SimonME46

Excellent work as always John. GF controls do look good. The embedded controls are also an open circuit for off. So if I unplu the lever frame, all signals go to 'off'. Lucky I don't have any real passengers!

Looks great John.

I've just ordered some GF boards as I ended up including a pair of calling on signals in the signal box rebuild. Look to be very good units, and will make the embedded control movement look less realistic...oh well.

What's the story with the white back binders? Most previous signals were black?

Looks great as always John. Had a quick look back through your thread, but didn't really spot how you locate the signals in the baseboard?

It is the dcc communications protocol that is useful. it doesn't matter whether it is communicated through the track, radio, infra red, ultra sound, or whatever. It is a standard that is the most popular, and has been fairly widely  adopted. At the moment, as far as I know, the radio systems do not implement this, they use their own proprietary methods, which appear to be limited in functionality.

 

If we want to talk diy, then rough retail pricing of rf receiver £5.00, transmitter £20.00, ir receiver 25pence, transmitter (but you need a few  - 10pence) - these piggy backed onto existing dcc control gear. It would not be difficult to then run rf/ir and track all on the same layouts while the changeover was commenced. Now, afaik, the Deltang, and the like does not have such a rich protocol as dcc, and it may mean an all or nothing change. It depends also, on the scale of the model - 2, 4, 7mm or larger, as to the ease of fitting batteries, etc. For an individual, whether any of it is worthwhile depends on their personal wishes, capabilities, and disposable income. 

Apologies for backtracking. We tried this route 2 or so years ago, but ran into a problem. Can't recall the details, but I think it was that the transmission was clipped to only show half the signal (lets say the upper half). This wasn't enough to get the DCC signal through to the decoder. I see that the Americans appear to have solved this, but as they are on different frequencies, and won't sell outside the US, it isn't much help.

Another supplier of radio gear is Malcolm at rpmmodels.co.uk

Hi Tony

Can you comment on the controller style? Can't see anything on the website

And what is the situation with loco sound?

Cheers

I'd be interested in this upgrade, mostly for the 28 function capability. I agree with recent posters - my 511 + 622 has served me well for years, and there is no alternative that has such an interface. I have no interest in using a TV remote/phone/computer to drive my trains. I am building a mechanically interlocked lever frame for the points/signals, and would like to go further with the locomotive control interface (even less buttons). I've got an ESULokprogrammer for my coding needs.

A lot for me to learn here Ian, thanks!

Amazing, Ron. I just enjoyed reading all 52 pages. Thanks so much for posting up the blow by blow accounts. This gives me hope that I will be able to complete the overall roof for Bradford exchange in plastic.

Thanks Jon. Fortunately I'm modeling in 7mm.

Some dumb q's if I may?

How big are the base plates for the signals? Image some 9g servos, but they seem to be bigger than my current base plates.

How do you bed the signals into the layout? I was indexing if they are permanently fixed and ballasted in, or are they removable?

Thanks for the inspiration!

Looking good-I've just started marking up lower tappers on mine....

Excellent, thanks John. Looks like I'll have a bit of both on Bradford...

Your work is brilliant John.

With the route indicator box, is that divided into 4 segments with an led in each?

And please excuse my ignorance, I note some of your spectacle plates are red rather than black, and wondered what the background is to this?