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  1. K

    Sound Decoder Recs. for several tough ones.

    Hey all... At long last I've decided to drink the kool-aid and put sound in my remaining 'silent' locos. Some of 'em are a little tough, though, and I wonder if anyone here has suggestions/experience... best of all, photos and discussion of installs... The locos I'm looking at are (All HO)...
  2. K

    Older Spectrum

    I have several spectrum passenger cars, that I quite like. I have the opportunity to buy a large lot of them, at a good price. But they are the older ones that have horn-hooks rather than knuckles. Does anyone know if these older models still have the feature where the couplers swivel with...
  3. K

    Converting older rivarossi

    Has anyone converted Rivarossi steamers or know a site that details it. I have a NYC Hudson I've never taken out of the box, and am coveting a Hiawatha. I have two heislers, but they came with "the plug" ready to just slap a decoder in... I wonder how much of a pain it is to convert them. I...
  4. K

    Diagrams - How to wire programming track safely

    This came up in another thread. Here are the diagrams I was seeking that show how to wire a programming track directly into the layout safely. Wiring a programming track into the layout is very convenient. You'd simply take a piece of track isolated with gaps/insulating joiners, and connect it...
  5. K

    Programming/Regular Track Switch Safety

    Note: Never Mind... I found it - I was remembering something on another forum I visit... Leaving the original below in case anyone cares... ------------------------------------------------------------------- I could sworn I saw a discussion of this here, but sure can't find it. I'd like...
  6. K

    Multiple toggles/multiple tortoises

    Hey all, After a lot of research and experimentation, I've come up with working diagrams for running two tortoises off one toggle, one tortoise from two toggles, and the piece-de-resistance, two tortoises off two toggles. All with panel LED's too (for two panels, in two-toggle scenarios). If...
  7. K

    What to use for backdrop

    Well, I've been putting it off and off, and now is the moment of truth.. It's time to put the backdrop up. It'll be hooked directly to the wall (i.e. doesn't need to have much structural strength itself), and go from layout to ceiling. I'm just not sure what to use: Hardboard... Joints tend...
  8. K

    Upgrade just throttle? Or upgrade whole system for not-that-much-more?

    Okay, I truly can't decide on this... I have a Lenz system, currently. The system works just fine for me. I have stationary decoders and have used it to control turnouts. I have the computer interface and have used this and JMRI to run it from the computer. No significant complaints, it has...
  9. K

    Sources of engine service facility info

    Can anyone suggest sites, books, etc. that would give me some insight into loco service facilities, specifically for steam. More specifically for 1945-50 era? Thanks, K
  10. K

    Benchwork in Progress

    Okay, gang. Here are some pictures of the benchwork under way. If you want to see the plan for which this is built, it's at http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c158/kristianj/LAYOUT12.jpg Having said that, on to the piccies: I tried uploading them here, but had to shrink them so small, or turn...
  11. K

    Power Question

    Okay, here's an electronics question from the... let's say I'm more mechanically inclined... If I have a power supply setup as shown here - 2, 12V 2A power supplies in series powering a bus around my layout to feed DC needs... Do I have 2amps or 4amps? While we're at it, can someone tell me...
  12. K

    toggle switches - help!

    Okay, I've just visited digikey and fried my brain. I need toggle switches for control panels to run tortoise motors. I believe that means I want on-on SPDT switches... But how many amps and what about all these other features??? And how much should they cost - the ones I found that I...
  13. K

    Tortoise & Bicolor LED Wiring

    I'd like to wire my tortoises (thrown with panel toggle switch) to two bicolor LED's, one for each track. So that when the switch is thrown, the 'open' track is green and the 'closed' track red... Now, I THINK the easiest way to do this is to wire up to bicolor LED's per the standard wiring to...
  14. K

    Layout comments (now or never...)

    Hey all, Last chance to comment on the layout. Benchwork is under way and it will very shortly be too late to change... A few notations: 1) room is approx. 20x30 (irregular) 2) era is late 1940's, steam-to-early-diesel transition 3) focus is on passenger operations at a notable size union...
  15. K

    Foam or Plywood (Yes, again, but specific this time)

    Okay, gang. I know it's been discussed before, but the track, turnouts, etc are ordered, supporting benchwork is nearly done, and I have to decide: Foam or plywood for the base of the layout. Here's what I see in it: 1) Plywood Pro: Have used it many times, no problems. Easier to mount...
  16. K

    Sensing, Signals and Auto-Reverse

    Well, it's official... Benchwork has started. As I move out of layout design and construction issues, new questions arise for which I don't have good answers. Three of them, specifically. I've reviewed some existing posts and none quite hits these issues head on: Behind this, two givens that...
  17. K

    Large HO layout - please comment

    Okay, here's the latest plan after quite some time of reconsidering/reworking. Prep work on the room is done and I'm ready to start benchwork. Any comments before I do that are most welcome. Pertinent facts: Room size: Approx. 20x30', grid is 1' squares. 1. Minimum mainline radius - 30" 2...
  18. K

    Ebay - Glory Days Gone?

    So I've been a long-time Ebay buyer (and occasional seller). Over the past 6 months, I've noticed that I find less and less worth buying. Perhaps the "market" is simply reaching effciency, but I now find that I can usually buy the same item at retail for the same or less than on Ebay - and often...
  19. K

    Wireless Throttle(s)

    I am definitely planning to go wireless. I'd like to get a throttle/receiver combo that will work with my Lenz Set-100 command station. I definitely DO NOT want the Lenz cordless-phone-to-throttle adapter -- tried it at a friends and bleah. In fact, i'd like to get a few throttles. At least one...
  20. K

    Christmas List

    Okay, it's October, and in my mind that means time to start thinking about the Christmas list for wifey et al... So what's on your list this year? Here's mine so far... (all HO in my case) BLI T-1 4-4-4-4 loco MTH K-4 loco Tortoise Switch Machines Of course, this has to grow far larger...
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