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Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:39 am
by Rocala
Hello dear modelers: I’m new into model railroad hobby. I just found it’s very mysterious, all the things can make into small world. After running a while with my friend’s layout, I decide to build my own layout. But I don’t have too much space for that. I’m planning to build 2'x4' HO scale layout. I’d like to know do you have any suggestion for me?

1. Currently, I use DC control. And now I have a GEP42, two box cars. I’m not going to go into DCC in this moment. But I still like to reserve a environment to upgrade to DCC.

2. I saw Walthers provide a track sale a period time ago. For this reason, I bought 10 Atlas code 100 flex track and some Walthers code 100 no.6 turnout. I’m planning to build a switch yard.

3. Due to the limited of space, I’m afraid I can’t use turnout switch of Tortoise. But I heard that there’s a factory use RC servo to control the turnout. Do you have any information about that? Which products are easy to install and easy to control?

4. Later I’ll put on my circuit diagram. If you can give me some suggestion, I’m sure my first layout will be great!

Thanks again for your help! :D

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:32 am
by brit-in-bama
first, hello and welcome
I see from your terminology that you are American, there are a few people on here that model US railways, and most of the same electrical stuff is available on both sides of the pond, there is a great wealth of knowledge on this site, I spent a month reading before I ever posted, some of the products have different names in the UK, but a lot are the same, best thing is to ask if you see something on here and cant find it in the states under that name, (plasticard (UK) = styrene sheet(USA)) glad to see another gal in the hobby, never have too many of them, good luck and I hope you find the info you are looking for.

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:57 am
by Rocala
Dear brit-in-bama:
Thank you for your suggestion.
The information that I contacted before is US. But now I’d like to build OO scale’s small layout.
So I’m trying to get more information here.
Could you please tell me where can I get more related information which can make me more familiar in UK data while I’m planning my layout.
Thank you very much!

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:08 am
by Dad-1
Hi Rocala,

Sorry I sort of ignored you, I did read it, but knowing nothing about products available in the U.S.A I didn't think I had anything to say
on the subject.
I mean I only came across an advert for Walthers in a January magazine, before that the name meant nothing to me. I do have some 'HO'
Atlas track that was given for a job by someone who models US subjects and had lived Stateside for quite a few years. Couldn't use it anyway
so passed it back to him.

So is the plan to go British outline ? We're out of step with the rest of the world with '00', it uses the same track as 'HO', but rather than being
at the correct 'HO' 3.5 mm to the foot we messed up and work at 4.0 mm to the foot !! There is a history that almost makes sense, but I'll
not go into that !!

If you want to search a website to try and judge what is available and the U.K prices you could do worse than spending some time on the
Hatton's of Liverpool site, found at :- http://www.ehattons.com There are loads of pictures many with technical details.

Is that the sort of information you're looking for ?? Any idea what sort of period in history, like steam, or diesel. You mention 2' x 4' size which
limits you to a yard of some sort and a few points. Although hidden point motors are the way to go given depth available, but certainly I've used
Peco above board motors.

Tell us more ?

Geoff T.

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:15 am
by SRman
Some of the Walthers building kits are quite useful and can be Anglicised with only a little effort. Some of the HO buildings are quite large but look fine on a OO layout.

DPM make some modular kits which, again, can be easily Anglicised for things like Victorian era warehouses or industrial buildings.

As a British modeller in Australia, it can be difficult to research some things properly when they are 10,000 miles away. The Internet and forums like this are a big help when it comes to information, though.

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:35 am
by brit-in-bama
hi Rocala
3. Due to the limited of space, I’m afraid I can’t use turnout switch of Tortoise. But I heard that there’s a factory use RC servo to control the turnout. Do you have any information about that? Which products are easy to install and easy to control?
I personally don't have much knowledge of RC servos, not other than transplanting them from one thing to another, I have see them used under the board to control semaphore signals, but that was just to save a long length of wiring (50ft on a garden railway) before dcc, I think others in here like "flashbang" would have knowledge of the control and use of them, and as for space there are micro-servos, from such as this place
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/category/23, they also sell the controllers if you already have the knowledge you need. sorry I couldn't be of more help, RC control not my thing! but being a smaller layout perhaps a "prototypical" surface lever and rod system may be better or vacuum/air system with syringe and tubes if it can be mounted below the board, just a thought!

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:41 am
by Rocala
Thank you for taking your time and giving me such useful information!
It looks you don’t understand the way of using RC servo to control the turnout so much.
I just heard a friend who’s play RC control the plane. He said that RC servo can do a lot of fine control.
So I just think maybe it can be imitated on the model railroad.
It may not have only long distance semaphore control.
Turnout switch and lights can also be controlled under non-DCC environment.
I’ll search it. If I find anything interesting information I’ll post there and share with you. :D

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:59 am
by Emettman
Hello Rocala.

I had to look up "GEP42", to find that it's not a small, short loco.
I'm not sure what you are planning to do with such in 4x2 in HO
If you want an oval to run round and round, 2ft width isn't going to be enough, and if it's to be a shunting layout then 8ft by 1ft, (basically as a shelf)
would do a lot better in the same area.

It may be that I've misunderstood what you're hoping to do.

On point control a simple "wire in tube" to the edge of the board may be simpler and cheaper that motorizing points, on a small layout.
wit.jpg
wit.jpg (9.89 KiB) Viewed 2461 times
Chris

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:02 am
by mumbles
Zombie thread is alive!!!


This thread is 5 years old and the OP only made 3 posts

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 10:05 am
by Admin4
spam post removed

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 2:17 pm
by Emettman
mumbles wrote:Zombie thread is alive!!!


This thread is 5 years old and the OP only made 3 posts
*****Alert! ZOMBIE THREAD****


Whoops!

Sorry, tired and trying to play catch-up. Didn't notice.
Why did it suddenly appear in my "unread" listing?

Chris

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 2:48 pm
by mumbles
Emettman wrote:
mumbles wrote:Zombie thread is alive!!!


This thread is 5 years old and the OP only made 3 posts
*****Alert! ZOMBIE THREAD****


Whoops!

Sorry, tired and trying to play catch-up. Didn't notice.
Why did it suddenly appear in my "unread" listing?

Chris
Someone had spammed it

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 4:03 pm
by TimberSurf
Rocala wrote: I’ll search it. If I find anything interesting information I’ll post there and share with you. :D
Obviously Rocala never found anything interesting to share!
We can all go back to sleep now for another 5 years!

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 7:13 pm
by Bufferstop
I guess it was the spammer that Alex zapped, who dragged this one up from the depths. I don't suppose anyone is very interested any longer.

Re: Do her a favor with her first layout!

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 8:16 pm
by mumbles
Amazing a zombie thread gets more replies than a live one :mrgreen: