lesmond

"The right hand rail, when looking along the loco towards the front should be positve to obtain a forward motion" slightly paraphrased from Brian Lambert: http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical.html I think it depends on which way is "forward" on your circle of track. I usually make the rail nearest the edge of the baseboard positive when the controller is set to forward, so trains run left to right, but then I don't usually have double track lines. Les

I use ambient sound through a cheap Ebay mp3 player and a small (again cheap & from Ebay) amplifier with two ex-PC speakers. This supplies "desert wind" and "meep meep" on Road Runner, and also machinery noises, gravel shifting and occasionally a blood curdling scream on P.O.O.P (Patented Odour Obfuscation Products aka the Cat Litter Mine). Audacity is the business for editing once you get the hang of it. Both layouts are analogue control, and I find a bit of sound adds another dimension to the whole thing. Les

Definitely add as much weight as you can get away with if using a Kato 103 or 104 chassis, as the improvement to the running is unbelievable. On their own they are either full speed or stopped (mostly) but with some ballast they are a lovely runner. Les

I've had good success in Gnine (more or less 009 only a bit bigger) with a controller made from one of these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-1-8V-3V-5V-6V-12V-MOTOR-Speed-Controller-PWM-Available-in-UK-1st-class-Post-/132175223628? with an input of smoothed 12v DC. Nice slow running, no heat issues and so far 100% reliable. As mentioned above, any half decent controller will do the job well, though. Les

As I mostly (for now) build micro layouts with one engine and maybe a single point I'm in the DC camp. I work in IT so computers and how to get them to talk to things isn't a problem for me, however as I do this all day (and sometimes all night) and really don't want my hobby to be an extension of work. It is however useful for cheap, powerful PSUs and D connectors. I've a 27' x 18' inverted L On30 "empire" planned, and it may well be DCC controlled. On the other hand, I might just bite the bullet and go for cab control. I really enjoy planning and fitting wiring so it isn't a hardship. Les

Nice neat job. I feel your pain with the carpentry . A compound sliding mitre saw and a friend with a table saw has ended a lot of woe. Les

Yes :) There is ambient sound via an mp3 player, small built in amplifier and two ex-PC internal speakers, mostly desert wind with a "meep meep" ever 40 seconds or so

So,, our first exhibtion is just over us. Thankfully Road Runner was well received, and now has four further invitations. Next is "Huge Tools" in Gn15... Les

Thanks to everyone for the likes and kind words. Its more or less finished now - with a full week to go :) rr_preview by lesmond2009, on Flickr and a wee video of it running: The "locomotive" is currently in bits and wil be painted later today Les

Hi Les - thank you, I'll know how it goes down on the 23rd I'm in Belfast, N Ireland. The very top cliff went on on Tuesday night (ignore the yogurt pot / stabilising weight): and I made a giant mousetrap and some TNT: The mousetrap goes at the front left but isn't fixed. The plan is to make various "devices" - a big rock with a spring attached and a trebuchet are next - and change them every so often. Just the shed roof to fit, the bombs for the crane and chute and the locomotive to paint and that will actually be something finished. Thanks for the likes and the kind words. Les

Thank you. He will - right at the very top on a pointy cliff edge, taking everything in The cliff in question will go on either tomorrow or Tuesday. Les

I've been working at this for the last 14 months, its due out for the first (only?) time at the NDMRS show on 22nd April. It started with a Wile E Coyote key ring, and has turned into this: 2017-04-15 11.34.48 by lesmond2009, on Flickr P8260018 by lesmond2009, on Flickr 2017-04-15 11.34.48 by lesmond2009, on Flickr P8260021 by lesmond2009, on Flickr Dimensions are 4' long x 18" wide x 30" high. Scale is Gnine, which is 1/2" to 1' on 9mm track, which works out at 8 1/2" gauge. The ground is made from yellow extruded foam (free from many skips ), carved, joined and painted, then overlaid with sand where needed, on a plywood base. Track is Tomix N gauge settrack, control is DC. It has been extensively tested and runs very well indeed. The "locomotive" is a Kato chassis with a 3D printed footplate and scratch built top. The key ring is the Wile E Coyote figure, and used to be a putting machine before minor modification. There is one more level of "rock" to add to the top, some detailing to finish - shed roof & door, crane needs finished, locomotive needs painted and the rocket engine finished (its a copper pipe to put some weight to the back with a big, red LED up it) but it all should be done with a week to spare. All being well it will be well received as it is a bit out of the ordinary Les

I can testify to All Components (no connection other than a satisfied customer) going out of their way to help. Les