Have you thought of building your own track? Also I personally find that C+L flexi track is as good as if not better than Peco.
S
SteveO
Guest
That's exactly what I paid on ebay! I wasn't expecting to win it at that price as it retails for much more, but I did. I'm not even sure I wanted it, to be honest, so just put in a speculative bid. I bought all of the stock off that same chap in the pic I posted earlier.
I will definitely follow this route. I'd like to get a proven trackplan down first and then build a singing-and-dancing layout based on that. I'll be building 2mm scale track soon, probably PCB but I may consider EasiTrac.
I've got a trackplan that I think will work for my proper layout but I may simplify it a bit for my trial. It's an industrial layout so lots of wagons and a little shunter is all I need for it. 4m long, 50-60cm wide, sector plates hidden in buildings.
40126
Western Thunderer
S
SteveO
Guest
Cheers Steve!
I forgot to mention, there's still time before I get this layout built so I'm open to suggestions, questions and improvements on it. To 'reveal' the sector plates, there are 5 lines off to the right; the top 2 are connected for in/outbound traffic and the bottom 3 are connected for shunting the yard.
SteveO
I forgot to mention, there's still time before I get this layout built so I'm open to suggestions, questions and improvements on it. To 'reveal' the sector plates, there are 5 lines off to the right; the top 2 are connected for in/outbound traffic and the bottom 3 are connected for shunting the yard.
SteveO
S
SteveO
Guest
I've been working late for a couple months (I'm working now...) so my judgement has been somewhat clouded. Last night I decided, quite out of the blue, that I'd like to try DCC and sound for my O/7mm layout. After a brief research stint in the early hours this morning I bought a controller from Germany. It's a Roco MultiMaus. It looks good, has good reviews, is upgradeable to some extent and was cheap as chips (for DCC) at only £65 new. That will obviously mean I have to pack in a chip and speaker into my 02. I don't suppose anyone has any experience of this?...
marsa69
Western Thunderer
Hi Steve,
Good news. I do have the same Hymek conversion as you so I'll sneak the instructions into work tomorrow and utilize the copier. PM me with your address details and I'll bung em in the post to you. I'll also copy you two sets so you got a spare. Be warned! They aren't very good
Regards,
Mark
Good news. I do have the same Hymek conversion as you so I'll sneak the instructions into work tomorrow and utilize the copier. PM me with your address details and I'll bung em in the post to you. I'll also copy you two sets so you got a spare. Be warned! They aren't very good
Regards,
Mark
S
SteveO
Guest
You diamond! PM incoming...
S
SteveO
Guest
It's my birthday today. All the guests have gone home and my girlfriend's gone to bed early after many glasses of wine and some fine home cooked food. Sitting here all alone with a smooth glass of Merlot and thinking of the man-hug I owe...
And the washing up.
And the washing up.
S
SteveO
Guest
Latest additions to the family. Super little entry model into DCC - something I've not even tried yet but I'm dying to get sound and easy wiring. Sound is the one thing that's really missing from most model railways, I feel.
Plus an 02 premade kit. I know, I can hear you all saying, I should have made it myself. Yes, that's coming, along with lots of rolling stock brass kits. I'm jumping in to test the water rather than dipping my toe.
The first bits of track have been ordered (Peco flexi and a couple turnouts) so I'll test everything out on my DC controller when it all arrives – and I'll post pics, or maybe a video!
I need some advice on which DCC chip to buy to produce the right sound for the 02. Has anyone done this here?
Steve
Plus an 02 premade kit. I know, I can hear you all saying, I should have made it myself. Yes, that's coming, along with lots of rolling stock brass kits. I'm jumping in to test the water rather than dipping my toe.
The first bits of track have been ordered (Peco flexi and a couple turnouts) so I'll test everything out on my DC controller when it all arrives – and I'll post pics, or maybe a video!
I need some advice on which DCC chip to buy to produce the right sound for the 02. Has anyone done this here?
Steve
Steph Dale
Western Thunderer
Steve,
The Multimaus is a great little controller that works very well as it comes. If you get into this seriously (or start using Heljan locos - they're very power-hungry) then the Lenz command station can be used with the Multimaus and adds even more features than the little Roco command station can offer.
