nScale.net http://www.nscale.net/forums/ This is a discussion forum for N scale model railways, go to http://www.nscale.net/ . en Thu, 17 May 2012 13:42:41 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.nscale.net/forums/images/misc/rss.png nScale.net http://www.nscale.net/forums/ Loco truck servicing http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25889-Loco-truck-servicing&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:06:53 GMT Here is a site for servicing Atlas and Kato loco trucks: http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/grela/atlaskatotruck.html Here is a site for servicing Atlas and Kato loco trucks: http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/g...katotruck.html ]]> Diesel gary60s http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25889-Loco-truck-servicing <![CDATA[Boise & Damuth Railroad (B&D)]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25888-Boise-amp-Damuth-Railroad-(B-amp-D)&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 06:35:32 GMT New member here, so Hello.

I'm naming my railroad after the streets where the train has been operated. The first is it's current location. The second is the street where I grew up and where my dad would set up the trains every so often. The initials are coincidentally my dad's, so it's a nice homage to him since he's not around anymore.

I even came up with a color scheme if I ever decide to paint my own livery on an engine.

McC ]]> Private Roadnames Cucullin http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25888-Boise-amp-Damuth-Railroad-(B-amp-D) Rule 17 http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25887-Rule-17&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:49:20 GMT How is Rule 17 programmed in Digitrax decoders for speed? I want the lights to dim when going slow. How is Rule 17 programmed in Digitrax decoders for speed?

I want the lights to dim when going slow. ]]> DCC webskipper http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25887-Rule-17 <![CDATA[1st "complete" effort for my 4X8]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25886-1st-quot-complete-quot-effort-for-my-4X8&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:35:37 GMT Hi Folks

I've spent way too many hours tonight trying to make peace with my "non negotiable" 8X4 footprint. I have worked it, reworked, worked it again and ... well you get the idea.

I have plenty of track to fill all that space but I really want to keep it simple (apart from the superfluous reversing loop - lol) This will be my first project in over 30 years so I thought the scenery would be my main focus.

I'm not married to this and am sure there's a bunch of stuff I haven't considered so please, fire away with your thoughts. As always on this site, I really appreciate hearing from you!!! I have much to learn and really just want to finalize a layout and get to building it. Planning is fun enough but I want to roll my sleeves up and start making stuff.

Operationally, I like to move a little freight and included a few industrial spurs for that purpose. It won't shock me if I wake up tomorrow and tear it all down yet again but regardless I feel no need to double the trackage from what is there now ... I think ;)

Matt
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]]> Matt S http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25886-1st-quot-complete-quot-effort-for-my-4X8 Great Stuff equals great foam adhesive! http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25885-Great-Stuff-equals-great-foam-adhesive!&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:35:28 GMT Fellow nScalers, Just wanted to share my recent experience with using Great Stuff (foam in a spray can) as an adhesive for laminating sheets or... Fellow nScalers,
Just wanted to share my recent experience with using Great Stuff (foam in a spray can) as an adhesive for laminating sheets or pieces of pink foam insulation for layout building. I already tried foam safe Liquid Nails (which is good for gluing cork to foam, but not so much for foam to foam - after more than a month it still hadn't properly cured and peeled right up). I decided to price out foam safe contact cement as I've had success with it in the past but sticker shock stopped me short ($16 a can - I remember just a couple of years ago buying that very same can for $9). That was way too much money for it so I decided I needed to find an alternative. I had read that Great Stuff works and that's pretty much it. Just that it works. With such ho hum reviews, I wasn't entirely convinced that it would work very well. Even still, I bought a can to try out (at $2.50 for a can - not that much to lose if it didn't work). I grabbed two pieces of scrap styrofoam insulation, sprayed a small amount of Great Stuff on one piece, rubbed the two pieces of foam together to spread the Great Stuff out in a thin layer and let it set for a few hours. I came back later and lo and behold, they were glued together! My 3 year old son cannot pull them apart. I'm sure I could pull it apart, but it's just foam, I can break the stuff to tiny little pieces if I so choose (he probably could too, he's a three year old and can - and will - break anything!). I'm confident that it'll hold up more than fine for use as a foam insulation to foam insulation adhesive, and it's very reasonably priced! All in all I think Great Stuff is, well, great stuff! If you need to laminate your foam insulation pieces to build your landforms, I highly recommend it! ]]> Bronman http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25885-Great-Stuff-equals-great-foam-adhesive! Quick Unitrack Question... http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25884-Quick-Unitrack-Question&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 02:58:21 GMT Hi All

I want to add a reversing loop and wonder if its better to use a #6 T/O or Kato's new Wye piece?

