Recent content by jimnrose

Thanks for the input. I haven't installed an auto-reverse module (yet) and from what you have told us, the first metal wheel that crosses the rail gap (where the polarities are reversed) generates the short and triggers the auto-reverse module to reverse the voltage on the receiving block.

Stix, thanks for the input. I realized that auto reverse modules wouldn't work properly unless both power pickups are in line with the gap inn the rails. Take care, Jim

Frank, thanks for your reply. In my case, I'm running a DCC system and don't expect to have track section without power pickup between the loco & tender. Take care, Jim

Rivarossi's Hudson 4-6-4's are on sale but I have no idea if they are reliable and good performers. My experience is with IHC & Bachman Spectrums. Any inouts wopuld be appreciated. Thanks, Jim

Gary, great help. It will be much easier to stick with bulbs than diodes and your circuit having oner bulb across the gap (red) and the other (green) across the tracks, will not only do the job but be much simpler & cheaper. Thanks for solving my problem that has been festering for quite a...

Gary, your right that I'm using the DPDT switches just like the auto-reverse modules except I'm manually changing the track section polarity. The LED color tells me if a reversal is required. I believe lamps wouldn't do the trick because the filament will draw current independent of the voltage...

The intensity (or brightness) varies from each diode depending on the rep rate but the frequency doesn't change. When two diodes are mounted on one header/lens the combined colors from each diode will emit a color depending on the intensity of each diode (just like mining paiint colors). So a...

David, thanks for your reply. The bi-color leds are two chips mounted in parallel. The red chip will be bright red in the forward direction and weak (partial) in the verse polarity and the green is similar. The color that is visualized is orange to yellow and varies slightly between diode sets...

I'm trying to use bi-color (red/green) leds as track signals indicators on a DCC system. The results are both diodes are turning on but at different currents yielding a yellowish light emittion. I tried buildingh a rectifier but am not using diodes that are fast enough to rectify the voltage...

Hi Woodie, I live on Cape Cod MA where the temp & humidity swings from 40 to 80 degrees (F) & 25% to 85% in my basement from winter thru summer. I calculated the gap required for that temperatyure swiing to be 1 mil per foot. I cut the track during the cooler weather and measured the...

Great work Charlie. I want to replicate a similar house butdon't know how to fabricate the 2/2 doulbe hung windows. Did you purchase them or are they scratch built? Thanks, Jim

Me too. Jim M.

Bill, Thanks for the great explaination. I started with light brown (tan) and added the black wash and darker browns but the mountains looked like mid west & south west region. I have a large layout therby trying to form different mountain settings. The most difficult is simulating...

Bill, Great workmanship; thanks for sharing. I've been putting together rock formations. The progress has been slow but the main problem I'm having is getting the right color combination for the rocks reflecting the northeast. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jim

Another grat project; thanks AGAIN for sharing it with us. I better get back to my FIRST greenifying effort. Take care, Jim