Česky Západ - HO Czech Layout

[Guest Jack Benson]

Czech related query

 

A few too many years have passed since I built an HO layout but I need help to locate a Czech manufacturer of rather nice lineside accessories. They made amongst many things a roadside shrine, like the one below.

 

Does anyone remember the name of the firm, they also offered building kits, wagon loads etc.

 

Thank you, btw, the layout is exactly as I remember except steam was still a thing but there again, I am too old.

 

StaySafe

 

 

[Neils WRX]

3 hours ago, Jack Benson said:

Czech related query

 

A few too many years have passed since I built an HO layout but I need help to locate a Czech manufacturer of rather nice lineside accessories. They made amongst many things a roadside shrine, like the one below.

 

Does anyone remember the name of the firm, they also offered building kits, wagon loads etc.

 

Thank you, btw, the layout is exactly as I remember except steam was still a thing but there again, I am too old.

 

StaySafe

 

 

Thanks for the positive comments, I would try Igra Model to start with as they do loads of laser cut kits.

 

Cheers,

 

Neil

[Guest Jack Benson]

Found it

 

DUHA modely

 

https://www.duha-modely.cz/en/
 

StaySafe

[Neils WRX]

First post of 2023
 

First update for ages is just a picture….

 

Posted this on the Belgian layout’s Facebook page and really surprised at the number of likes it got.

 

Plan for 2023 is refresh the layout a bit, starting with a rewire with DCC Route Setting. Leaving the Peco point motors (as they work) but adding a DCC Concepts point control box thing. Will also update some of the scenery as well.

 

Very long term would like to make it an oval but don’t have the space to have it set up in that form at home.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

Edited January 30, 2023 by Neils WRX

[roundhouse]

Neil

 

Did you get a class 714?

[Neils WRX]

On 13/01/2023 at 15:57, roundhouse said:

Neil

 

Did you get a class 714?

I did, Santa came up trumps!!

 

 

Not fitted a decoder yet or added the detailing bits so it’s just an ornament at the moment.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

Edited January 30, 2023 by Neils WRX

[roundhouse]

23 minutes ago, Neils WRX said:

I did, Santa came up trumps!!

 

 

Not fitted a decoder yet or added the detailing bits so it’s just an ornament at the moment.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

Excellent

[Neils WRX]

I don’t like my 714…..
 

First update for a while, I was planning a post about the MTB 714 however it’s still not properly up and running with lights and sound. I have discussed this on the Dobris thread.

 

Anyway more about that one in a future update (once it works).

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’ve now started re wiring and re control the layout. One advantage of this is I have a few new photo angles.

 

Here’s a Roco 749 passing the signal cabin.

 

 

A boring photo of rewiring the first scenic board.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[Neils WRX]

S & T Have Been at Work…

 

Couple of boring wiring pictures, 2 scenic boards down 1 to go….

First Board once completed.

 

Board 2 Before:

 

After:

Also connecting the station lights as well so they work for the first time!!

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[Neils WRX]

I keep getting a pop up on this forum for a Southern EMU, must resist, no space….. Even if it is a memory when I worked down south in 3rd Rail Land….

 

Quick update the rewire is pretty much complete the layout was taken apart so I could work one board at a time. The only issue being the amount of stuff stored under the baseboard had to be moved, so temporary storage needed to be found around the house.

 

Each board now has its own DCConcepts point control unit, and a lighting circuit board this means only 4 wires run between each board, the Track and the DCC Bus for lights and point control. This is the opposite of how it used to be with 28 way plug and sockets for all the isolating sections, power feeds and point motors.

Post rewire control remains from the Z21 with the route setting on a iPad as the traditional control panel has gone.

 

 

The actual task of rewiring was straightforward, I removed all the connectors first and reconnected everything again. Only issue I had with rewiring was that on the last board, where I must have run out of wire as the colours changed which led to a bit of head scratching and tracing wires.

 

I have also wired up the station lamp posts which previously were only cosmetic. They need to be changed to something more suitable in due course.

 

Couple of pictures from a quick test run.

 

The full layout.

 

 

Future jobs include more lighting, updating some of the scenics and hopefully adding some signals.
 

Thanks

 

Neil

[Neils WRX]

Been playing trains now the rewiring is complete.

 

742086 shunting the factory 

 

First of ever “night shot”

Stocked the fiddle yard and ran a sequence timetable.

Next job add some signalling… any ideas where I can get some?

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[roundhouse]

Neil

 

All my signals are by MTB. I recall a number of them I picked up from a small but very good model shop in Kladno but its either closed or moved as the favourites marker in Google maps doesnt work now.

 

I have both digital and analogue ones but have not tried wiring them up.

[Neils WRX]

16 hours ago, roundhouse said:

Neil

 

All my signals are by MTB. I recall a number of them I picked up from a small but very good model shop in Kladno but its either closed or moved as the favourites marker in Google maps doesnt work now.

 

I have both digital and analogue ones but have not tried wiring them up.

Thanks for that I’ve been looking online and trying to understand Czech signaling and find something similar from one of the shops/websites.

 

Plan is I’ll wire them into the Z21 and the route setting, so they all work with one touch of a button.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[D1023]

13 hours ago, Neils WRX said:

Thanks for that I’ve been looking online and trying to understand Czech signaling and find something similar from one of the shops/websites.

 

 

Hi Neil,

My two signals are by Němeček and controlled digitally through something called a ND4 - also made by Němeček. They have digital and analogue versions, S-com is the digital version to go with the ND4.

