RMweb Gold PaulRhB Posted July 1, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 1, 2014 It's looking great Al, the sweeping curve by the depot looks excellent. Your layout makes me regret selling the N to concentrate on HO, but must remember the big clumsy fingers. Have you any wider pictures of the whole layout? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 1, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 1, 2014 It's looking great Al, the sweeping curve by the depot looks excellent. Your layout makes me regret selling the N to concentrate on HO, but must remember the big clumsy fingers. Have you any wider pictures of the whole layout? Ta, Paul. None of my cameras has a wide enough angle to get more than bits of it into view, but I might see what my wife's compact digital can manage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 1, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 1, 2014 See if her camera has a panoramic setting that might allow it to string the photos together. Many smart phones also have this (or an app can be installed) these days if you have one. Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 1, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 1, 2014 While I tidy up a bit, here are a few recent additions to the locomotive roster. None of them are exactly new purchases, but they've only now gained decoders. The first two are a pair of older models, which while nice are in no way DCC-ready. This Lifelike E6 was bought before I returned to the UK from the Netherlands, and saw only light use on the layout before I went DCC. It's a nice if basic model which hauls surprisingly well, and the sharper nose angle offers an interesting contrast to the pair of E8/9s I also have for passenger service. Like most of the original Lifelike models, though, it's not simple to convert to DCC. Here's another model from the Lifelike stable, although by the time I bought this, I think it came out under the Walthers range. It's an Alco DL-109, another passenger unit, in a nicely contrasting paint scheme. Again, it ran well but wasn't DCC friendly, so after testing it spent the next few years in its box. Incidentally, John B - I think I bought this one from the wonderful Colonial Photo & Hobby in Orlando. Most of my DCC conversions were done by a UK specialist, but they'd become a little reluctant to look at American stuff, and the last Lifelike conversion I asked them to was deemed too fiddly, so I had to send it to the States. Likewise these two units, which in this case were converted by Streamlined Backshop: http://www.sbs4dcc.com/ Although I was warned it might take anything up to six months to get to them, it turned out to be quite a bit faster than that, and I'm very pleased to have them back and running on the layout. There couldn't be a more stark contrast, in terms of both prototype and ease of conversion, than these next two GE heritage units. These are both Fox Valley GE ES44AC locomotives, part of the recent batch which Norfolk Southern painted in the heritage colours of the "fallen flags" it had acquired - including both Southern and Central of Georgia. Amazingly I saw one of these pass behind the reporter on a news item from the US, so I can confirm that they are real! Most US N scale locomotives are deemed DCC-ready if there is a suitable drop-in decoder to replace the lighting board, but I find even these installations to be a significant pain. The two halves of the frame have to be loosened slightly, with the attendant risk of motor, bearings, gear mountings etc coming loose, and the electrical connections are often not straightforward - sometimes the decoder is too loose to achieve good contact with the motor tags, or the frame, or both. The Kato design is even worse, in my experience, with a fiddly arrangement of pickup strips, plastic decoder clips and so on, needing Kapton insulating type fitted very carefully to avoid decoder-frying short circuits. These Fox Valley units are the way forward: body off, six pin blanking plug, decoder installed within seconds, body back on. It couldn't be simpler. I guess they have the benefit of having started from scratch with the chassis design (which is essentially familiar) but it would be nice if Atlas, Kato etc could embrace a similar philosophy. Of course Atlas generally offer some of their road numbers with decoders already fitted, but Kato generally don't. Anyway, I like these Fox Valley units! They run a treat, too, with only the front trip pin needing a little adjustment on both models. Cheers, and thanks for reading. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) Most US N scale locomotives are deemed DCC-ready if there is a suitable drop-in decoder to replace the lighting board, but I find even these installations to be a significant pain. The two halves of the frame have to be loosened slightly, with the attendant risk of motor, bearings, gear mountings etc coming loose, and the electrical connections are often not straightforward - sometimes the decoder is too loose to achieve good contact with the motor tags, or the frame, or both. The Kato design is even worse, in my experience, with a fiddly arrangement of pickup strips, plastic decoder clips and so on, needing Kapton insulating type fitted very carefully to avoid decoder-frying short circuits. These Fox Valley units are the way forward: body off, six pin blanking plug, decoder installed within seconds, body back on. It couldn't be simpler. I guess they have the benefit of having started from scratch with the chassis design (which is essentially familiar) but it would be nice if Atlas, Kato etc could embrace a similar philosophy. Of course Atlas generally offer some of their road numbers with decoders already fitted, but Kato generally don't. Anyway, I like these Fox Valley units! They run a treat, too, with only the front trip pin needing a little adjustment on both models. Cheers, and thanks for reading. Some nice locos there. You only need 2 more DL109s (and 3 DL110 B-units) to have Southern's entire fleet. They had a few more E6s (7). The fiddly Kato setup is for the cowl units (Es, Fs, PAs, F40PHs, and P42s). The installation in the newer hood units (SD40-2s, SD70s, Dash-9s, AC4400s, ES44s) is almost as simple as the Fox Valley install, with no need to loosen the frames. I've found the running qualities of the FVM ES40/ES44 to be a bit variable (I have 4 of them so far) and the detailing is slightly inaccurate for the NS units, but they are otherwise very nice locos. Adrian Edited July 2, 2014 by Adrian Wintle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 2, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) The Fox Valley main board is not that dissimilar to those in the Kato locos except that it has the 6 pin slot built into it. I reckon that Kato could easily do something similar if it so