Recent content by ecarfar

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    Atlas 200 Controller Question

    Hi, I have two reversing loops on my layout, one is a mainline track the other is a turntable track. If that was the end of the story...it would be simple. My problem is that I'm using three cabs (A, B & C). A & B control the loop and A & C control the turntable track. I'm using two atlas...
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    DC Wiring Problem...HELP!

    Thanks..the more I think about this problem the more I think that's where I'm headed. Putting the switches on a separate ground will be the most difficult but it's not the end of the world. thanks.
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    DC Wiring Problem...HELP!

    Thanks Rico, that might be my plan when I get home tonight. Remove all the wires except the variable dc and see if a train runs. The reason i conected all of the terminals together is because I'm using a common bus around the entire layout and thought all the grounds (for rail, switches...
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    DC Wiring Problem...HELP!

    OK, so I've built a couple of layouts before, but many years ago so I think I'm losing my mind. I just finished wiring my new N scale layout and I'm getting overload indicators on all three cabs. I want to troubleshoot this with the most basic of questions. First, I ran a common, bare copper...
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    Opinions on Unitrack, E-Z Track, etc.

    Thanks, that's a good point about the bus. How do you anchor this stuff? Glue?
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    Opinions on Unitrack, E-Z Track, etc.

    Thanks for that, very helpful...Wow, they still make track out of steel??? :eek:
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    Opinions on Unitrack, E-Z Track, etc.

    Hi, I'm contemplating building an HO layout suspended from the ceiling around the wall of my basement family room. You know, the kind that's 1 track wide siting on a narrow shelf near the ceiling and goes around the whole room? I've had a few layouts, mainly N gauge, using the standard Atlas...
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    Tree making questions...

    I'm about to start making some trees for my N scale layout. I went out and bought various sizes of Woodland Scenics armatures and I've watched and read many many articles and videos on making them. One thing still escapes me...they NEVER mention the type of woodland scenics foliage to put on...
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    Prolems With Atlas Switches

    No, these don't have the directional power. Yes, my option is to hook power up to both sides of the switch. I think it's a better option than rippng them out and disturbing the whole layout. I guess my soldering skills will improve greatly.
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    Prolems With Atlas Switches

    Both...I hooked all of the up to power before I put them on the layout and a few didn't work so i weeded them out and then tried them manually. They are free moving but don't conduct the track power through the rails. I think you misunderstood, the switch motors work just fine, it's the rails...
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    Prolems With Atlas Switches

    Thanks, yeah, that's what I was looking at doing. I was worried that a wire would bind the movement of the points though. I did try spraying contact cleaner in there and I also tried a drop of rail zip, neither worked on any of the switches. I was just curious if this is a common problem.
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    Prolems With Atlas Switches

    I'm building a pretty substantial layout using about 30 atlas switches. Most of them are old, taken from a layout I built in the 90's. All of the switches worked fine back then. The problem I'm having is with the rails not conducting electricity. I'm testing for continuity across the points and...
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