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    Power for ancillary items on DCC layout?

    Like I said, I've not read through everything yet, but this passage from page 17 of the NCE System Reference Manual disagrees with what you are saying. "When using the programming track, the remainder of the layout is stopped. With NCE decoders,all parameters can be changed on the mainline...
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    Power for ancillary items on DCC layout?

    I'm planning to use tortoise machines I believe, but my understanding was that they would be tied into the DCC supply for packet purposes. The layout is roughly 15' x 13', and there will be one 130' Walthers turntable, and about 25 to 30 turnouts. Any lighting I plan to design as LED, or...
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    Power for ancillary items on DCC layout?

    I am not fully up to speed on all of the criteria of the NCE, but according to what I recall reading in one of the manuals, what you say is true to a point. NCE says that "main line programming" can be done if the decoder is a NCE decoder. I don't know which, if any, other brands also support...
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    Power for ancillary items on DCC layout?

    I've found a used Tech 3 9500 that has meters, and should provide more than enough current for the accessories I plan to run off of it. I'll be running the turnouts DCC, so really the LED lights and turntable won't add up to that much draw. It looks like the 9500 with the built in meters would...
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    Power for ancillary items on DCC layout?

    I'll be running my new layout via DCC, but how should I provide power to items such as lighting, turntable and other things that don't require DCC? I assume it would be best to not have them draw amperage from the DCC power supply, but since I have no compatible power supplies coming from Z...
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    HO Bachmann Shay Decoder

    Thanks Kevin, I'll have to look into that. I currently have the Digitax 123 to put in my Shay; when you installed the decoder did you cut one leg of the yellow capacitor on the circuit board? I found several places that mentioned that, but then several others that didn't. It was suggested...
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    What radius for super-elevation?

    I'm still working on track layouts, and some of them use rather sweeping curves, like in the 48" radius range. At what radius does superelevation look "right"? I assume at smaller radii, the CG shifts too far towards the center and could cause problems. Would super-elevation still look...
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    Prototype photos of 50' REA Reefer?

    I picked up an Athearn Express Reefer kit and I can't seem to find any prototype photos for detailing purposes. It's the Athearn 5334 which is the Pennsy REA Reefer car, build date is 3-29. Anyone have any links to similar cars? Thanks, Phillip
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    HO Bachmann Shay Decoder

    Kevin, what model Shay did you have that was just a drop-in, and which Soundtraxx? I've been looking for one that wouldn't require any modifications, and I was told by my local shop that none of them were small enough to go in the Shay's very small tender area.
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    Identifying truck type?

    I bought a couple of Athearn cars that I'd like to change to metal couplers and trucks. I found Kadee's conversion chart for couplers, is there a visual reference chart for trucks as well? One is a 40' derrick flat car, which it looks to me like the Bettendorf truck fom the Walthers reference...
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    Best way to transition from coe 100 to code 83

    I don't know if it is the best way, but an easy way: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/948-897
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    First draft of layout

    According to Walthers catalog specs, the overall for their 130' is 20 1/8", and the bridge is 18 7/8" so that's what I was using.
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    First draft of layout

    I was thinking about that this afternoon. There aren't a lot of point to point layouts in the books I have, are there any links that have some layouts along those lines in similar space? I wanted to be able to run two trains at once, and with a point to point I think that would be more...
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    First draft of layout

    Thanks Triplex. I'm starting to regret leaving my world of Z scale. I'm beginning to think the sound and big engines just aren't worth devoting a larger area than I would like to accomodate 33" R curves. With Z I'm so used to a walk around table top display, and that's the look I like. This...
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    First draft of layout

    I used the 20" Walthers quotes for their 130' turntable.
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    First draft of layout

    The problem is that with a C shape in the area I have, I can't make really big radii. I still don't prefer the C to the donut or table top earlier layouts, but no matter what I can't do big radii in my space. I figured that the numbers I was using were enough above the min. that appearance...
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    First draft of layout

    I fixed those by adding in a section of stright track about 90' long between the radii. I have the Lionel Challenger, BLI 2-6-6-4, BLI 4-4-4-4, BLI J1 2-10-4, BLI J 4-8-4, P2K 2-8-8-2, and I'll be getting a BLI Brass 4-8-4 for Christmas;) According to all of the documentation from the...
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    HO Bachmann Shay Decoder

    I see the tsunami is 1.7" long, I'm just wondering how that is going to fit? I didn't go measure my Shay, but I don't think the tender is anywhere near big enough to accomodate that size decoder.
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    First draft of layout

    I'd like to keep the logging camp where it is, since that seems to work out in that blob. If I swapped the position of the yard area and town, it would probably make sense. I could then have the sawmill on the outskirts of town and the run would be past the yard. That would allow better...
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    First draft of layout

    OK, I've found a walk-in that I actually like. This allows me to keep the orchid stand where it is, and doesn't consume all of the wall space on that end. Sorry for the large pic, drawn 1":1' it was too big for my scanner bed. Dimensions are 15' x 11' on left and 10' on right. It will be easy to...
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