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    MRC decoder problem

    Have you tried to bypass the decoder and run the loco on DC? It is much easier to measure the current with DC. I recently purchased a DC power supply from Fry's Electronics that has both voltage and current control (0>15V, 0>3 AMPs) It also has digital meters for both voltage and current...
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    Powered frog?

    If you are using Tortoise "turnout motors" you can use the DPDT switch built into the Tortoise for the frog. I am assuming when you said building your own you mean Fast-tracks style with a cut in both points near the frog with the points always connected to the associated rail. If this is the...
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    Help me w/ DCC Specialties Auto Reverse Module

    I knowwhat you mean about the double crossover issue with solid frogs. I have four of them I built with a fast-tracks jig. I plan on building current sensing devices to detect the train direction at the four entry points tos et the internal polarity. If your loop looks like this you might...
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    Scratch built turntable & control

    Not sure if this is the right sub-forum but I am starting on a project to scratch build a turntable with optical sensing to stop the rotation. I will be using a 12" beer tray and an HO 85' ME deck girder bridge (with a little bashing) for the top part. Drive wheel, drive mechanics & motor...
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    Help me w/ DCC Specialties Auto Reverse Module

    Am I missing something here? Seems to me you could set the polarity of the loop based on the position of the first "loop" turnout. I don't like using the Tortoise switch points for this but you can use them to power a reversing relay so it turns on when the Tortoise / turnout is in the...
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    Garage Plan Round 3 (ding ding!)

    Galen, Don't be worried about using a lift bridge. I made one with the pivot point about 4" back and 1" down from the surface. (1/2" brass tube). The bridge looks like an "H" with the sides extended on both ends. One end has the pivot the other end uses the extensions to align. The track...
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    Need some help with a trackplan

    Here is mine. 6.5' x 21'. Hidden loop could be a little smaller and closer since you don't see the cars and 24" seems fine for operation. Three separate loops that can be combined into one with two of the double crossovers. The other two provide two reversing loops. Trestle bridge is a...
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    Curved/tamgent turnout?

    I would think that it would be very popular if anybody made one. Sure makes layout easy. Draw a circle / draw a line. Although I now have my double crossover assembly fixture (great fun - also works to make standard turnouts) it won't make the curved/tangent one. I would highly recommend...
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    Curved/tamgent turnout?

    I guess when you have a box of frogs, rail cutting equipment, some thermite, spikes and ties you can do what needs to be done. In HO you only need to cut away about 0.003" of the center of the side of the frog to match the curve. Since the real frogs are hardened I think they still need to go...
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    Curved/tamgent turnout?

    Gus, It is the little straight sections that make it not fit on a curve and have the same internal radius. For example a #4 turnout has an internal radius of 15" and a substitution radius of 28". So you can put this in a 28" radius curve without much adjustment but your equipment is going to...
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    Curved/tamgent turnout?

    Like many newbies working on track planning and looking at available turnouts I wondered why I couldn't find one that would let you branch off of a curve with a straight track. After my success building a "pointless" or gantlet turnout I thought I would try making one. It has a 28" curve with...
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    Track Plan Advice

    Jason, Sorry I didn't mention that the plan I posted wasnot made with sectional track but with flex track. No reason you couldn't use a combination. The outside loop is 22" radius with exactly 180 degrees of turn on each sideso sectional would be fine. The inside loop is about 19" radius...
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    Track Plan Advice

    If you are looking to "run" trains with two loops & full reversing I would try something like this. 22" outside & 18" inside, 60 degree crossing. Spur turnouts are #4, others #5. Double crossover is #6.
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    Can you buy this?

    Track done except for paint. Very glad I tried this project. I think it will be a very special addition to my layout. The additional four rails are held by rail spikes. #75 drill and medium spikes worked best. Using the Micro Enginnering bridge track was the good choice. Means only using the...
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    Pizza!

    I agree that a gantlet would look great. Don't know why the "unflanged and double-flanged wheels as per the prototype" would be important unless you wanted to only have two rails at the top & bottom. I did a free-handlaid gantlet turnout for my bridge track. Same thing but 2>1>2 rather than...
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    Gary S. track plan

    Fred, Would a double crossover rather than the two turnouts about 4' up & 1' from the left do the same thing and add some flexibility?
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    European power supply

    A 110 volt in 6.3 volt out transformer will give you 12.6 volts when run on 220V. 3 AMPs (36 to 54 Watts?) sounds high for a hand throttle.
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    Xtrk cad:no steam?

    Radioactive fallout? No Power? Roads unsafe? I guess I will just have to power up the generator and stay inside playing with the trains.
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    Can you buy this?

    Two "pointless" turnouts and a little rail is a LOT less expensive than a second bridge. Without points, there is very little maintenance cost. Yes, there have been some good crashes on gantlet tracks and the railroads have replaced most of them but what fun is model railroading if you don't...
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    Multiple DCC areas?

    Don't throw away the old, smaller controller. With a switch/relay you could connect one of the separate parts of the layout to the main system or the small controller. I would kill the connecting track at the same time. Might be useful if the kids wanted to play on the separate section and...
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