Search found 309 matches

by gppsoftware
Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:47 am
Forum: Scenery
Topic: Update 12/2 to ask about tunnels - Track ballast and static grass question and tunnel portals
Replies: 14
Views: 872

Re: Update 12/2 to ask about tunnels - Track ballast and static grass question and tunnel portals

As far as ballast goes, nearly all suppliers produce it overscale. I find that using OO scale ballast for O gauge and N gauge ballast for OO is a pretty good choice. I wrote an article on ballast scale here: https://modelrailways.online/pages/vu/BallastSize And how to lay it: https://modelrailways.o...
by gppsoftware
Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:31 am
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: New DCC Concepts Circuit Breakers.
Replies: 10
Views: 626

Re: New DCC Concepts Circuit Breakers.

Even if you are happy to stop the lot, then what. If it's not something simple like a derailment or foreign object on the track, where do you start looking for the short circuit? On a DC layout of any size there will be section switches. Turn them all off, then back on one at a time until it trips....
by gppsoftware
Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:42 am
Forum: Baseboard Design and Construction
Topic: How to prevent building in warps in BB frames?!
Replies: 6
Views: 2055

Re: How to prevent building in warps in BB frames?!

I also used ply for my frames - heavy duty 18mm thick x 150mm deep. 9mm ply tops as I needed the flexibility to transition gradients, else the tops would have bern 12mm. Admittedly my baseboards are large (2 off 12’ x 3’ with 3’ linking boards) and very permanent. Ply is another material where buyi...
by gppsoftware
Fri Nov 25, 2022 11:02 am
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: DCC plan query
Replies: 31
Views: 1571

Re: DCC plan query

Probably a bit late in the day now, but I wrote an article on Model Railways Online about soldering droppers to rails a while back: https://modelrailways.online/pages/vu/P ... thDroppers
by gppsoftware
Mon May 16, 2022 12:19 am
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: A little help with wiring a double slip
Replies: 10
Views: 900

Re: A little help with wiring a double slip

The key to wiring a double slip is to simply treat it as two regular turnouts placed on top of each other ie the switch blades at one end correspond with the crossing V on the other end.
by gppsoftware
Mon Apr 11, 2022 9:30 am
Forum: Heljan
Topic: Heljan Class 14 today, the 2018 bach.
Replies: 22
Views: 5381

Re: Heljan Class 14 today, the 2018 bach.

Latest news from Heljan is that the factory in China who was going to be making the new batch of class 14's and a number of other models closed permanently at the beginning of the year. Apparently, a new factory will be found by the end of this year. I therefore wouldn't expect the new batch of clas...
by gppsoftware
Mon Apr 11, 2022 9:23 am
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Lima Mark 2 Coach Upgrades
Replies: 6
Views: 1116

Re: Lima Mark 2 Coach Upgrades

Too modest! In one respect clearly superior to the nine BR mk1 types Bachmann released in the early 2000's. BR was very proud to advertise the flush panel welds on the roofs of its mk1 build, which were achieved in the welding process with no need for any further finishing. (Long time ago I had sig...
by gppsoftware
Sun Apr 03, 2022 2:27 am
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?
Replies: 28
Views: 2223

Re: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?

Thanks Jed, Bigmet and Suzie, I think we are all pretty much in agreement. Just a few comments to add: Rings I too have never seen a justifiable argument against it, including the two signals arriving at different times claim, which is, as Jed points out, nonsense. MERG did the analysis on this a fe...
by gppsoftware
Sat Apr 02, 2022 6:21 am
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?
Replies: 28
Views: 2223

Re: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?

20 or even 50 amps? Are you sure they are not actually planning on sitting on their trains and riding them? The mind boggles! I don't think even G scale rails could handle that sort of current! That's exactly my point - we've already seen 30 amps mentioned in earlier posts in this thread - it just ...
by gppsoftware
Thu Mar 31, 2022 10:52 pm
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?
Replies: 28
Views: 2223

Re: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?

Many probably go overboard with wire thickness BUT it is better and safer to do this then go too thin and have ones wires heating up and melting. I think we would all agree that under-rated cable is a no-no because it can result in resistance which manifests itself as poor performance, heat and ult...
by gppsoftware
Thu Mar 31, 2022 12:05 am
Forum: DCC Forum
Topic: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?
Replies: 28
Views: 2223

Re: DCC Bus wire, do we go overboard on thickness?

The short answer to the OP's question is 'Yes'. The longer answer is that the reason it happens is because mostly, people don't understand the electrical principals involved and this is compounded by a few 'loud mouths' who perpetuate myths on a certain 'R' forum (which I note is now defunct) which ...
by gppsoftware
Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:23 pm
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Lima Mark 2 Coach Upgrades
Replies: 6
Views: 1116

Re: Lima Mark 2 Coach Upgrades

I completed the last of the five coaches, an FK: https://modelrailways.online/Media/00%20Gauge%20Articles/Carriages/20220302_203802.jpg I think the 2B's scrub-up well enough to be run with Bachmann Mark 1 coaches but I think they struggle a bit against Bachmann Mark 2F's and won't be up to the stand...
by gppsoftware
Thu Mar 24, 2022 10:15 pm
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Lima Class 50 running very slowly
Replies: 10
Views: 1201

Re: Lima Class 50 running very slowly

I purchased a Lima class 50 'Eagle' way back in the 1980's. From day one it ran faster in one direction than the other. I used to find that frequent cleaning/strip-down of the motor improved the situation. Never did resolve it and once the Hornby class 50 came along, the Lima was relegated to its bo...
by gppsoftware
Tue Feb 01, 2022 3:24 am
Forum: Heljan
Topic: Heljan Class 14 today, the 2018 bach.
Replies: 22
Views: 5381

Re: Heljan Class 14 today, the 2018 bach.

An update: Heljan tell me that I have to wait for the new run of class 14's in early 2022 to be able to get a replacement gear as this is when new gears will be made. None of the regular suppliers of spares, including those authorised past and present have any of the gear I need. Meantime, the loco...
by gppsoftware
Tue Feb 01, 2022 3:18 am
Forum: Hornby - including Lima, Rivarossi, Jouef, Electrotren
Topic: Lima Mark 2 Coach Upgrades
Replies: 6
Views: 1116

Lima Mark 2 Coach Upgrades

I have recently completed the first few upgrades of some of my Lima Mark 2 coaches. Full article here: https://www.mrol.com.au/Pages/Vu/LimaMk2Improvements This covers both Mark 2B and 2F coaches and brings them up to a standard consistent with many other currently available models, Bachmann 2F's ex...