 

It took a while to get them working as it was a bit trial and error. The signals and ND4 are powered by 12v dc with a connection to the digital system that switches them with a command the same as changing a point. I initially had these working with Lenz set 100 and obvs had to set points and signal individually but the switch to route setting on the Z21 was painless.

 

I cant seem to find anywhere with S-com versions in stock but here is where I got mine a few years back https://www.masinky.cz/vyrobce/Nemecek_v95_s0.htm

The ND4 is in stock here - https://www.model-shop.sk/

Also a website on CSD signalling - http://cisarstvo.com/navestidla.htm

 

[Neils WRX]

On 18/02/2023 at 12:14, D1023 said:

Hi Neil,

My two signals are by Němeček and controlled digitally through something called a ND4 - also made by Němeček. They have digital and analogue versions, S-com is the digital version to go with the ND4.

 

It took a while to get them working as it was a bit trial and error. The signals and ND4 are powered by 12v dc with a connection to the digital system that switches them with a command the same as changing a point. I initially had these working with Lenz set 100 and obvs had to set points and signal individually but the switch to route setting on the Z21 was painless.

 

I cant seem to find anywhere with S-com versions in stock but here is where I got mine a few years back https://www.masinky.cz/vyrobce/Nemecek_v95_s0.htm

The ND4 is in stock here - https://www.model-shop.sk/

Also a website on CSD signalling - http://cisarstvo.com/navestidla.htm

 

Thanks for that, really helpful.

 

I emailed Masinky the other week as I wanted to buy some station lights. They don’t appear to ship to the U.K. anymore so I asked if they would and so far no response…. Brexit…..

 

On the Belgian layout I control the signals with a Roco Switch Pilot and was planning to do the same.

 

Will carry on looking now that I understand more about how the signals work!!!

 

Thanks again,

 

Neil

[roundhouse]

Those Němeček signals look identical to the MTB ones that I have.

[Neils WRX]

8 hours ago, roundhouse said:

Those Němeček signals look identical to the MTB ones that I have.

All I need to do is find somewhere that has them in stock and will ship to the U.K……

 

The layout has taken nearly 20 years to get to this point so I guess a bit longer won’t matter.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[Neils WRX]

No update on the signalling issue, just been playing trains.

 

A quick photo of a Roco 810 which has had a surprising amount of likes on Facebook.

 

I post layout updates on the Belgian MPD page.
 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[Keith Addenbrooke]

1 hour ago, Neils WRX said:

No update on the signalling issue, just been playing trains.

 

A quick photo of a Roco 810 which has had a surprising amount of likes on Facebook.

 

I post layout updates on the Belgian MPD page.
 

Thanks,

 

Neil

It does look a rather nice model - hopefully the prototypes were more comfortable to ride on than the UK railbus / Pacer equivalents though!  Thanks for sharing it here, Keith.
 

(I should admit to a bit of bias: while I don’t have a lot of European rolling stock, Roco are my first choice manufacturer as I think they produce excellent models)

[Neils WRX]

On 26/02/2023 at 12:34, Keith Addenbrooke said:

It does look a rather nice model - hopefully the prototypes were more comfortable to ride on than the UK railbus / Pacer equivalents though!  Thanks for sharing it here, Keith.
 

(I should admit to a bit of bias: while I don’t have a lot of European rolling stock, Roco are my first choice manufacturer as I think they produce excellent models)

Must confess to avoiding 810’s, only times I rode in trailers when they had a loco on front!!!

 

I will be recreating that scene in due course….

 

Still no signals :-(

 

Do enjoy playing trains with route setting, no need to check routes just 2 buttons on the Z21.

 

749042 on a Regional Service

A 770 arrives light engine to collect a cement train.

742086 arrives on a trip working

Runs round ready to collect a couple of Eas wagons from the log loading siding.

Pair of Roco 751’s, (749250 and 751219) parked by the station building.

 

Cargo liveried 751219 on DMU trailers, just a shame it’s a silenced example…. The Bashers weren’t impressed!!!

 

Next job will be to fit more Kadee’s to the freight stock to give more variety to my shunting.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[SimonBoulton]

Neil, where do you get your Kadee’s from? They seem to have got really expensive now

[Neils WRX]

5 hours ago, SimonBoulton said:

Neil, where do you get your Kadee’s from? They seem to have got really expensive now

Last lot came from Hatton’s, £7.50 for 4 agree on the costs they have gone up of late. Brought another 10 packs  for the next batch.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

 

 

[roundhouse]

NEM Kadees are now generally over a tenner a pack. However I did find some under that at the Preston show. 

[Neils WRX]

Some 714 Progress (at last)

 

Have made a start on the “problem child” otherwise known as the MTB714.

 

I’ve soldered the ribbon connectors so I now have working marker lights and taillights. I used the Lokprogrammer to configure this.

 

Couple of suitable photos.

714 on the programming track, I’m using a ESU Next18 sound chip.

 

Headlights

 

Taillights

 

On the layout now with handrails, still need to add horns etc.

 

Next job is make a speaker housing as i’ve drilled through the chassis to run the wires.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

[Neils WRX]

714 now has sound!!

 

Installed the ESU speaker in the fuel tank space and soldered the wires to the circuit board.

 

As ESU don’t offer a 714 sound file I’ve used the sound file for a “Google” which sounds dull enough……

 

So the 714 now has some noise, here’s a picture!!!

 

Now it’s nearly finished it’s actually quite a nice little model, just a shame MTB expect customers to finish the model off for themselves.

 

Thanks,

 

Neil

 

PS: no progress on getting any signals, nobody wants my money…,

Edited March 13, 2023 by Neils WRX