Alcanman Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Mike Confalone's Allagash Railway is featured in the latest MRH. For me, this video of switching action at Andover, Maine is superb in it's simplicity. Almost perfect ,except for the hand of god which I would have edited out. Excellent use of a photo back drop on a shelf layout and the Alco sounds great too. Enjoy. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxmoore Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Whilst I can't beat the scenery, I can equal the ALCo sound, and there's no Big Hand. As Alcanman says, it's the simplicity of a not-huge space, a few switches, a single loco and some cars. Loads of fun. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Can I just add that his trackwork is immaculate yet looks very rustic. Quite hard to achieve. "Sound" really makes a layout like that and has helped me make up my mind to go that route in the future. The "Hand of God doesn't" worry me too much because that's how my stuff tends to operate.... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 That is lovely. It's not often I want to emulate a model, rather than the real thing, but this is one of them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikoos Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Mike's Allagash is a very nice layout with beautiful late winter scenery. I have his scenery construction DVD (as a download) and it's nice to see his techniques, I recommend getting them. I guess it's the time constraints of the video, but for my liking he could have slowed down the switching a little.Usually I try to observe a minimum of 10 seconds between changing directions, and accelerate / decelerate slower. Thanks for sharing. :-) Koos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfsboy Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 both great videos .Makes me want to rush out and buy a noisy Alco . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Only thing missing really was lots of Alco clag...!! Of course it's a totally different setting to downtown Miami, but I see similarities with the philosophy of Lance Mindheim; a narrow shelf but a relatively long run; just a few spurs (with a siding/"passing loop" too), & superb scenery done to a consistent standard - all equals a satisfying experience. No one says it HAS to be done this way; just that it CAN be done this way... I agree the switching speed could've been slower - that Alco sounded like it was ready to fall to bits enough already!! :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave1905 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Very nice layout. First 2 or 3 minutes were dicey until I realized that it wasn't a station on the main, it was the end of a branch or industrial lead. If they were going to depart with the engine in the lead, they could have done the work with fewer moves. Just as a contrast to another way to do it: 1. Pull into the clear track on the pass. 2. Cut off the engine. 3. Couple into the car on the pass. 4. Shove out the left end. 5. Couple into the cab on the main. 6. Pull back clear of the chip switch. 7. Spot the chip track. 8. Shove back to spot the flat. 9. Shove right to clear the wood switch. 10. Set and release on the cab and depart. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Whilst I can't beat the scenery, I can equal the ALCo sound, and there's no Big Hand. As Alcanman says, it's the simplicity of a not-huge space, a few switches, a single loco and some cars. Loads of fun. Brian Great scenery, and yes, the sound is equal, possibly better. Those Alcos do sound great, Mike Conlfalone used a Tsunami decoder. This shows how dcc sound can make a difference, adding to the enjoyment of simple switching. Once you've tried sound,operating with silent diesels just isn't the same. Maybe these videos will convert a few people. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxmoore Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Great scenery, and yes, the sound is equal, possibly better. Those Alcos do sound great, Mike Conlfalone used a Tsunami decoder. This shows how dcc sound can make a difference, adding to the enjoyment of simple switching. Once you've tried sound,operating with silent diesels just isn't the same. Maybe these videos will convert a few people. Mal Thanks, Mal. The RS11 also has a Tsunami fitted, although in the future, I'd definitely look at the Loksound Select, as Loksound motor control is normally sublime, straight-from-the-box, in comparison to the tweaking you have to do to get a Tsunami to start and stop satisfyingly smoothly. And dare I say it, Mike Confalone's ALCo stops slightly too suddenly for me. Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Whilst I can't beat the scenery, I can equal the ALCo sound, and there's no Big Hand. As Alcanman says, it's the simplicity of a not-huge space, a few switches, a single loco and some cars. Loads of fun. Brian That's really nice, Brian. What code rail is that? I hope Jack has caught up with this thread too... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortliner Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Yes, Pete, following gently along! J. PS Did you get my email re-planning?