MattWallace

Hi guys, Have either of you looked at using JMRI instead of RocRail? It's free and it works well. It gives you throttles, decoder programming, turnout operation, routing and many more features including the ability to manage your layout from your phone/tablet (Android and iPhone currently supported!). I'm not a developer on the project, however I'm using it in conjunction with MERG hardware and it works excellently (it works with most major USB/Serial -> DCC Command Station interfaces, not just MERG)! Just a thought... Matt

Good stuff - it was amazing to see this up and running at the members day, glad to know it's still being worked on. I've just placed yet another order from MERG for the solenoid motor drivers (CANACC4) and so far you've saved me a fortune by telling me about MERG! Thanks again, Matt

Great progress, can't wait to see the Arduino DCC code

I'm using a thick card (200gsm) which so far has (in testing at least!) stood up to being pelted with Plastikote Stone spray paint, I think it should cope with a bit of PVA/Water, but then again I guess it depends on what you're using to stick the ballast down. I'm glad the guys in the office like the Pi stuff, I'm waiting on MERG to restock their point motor controllers and hopefully by Christmas I'll be controlling the points via the Pi as well. Matt

I use a small peice of card between the motor and the point to cover the hole - it's not subtle but it's worked for all 13 of my Peco PL-10 motors: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57099-blockwall-junction/page__st__25#entry817207 it might be of some use to you - just make sure you cut the card to the correct size, I now have a gap on one set of points where I mis-judged it!

Where did you get the RJ-45 sockets from? They seem to be quite difficult to source just the socket here in the UK...

I showed my wife my progress on exactly the same thing the other night. Her comment: "Very nice, well done. Now when are you going to do the proper work and add some scenary?"

For those who are interested, I've just got this working on my layout: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57099-blockwall-junction/page__st__25#entry837197 I'm using my Android phone to control JMRI via a Raspberry-PI and the MERG stuff above.

I just got this up and running using JMRI, a Raspberry Pi and the CAN-CMD/CAN-USB setup. I'm planning a more detailed write up at some point in the future including my initscripts to auto launch JMRI and vncserver on startup. The post detailing it is at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57099-blockwall-junction/page__st__25#entry837197

I need to look into this further... Thanks for the heads up.

So just to confirm (based on the Fritzing Diagram) the Arduino is controlled by sending DCC packets along the wires? I'm trying to work out which way around you're hooking this up - does the arduino generate the DCC signal or decode it and carry out actions based upon the packets it receives?

Heh, looks very cool - I like the idea of the servos to ensure the track positioning. Makes me wish I had enough room to squeeze a traverser in!

Heh sounds like we're heading for a similar goal - Need to pay the Tax Man first, but then I'll be sending my cash in the direction of MERG for a CANUSB and CANCAB - I'm hoping to wire the layout so that I can easily switch between manual and computer control, but either way I need to purchase another 12 point motors first! Good luck, looking forward to updates, Matt

Hi Mark, I've recently joined MERG and found the mailing list to be of excellent value (even if I have started a few wars on which approach is better between RPC/CBUS/At-BUS!). I'll follow your progress with interest - I'm moving towards JMRI/CBUS as well - I just need to secure funding for the kits! Cheers, Matt

Heh, wish I'd started like this... I just went for it - "how big can I get into the space I've got?" - and I'm now concerned that I've bitten off more than I can chew... Ah well, live and learn I guess...

I discovered at IKEA on Friday that they have a large amount of unwanted timber for free to be used for "packaging purposes". It includes old doors, sheets of chipboard/MDF etc. My next layout baseboard will probably be built from here...

Wow. Having grown up in the South East about 20 miles north of this site and travelled over this viaduct on an almost weekly basis, this is an amazing build. I can only hope that some of my modelling one day reaches this standard!

So that's exactly what I've done - I've knocked up a small head-shunt for the top of my layout and I'm going to start on that and get it right before moving on to the main base boards. It's a whole 17" x 8" and has two roads on it. Thanks for the inspiration on size.

lol, and here was me scouring the internet for a Diesel Smoke Generator for 00 DCC...

This is an awesome little layout, part of me is wishing I'd started this small before I realised how much work a larger layout is! I love the smoke from the 31, how is it done? I'll keep following here, looks cool

Although having said that I've just done some quick googling and according to various sources GBRf have purchased a Hunslet DH60 for Cardiff Tidal and also run a couple of Gronks but in BR Green, not their own livery - maybe there is some space for fun stuff after all...

As someone who's currently modelling an industrial layout running GBRf stock, I'd recommend that you stick with FL - it seems that there is far more RTR stock in FL livery than GBRf... <bait>Of course you could always go down the Blue Diesel route....</bait>

Shame it wasn't a 70 - would have added to the realism of your layout... M.

Just give me a pair of goggles and a chair mounted to the top of a 100T TEA pulled by a 66 and I'll be more than happy M.