Adrian Wintle Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) I can't get over that pic in Post #204 of the SD80's... Ditch Lights IN N SCALE ..... Not fair!!! I can't believe how manufacturers constantly omit them from HO locos that really should have them..... As I mentioned in the 'Headlights when switching" thread, I did the mod suggested in the Digitrax instructions and now have working - separately controllable, constant or flashing - ditch lights on one of my Kato N-scale P42s.. Kato has made a number of N-scale locos where the ditch lights illuminate (using light pipes from the headlight led). Adrian Edited February 5, 2013 by Adrian Wintle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 5, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 5, 2013 I intend having workung dirchlights in my P42' s one day Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 I intend having workung dirchlights in my P42' s one day It is reasonably simple, but be aware that Digitrax occasionally changes the layout of their boards, so the actual function pad numbers on the board you have may be different from the ones shown in the instructions. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 5, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 5, 2013 Adrian I will watch out for that. Thanks Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVSNE Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 ... as per Sir Lance Mindheim's writings, it can take well over an hour to switch just a few spurs - Wow, Lance has been knighted - does he know that? I'll have to give him you-know-what about it next time I see him.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted February 6, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 6, 2013 I like Sir Lance A Lot 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I like Sir Lance A Lot I hope you didn't spend too long thinking that up.... Wow, Lance has been knighted - does he know that? I'll have to give him you-know-what about it next time I see him.... Well it's just meant as an expression of the high esteem in which he is held, as far as I'm concerned, anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVSNE Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I hope you didn't spend too long thinking that up.... Well it's just meant as an expression of the high esteem in which he is held, as far as I'm concerned, anyway. Saw Lance the other day - he sends his best to all on this board. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Al, What would be the minimum radius you'd find acceptable (offscene, enroute to fiddleyard) - for reliability - using big modern locos? Cheers, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 9, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2013 Pete I have used 11.5 inches on Santa Barbara and all my stock goes round the curves. Any tighter and I suspect any long cars with body mounted couplings would suffer. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Thanks, Ian! Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted February 9, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2013 Pete - my hidden curves are 11" but that is really at the limit for modern equipment. Locos tend to be less of a problem than long freight cars like 89' auto racks. If the couplers are truck mounted you should be OK but body mount couplers will need assessment on an car by car basis, in my experience. If I were building a layout specifically for modern equipment I would look at pushing the curves out a bit, even the hidden ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVSNE Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Although 11.5" will work (I had no issues with it on the Androscoggin Central) some longer six-axle diesels, rigid frame steamers (I tried a brass PRR 2-10-0 as an experiment) and body-mounted couplers on longer rolling stock like passenger cars can baulk at 11.5" curves.) I think an ideal operational minimum radius for N scale might be in the neighborhood of 15". Any N scale equipment should be able to negotiate such a curve with ease. "Cosmetic" N scale curves of course, are a different matter. I'd love to see what an N scale train would look like on my HO layouts 38" minimum radius curves! Marty Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 9, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2013 My SD90mac goes round 11.5 inch curves and so does the Athearn Challenger but they are the longest locos I have (although the Challenger is articulated). Ideally I would have a larger radius in the fiddleyard and on scenic areas much larger again. My auto racks and double stacks do go round the 11.5 inch radius curves even in a 12 foot long train but you do have to put the heavier cars at the front of such as the Walthersdie die cast ones Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted February 9, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2013 I think I mentioned earlier in this topic that the one loco I didn't have luck with was an Athearn unit - can't remember what it was now, but something modern - which seemed to exhibit a lot of gear growl on the curves. I'm not sure if it would have been a problem in the long run but I decided not to chance it and took it back. My hidden curves are mostly Atlas Code 80 set track, by the way, as I struggled to get a consistent curve with flexible track. But the set track brings its own problems as the track exhibits a slight tendency to bow up between each section. There really isn't a perfect solution, you just accept your limitations and make the best of things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigZ Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I had an adult beverage at the bar with Lance at the Cocoa Beach RPM meet. He's somewhat bemused by his near celebrity status in the UK...and I of course teased him mercilessly about it... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 9, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2013 Al I did have the Atlas code 55 set track curves in the fiddleyard but they were well, pinned down and worked fine with USA stock. However when the fiddle yard was used with Banbury I had a lot of trouble with the UK stock so now it has been replaced with Peco code 55 flexi track. Both USA and UK stock work fine over this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr2 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Hi Al, I just finished reading your thread from the start & I'd just like to say what a wonderful layout you have there, really very well done with excellent scenery & stock! Unfortunately, being easily distracted it's now made me want to have a play with a bit of U.S.. N gauge (although reading other's posts it seems to have had that effect on a few people!) So I was wondering, are you able to buy loco's & stock in the UK, & if so could you give me some pointers as to where? I also noticed that you say you get a fair bit of stuff from e-bay - is that the US or UK version? ATB keith 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Keith have a read through the various topics in USA & Canadian Railroads as well - lots of suppliers mentioned several times - it's difficult for me to comment as I live over here and don't have the mileage for shipping. Thanks for the further experiences in minimum radii everyone. Craig, I think Lance is officially at "Top Guru" status in the UK. I believe that the reason why is that he simply shares some UK ideals in that you do not need a huge "snakey, peninsular" layout to have a successful, interesting layout, perhaps? Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted February 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) Keith I have bought N scale from the following traders, mainly at shows: LSWR Team Track (they have a shop in Redruth) Plus Daughters (last weekend at the Alton show they had a very good selection of nearly new modern UP locos with decoders fitted) Gaugemaster shop in Ford West Sussex (normally full price but some are reasonble prices) Osbornes MG Sharps (some years ago when they used to have a good range) Plus numerous second hand traders at shows I am sure there are other but just cant remember them at the moment. Ian Edited February 10, 2013 by roundhouse Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr2 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Plus Daughters (last weekend at the Alton show they had a very good selection of nearly new modern UP locos with decoders fitted) Ian Thanks Ian, It's typical - my daughter now lives in Alton, but they were back in Swansea last weekend. I had thought about going & staying with them for the show weekend! @Pete - thanks, I've seen a few mentions of UK suppliers for HO stuff, but not for N gauge, but I'm probably looking in the wrong places! Shall have another look later. And sorry Al for the thread hijack.... keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted February 10, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2013 And sorry Al for the thread hijack.... keith Not at all, glad it's set you thinking about US N! I've acquired stuff from almost everywhere - all the suppliers mentioned already, I would imagine, as well as Model Junction and now N Scale American (see their banner ad on RMweb). I've also picked up a bit at shows and the odd shop that has some American N squirrelled away (eg Lord and Butler generally have a few items in stock). Since you live in Swansea, it's also worth mentioning Kittle Hobby, as I acquired an E unit from them a while ago - although they are now a bit of a trek from where they used to be in the Gower. Most if not all of my Ebay purchases come from the American one. They don't all ship to the UK but if there is something I am desperate for, I have a friend in the States who can received parcels for me and then forward them on. Sometimes you get stung for the import duty, sometimes not - it's a bit of a lottery. But generally the costs are not too bad even if you have to pay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted February 10, 2013 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2013 Craig, I think Lance is officially at "Top Guru" status in the UK. I believe that the reason why is that he simply shares some UK ideals in that you do not need a huge "snakey, peninsular" layout to have a successful, interesting layout, perhaps? Best, Pete. Yes, his ideas translate very well for those of us in the UK, most of whom will never have the room for a basement empire. If I scaled up my layout to HO, it would still only be about 22 x 24 which would still be regarded as a modest size compared to some of the huge layouts they have over there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) As an exclusively US modeller, though in HO rather than N, I use Ebay.com , ebay.co.uk , and ebay .de -it is worth looking on the European Ebay sites (if they are in the EEC you don't get charged customs duty). Payment by Paypal in Euros is no problem. Check exchange rates using http://www.xe.com/ucc/. I understand a little German, but I can usually work my way through - the same applies to other language sites Edited February 10, 2013 by shortliner 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr2 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Thanks for all the replies chaps - & the talk about e-bay has reminded me there's a free listing weekend on now, so I'd best go & get some stuff listed so I can buy an N gauge loco, some boxcars, some track and....here we go again!! Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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