RMweb Premium DLT Posted October 21, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 21, 2015 NCE Powercab is a very good "all-in-one" solution, but I found the lack of a speed control knob awkward. If you go for the NCE, you can add a separate Cab for control, (say the Cab 06 http://www.dccsupplies.com/item-p-104202/nce-cab06-intermediate-nce-dcc-cab-with-kno) with which you can control just about everything, but you cant program with it. I found when using the Powercab that I spent too much time looking at the handset rather than the layout. Cheers, Dave. PS see you Saturday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold bcnPete Posted October 24, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 24, 2015 Good luck with the show Jerry with DCC Thinking of taking the plunge myself sometime soon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DLT Posted October 25, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 25, 2015 Thanks very much for letting me have a play on the layout at Taunton Jerry. The DCC seemed to be working well, i'm sure its the right decision given that Tucking Mill is no longer a "one engine in steam" layout.I have never used the ZTC system before, and it took a while to get used to the Regulator Handle. But it does have good solid Off and Full positions, and a proper reversing switch If you go for the NCE, you can add a separate Cab for control, (say the Cab 06 http://www.dccsuppli...cc-cab-with-kno) with which you can control just about everything, but you cant program with it. I tried out the NCE Cab06 on Richard's Acacia Avenue, and to be quite honest I think I preferred the regular Powercab. The Cab06 has a nice knob for speed control, but its a continuous rotating one; it doesn't have an "off" stop position. With the display only showing the loco number, you have no indication from the handset (visual from the display or "feel" from the knob) as to where the speed level is. I feel it would be so much better with an old-fashioned "pot" with Off and Full position. Cheers, Dave. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted October 25, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2015 Thanks Dave, and my other guest operators over the weekend, Phil, Maurice and of course Kim. I must admit to being a little nervous before my first outing as a fully DCC layout. If asked what the worst conditions are for reliable running I'd say chucking it down outside with lots of wet visitors coming into a hot, crowded, carpeted exhibition hall! Guess what we had Saturday morning!! Nevertheless the layout, and locos performed well. There were a few finger pokes but nothing excessive and the cocktail stick occasionally had to come out due to sticky couplings but overall it performed well and I was really pleased. Having played with the ZTC handhelds all weekend I think Dave's comments are a fair assesment. They are positive to use and dialling up a loco is quick and easy. I like the lever style throttle although would like a slightly wider sweep. I won't be rushing out to find a replacement. On a more general note I really enjoyed the weekend - great company, some fabulous layouts (Hope-under-Dinmore, pre-grouping glory in EM being my favourite), Brittania and 'two soups Thai' on Staurday evening and probably the best show catering around courtesy of the Taunton School chefs. Jerry 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 ....first outing as a fully DCC layout......There were a few finger pokes .... With DCC, stay-alive circuits of a handful of tiny ceramic capacitors make a huge difference to finger-poke frequency. It is worth removing a little ballast weight to install them. See my blog posts, or Carsten Berger's website. - Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted October 25, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) One other major event at Taunton this weekend was my old mate John Greenwood being presented with the Geoff Balfour Trophy and the Geoff Jones Trophy for best 2mm article (MRJ 235) and layout (Wadebridge) respectively by myself and Jim Allwood. I was guest editor of that MRJ and managing to persuade John to write about his almost fifty years building exquisite 2mm models made my job easy. John is probably the best and most modest modeller I know and these rewards were very well deserved. Jerry Edited October 25, 2015 by queensquare 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Copleston Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 (edited) Thanks Dave, and my other guest operators over the weekend, Phil, Maurice and of course Kim. I must admit to being a little nervous before my first outing as a fully DCC layout. If asked what the worst conditions are for reliable running I'd say chucking it down outside with lots of wet visitors coming into a hot, crowded, carpeted exhibition hall! Guess what we had Saturday morning!! Nevertheless the layout, and locos performed well. There were a few finger pokes but nothing excessive and the cocktail stick occasionally had to come out due to sticky couplings but overall it performed well and I was really pleased. Having played with the ZTC handhelds all weekend I think Dave's comments are a fair assesment. They are positive to use and dialling up a loco is quick and easy. I like the lever style throttle although would like a slightly wider sweep. I won't be rushing out to find a replacement. On a more general note I really enjoyed the weekend - great company, some fabulous layouts (Hope-under-Dinmore, pre-grouping glory in EM being my favourite), Brittania and 'two soups Thai' on Staurday evening and probably the best show catering around courtesy of the Taunton School chefs. And thank YOU (and John G) for inviting me, it was a real pleasure to help out. It was a very enjoyable show, not least because of the delightful company with a great bunch friends - you and Kim, Maurice H, Nick S, Dave T, and John and Edna G. Brilliant! Oh... and not forgetting those massages from 'Two Soups Thai', of course. Quite a hoot! We must go back there sometime... I too found the ZTC DCC system easy and responsive to use. And it revolutionised the operation of even on a modestly-sized layout like Tucking Mill. I think you made the right choice. So, no worries, matie! Edited October 25, 2015 by Phil Copleston Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted October 25, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2015 Oh and just the one inappropriate guest courtesy of Jim - evidently it's a 