I'll have a hunt round for a DCC decoder, you might want to try South West Digital, Digitracks or Howes lists yourself to see what they offer. With a small 0-4-0 there's something to be said for having an on-board power-pack to help with any dead or dirty spots in the track and any of the current Zimo or ESU sound decoders can support this feature. You will be absolutely fine using a normal 'H0/00' decoder providing around 1A, so no need to invest in any of the high-power/'large scale' decoders.
I hope that's some help.
Steph
The Multimaus is a great little controller that works very well as it comes. If you get into this seriously (or start using Heljan locos - they're very power-hungry) then the Lenz command station can be used with the Multimaus and adds even more features than the little Roco command station can offer.
I'll have a hunt round for a DCC decoder, you might want to try South West Digital, Digitracks or Howes lists yourself to see what they offer. With a small 0-4-0 there's something to be said for having an on-board power-pack to help with any dead or dirty spots in the track and any of the current Zimo or ESU sound decoders can support this feature. You will be absolutely fine using a normal 'H0/00' decoder providing around 1A, so no need to invest in any of the high-power/'large scale' decoders.
I hope that's some help.
Steph
S
SteveO
Guest
I appreciate that very much Steph. I have a basic understanding of DCC but absolutely no experience so I'm unsure of what to look for, other than scouting the web looking for people who have already converted one of these and following their route.
I have a few lengths of flexi coming, along with 2 RH turnouts and have come up with a couple plans to test out running something this big, and provide a bit of fun while my big layout is finalised and built. There are four options:
I'm leaning towards C or D as I can set them up as a popular puzzle. My questions are:
1. Which do you all prefer?
2. If you were to make one change to one of them, what would you do to create a better layout?
I'm restricted on length so, proportionately, they have to stay this or very close to this length (5-6ft).
Cheers, Steve
I have a few lengths of flexi coming, along with 2 RH turnouts and have come up with a couple plans to test out running something this big, and provide a bit of fun while my big layout is finalised and built. There are four options:
I'm leaning towards C or D as I can set them up as a popular puzzle. My questions are:
1. Which do you all prefer?
2. If you were to make one change to one of them, what would you do to create a better layout?
I'm restricted on length so, proportionately, they have to stay this or very close to this length (5-6ft).
Cheers, Steve
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Judging from the picture on the box, I wonder if that kit has the correct number of wheels... I recall that when the O2 left the factory there were four driving wheels and then four more in a trailing bogie.
Steph Dale
Western Thunderer
Erm, isn't that an O2 (with a letter 'O'), rather than an 02 (with a numeral, zero)? Pedantry will out, I guess...
Steph
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Keep up like that and I shall have to ask Jordan if there is a spare seat in the back row.... one without a cushion.
adrian
Flying Squad
I suppose it depends if you are going to throw any scenery at this one or are you saving it for the main layout?
For what it's worth I'd go for D, with the bottom line as the main through line, the sidings could be in an industrial park or something, may be put a catch point between the top 2 sidings and the lower line. It would be nice to put a spur or headshunt in but that'll probably make it too long.
To go OT, there's a couple of enthusiastic amateur cyclists on the group and so I'm surprised that no one, that I've seen, has asked about your avatar picture. It looks a fairly trick (i.e. expensive) rear wheel and frame there! Would you mind elaborating?
S
SteveO
Guest
Thanks for the advice Adrian. Scenery wise, I will do something but not too over the top. Probably card structures, balasting or paving track, a few clumps of vegetation. Just enough so it doesn't look like track on plank.
Regarding my pic, it's my old TT bike - a Cervelo P3. I had a P2 for training too. Absolutely loved those bikes! They were the aluminium ones, not carbon but they both had carbon wheels, carbon aerobars and full Dura Ace. Those days are over now and I trundle around on a mountain bike. Still really miss building bikes and thought a out opening a shop a couple years ago.
Regarding my pic, it's my old TT bike - a Cervelo P3. I had a P2 for training too. Absolutely loved those bikes! They were the aluminium ones, not carbon but they both had carbon wheels, carbon aerobars and full Dura Ace. Those days are over now and I trundle around on a mountain bike. Still really miss building bikes and thought a out opening a shop a couple years ago.