I have the #6 set up now and would consider the Wye if I can get a cleaner and smaller loop using it. I'm going DCC so I trust the wiring would be the same. Unless I'm missing something Kato doesn't have any product info on their site at this time so thanks so much for your help!

Matt ]]> Matt S http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25884-Quick-Unitrack-Question <![CDATA[Kato #6 T/O "Loop" vs Kato "Wye"]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25883-Kato-6-T-O-quot-Loop-quot-vs-Kato-quot-Wye-quot&goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 00:42:23 GMT Anybody have experience using one or the other? It seems a loop is easier operationally ... but the wye, with a passing siding on the leading... Anybody have experience using one or the other? It seems a loop is easier operationally ... but the wye, with a passing siding on the leading straight, would take up less space and still serve the same purpose.

Does that sound right? Is wiring the wye (which really seems like it would end up being three connected wyes) problematic?

Thanks,

Matt ]]> Trackage Matt S http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25883-Kato-6-T-O-quot-Loop-quot-vs-Kato-quot-Wye-quot My first hand laid turnout. http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25882-My-first-hand-laid-turnout&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 20:21:04 GMT Not only is this my first hand laid turnout it's also my first N scale anything. I am a recent convert from HO and this turnout is the starting point of my layout. It's a curved 24r x 18r #8.

turnout.jpg

Just a paper template, file, soldering iron, pins, and some time.

TH
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]]> Trackage thetrick http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25882-My-first-hand-laid-turnout Micro Mini Tripod (Make your own) http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25881-Micro-Mini-Tripod-(Make-your-own)&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 19:30:09 GMT I have a mini tripod that I’ve used for close-up shots, but the legs wouldn’t allow me to position my camera as low and as close as I wanted for some shots, especially when scenery was close by. These 2 comparison shots show my new “MMT”, my camera mounted on the MMT, and the store bought mini tripod.
ammt.JPGbmmt.JPG

I made this “MICRO MINI TRIPOD” that does the job. You can easily make your own from a scrap piece of ½” plywood 1” square (be sure to use plywood as other wood will split). Drill a 15/64 hole in the center and countersink it for a ¼ - 20 x 5/8” long flat head screw. Cut a 1” square of adhesive backed felt and cut a hole in the center for the screw, and stick it to the base.

The 15/64 hole will give a tite fit and lets the screw self-tap on tightening to keep it in the base.

Next drill Three 1/16” holes on the edge (not all the way through). The 3 legs are cut from stripped #14 house wire 2 ½” long. Grind the ends to a point (CAUTION - points are sharp) to provide a good grip in scenery, or you can make the ends rounded for safety.
cmmt.JPGdmmt.JPG


The 1/16” holes make for a press fit of the #14 wire legs, and you can just force them in. The legs are flexible enough to bend by hand, but will still support a camera without bending. As you can see in the comparison shot, it will get much lower than the mini tripod. Took me ½ hour to make!

NOTE: This tripod is only suitable for SMALL DIGITAL CAMERAS in the 1” x 2” x 3 ½” size range and will NOT work with larger cameras.

Here are 2 examples of previously impossible to take shots due to obstructions. The 2nd pic is showing the camera on the micro tripod in the middle of the river. One of the tripod legs is under the bridge! The 1st shot is the pic that was taken (I could have focused on the trees, but focused on water surface instead). The 3rd shot is showing how low you can get without placing camera on the ground. The 4th shot is the pic that was taken.
mini example 1 shot.JPG mini example 1.JPG
mini example 2.JPGhmmt.JPG
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]]> Tooling gary60s http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25881-Micro-Mini-Tripod-(Make-your-own) <![CDATA[Ebay 30 year old locos listed as "new"]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25880-Ebay-30-year-old-locos-listed-as-quot-new-quot&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 18:26:49 GMT I'm sure you have all seen older locomotives that haven't been in production for a long time listed on Ebay as "new in box". Having bought a few Atlas/Kato GP-35s on Ebay, I found the only true part was that they were in a box.
However, today the latest auction I won was from a dealer in Australia which arrived today. It actually showed NO signs of wear at all, it still had the Kato quality control tag and the parts diagram folded up under the unit. I think I was the first person to put it on a track ( it runs great). When I paired it up with my other SP GP-35 it was now obvious to me that the older unit had undergone some natural weathering (see attached photo). I am so thrilled I am going to order in some Microscale SP decals and make a bunch more SP boxcars.
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]]> Diesel oldnslow http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25880-Ebay-30-year-old-locos-listed-as-quot-new-quot HCTL-2016 Decoder uses http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25878-HCTL-2016-Decoder-uses&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 14:34:27 GMT Recent giant cleanup and found two ICs marked HCTL-2016 from HP. Can anyone tell me what projects might have specified use of these chips? Recent giant cleanup and found two ICs marked HCTL-2016 from HP. Can anyone tell me what projects might have specified use of these chips? ]]> DCC kaptkanga http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25878-HCTL-2016-Decoder-uses USPS on-line tracking not working - is it just me?? http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25877-USPS-on-line-tracking-not-working-is-it-just-me&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 08:53:19 GMT Hi Guys and Girls.. I have recently purchased a few items from the USA, and paid for the USPS Priority Mail International, as I like being able to... Hi Guys and Girls..

