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    Sorry Walthers, I tried….

    In those situations I use larger music wire to make it a little stronger. Easy mod.
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    Sorry Walthers, I tried….

    Well, I have 27 of them on my layout. The original release did have some problems, but Walthers were very good about replacing the problem ones. I have been using them for about 5+ years with no problems after the initial bad machines. I have used music wire to mount them in many different...
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    HO- inexplicable derailings

    Wheel gauge can definitely be the culprit, especially as humidity levels fluctuate. Sometimes a quick solution can be as simple as rotating the car end for end.
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    .

    I use one similar but picked it up at Hobby Lobby. I think their all about the same.
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    .

    Many of my rolling stock cars were from the late ‘60’s and early 70’s. Almost all of them had couplers attached to the trucks(talgo) and plastic wheelsets. I replaced them with metal wheelsets and Kadee couplers. You will need to use a gage to help with coupler height, a bunch of 2-56 machine...
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    DCC short; now what?

    Anyone who is a model railroader knows shorts are just not summer clothing. They just happen. When I added a major section on to my original layout, I went off memory as to which was the red rail. Wired it backwards and my layout wouldn’t work. Took awhile to figure out the cause but that’s all...
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    Tsunami2 and JMRI

    Glad you got it figured out. It’s a little bit strange, I have done over 15 of my own dcc installs, all with soundtraxx decoders and never experienced that problem. We sure learn lots from each other in this forum. I guess that’s what keeps us checking the new posts.
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    Tsunami2 and JMRI

    If you change the master volume with the throttle and not go to JMRI, does the sound work properly? I have not had the issue you describe however, I mostly program on the mainline after the initial decoder setup.
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    I guess it was inevitable

    I like what you’ve done with a small space. One of the better designs I’ve seen.
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    old bachmann and tyco locomotives slipping and not pulling and walthers train line parts

    First determine if the drive wheels are losing traction (spinning out) or if the drive wheels are not turning. If the latter, I had an old Rivarossi where the main drive gear was spinning on the shaft. After disassembly, I used a file to rough up the shaft surface and glued the gear with some ca...
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    USING BLUETOOTH CONTROL.

    When I used BlueRail (forerunner to Blunami) one thing I liked about phone control was operating as many as 4 locomotives from 1 phone but what I hated about it was needing to use both hands and look at the phone for every speed change.
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    Sound for DC layout

    Before I went dcc, I purchased a BlueRail board and installed it on my dc layout. BlueRail is the creator of Bluenami decoders marketed by soundtraxx. The BlueRail setup allowed me to run multiple locomotives off my phone but the sound was at the board using speakers and not on the individual...
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    Sound for DC layout

    If your layout is set up for dc, converting to dcc requires little, if any modifications. The controller etc would be the big expense, along with equipping the locomotives with decoders. I was of the “dc, I don’t need sound” campaign for awhile until I realized the benefit of going dcc. Now...
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    How Old Is Your Oldest "Working" Locomotive?

    I have several Rivarossi’s from the late 60’s. As long as the gearing is good, the motors can be changed out to cans. Most of them I have installed decoders with sound as well. The thing about old dc locos is that many only had 1 pickup for left and right rail and some used the frame for one...
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    New Guy on the Block - Proto 2000 Question

    Some of the shells came with dynamic brakes and others did not. To my knowledge, short of getting another shell, P2k did not offer an add on. Bachmann parts do have this but I don’t know if it would fit or could be adapted.
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    PROTO 2000 engines and gear breakage

    I have several of the 4 wheel trucks mostly on GP7/9’s. Not all of the locos had cracked gears but the majority did. I purchased the replacement wheelsets from my local shop. If one of the gears was cracked, I replaced all four, threw the cracked one out and saved the others as spares. I have...
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    Can an oval layout bring as much fun and enjoyment like a club layout?

    In my opinion, a small layout with no switching or spurs becomes very boring quite quickly. But that same layout with a few spurs and a small switchyard can become much more entertaining. Certain tasks, as simple as changing the order of the cars in a train by switching (not by picking them up)...
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    How Many Different Locomotives Road Names do you Have on Your Layout?

    As far as locomotives go…5. Atsf, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Nickel Plate and Deep River Logging. Freight cars are a mish mash of a lot of different names. I don’t care what they say as long as they are from the proper era but i am anal about the caboose matching the locomotive.
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    I am trying not to drown …..

    Just giving the opinion which worked best for me.
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    I am trying not to drown …..

    Your dc plans sound very much like me about 5 years ago but I have gradually migrated to dcc. Yes converting each loco with sound decoders can be pricey but the results are worth it. Nothing like being able to run 7 or eight locos in all different directions and speeds simultaneously. I dabbled...




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