Him too.maybe @slisk250 instead
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Official PCF Model Train Thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter slisk250
- Start date
OP
OP
slisk250
Straight Flush
I always wanted to build one but the space. Looking forward to watching you develop this.
To my fellow model train nerds: any recommendations on a forum or starting point to learn about the various new digital control systems? I've been running Lionel trains for 35+ years on the older basic transformers. IE these things:
The kids are getting older and less interested, so I'd like to start getting some of my own stuff. We went to a train show today to look around, most of the engines I really liked were MTH with a ton of bells and whistles.
I think I'm at the point where I have to upgrade lol. I have zero knowledge about the new control systems, terms like DCS/TMMC/LEGACY/DCC are another language at this point. I don't mind taking the time to read on everything to learn, just looking for a good starting point. My current setup is all O scale and I have a bunch of Lionel fastrack & switches, mostly Lionel and K-Line engines and rolling stock - I'd prefer to keep as much of that as possible.
The kids are getting older and less interested, so I'd like to start getting some of my own stuff. We went to a train show today to look around, most of the engines I really liked were MTH with a ton of bells and whistles.
I think I'm at the point where I have to upgrade lol. I have zero knowledge about the new control systems, terms like DCS/TMMC/LEGACY/DCC are another language at this point. I don't mind taking the time to read on everything to learn, just looking for a good starting point. My current setup is all O scale and I have a bunch of Lionel fastrack & switches, mostly Lionel and K-Line engines and rolling stock - I'd prefer to keep as much of that as possible.
I haven't dragged out my slot stuff in 14-15 years (about the time I got into tournament poker and hard-core chipping), but I was pretty deep into HO scale slot car racing since about age 10 (growing up in Indy, life was always about speed). There were three time periods when I was heavily involved in HO racing -- ages 10-15, 30-35, and 45-53.
My interest covered just about everything -- vintage slot cars from my youth, running stock off-the-shelf cars up to full-on unlimited modified rail rockets (you want fast? Nothing faster), custom-molded and hand-painted lexan bodies, track layout design, competing in concours events and in local, regional, and national racing series.
Before I last stepped away, I was pretty good friends with several major manufacturers of high-end HO scale cars and parts. I was always a better builder than driver, and thus headed up several competitive racing teams over the years. I was a longtime UFHORA and HOPRA member (HO Professional Racing Association), and I do hold one national race record (fastest lap time on the world's longest HO track).
I haven't looked recently, but there used to be several HO racing online forums.
Testing method of installing track feeders to Kato track.
Cordless glue gun from amazon that takes DeWalt batteries.
Cordless glue gun from amazon that takes DeWalt batteries.
It’s been a while, so I’m probably not the best source. I have an O gauge Lionel and MTH set that I break out for Christmas. I ran into the issue with controllers as well. I can control go, stop, reverse with the old school Lionel for both (IRCC), but have to use the Lionel or MTH to get all the features to work (sound, smoke, decouple, etc) for each of them. I use banana plugs so I can swap the controllers easily.
I think Legacy means backward compatible for basic features (I think that’s a Lionel thing, but not sure). My MTH has DCS and it’s to control all the sounds, (protosounds etc) which are the whistle, bells, engine, dialogue, etc.
TMMC is Lionel’s version of DCS. I think Lionel might have a newer version out now.
Then I think there is something that allows you to control multiple engines on a single track, etc., which is way out of my league - lol.
From what I recall, MTH controllers won’t work for Lionel features and vice versa. They don’t play nice together in the sandbox - lol.
I ended up buying beef’ier x-formers because I have a decent size set up (I bought a lot of extra track to add on). I got the x-formers at train shows, and my local shop when I was in VA sold me the nicer MTH controller from a set he broke apart. My Lionel x-formers are pretty basic, my MTH has a remote control that I use - lol.
It’s been a good minute since I bought all this stuff, but seemed to recall MTH was offering a bit more for the $$. I run my MTH set way more then the Lionel, personally. But in all fairness, my MTH set is a way nicer set up and my Lionel is more entry level.
It's not nearly as sexy and sophisticated as most of gear posted here, but here's my holiday setup this year. I was hoping to pick up a new MTH engine and DCS, but it wasn't in the cards this year. Scenery theme is Star Wars 
My favorite engine (NYC Hudson) came out of the box dead this season, I have figure out if its worth trying to fix/upgrade.
My favorite engine (NYC Hudson) came out of the box dead this season, I have figure out if its worth trying to fix/upgrade.
Took this bugger completely apart, cleaned and oiled everything and checked all the connections.
Also added a couple of power bus lines and feeder drops around the larger loop to better distribute power. She runs like a champ now!
bergs
Royal Flush
Stop by the railroad in Scottsdale next time you’re here. They have hundreds of model railroad trains and a lot of different gauge track. I’m not a hobbyist and even I thought it was pretty cool.
https://www.therailroadpark.com/
OP
OP
slisk250
Straight Flush
I used to be a member of the N Scale club there. Sun N Sand NTRAK. That place rocks.
Took a little break from the build. Got the lift up bridge fitted in place with clamps. It will have 4 tracks going across. I cut the bench work lower on purpose so I can use another crossmember to fine tune height before screwing them in. I'll be wiring in micro switches on both ends that will kill power to the tracks for the approach block circuits if the bridge is up. The tracks on the bridge will be powered from the same microswitches on the hinge side with a small wire loop so the lift up section can open and close without pulling on any wires. I plan on wiring the entire layout with block detection, transponding, and prototypical signals. It amazes me how far the hobby has come since I was a kid running trains with a DC power pack.
Blum 155 degree zero protrusion soft close hinges.
The bridge section is a pine stair tread that I cut down and ran through the planer to get the thickness down to 3/4".
Blum 155 degree zero protrusion soft close hinges.
The bridge section is a pine stair tread that I cut down and ran through the planer to get the thickness down to 3/4".
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2022
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Damn, looks like one hell of a setup
Roslindale
Flush
If your train falls of the track, pick it up.... pick it up... pick it up!
Black Sheep
Black Sheep
My late uncle participated in derailing one
Roslindale
Flush
bergs
Royal Flush
Derailment is such a great game.My late uncle participated in derailing one
View attachment 1050074View attachment 1050075
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- Joined
- Mar 16, 2022
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- 1,454
- Reaction score
- 2,526
I have a bunch of Pre-War Lionel trans and buildings that are sitting in a box in the basement. Maybe I should go try to set it up/burn down the house
This is really cool. I wanted to know what this page said that was in Japanese.
I took a pic of the page, drag and dropped this image here: https://translate.yandex.com/ocr
I took a pic of the page, drag and dropped this image here: https://translate.yandex.com/ocr
The final product is going to be crazy with all the framework you are laying out. I remember going to a neighbor's house 15 years ago who had two upstairs bedrooms dedicated to a detailed multi-track train set-up with scenery. Should be a fun project with the kids for years to come.
Making my way around the room. The narrow section that will be behind the couch is 8" wide. No way to get a driver in there to do pocket screws on both sides so I just glued the front section and shot in some crown staples. I thought I would have to put some bracing under the 16" wide sections, but they are sold and have zero flex. It looks much cleaner without legs or angle bracing.
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