[Can anyone recommend a 6pin stay alive decoder for a Bachmann 03?]

Thanks both, I found this article;

 

https://www.coastaldcc.co.uk/installnotes/Bachmann/class03/

 

Fine soldering is OK

 

Thanks

 

 

[Can anyone recommend a 6pin stay alive decoder for a Bachmann 03?]

Can anyone recommend a 6pin stay alive decoder for a Bachmann 03?

 

Or do you need to fit these items separately?

 

Many thanks

[Using Arduino DCC++ and Cobalt Point Motors]

Hi, I have just built my DCC++ EX command station (Arduino Mega + Motor Shield) and it works fine with JMRI & WiThrottle etc.

 

I want now to start to control my COBALT point motors through the Arduino Mega - can anyone point me to some information on how to do this? Thanks

[Nottingham Model Railway Society - still there?]

Despite emails to the secretary I can get no news about Nottingham MRS. The website seems over a year out of date; still advertising the 2020 Spring show? Can anyone tell me what the state of play as as I am interested in joining?

[Large German Model Rail Shows 2022 - looking for suggestions]

Thanks for all the replies. I have found links to some and they are still on for 2021. Looking at the situation in Germany re. COVID I am sceptical that they will happen this year though.

 

I cannot see any of RMWeb's calendar as yet.

[Large German Model Rail Shows 2022 - looking for suggestions]

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations for a large German Model Railway show to visit in 2022. Based on your experience what would you recommend?

 

Thanks

[JMRI - worth the effort?]

Thanks, apparently the issue with the mouse is known, if you select several objects in Layout Editor and then use Shift + Mouse 2 to move behavior is erratic. I have no issue with software and am indeed very proficient with IT, the question is whether I want to invest the time for a small layout. The mouse problem, the overall sprawling construction, poor documentation (or rather lots of it) and the number of people having issues has suggested it might not be worth the time. 

[JMRI - worth the effort?]

Hi - a mimic screen that will enable you to control the layout from a tablet. Looking at iTrain intro rightnow...

 

[JMRI - worth the effort?]

I have briefly played with JMRI and found an issue already with the unintuitive use of  the mouse to move a selected group of items in the 'Layout Editor'. I joined the users group and was dismayed with the steady stream of problems thrown up.

 

Two questions:

 

1) Is JMRI a worthwhile investment of time for someone like myself undertaking a complete modestly sized layout build with one train in motion and 7 turnouts to control?

2) Is there a recommended alternative to achieve PC/Tablet layout control?

 

Cheers

[JMRI start - help needed teething troubles]

Thanks, I didn't realise it was an 'either' or 'both'. Its too bad I've never had a chance to see JMRI work on a layout. Thanks for your time.

 

Still got this mouse problem moving the 'diagram' around in Layout Editor.

[JMRI start - help needed teething troubles]

7 minutes ago, cheekychops said:

Hi, sorry should have mentioned it. Its a W10 Gaming PC, Windows is up-to-date and Java new installed.

Okay thanks, useful. What is a 'panel' - is it what we would call a panel which represents the layout in diagrammatic form which is then used to operate the layout. Is the layout the first place to start? In other words one layout - many panels?

 

No wait have found a clinic

[JMRI start - help needed teething troubles]

Hi, sorry should have mentioned it. Its a W10 Gaming PC, Windows is up-to-date and Java new installed.

 

I have tried a different mouse also. The issue is that selecting the layout, holding down 'shift' and using Mouse2 does not move the objects in any sensible direction, they can even shoot of the layout.

[JMRI start - help needed teething troubles]

I'm starting to use JMRI. I have opened the panel editor and grasped the basics of drawing a layout. Only issue is when i select all items or a single item, hold down the 'shift' key and move with Mouse 2 the display does crazy and the component shoots off into the distance even outside the grid. What the hell is going on? How do you reliably move items around.

 

On another point I don't find the help much use as with its confusing use of panel editor and layout editor - I'm missing the bigger picture - any useful tutorials available?

[Buying and Selling models to/from Europe]

Postage for magazines etc is increased - e.g. VGBahn for a 'special' edition on BR120 - cost Eur15, postage Eur9.95. According to relatives in Germany postage to the UK is in the same class as the US, and very expensive. It might well be cheaper in future to travel to Germany and 'stock-up'.

