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  1. dgrafix

    Programs or apps. To keep track of inventory.

    Excel or "libre office calc" (a free and open source version of "office") are probably your easiest and most compatible option, as they can be used as is and also export many standard formats that can be read into most apps.
  2. dgrafix

    Track Planning software?

    XtrackCad is also one I tried which is totally free (FOSS) and has plenty of features and a big track library for most brands too.
  3. dgrafix

    Track Planning software?

    I use Scarm, it's not free but it has a 3D render mode which I like.
  4. dgrafix

    Kato #4 breakthrough!!

    I just thought of something.. if you have some goggles, a strong vice and wanna live dangerously then slowly crushing a neodynium magnet will produce lots of little weaker smaller ones as they are super brittle... but as i say (disclaimer) PPE is hightly recommended as they can literraly...
  5. dgrafix

    Kato #4 breakthrough!!

    I bought them from a company called Panduro, but not sure if they export: https://www.skapamer.se/stark-magnet-5-mm-10-st (you should be able to translate it) They are definitely neodynium though, no techspec on them i can see. PS: These look similar, not sure if they are as strong or not...
  6. dgrafix

    Kato #4 breakthrough!!

    Yeah I think they might be stainless steel rather than silver nickel. They are visibly a different colour too.
  7. dgrafix

    Front End Friday

    Finally added a class 43 to my HST collection :)
  8. dgrafix

    Rerailer ramps

    Most prefab level crossings peieces act as to rerailers. You can see how they do it and maybe 3d print or mould some kind of drop in. Some I have used are the minitrix, and Kato ones (and Hornby back in the day) they will rerail a (not severely) detailed bogie without much ado. Basically make...
  9. dgrafix

    Kato #4 breakthrough!!

    It helps but I would still say Kato needs to put a notch in the wall of the outer tracks. I had one derailment after posting this but that was the other direction. It's one of those double Z #4 boards. But one direction is working great at least. I will mostly be running clockwise anyway.
  10. dgrafix

    Kato #4 breakthrough!!

    Hi I'm back after a long period of disappointment and head scratching over my #4s. All of katos stuff if top notch but the 4s are infamously BAD. The problem is that the switchrod/switch rail assembly has a very weak spring and vibrates out of whack derailing the train, especially the 3 axle...
  11. dgrafix

    Electrical question - What is the difference between: wattage, volts, and amps?

    Not much to add that has not already been covered, An easy way to look at it is using water under a force constant like gravity or a set pressure. The -potential- force of water is your volts, the amps are the flow allowed, so higher amps = more flow, lower amps = more resistance. Watts is the...
  12. dgrafix

    Building a small shinkansen diorama for a close friend WIP

    Little update, have not had much time to myself what with work and DIY 😫. Still added some touches over last weekend. Still need to toutch up the rocks and bricks but it is starting to look like what I envisioned 🙂
  13. dgrafix

    How Do I Elongate This Mounting Board?

    Lol just had same "PS".. 🤣
  14. dgrafix

    How Do I Elongate This Mounting Board?

    I would go for shrinking the decal than modifying the model to take it. (Which is "worth" more?) You could scan and reduce it onto "tranfer paper" it's a kind of paper that goes into most inkjet (and colour laser as long as you check it can be used) printers that you can float off the decal in...
  15. dgrafix

    Dishonest Item Description on Ebay?

    I recomment finding a setting most browsers have to dump cookies on exit. They are still annoying but for the most part it is anonymous metadata, it is a bit creepy, but the way retail & interest cookies work is not (usually) as bad as many people think. But still, it is kinda annoying and...
  16. dgrafix

    How to install LED headlight in a Athearn DC diesel to eliminate the bulb

    I have fitted lights in the past to my trains. I usually go with a 640R-1K resistor depending on how bright i want it to be, and usually wire a red and white with reversed polarity from each other and sharing a resistor. Using optical fiber is a good idea too if you don't want to make big holes...
  17. dgrafix

    N gauge track

    Smallest Kato goes is 150mmR But that is what is known as their "pocket line" range of short wheelbase trams, wagons and simple diesels and shunters. The smallest "practical" I believe is either 249mm or 282mm depending on train. I run some REALLY "fussy" shinkansen trains which are ok at 282...
  18. dgrafix

    Have you actually ridden a narrow Gauge train?

    We have one in Uppsala Sweden https://lennakatten.se/ Worth a ride if you are up this way. They have a couple of trains consisting of steam and early diesels.
  19. dgrafix

    Chris's Little Layouts

    nice, i was wondering if it would fit from the first image 😃 ... I was thinking would that just about work? or would it be kissing it's "kaboose" o_O
  20. dgrafix

    Liquid nails

    Should be perfect for that (assumig it is the same stuff. Europe is same-same... but different :D )




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