I have recently purchased a few items from the USA, and paid for the USPS Priority Mail International, as I like being able to track my packages, especially some of the more expensive ones..

Unfortunately though, the tracking does not seem to be working that well of late.. The last package that I had sent Priority mail International from MTS, the only tracking I got was that the item was accepted in Baltimore, and then nothing until the item arrived and I picked it up from my local post office here in Australia..

It is only me that is having this issue, or are others having the same problem..

Cheers Mark..

PS.. Sorry Mods if this post is in the wrong thread, but I hoped that shipping of model railroad parts to be relavant enough to qualify for this thread.. ]]> General Rail Discussion Backlash http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25877-USPS-on-line-tracking-not-working-is-it-just-me Circuitron 6100 Remote Tortoise Mount http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25876-Circuitron-6100-Remote-Tortoise-Mount&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 02:03:42 GMT Has anyone used one of these on there layout? A long time ago I built model airplanes and used a bell crank for control. Seams to me that could be... Has anyone used one of these on there layout? A long time ago I built model airplanes and used a bell crank for control. Seams to me that could be used in place of the Circuitron or is there some advantage to the remote mount that I am overlooking?
Thanks Doug ]]> Trackage SluderD http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25876-Circuitron-6100-Remote-Tortoise-Mount <![CDATA[Help, I'm stumped!]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25875-Help-I-m-stumped!&goto=newpost Wed, 16 May 2012 00:05:40 GMT Friends, I really, really request your feedback here: I have finally decided on a traditional 4X8 layout. This is not my first choice but for... Friends, I really, really request your feedback here:

I have finally decided on a traditional 4X8 layout. This is not my first choice but for numerous reasons it is what it is and will be for some time to come. If it matters; I'll be modeling Florida in a yet to be determined time period but it will be the mid 1970's or later. I want to be reasonably faithful to the geography and landscape but less prototypical on industry and operations. I like switching so there will be a yard and/or industrial area for sure. I know the FEC moves a lot of rock, but one quarry would take up several square feet so I probably won't choose that. Also, this will be my first railroad and it will be wired for DCC.

I tell you all that so I can ask you this:

Should I go with a single or double mainline? Or in the case of my rather pedestrian 4X8 platform: large outer loop with an attached inner loop leading to the aforementioned yard/industry?

I realize this question smacks of "Ford vs Chevy" but I really cannot decide but the more I (over)think about it the more mired I become. I'm curious what others think and do/have done in similar footprints. My prevailing thought is to go with a folded, single main (a large version of Kato's M2/V9 combo) but I don't want to miss out on the operating flexibility of a (potentially overrated) continuous run.

Thanks to any and all!!!

Matt ]]> Matt S http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25875-Help-I-m-stumped! <![CDATA[Hi, I'm looking for a name]]> http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25874-Hi-I-m-looking-for-a-name&goto=newpost Tue, 15 May 2012 23:44:29 GMT This is my first post so please be gentle with me! I'm based in Staffordshire, England and I've only fairly recently started modelling American n scale, having previously had an ON30 logging line, which I exhibited a number of times at shows, and before that a number of British steam era layouts in 00 gauge.

My n scale layout is now well underway. It is portrays a present day small fictious city within commuting distance of Chicago with a busy station capable of handling up to six trains at once. Since I'm particulary keen on passenger operation Amtrak and Chicago Metra trains will be very much in evidence. I've also included an intermodal yard and loco maintence and refuelling facilities.

I've been building up my collection of locos and rolling stock for some time now while I've been constructing the layout in my attic (a recent holiday in Florida proved a useful, if rather expensive, opportunity to buy more). The layout is DCC so I've gone for sound in as many of my locos as possible.

All of which is a rather long preamble to saying that I'm now stuck on what to call the station. I've toyed with many names, even some from the the Ojibwe Native American language - Basadinaa (Valley between the hills) and Magadinaa (Big hill) etc. I like the idea of a name that has some historic links, but I have to confess I'm stuck. Any suggestions?

Regards

Howard ]]> howard http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?25874-Hi-I-m-looking-for-a-name