mkrob

It's OO scale & with 3rd or 4th radius-ish (on the main lines), except for the sidings. Regarding a second crossover,did you mean something like that,on the left hand side?

Interesting idea Kris. Do you mean on the left hand board?

Hi all, I’m slowly(very slowly),building my first layout. The room I’m using is a multi-use room, as bedroom,storeroom & train room, hence the fairly large space in the middle. My track plan is a fairly simple double track with stock siding, motive power depot & 2 island platforms. I have plenty of flexitrack & some settrack(for sidings). I haven't really decided where on the main lines to put changeover points from a logistics point of view. I’d appreciate any comments,ideas or design tips. Thanks, in anticipation. mkrob

TTS decoders seem to be in short supply,for obvious reasons but Hornby R7146 TTS Sound Decoder-Class 08 is showing on t t g emporium. I would phone them first to see if it is actually in stock. https://www.ttgemporium.co.uk/product-page/Hornby-r7146-tts-sound-decoder-class-08 https://www.ttgemporium.co.uk/contact-us

Have a look on this thread at Waverley47708 post,half way down the page. He was fitting headcodes & crew. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/33639-Dapol-western/page/142/

According to this website, Britain's Model Trains 2021 issue is due out 31st March. https://www.uniquemagazines.co.uk/magazine-subscriptions/leisure-and-lifestyle/hobbies/modelling/Britains-Model-Trains-p354330

I believe this years edition of Britain's Model Trains comes out in the next few weeks. https://railsofsheffield.com/news/articles/3794-britain-s-model-trains-2021

Oxford Rail Wagons And Locos @ Roads & rails,from £10.99. https://www.roads-and-rails.co.uk/collections/oxford-rail-trains

Bachmann 32-030DS Class 20 20156 BR Railfreight Red Stripe with DCC Sound £164.46. Only 1 left. Kernow still have 4 in stock for £170. https://www.modelrailwaysdirect.co.uk/locomotive-diesel-electric/Bachmann-32-030ds-class-20-20156-br-railfreight-red-stripe-dcc-sound/ https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/56721/32-030DS-WSL-Bachmann-Class-20-Diesel-Locomotive-number-20-156?fbclid=IwAR2n_LNFAttk8V200Of5xxgUfHIaWmORAxK-DHQNbWIFFEzmGIvtC3h8LfI

Kernow Model Rail Centre have 32-030DS Bachmann Class 20 Diesel Locomotive number 20 156 in BR Red Stripe Railfreight livery with sound for £170. I believe it has Loksound V5 decoder. Considering a V5 decoder costs about £120, its seems like a good deal! Also Bachmann have a new class 20 out,so the older model is going to sell for less. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/56721/32-030DS-WSL-Bachmann-Class-20-Diesel-Locomotive-number-20-156?fbclid=IwAR2n_LNFAttk8V200Of5xxgUfHIaWmORAxK-DHQNbWIFFEzmGIvtC3h8LfI

Have you ever had a static discharge from your body make you jump? Nobody seems to talk about ESD, where dcc is concerned. Are people not aware of it? Why do dcc decoders go wrong for no apparent reason. Does anyone use an Anti-Static Grounding Kit,when fitting their dcc decoders. I don't suppose many people are aware of it! The damage caused by static discharges can cause a component to fail immediately and also it can cause latent failures to occur which can manifest themselves later, considerably reducing the overall reliability of the product. Here's some info about it. Read it if you value your expensive sound decoder. https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/constructional_techniques/electrostatic-discharge/esd-effects-how-affects-electronics.php

Its my belief that TTS decoders are susceptible to ESD like a lot of electronic circuit components with integrated circuits. It may be what happened to yours. It seems a matter of luck when fitting TTS decoders that may or may not work properly after fitting. As a precaution,it's best to wear a ESD strap when handling any dcc decoder,especially an expensive sound decoder. Its just my opinion and many people may disagree!

Would doing something like this work for you. I did something similar to this with my Q6 TTS installation but put the decoder where they put the small cube speaker, after making a slot in the plastic slope under the coal load. https://www.youchoos.co.uk/Index-Resource.php?L1=Guides&Item=OO-J15

Unless I'm mistaken,speaker wires or a speaker comes off the decoder board on 8pin decoders.On locos with 21 pin decoders, the speaker is connected to to SP pads of the loco. This link may explain better. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/39968-speaker-wires/

TMC have 32-176 Bachmann OO Gauge LMS 5MT 'Crab' with Welded Tender 42765 BR Lined Black (Early Emblem) for £79.74. 10+ Available https://www.themodelcentre.com/32-176-Bachmann-oo-gauge-lms-5mt-crab-with-welded-tender-42765-br-lined-black-early-emblem

Hornby R3406 BR J50 Departmental Livery No.14 for £55 with 12 in stock @ Bure Valley Models. http://www.burevalleymodels.com/p/9173/R3406---BR-J50-Departmental-No14

You could solder the track at the fish-plates like our American friends seem to do. Are you using Flexi-Track? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUD5rNXNuS4

365Games also have Hornby TTS decoders at a good price,with free delivery,from £30.99. https://www.365games.co.uk/model-kits/search/Hornby+tts+decoders

After reading up on v5 decoders,it seems that not only do they have more memory,they have better bandwidth so they are up to the standard of hi-fi. So it makes sense that that they are not backward compatible!

So you cant just delete some functions so it will fit on a v4 decoder,like deleting files on a SD card? Very convenient for ESU!

It would seem that my ESU v4 sound decoder I wanted get re-blown is obsolete. I emailed a company to ask about getting my chip re-blown with class 22 sounds & they said "The class 22 is a new project and most new projects are on v5 decoders only". So is my v4 decoder of any use apart from a door stop? I was under the impression the main difference between v4 & v5 was the memory capacity, with the ability to have more functions or am I wrong!

This previous post may help :-

Not up to Accurascale standards,but ideal for someone just starting out or as a basis for a project. By the way someone on ebay is selling a second hand one of these for £12.75. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-37-803A-12TON-PLANKED-VENTILATED-VAN-LMS-GREY-/173838736350 You could get 2 for the same price at Hereford Models,even though it was first advertised on their site on Wednesday 29 August, 2012. It's a bit dated!

Hereford Models again! Bachmann LMS 12t Box Van £6.50. 5 in stock & cheap as chips!!! http://herefordmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=369_370_377_387_391&products_id=5663

I think the biggest problem running dc & dcc on the same layout, is remembering to switch from one to the other,especially when you are an oldie like me with a goldfish memory LOL. Bearing in mind that if you put a dc loco on dcc track it could damage the motor. You could use a different connector for dc & dcc to input the track, so only one or the other is connected at one time. Taking all your motive power off the layout may be best when you have finished playing trains, just to avoid any mishaps! Using these type of connectors could be the answer, clearly marked which is which. https://cpc.farnell.com/camdenboss/ctsn433-12mf/10a-terminal-strip/dp/CN00144