tender

As promised, video of traverser in action. Excuse the noise, the motor is only temporally mounted on the end of the drive shaft so its acting like a sounding board. Once the toothed pulley's and drive belt arrive and fitted it should be a lot quieter. There's also some background noise from the kitchen.

Having sold our exhibition layout 'Camel Quay' the intension was to build a new layout in 7mm to replace it. After a number of false starts and all the exhibitions having been cancelled, I've decided to take on a new direction for the layout. It was originally to be 16' x 2' including fiddle yard (4 off 4'x2' boards) but as we have nowhere in the house to setup a layout permanently of that size a decision was made to reduce the length to something that could be left up and used at home, 11' ideally or 12' at a push, with possibly an option to add the last 4' board bringing it back to 15 or 16' for exhibition use. Anyways work has now started firstly with a fiddle yard traverser on the first board. This being mounted on linear bearings and controlled by a DCC stepper motor interface. I'll post a video of it in action shortly once i've uploaded it to Youtube.

Fabulous work Ade, all the best for 2021. Ray.

Hi John, Yes, i've tried cab address 3,4 and 5 to no avail. However, i've just started reading the more comprehensive online manual for the WFD-30 and found this on page 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important note for Power Cab users: If you are using a Power Cab in “Master” mode so that it acts as the DCC command station, you must make sure it is version 1.65B. WFD-30 will not work with earlier versions of Power Cab such as 1.65. Version 1.65B supports Cab Addresses 3, 4 and 5, so you must set your WFD-30 to one of these using the DIP switches as in Table 1. Address 3 is a good choice, but (all the switches in the Off position) but if something else uses Cab Address 3 such as a Pro Cab, you could use Cab Address 4 or 5. If you are using Power Cab as a cab on another NCE system, this does not apply, but you must make sure the WFD-30 is given a different address to the Power Cab. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've checked my PowerCab version and its v1.65 (not1.65b) so maybe that's the reason, although i thought 1.65b was just a bug fix if you did a reset resulting the loss of cab addresses. Anyway, i'll order a new chip and see if it makes a difference. Watch this space.

No, not working, no control over locos or accessories. (PowerCab system)

Hi John. Yes, the UWT-100 says connected to the WiFitrax and i can read the loco and accessory roster on the UWT-100. At first the Cab (Green) light on the WDF-30 didn't light but when i changed the NCE cab address DIP switches from the default (10) to 3 it lit up.

Hi, don't know if anyone else has tried this combination but I'm having problems getting the UWT-100 throttle to control locos or accessories when used in conjunction with a PowerCab and WDF-30 NCE Cab Bus WiFi Interface. All seems to connect ok with the NET (blue) and CAB (green) LEDs flashing on the WDF-30 in response to commands from the UWT-100 throttle but nothing moves. I've tried the UWT-100, WFD-30 combination on my NCE PowerPro system and that all works fine. Just can't get it working with a PowerCab system. Any thoughts? Ray.

Merry Christams George. Lets hope 2021 sees better times. Ray & Polly

Merry Christmas Andy, lets hope 2021 sees better times. Ray & Polly

I looked at the DCC Concepts Levers until i saw the price. I eventually opted for the ones sold by the Scalefour Society. They come as a kit so not RTR but theres now an option to add interlocking frame.

DC-Kits 2-HAP (unpowered) in front, Bachmann 2-HAP behind. (2-EPB's and MLV behind them). I have a Replica Railways powered chassis to go under the the DC-Kits model but I'm not sure i'll bother now.

You're not kidding, Bachmann have this problem with all their EMUs/DEMU that i've purchased. I don't know why they put the retaining lugs so close to the corners where its almost impossible to spring the body enough to release them. If they moved them in board 1-2cm it would make access a lot easier.

Many thanks Andrew. I've installed the SD card with the software into the Raspberry Pi, fitted the Pi Nano to the 40 pin I/O connector and fired it up and it all seems to be talking Engine Driver (Android) and Wi Throttle (iOS) OK so just need the connector so i can connect the output of the Pi Nano to a booster and hopefully get some trains running.

Thanks but the pitch is closer to 5mm than 3.96mm so i don't think this is correct.

I bought a Sprog Pi Nano a few years ago but never got around to using it. Thought i might fire it up and give it a try but it has a 3 pin connector on the board for connecting to a booster but it didn't come with a mating plug. Any one know what the part number is for the plug and where to obtain one? Ray.

I found the old DCC concepts and the older TCS decoders were OK until you changed the speed settings from their default values. Not tried any of the newer versions, once bitten etc.

Yep, I ditched the DCC Concepts decoder and fitted a Zimo, problem solved.

Hi Rick, can I ask what make are your conductor pots and what size conductor rail do they fit? This is something i need to do to my southern electric layout but i've been putting it off for years (along with all the other jobs that need doing). Ray.

Showing as new arrivals on the newsletter (email) today, but OOS on the website. Maybe all gone to pre-orders?

Not quite sure when it was approved but construction has been going on for well over a year now.

Considering the WAG is currently spending multi millions on a road to by-pass Caernarfon from Bangor it seems a bit ironic to say that a rail link from Bangor to Caernarfon (and beyond) is a good idea.

With iTrain how do people provide feedback for train detection on a Raspberry Pi? I currently run Traincontroller but want to move away from this platform for various reasons discussed elsewhere but the cost replacing my NCE setup and all the feedback interfaces make it an expensive exercise. I have a SprogII and a 5Amp booster so if its just a case of plugging in an interface into the GPIO for the feedback it might be a way to go. Any advice appreciated.

Ah well, that's saved me £100+

Having a selection of BWT's from the first two batches i'm quite tempted by the Southern 'as Preserved' green livery. However, did the BWT ever carry this livery or is it just a 20th century preservation thing? If it did, what coaching stock would it have been coupled with? I don't see the Gate stock (which i have several sets) as being suitable as the BWT doesn't appear to have the P-P gear. But i'm no expert, maybe someone here can elaborate.

Take care Andy. Ray & Polly.