I have waited a week and no one has started a topic of what did you get for Christmas. So a week later I will. WHAT DID YOU GET FOR CHRISTMAS????? OK there it is.

Hi folks!

This will be my first post on this forum, so I thought it would be good to start of well and post some pictures of what I'm modeling at the moment.

The last two years I became more and more interested in US prototype model railroads. So much, that I began thinking of building my own layout, "US style". However, before modeling a proper railroad, I've been building a mini-layout as a start. The layout is far from perfect, but the main purpose is to try out new techniques and to see what's it like to model the US-prototype. The result so far is shown below. Some photo's and stories of building this thing will follow soon.

I will use this mini-layout as testbed for more new things I would like to try out, while designing a new layout.

Kind regards from The Netherlands! Wieger

$65 and 23 days later my DT400 is now a DT402D wireless throttle.



Yippie!

May I take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy 2010?

...and I'm also absolutely clueless. I have an electrical problem. I have good output from my MRC Tech II 2400 power supply unit all the way (2' max.) to my first turnout. And halfway through it. Then...nothing. The voltmeter drops to zero. I have replaced all track that might be doubtful. I replaced the turnout with a brand new Atlas turnout. Still, nothing. What to do???

Hey folks, I'm at it again.

I'm looking at different methods for which I can apply the decking for the wharf that I'll be constructing in a couple of weeks. The decking will be applied over top of a 1/4 ply sheeting ,which in the real world, would be the stringers underneath the decking.



So...the basic dimensions are 41" x 10" (sorry the drawing should say 41" not 40" ). The brown area is where the decking will be supported by 1/2 craft plywood and not piles, should save me a bit of work, modeling something that for the most part will be unseen, or in the shadows, so to speak. I'll also be spiking the rail directly on top of the decking as this is how I've seen it done in a number of old prototype photos.

I've been considering a couple of options and the quick and easy method of using board and batten basswood sheets had crossed my mind to cover the ply. I have some reservations about this method as I'm worried that the continuous wood grain of a single sheet will be highlighted once stained. The next idea was to apply individual pieces of strip wood across the width of the wharf. Doing some quick math this equates to roughly 8 pieces per inch, at 41 inches in length works out to 328 pieces, assuming I use 12" scale lumber, Holy Hanna! This would also cost me a small fortune in strip wood as well. Although to be quite honest...I'm leaning towards this later method... :? I could increase the width of the planks and go to say a 16" board which works out to roughly 5 boards per inch = 205 planks...a bit more manageable I think and actually saves me some cash.

Oddly enough, I've come across a couple of layout websites and this is how those builders have constructed their own wharf and pier designs...and they look really damn good.

That is of course, unless someone can save me from myself (again) and give me a better option.

I'm browsing one of my Christmas presents - a ten DVD collection of Early Steam, unique railroads of the world, tourist railroads, trolley lines, The San Francisco cable cars and public attraction layouts such as Wunderland in Germany. Some very amazing stuff, and all of it fascinating and informative.

I had an inquiry about motor vehicles available for Scale55.

Brigadegames has WWI era Model T trucks:



Blue Moon Manufacturing has 30's era cars and trucks:





Hope that helps
Harold

Remove Old 1/4" Plywood Control panel
   

Install and wire New 1/4" plexiglass Control panel
   

Paint New Mountain (Right side) and prep both mountains for detailing
   

Get the Light (LED) on top of the tower to WORK again!!    

OK all done Now I have the "switching Panel" to replace and then i can begin detailing the mountains...

One of my throttles has a problem that I have been unable to address. Namely when I plug it into a UP5 loconet and then put on track power the following occurs on this one throttle: the viewing screen intermittently flashes 'dt300id' then it flashes track voltage, back and forth it goes! I have no control of the throttle at this point for any function. When it is flashing the track voltage the semiphore signal indicators also flash in the corner of the screen and a series of numbers scroll across the top of the screen also!!! All very confusing. Just in case the loconet plug was worn I replaced it but it is the same. Any suggestions other then sending it to Digitrax for a fix?
Thx
Eric