Weekend Update 4/2/17

[dmidkiff]

Finally got some green on my GP35's.  I'm really happy with the way these came out and now it is on to decals.  There are a couple of spots that need touchup, but not much.







I've also been building a new photo diorama and am really liking some of the potential shots.




Doug

[chuck geiger]

More chain link going up....

[nscaleSPF2]

A couple more in-process photos of the PRR 0-6-0, after paint.

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Glued some 0.010 in styrene to the front of the steam cylinders.  Looks better, to my eye. The Bachmann part is made of some kind of Delrin-like material.  The "holy grail" for gluing to this material is this:

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It's a 2 step process; you prime both surfaces with liquid from a felt tip applicator before you apply the glue.  Works well.

Incomplete tender.  Hope everything fits. 

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Made a new drawbar from a piece of printed circuit board.  The contact wires (phosphor bronze) are soldered to the underside of the board, like the stock Bachmann part.  TCS Z2 decoder taped to a slug of lead.  I did not realize that this decoder will drive a back-up light.  Found this out when I started to experiment.  None of the TCS literature indicates that this is possible.

[peteski]

Jim, Z2 is a standard 2-function decoder. If the decoder is described as 2-function then that implies front F0F and rear F0R headlights. As usual, yellow wire is the reverse headlight. 

I hope you got a new version of the decoder - the older decoder's firmware had a bug where the speed steps jump around when CV4, 5, and 6 are being used to control the speed range. Like speed step 10 is slower than speed step 9 for example, then 11 is faster than 9 by 2 steps (I don't remember the actual step numbers - that is just an example).  TCS admitted that this was a problem and at the last Springfield show they confirmed a fix (in all newly-made decoders). They also told me that they would "fix" the older decoders if I was going to send them in (shipping at my expense I'm sure).  I used to be a fan of TCS decoders (mainly because their lighting effects with LEDs were much more realistic than Digitrax), but this has soured me to them.

Now I pretty much moved to ZIMO decoders (especially since the Euro/US$ exchange rate is so favorable, ZIMO decoders are less expensive than TCS (TCS has been on the pricey side for a while, compated to Digitrax for example).   ZIMO has much better motor control and lighting effects.

But they don't have a decoder shaped like the Z2. If you need a small rectangular decoder, Digitrax's recent DZ126T (T for tiny) is very similar size to Z2.

[nscaleSPF2]

Jim, Z2 is a standard 2-function decoder. If the decoder is described as 2-function then that implies front F0F and rear F0R headlights. As usual, yellow wire is the reverse headlight. 

OK, good to know, Peter.

I hope you got a new version of the decoder - the older decoder's firmware had a bug where the speed steps jump ...

Had the same problem with an earlier Z2 decoder.  Also had the same conversation with TCS technical support.  Solved the problem by using 128 instead of 28 speed steps.  Worked for me.  I like the Z2 for its small size.

[peteski]

OK, good to know, Peter.

Had the same problem with an earlier Z2 decoder.  Also had the same conversation with TCS technical support.  Solved the problem by using 128 instead of 28 speed steps.  Worked for me.  I like the Z2 for its small size.

Hmm . . . when I was trying to solve that problem, it existed in both 28/128 steps.  I think since 128 steps have much smaller speed changes between each step, the problem is just less noticeable.  We had a discussion about the problem here in TRW a while back.

The Digitrax DZ126T is just about the same size and shape as Z2 (and much less expensive).

[nscaleSPF2]

The Digitrax DZ126T is just about the same size and shape as Z2 (and much less expensive).

Oooh, I do like the price on that Digitrax decoder.  Are they reliable?

It still wouldn't fit in this tender, though, because of the stupid way I crammed everything in there.

[Chris333]

I ran out of code 55 joiners for the 100th time 

[wcfn100]

I ran out of code 55 joiners for the 100th time 

Thought you'd be making your own by now.   


Jason

[peteski]

Oooh, I do like the price on that Digitrax decoder.  Are they reliable?

It still wouldn't fit in this tender, though, because of the stupid way I crammed everything in there.

I have not used many yet, but I would not expect it to be any different than other Digitrax decoders.  It is a fairly recent decoder (came out about a year or two). It is a 6th generation firmware (same as used on DZ126 which is a replacement for DZ125).

However I'm salivating for the ZIMO MX616 which will be a tiny 6-function decoder!
http://store.sbs4dcc.com/ZIMOMX616NNanoDCCDecoder-NEM6516-pinIntegralConnector.aspx

[garethashenden]

Got a new chassis built for my M7. It's straight and runs well. I've also made a little bit of progress with the body. The wires will get dealt with when I get around to fitting a deocder.

[fcnrwy23]

This was a "Decal Weekend" for me too.

Today was a "GreenDay" with most of the equipment decaled, being Green.



The two U28/30Cs (mintrix) are a friends', being BN units patched-out as LS&Is.  The MNSE's Matteford Paper Mill got it's last two Combo-Door cars, a 45 foot Trailer Van and a NEW Yard Switcher.  A B36-7, leased from the FCLX.
The three Hoffa Cements are for the online industry, near Baresville.  And the Three Thrall Gons are the last for my two "WISX" coal trains.  That are run-throughs on the FCN layout.

With the club's layouts' Rewiring nearing completion..  The Mill's main buildings are getting some spurcing up.  Still need to add more "Roof" detail parts and Lighting.



It will get all of the "bells and Whistles" that the WP&P has on the FCNRwy...




Jerry G.

[MichaelWinicki]

Jerry G.

Heck of a nice scene Jerry!

[fcnrwy23]

Heck of a nice scene Jerry!

Thanks!  A lot of people like it, because the Industry is really proportional.
But, she does take up a lot or real estate!!.
 

Jerry G.

[dougnelson]

New video fresh off the Iphone on modeling from the prototype:
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