the joint. So I soldered the joints and now I have to cut gaps somewhere in the result.