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxmoore Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 That's really nice, Brian. What code rail is that? I hope Jack has caught up with this thread too... Best, Pete. Thanks, Pete. PECO Code 75, as it was laid down prior to their Code 83 being released. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikoos Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Thanks, Mal. The RS11 also has a Tsunami fitted, although in the future, I'd definitely look at the Loksound Select, as Loksound motor control is normally sublime, straight-from-the-box, in comparison to the tweaking you have to do to get a Tsunami to start and stop satisfyingly smoothly. And dare I say it, Mike Confalone's ALCo stops slightly too suddenly for me. Brian On the subject of sounds: I hadn't actually listened to the sound of the video until now, but yes Tsunami heritage is clear in the somewhat 'lifeless' horn sounds, something that does dissapoint me a bit. You can improve it a little bit with the reverb settings available, but only a little before it becomes too unnatural. The 'reverb' effect in a Tsunami is very basic and can't compete with what you could do in a proper audio processing device. (but those don't fit in a loco either...) On a side note: The horn in a QSI equipped loco is very good, but there the sounds of the engine are clearly looped, and in some cases distort a little, so not perfect either. In the past Loksound 'sound projects' also had some less great sounds (these sound projects were designed for their earlier range with less on board memory), but ESU is hard at work gradually upgrading their projects and sound files, and they can take custom recordings too so the sky is the limit with these :-) As for performance of Mike Confalone's RS. I too agree that the loco stops a bit to sudden, also that I'm sure is the Tsunami not having been tuned like it could. You really can get a lot out of them, but as Brian says, it can take a looooong time with loads of trial and error, where the Loksounds are very close to perfect when first installed, particularly after the auto tune function is used, which then only needs very minor tweaks in some cases, but mostly not needed at all. As for QSI, good performance can be had from them as well, but they are extremely complicated to set up, with many set up parameters for various stages of the speed curve, which costs a lot of time too. So in short, while I don't mind Tsunami's etc (I recently bought one for a loco project when I didn't want to wait for availability of the required Loksound decoder that would fit that model), I prefer the Loksound too. The number one item that a loco decoder still has to perform is to run the train smoothly, lights and sounds come second for me. Koos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikoos Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Here's a youtube clip of an RS 3 equipped with a loksound, with one of the more recent ESU Loksound Alco sound files installed. Notice the fidelity of the engine, and in particular the horn. Also note the seamless acceleration of the loco. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7egr-r9WseM And while I was on the subject of horns, here's short clip of my not quite finished SD9, that has a QSI decoder. Koos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alcanman Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Thanks, Mal. The RS11 also has a Tsunami fitted, although in the future, I'd definitely look at the Loksound Select, as Loksound motor control is normally sublime, straight-from-the-box, in comparison to the tweaking you have to do to get a Tsunami to start and stop satisfyingly smoothly. And dare I say it, Mike Confalone's ALCo stops slightly too suddenly for me. Brian My experience with Tsunami is exactly the same and Loksound (in my UK diesels). Looks like Mike Confalone maybe trying out Loksound too, he's just bought the new GE FDL-8 sounds for a U18B. The new Atlas RS3 with Loksound may not be too far away and they are doing a LV version as per my avatar. Mal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouser Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 While being a big fan of Lance Mindheim and southern USA layouts. I have to say that I think Mike Confalone is a superb modeller and his layout is one of the best around today. Excellent in both operation and landscaping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Yes, Pete, following gently along! J. PS Did you get my email re-planning?? No. At least I don't think so! The last one I got was dated January 1st..... Please try again, I'll confirm receipt as and when... Thanks, Jack, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 He lives in Manchester NH and originally came from Long Island, NY. Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Sounds like a good idea to me, Simon... Best, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w124bob Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 This particular section of the Allagash first appeared in Great Model Railroads (2008 I think) CP based with rs18's as a stand alone layout. There was a single road shed to the to the left of the woodchip loader and a power plant to the left of tunnel. I've just picked up the scenery 2DVD set for $20, so 6hours of tutorials on his scenery techniques to watch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
