Andy SR

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It doesn't have to be a big or massive layout, or one that is rivet-counted, to inspire one. I remember a layout in MRC years ago, called Oakhampton, and although I have built a major US-layout in the intervening years, along with more than one smaller UK-outline layouts, Oakhampton keeps coming back into my memory, as a relatively small layout, which absolutely exuded atmosphere and a longing to be in that place. It had operating potential and just looked lovely. It certainly inspired me, proving that you could get a model world to escape into and you didn't need to live in a castle to do it. I noticed in the press, that the real Okehampton had recently re-opened, and it brought that layout flooding back into my memory again some 30? maybe even 50? years later.

Cannot recommend this shop highly enough. Professional and friendly service. Massive range of goods in stock. A true model railway shop. Brilliant service. Brilliant people. Been a month or so since I have been in due to this blessed lock down and stuff. But it's times like now, that we really need to support our local dealers...

It’s time to go and put on your specs And have a look at NMRAx Here’s a date you must remember come join us all on 27 December Join us on YouTube or Facebook Live for six hours of model rail presentations and general chat. No membership needed. Just hit the link. No charges. Just come and enjoy our Christmas Special. Search Facebook or Youtube: NMRAx Presentations from: The Mud Father doing weathering with pencils Rail fanning in Winter with Jordan Kramer Chicago Industrial Scene with Richard Sieben Model Railway Operations at Casino in Queensland Australia Fading with Acrylic paints Joey Guinto Engine & Rolling stock maintenance Gerry Hopkins MMR Sunday December 27th at 20:00 (8pm) UTC, 15:00 (3pm) EST, 12:00 (noon) PST, 10:00 (10am) HST, 06:00 (6am) AEST. That’s tomorrow!!! Don’t forget ! Photo: Christmas Train John Feraca

That's good Tocoro. I have no connection with DCC Concepts (other than as a customer through my local dealer - Coastal DCC) it just works, and their after sales support, if you ever need it, is excellent. I mistakenly wired something up wrong on one occasion and they told me how to sort it, get this: on a Sunday afternoon !!! I am a happy bunny customer. Good luck with your layout.

Hi Tocoro, Sorry, cannot answer your question, but definitely worth the wait for them to come back in stock. Chinese production appears to be getting back to normal. I tried everything on mine, but nothing was as good as the ADS-8sx.

Thanks for posting that Pacific. Brought memories flooding back to me. Although I don't know if I made it in 1973. But I was stewarding at most in the 1960s which I would say were some of the happiest days of my life at that time. Brilliant.

Only £80 from Coastal DCC. I just received one.

Hi Nigel, No, sorry. I am extending the layout rather than removing anything. And yes, they are the AD8-sx that I am using on the extension. Hoping to have it all done for exhibition in September 2020. We shall see.

Sorry to hear that Nigel, got to say that I have some quite old ADS-8sx units, probably way more than five years old, and not had any problems with them. Other than, of course, that I couldn't get any more when I extended the layout. I tried many others, and none would do the job as well as the DCC Concepts ones, and getting irritated by the lack of supply, I went down the Tortoise and Cobalt route with DCC Concepts other 8-way decoders, which convinced me to move away from solenoids for new modules. Which was a good move, and I now have loads of auxiliary outputs to switch all manner of goodies such as signalling etc., and little diodes (signals?), or your PC, that show which route has been set, even if you cannot hear the satisfying click of the solenoid. I think, that the cessation of supply is a peculiarly Chinese thing? We have had difficulties before when importing from China direct from manufacturers. So I cannot really blame DCC Concepts. But, the answer must be: bring manufacturing back to the UK !!! There is a company in Margate with loadsa space. They made noises about doing that not long ago, I wonder if that has transpired into anything?

Hi and thanks Nigel, Hope you are keeping well. I have followed the manual explicitly and checked all the CVs are correct, truth is there just was not enough power. I have now got most of the outputs to work, but... I have had to add a separate 24v DC supply to achieve that, and they still did not have the bang to work one of the points, so I had to remove it's auxiliary switches to get it to work. My disappointment, is that Lenz LS110s and DCC Concepts ASDs would switch that point without removing the accessory switches. Maybe more volts or bigger capacitors needed, but I don't want to do that as I don't know what the rest of the circuitry would take. Interesting, but the one that wouldn't throw even with 24v was a Peco (Green) low current solenoid, whereas the others were the standard ones. I shall now try changing the point motor!

I too have been caught out by the lack of DCC Concepts ASD decoders. I have a bundle of Peco motors, with twin auxiliary switches on them, which will throw with an old Lenz LS100/LS110, but wont throw with an LS150. When I added extra points (Peco), I needed another ASD but couldn't find one anywhere, so went with a CML/Signatrax DAC20. But found it useless working from track power. So I added an extra 16v ac auxiliary supply (1 amp) and the points still wont throw. Then I upped the power to a 5amp 18 volt ac supply (which they say is the maximum), and all I get is just a twitter from the point blade. Very disappointing product which I will not buy again. The trouble with these things is they do not do what it says on the box or in the instructions, so one is concerned about buying other expensive products which might equally be failures. I have to say from my experience that DCC Concepts stuff has always worked well for me, as it does do what it says it will do, and more, as it will also throw 30 year old H&M point motors (now made by Hattons!). And these facts are what makes websites like RMWeb so thoroughly valuable, as if you are buying something you have never bought before, you can check out the advice of others whom have probably had the similar successes and failures. So, anyone know how to make a DAC20 work on solonoids?

Hello Clive, If my memory serves me correctly, I first saw Hanging Hill (MPD?) at Witham Exhibition some several years ago?

For me, there were two primary character forming layouts. The first was The Rev. Awdry's layout (Sodor?) which I was honoured to be allowed to operate for a few minutes amidst a throng of Vicars (my Dad being one of them), and I think Rev. Teddy Boston and Rev. Arthur (A4) Paling at Central Hall Westminster when I was quite young. It certainly inspired me, as I suggest it did for many others, and reading this thread, I was surprised it hadn't been mentioned before. Next, also at Central Hall, was Borchester. Looking back 50 odd years, I can remember spending hours just spellbound by it. Having "operations" explained to me by one of the operators somehow fascinated me, and stuck with me throughout my later life. Then, being given a Southern Region Working Timetable (can't remember who gave it to me), I became inexorably hooked and addicted from then onwards. Over the years, many excellent layouts have inspired me with some detail or other. I cannot remember all their names. The most recent was Dagworth. After a period out of modelling, Dagworth at Ally Pally brought me back to life. The design, the detail, the technology. Truth is, there are a lot of inspiring layouts out there.

I've just read this thread from start to finish. Comments and questions. Comments: Incredible. Educational. Inspirational. Our club takes two hours and six helpers to unload and set up the large layout (about half the size of Ravensclyffe) for an exhibition. I was gobsmacked to see you can do it in two, with only two people. (But then, I was gobsmacked when I first saw Dagworth, and Ravensclyffe retains me in that condition). Questions: Do you use pattern makers dowels at more than one level between baseboard joints? (Ie. for Upper Level rail alignment) Do you have an Exhibition list and Exhibition managers details yet? Are you using track-circuit technology as per Dagworth, or are you using something such as Railcom or even GPS? Are you going Entry-Exit (as mentioned earlier in the thread) or do you fancy a bash at ARS? Finally, are there more than 24-hours in each of your days?