Recent content by willist

  1. W

    NCE Switch It

    I'm about ready to install my 1st 2 Tortoise machines along with an NCE Switch It decoder. If I choose not to program the Switch It, what will the default address be, and how do I activate the turnouts with my Lenz system? Thanks
  2. W

    Mounting a Tortoise machine?

    I'm getting ready to install my 1st Tortoise machines and I have a dumb question, Where do I position the switch points/throwbar ? Do I need to have the switch thrown in one direction or do I have them centered until I hook up the power?
  3. W

    Temporarily secure flex track?

    Push pins work best
  4. W

    how high?

    I'm 5'8" and my layout is 54" high, I feel its the perfect height for me.:thumb:
  5. W

    Designing Engine Yard

    Hello, I have an around the room (11' X 12' X 2' wide) layout. I would like to add an engine service yard, and maybe a small staging yard. I want to do this on a peninsular, or maybe on a extension that goes completely across the open area. My scale is HO, my era is steam (transition era). I'd...
  6. W

    Need Tsunami Help

    Thanks for guys for your input, I'm just afraid this is all beyond my capabilities. I don't understand electronics very well, thats why I bought the conversion plug. I'm not going to try anything I truly don't understand. I bought the Tsunami from Tony's Trains I'll call them Monday and maybe...
  7. W

    Need Tsunami Help

    I just installed a Tsunami in my Bachmann 2-8-0. I used the conversion plug to plug the decoder into the circuit board in the tender. I placed the engine on my programing track and set the address. I then moved the engine to the main and switched on the power. The headlight came on and what I...
  8. W

    Slow Speed

    Thanks for your reply. I've changed CV5 to 0, now I can a more realistic speed. I can actually exceed the speed that a 2-8-0 would have actually gone, but at least now I can run closer to a scale 35 to 40 mph. :thumb:
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    Slow Speed

    I have a Lenz decoder in my Bachmann 2-8-0. It has very good slow speed acceleration, and very good gradual braking. My problem is top speed is very slow, what can I do to increase top speed? What CV do I need to program?
  10. W

    NYC Water Tanks

    Can any one tell the standard color of a NYC water tank circa 1940's? Thanks
  11. W

    Peco HO scale turnouts

    I'm having 2nd thoughts about having all manually thrown turnouts on my new layout, unfortunatlly all the track has been installed including all the turnouts. my questions are 1. how difficult is it to remove the springs from already installed Peco turnouts {so i can use Tortoise switch...
  12. W

    Lenz Programing

    Thanks for your reply, i've already fixed the problem. Turns out I needed to change the speed step setting to 128, once I did that programing was a snap. The engine preforms great.:thumb:
  13. W

    Lenz Programing

    I just installed a Lenz decoder in a Bachmann 2-8-0 [Spectrum], I was able to program new address but nothing else. Well almost nothing else I was able to adjust the braking a little, it no longer comes to screeching halt but it now takes too long to stop. Accelaration is the worst at 1 it...
  14. W

    How do you weather your track & ties?

    Just like Russ said I use a Brite Boy, some people apply a thin coat of clipper [Wahl] oil to the rails before they paint and then just wipe off the rails when finished painting. I tried it once on a very short section of track but I wasn't very neat applying the oil and found it too much of a...
  15. W

    How do you weather your track & ties?

    I spraypaint the track [rails and ties] with Floquil rail brown,when that dries I do a very light spray from directly overhead, [so as not to paint the sides of the rails] with diluted grimmy black. After I ballast the track I come back with a very light coat of grimmy black, also from directly...
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