wished. I agree that the FVM boards are so much easier and in my exeperience far more reliable as I have had quite a few Digitrax K1C boards that are relatively easy to install as long as you put the Kaften tape in the right places and in some cases pack the front of the board so it makes contact with the frames) that have failed. I have one that I bought in the USA in may and it is faulty from new. With the shipping costs to send back to Digitrax it is only just worth doing. I had another that was so tight when installing it that my finger slipped and sheared off a component !! Ian Edited July 2, 2014 by roundhouse 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Wintle Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 The issue with Kato going to a six-pin socket is, I think, the relative lack of six-pin decoders in their primary market (although that would change if Kato did change). The other issues with six-pin decoders are that the return for the lighting goes to a rail and not back to the decoder and there is limited space to have extra functions if you want to do things like having working ditch lights (I've done this modification on one of my P42s). I also can't see them going to a design that uses more parts given the that they've gone to the (awful) screwless chassis. I've had three DOA Digitrax decoders out of somewhere well over 100. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 2, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 2, 2014 I have had a similar number of DOA decoders over similar number of decoders but had a fair few work fine for a while then start failing firstly only working in one direction then eventually fail altogether, all of them being the board type in N scale. By the time they fail they are over a year old and I no longer can find the receipts. I agree with your viewpoint though with cost cutting. Have had two faulty Kato SD70Ace both faults in the trucks so ordered a replacement from Kato. Luckily the part that had failed on a brand new loco was OK on the faulty truck that I replaced. So was a simple swap saving the cost of shipping. Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Finally got my copy of September's MRR - had a look at the photos and will have a sit down and read of the article later, but that photo of the Alco switching those warehouses looks awesome. Well done Al! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold John B Posted July 26, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2014 "Finally" Daniel? You've got your copy in the UK quicker than me - not yet made it from Wisconsin to California.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Really? Oh. I thought it had been out since Monday 'Stateside. I get the digital edition as otherwise I'd have to wait until about November for the September edition. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 26, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 26, 2014 I've not had my copy yet - keep checking the mailbox! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) Not received in New Jersey yet either. I wasn’t expecting it until next week. Best, Pete. Edited July 27, 2014 by trisonic 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
signalmaintainer Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Excellent, finally made it into MR. I shall have to get a copy! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 It's a good article Al. Well deserved. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 27, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 27, 2014 It's a good article Al. Well deserved. Thanks, Daniel - don't hesitate to have a go with your own layout! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted July 30, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted July 30, 2014 Received my contributor's copy today, and am very pleased with the way the article came out. Also made the "wallpaper" for this month's issue, which is a nice bonus. http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/model-train-layouts/2014/07/desktop-wallpaper-from-the-september-2014-model-railroader I'm not sure if you need to register to get that download, but I'm already signed up as a subscriber. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Scottish Modeller Posted July 31, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 31, 2014 Hi Barry, Yes - you have to be a member to download the wallpaper. Friends can always help though! Thanks 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 For some reason I did not receive my copy today - but I did receive a copy of the 2014 Planning Book (really magazine size).........D’oh! Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted July 31, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 31, 2014 Very nice wallpaper. Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Just got my hard copy! Five page spread, lucid description and some really nice photos...... I think my favourite shot includes the coaling tower. By the way I’ve been in parts of Georgia (mainly the West) where it does get quite rugged because it includes the southern Appalachians. Like a friend of mine commented, however : “All the mountains down here are covered in trees..." Really well deserved, Al. Best, Pete. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold John B Posted August 1, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 1, 2014 Mine arrived yesterday - splendid read, nice photographs, justice well done! Agree with Pete, too - it does look like NW Georgia to me. Atlanta and points north have a lot of rugged terrain, it's the south end of the Appalachian chain. Lots of trees too - Georgia Pines in abundance. Ticks the necessary boxes for this Geography major (and pedant!). It's only in the south and east of the state that you get the vast "low country" - endless flood plans and swamps draining into the Savannah River system. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted August 1, 2014 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thanks, John! Looks as if I lucked out with the scenery, in that case... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 - endless flood plans and swamps draining into the Savannah River system. You’re way too polite John. It gets downright smelly around Savannah at this time of the year....So it is just as well Al picked the right part otherwise a bucket of swamp with rotting crawfish would need to be stashed under the layout for the full effect. Best, Pete. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold John B Posted August 5, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 5, 2014 Worse than the swamp & rotting crayfish is the huge Weyerhaueser Pulp Mill out near the airport... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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