[Getting started with JMRI, a basic question]

Thanks Nigel, a considered reply and very helpful, thank you for your time

[Getting started with JMRI, a basic question]

Hi

 

I wish to  move from my NCE starter handheld controller to JMRI + Smart Phone/Tablet

 

The reason is that with increasing numbers of accessories and sound functions a handheld controller is becoming a memory game, and whilst I might be able to standardise the sound across locomotives with extensive reprogramming, accessories need to be laid out on a crib sheet. I would rather have a simpler 'smart' controller which adapts itself to each locomotive. I am assuming JMRI permits this, so for example 'whistle' might be different functions on different locos/chips but the interface will just show 'Whistle' using JMRI.

 

Looking at the JMRI site there seems to be a basic question unanswered, namely what constitutes a DCC controller to sit between layout and laptop? Is the simple interface of the NCE starter set suitable?

 

Cheers

[Opaque glass from Humbrol thinner on Hornby Coach?]

Thanks, on the plus side its a good impression of steamed up windows!

[Opaque glass from Humbrol thinner on Hornby Coach?]

Hi, started to weather the Hornby Thompson Coach (see picture) using a wash of humbrol matt black and humbrol thinners. I noted clouding of the windows which on attempting to clean fully became irreversibly opaque. The thinners appear to react with the plastic as well.

 

Seemingly this is not an issue in Hornby Yearbook No. 7 2015, page 59 with same coach but MIG enamel weathering wash.

 

Is this issue so well known that it is not mentioned? Humbrol are Hornby – right?

 

What is the prospect for repairing this?

[Poor running Bachmann - from bad to worse!]

Update:

 

I have hard wired the DCC chip to the motor but no improvement on rolling road or track.

 

I also removed the motor from the chassis and tried running it. It ran well! Even at low speed. Also there was a good deal of torque evidenced by pressing thumb onto worm gear. Reassembling - same poor running; the conclusion is the chassis although manual rotation does not appear stiff at any position. Any further ideas or is it off the the shop. I spent quite a bit of time renumbering and weathering it

 

Thanks for suggestions thus far.

[Poor running Bachmann - from bad to worse!]

No I did not buy it new. I'll look for the any sparking. It runs okay when direct current is applied though. In next few days will wire up the decoder directly.

 

I certainly don't have a roundy roundy set thus the need for smooth running.

 

Xhees

[Poor running Bachmann - from bad to worse!]

Thanks, might give some more room too! I might remove the cap to see if that also works,,, will report back

[Poor running Bachmann - from bad to worse!]

Hi,

 

I have a Bachmann 08 shunter that never ran well. I have just completed renumbering and weathering and reassembled to find that it ran very hesitantly – max setting on NCE cab.

 

This is what I have done and hopefully narrowed the issue down. BUT after my tender attentions it refuses to run at all.

 

1)      Disassembled and cleaned pickups and wheel insides, reassembled w light oiling on connector rods.

2)      Ran on rolling road with DC – OK at max setting (HM transformer) - 16V, still not brilliant. Ran for 20 minutes.

3)      Ran with chip (Hornby 8 pin) – still poor, hesitant running

4)      Reset chip - no difference

5)      Changed chip to Bachmann 8 pin – no difference.

6)      HERE I might have been stupid. But the small PCB and wired connections from pickups and to the motor looked frail. Cut, re-tinned and soldered back R, M+ and M- (see picture)

7)      Some joints on the front and back looked poor so I heated them up (15W iron), also the distance between soldered joints on the back looked, in places, too narrow so a little filing

 

Now it will not run DC or DCC.

 

Diagnostically (Picture below)

·         DC direct to motor - it runs!

·         DC 16V is reaching contact strips on chassis top V=16V

With plate in;

·         16 V from R (red wire) to M+ and M-

·         Short across M+ and M- (with meter)

·         No capacitance reading from cap straddling M+ and M-. Caps across motor (suppressors) measured OK

 

Any ideas? What does the cap straddling M+ and M- do? Can I remove it? Should or can I replace this PCB?

 

[A single Power Supply - power rating?]

Thanks for the replies, more power seems a good idea, Maybe 2 power supplies, a separateeated one for the Layout LED strip?

[A single Power Supply - power rating?]

Rather than have several wall mounted plugs for my NCE starter control, 12V DC AUX layout power supply and overhead LED layout lighting, I was thinking of using a single power supply.

 

A 25W Single Output Switching Power Supply from RS Online - RS-25-15 provides 15V and 25W and should suffice for NCE (13.8V, 24W) and DC 12V (with a suitable resistor). My layout is small (1 loco running at a time) and without much lighting on the layout,

 

BUT with a strip of LED lighting 3m is 25W sufficient?

 

Any advice most welcome.

25W Single Output Switching Power Supply.pdf

[Recommend a robust plug..]

Great; thanks for all these suggestions!!