15....something or other and in the unlikely event that TM would have made it into the 90s......... ! Jerry 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted October 25, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2015 The building looks a bit grand for a 90's version, a second set of buildings to swap it for a bus shelter or probably just a lamp post Nice to see Tucking Mill and Wadebridge together and running so sweetly too. I struggle to get OO kits running that well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted October 25, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2015 The building looks a bit grand for a 90's version, a second set of buildings to swap it for a bus shelter or probably just a lamp post Nice to see Tucking Mill and Wadebridge together and running so sweetly too. I struggle to get OO kits running that well. Hi Paul, I think more likely station a tea room and the trackbed (sans track) a cycle path! Jerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Donw Posted October 25, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 25, 2015 The building looks a bit grand for a 90's version, a second set of buildings to swap it for a bus shelter or probably just a lamp post Nice to see Tucking Mill and Wadebridge together and running so sweetly too. I struggle to get OO kits running that well. Jim and myself did suggest doing that while Jerry wisely ignored us. It was good to have you there for the show. Top quality modelling. Don Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D869 Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 Great to see that you had a good weekend. Congrats to John on the trophies. I'm sure that the Layout Trophy will look particularly striking on John and Edna's mantlepiece. Regards, Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Copleston Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 (edited) Hi Paul, I think more likely station a tea room and the trackbed (sans track) a cycle path! Ahhh yes, that's the answer - model it post-closure! Then there's no need to muck about with tiresome locomotive mechanisms, DCC or all that jazz... Edited October 26, 2015 by Phil Copleston Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Copleston Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 More pictures from an exhibition... Kim, Maurice and John at the start of the show on Saturday, 24th October. John doing a spot of shunting and looking very pleased with himself! Jim Allwood (former Chairman of the 2mm Scale Association) presenting John with the Geoff Balfour Memorial Trophy (given to the person who is considered to have best promoted 2mm scale modelling and the Association through writings in the British modelling press during the past year). Jim, John and Jerry posing for the Railway Modeller's press photographer. Oh yes, the modelling paparazzi were trailing John that day... 70000 'Britannia' on a wine and dine special from Cornwall heading north, waiting for the "off" at Taunton, 19:24 hrs, 24th October 2015. Jerry, Kim and John... and a certain steam locomotive. What a super weekend that was. Great company, good modelling, and happy memories! 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBS Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Jerry, Kim, John, Phil, Great posts - it was obviously an excellent show. I wish that I could have been there, almost made it but bottled out at the last minute. Best wishes, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium DLT Posted October 28, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2015 Ahhh yes, that's the answer - model it post-closure! Then there's no need to muck about with tiresome locomotive mechanisms, DCC or all that jazz... Quite so, just working bicycles instead! Piece of cake... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Copleston Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Quite so, just working bicycles instead! Piece of cake... Oh gawd, Dave. Don't mention 2mm scale working bicycles to John Greenwood, he just might rise to your challenge! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 2mmMark Posted November 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2015 Tucking Mill adopts the Devil's Control Circuitry?! Noooo! No more visiting locos Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Copleston Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Tucking Mill adopts the Devil's Control Circuitry?! Noooo! No more visiting locos Mwahhh-ha-haaah! Dual-mode chip a couple of your potential visiting locos and they'll work on both? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Smith Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Only if you've got a chip to "dual-mode" - whatever that might be??? :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold queensquare Posted November 2, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2015 Hi Mark, I must admit that the problem of non-DCC fitted visiting locos was one of the main reasons I held back from going digital for so long. The final straw was when I added the Wharf and the extra wiring, section switches etc that would be needed to make full use of having two engines in steam. I hope my guest operators will agree that the flexibility of DCC to have two people playing in close proximity without having to worry about sections etc was well worth it. It also means I can now nick John's engines when we are out together - Beattie Well tanks on the North Somerset Light anyone! Jerry 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartM Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 With DCC, stay-alive circuits of a handful of tiny ceramic capacitors make a huge difference to finger-poke frequency. It is worth removing a little ballast weight to install them. See my blog posts, or Carsten Berger's website. - Nigel Any chance of a link please Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 2mmMark Posted November 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2015 (edited) Just put "Berger & chips" into Google. Edited November 2, 2015 by 2mmMark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Any chance of a link please Nigel The link at the bottom of every posting ? - Nigel 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartM Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 The link at the bottom of every posting ? - Nigel Oh yeah, so it is, thanks Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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