trisonic Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Where is the DVD obtainable from Bob? Cheers, Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikoos Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I couldn't help wondering why a model railroader like Mike Confalone would be content with the performance of the loco in the video, so I decided to ask him. I found there was already a thread topic on model railroad hobbyist forums with him about the correct sounds of various Alco locomotives (which turns out he has a particular knowledge off) and basically asked what he regarded more important, prototypical sound, or smooth running (and asked if he tried Loksound decoders) My original question is on the bottom of the second page of the thread here: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/15993#comment-131037 , and his reply is the first one on page 3 (be aware that the top post on these pages is always a repeat of the original first post) The rest of the thread makes for a nice read too. :-) Koos PS: I copied his reply below, for those who are just interested in his reply. Hello Koos! I'm very happy with the performance of the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders. Most have excellent slow speed operation. Yes they do take some tweaking, but in the grand scheme, they are top shelf. I would put my fleet up against any in the country. I've spent more time than I care to recall in the basement, programming. I've got approximately 45 units in the Allagash fleet, and they are 100% inter-mixable (is that even a word?!) The video was a bit of a rush and if there was any jerkiness, it might have been me. I generally keep the functional brake on, crack the throttle and then release the brake. I might have missed that, who knows. As far as sound files go, Soundtraxx still stands alone, at least for American diesel prototypes. As far as sound fidelity is concerned, for the trained ear (ie railfan who has spent time trackside) they are still number one IMO. We need the other manufacturers to step it up. LokSound is getting serious about things. I know Matt Herman at ESU has expended a huge effort over last few years to go out into the field and record all sorts of cool stuff. I just took delivery of a pair of GE U18Bs for the Allagash. They have the new LokSound GE FDL-8 prime mover. They sound great and run real nice too. The Alco 539T and the 244 sound samples have me interested in those as well. I have to learn the LokSound system and figure out how the motors behave. Very much a different animal. I'm interested in this auto tune procedure you mention. I'll read up! I do need to figure out how to do a custom speed curve. With Soundtraxx, they have pre-set curves that work great and are easy to program in. LokSound does not, and the manual gives little to no direction on how to do so. With Tsunami, it also has the ability to set the throttle response rate (CV116). This is missing with LokSound, and in my opinion a major drawback. I agree with you LokSound horns are better. Soundtraxx has a couple decent ones, but for the most part they are lousy. Bottom line for me, the prime mover has got to be right, or I don't bother. It is THE most important thing to me. Running smoothly is just as important...the two go hand-in-hand. Up till very recently, Soundtraxx was the only game in town. With LokSound stepping things up, I'm hoping this will give Soundtraxx a kick in the ass to improve a couple of there sound files, and introduce new ones too. The more quality suppliers in the hobby, the better for us modelers. Mike Confalone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northpoint Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 OK, I shall be clearer... Anyone in the UK who is inspired to emulate such a layout need only put a 12" wide shelf down the side of a UK gaarage - it could even be set high enough to clear a car. Not a big space hog by any means, and also only requires 6 turnouts and a dozen or so yards of flex track, a single loco and a handful of freight cars - 4 and a caboose might be enough to start with! Anybody have or know where to get the trackplan? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikoos Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I'm sure the trackplan is available somewhere, but studying the video it seems it's not very complicated. It looks to me it's a simple yard that includes a passing 'loop' and a few spurs (amongst others to the pulp wood industry). I know this is part of a much larger layout, but this section can be easily modeled, and the 'rest' of the layout can be substituted by a fiddle yard or other type of storage. I think the area shown is not much longer than 9' and as mentioned only 12" deep. I tried sketching it briefly on a piece of paper, hope this helps. Track plan Andover ME by K2K Koos, on Flickr Koos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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