Modeling topic
Noise and roadbed question
As I am getting ready to start construction on my newest layout, the May Valley Railroad, I was contemplating roadbed material vs noise. My plan is to use 2" foam board over a light wood frame. But I have heard others in the past complain about the noise from this type of construction. I have been told that it is kind of like a drum radiating noise from the trains. All of that said I was wondering if anyone has used Homosote for roadbed on top of a foam board top..... and if so does it help with the noise?
DCC Test Track Wiring Question.
I have a question for those with more DCC and electrical/electronic experience then I have.
I have a NCE powercab that I would like to connect to my program track on my modelbench.
Also I have the NCE USB interface I would like to use so that I can download and use JMRI for programming.
And also I would like to set up the Soundtraxx PTB-100 .
A Special Invitation to Some Fun Clinics on Arduinos and Modeling
Coal Car Dumping Structures
There is a very interesting subject thread going on over on this other forum concerning automated dumping of coal cars.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/267945.aspx
There has been a good number of prototypical examples cited, as well as a number of submissions about modeling such structures
Detailed railroad maps
Greetings everyone!
I am returning to model railroading after a 20 year hiatus. I model interurbans on O scale and am looking for a map of Milwaukee. WI that shows industrial trackage. In particular I want to see the Milwaukke Road`s industrial trackage on the north side of town. I found some old ariel photos but they are not clear enough. My railroad will be free lanced based on this area.
Thank you in advance,
Mike
HELP! Bachmann's (older) Climax with split gears!
READER QUESTION SENT TO US:
Does anyone have one of Bachmann's lovely (older) Climax engines?
If so, have you run into the problem with broken/split internal gears? (Not the truck gears) I have three of these Climaxes (two with two trucks and one with three) and all have broken, internal gears.
DCC Sound install in a Bachmann GP30
After attending the Amhearst Hobby Show and finding a few good deals (this is one of them) on sound decoders, I will install one in a Bachmann GP30 that was originally DCC only. This is a straightforward install and although it is somewhat step by step, I see it as an overview on how I do it. This enging was one of those purchases I made when I was just getting into DCC. The engine always runs very well but I knew that a quality decoder would make a difference. Just getting around to it now and I hope to show how I do it!
Switches made with fast Tracks jigs
I have been working on building switches with the Fast Tracks jigs. I have the jigs for the left and right #6 and the wye #6.
I have learned a few things after making a few dozen switches:
1. Polish the circuit board tie with a few passes of a file, it should be shinny. Cut the gap before you put the tie in the jig. I cut both the top and bottom, I have had a short where some solder had dripped down and made a connection with the bottom foil. Very hard to find.
Decoder overheat in Penna. Loco Works (Bowser) metal shell
I'm repurposing a cast metal Penna Loco Works FM shell on an Atlas H 16-44 chassis. I've outfitted it with a Loksound Select decoder and two Tony's sugar cube speakers.
CURRENT VENTILATION:
A first (after all these decades) - Ballast
Hard to believe, but I have never painted or ballasted track. So yesterday I decided to give it a try. Jumped right in and didn't bother to check out "how to" threads here or elsewhere, knowing I knew everything I needed to know. WRONG! I used my test track that I use to program my decoders or to test running of engines with my Raspberry Pi 3 and JMRI. First big mistake was I didn't wet the ballast properly with the right solution and then didn't bother to scrap, research, and do it right. It turned "eh" but was happy with the painting.
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