TomE's N Gauge Modelling

Both the scenery and electrics look very tidy, and (I might have said this before) the track flow is just amazing.

 

Can I ask why you used the foamboard framing with polystyrene infill? It obviously works very well but it seems like you could get by with one or the other and save yourself some hassle.

Thanks Will.

 

I used the foam board in order to get the right contours for the embankment. In the past i've found that just using foam carved to shape it's easy to remove to much and having the foam board helps as a guide when cutting the polystyrene infill blocks.

 

Tom.

That's clever. I knew there'd be a good reason, I just didn't know what it was

Hi Tom,

 

Did I see that the DCC fitted Cobalt motors are about £27 each? Did you consider the Traintronics TT300 motors which are a fiver cheaper (and also smaller). Interested in your comments as I'm trying to decide which one to use in a new layout.

Really enjoying your blog by the way, some nice track laying there.

 

David

Hi David, and thanks

 

I don't have any experience with the TT300, although I understand they are quite capable units and have the benfit of being slightly shallower than the Cobalt. Me personally, I'm more than happy with the Cobalt. So far they are proving to be extreamly reliable and easy to install and program, especially with the NCE Power Cab I use. You simply flick the switch into 'learn', allocate the id number to that unit, then flick the switch back and you are done. It's a 2 minute job and just a few button pushes to get a fully operational point.

 

You can pick up the digital Cobalts for £23.50 from Bromsgrove models at the moment, which looks to be around the same price as the TT300. I got mine from Gaugemaster as they were the only place selling them at Warley, so paid a bit more, but no postage costs.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Tom.

Thanks, Tom, I'll keep Bromsgrove in mind.

By the way, I may have missed it somewhere in your blog but what are the Cobalts attached to in order to move the switch blades?

 

David

Hi David.

 

There is a PCB tie bar between the point blades with a hole drilled in the middle. The cobalt actuator wire is then fed through this and cut off at the right length. When you install the motor its just a case of centering the motor and the point to make sure it throws enough Both ways.

 

It's the simplest way of doing things I think although there is nothing to stop you mounting it offset to one side if needs be.

 

If you haven't already, take a look through the Cobalt instruction PDF, it's really quite comprehensive and has some great ideas & suggestions: http://www.dccconcepts.com/PDF_Downloads/cobalt_manual.pdf

 

Tom.