All Activity

They are nice models. Just be careful with the pantographs, they are very sensitive. Now you need some gondolas to go behind it.

I have driven under Durham's famous bridge, though not in a truck. It would always amaze me how truck/bridge accidents kept happening there since there were plenty of warning signs. And many years ago, I was heading towards one of the underpasses on Storrow Drive in a rent-a-truck when I realized the potential for disaster. I stopped - on Storrow Drive - and debated with myself as to whether or not I could creep just under the bridge. I decided to play it safe - which mean backing up about 100 yards to get to a point where I could get off the drive onto a side road. (Not that backing up on Storrow Drive was the safest thing to do.) At least, last century, I would not have ended up on a youtube video if I had risked it! Ciao, Tony

What do you get if you mix bits of an ED75 and an EF66 together, and sell the result to China? One of these, apparently: Charming 6K class (6K-065) by Rail Squid, on Flickr Popped up on Yahoo Auctions and tripped my Rule 1 circuit breaker.

Maybe you could ask on the Youtube page?

No pictures yet, but today's WeChat promotion posts contains a video of the model. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Nfyvhr75GYnP0Xh0qHrxzg

Having been trying not to buy much lately (student loan and saving up for all my upcoming model train purchases plus a Japan holiday next year), I couldn't resist an offer from a fleaBay seller in France offering some more Märklin stock that I had been tempted by, and which had the temerity to arrive almost a whole month early: The 46034 wagon set from 1998 and the 28456 Berlin Suburban set from 2003; both fit with my plans as the '34 set will expand my Era 3 coal train to ten wagons while the Berlin set ticks several boxes - cute provincial loco (one of the other guys in our local club got me hooked on Prussian loks), and I've personally been to Berlin in 2013. The seller said he would pack everything well and he more than did so! Apart from the boxes being wrapped in foam and tied shut, the actual box inners were also glad-wrapped to keep things from moving. Not quite Rail Gallery Rokko level, but the seller also put strips of cardboard down under the loco wheels and the outer wheelsets on the coaches to stop any movement in transit. The center wheelsets need no such protection, they're spring-loaded so would push on the polystyrene insert without needing packing. They also sit in a sliding sub-frame within the chassis, perfect for negotiating curves in your layout without fear of falling off. I once had a Roco DB version (yes, I once ran non-Märklin stuff on a Märklin layout, the heresy!) that had been converted into a four-wheeler for that very reason. Not that you knew, the footboards do a good job of hiding the missing wheels until you get up close and personal. No such level of extra packing on the '34 set, not sure if the plastic pouches were factory-original protection or added later. I'll post some pictures in the What did you run today (Worldwide models) thread once I have get everything running (read: stops procrastinating and just runs some trains). The T13 spent a bit of time on the rails for photography with its coaches, I then took the locomotive off thinking I would have to set the decoder address. Turns out the decoder is a special multi-protocol version of the basic Delta decoder with a pre-set address so the shell didn't need to come off. Alastair

Ulrich, Very sorry to hear that. But they are simple to have cut at home supply and build and very aesthetically pleasing for others! Your modules have been an inspiration to many! It’s been a goto article to send folks to go to to get started. Gotten many positive responses to your article! Wish we were closer to help with this stuff. cheers, jeff ps this is the wonderful article urlrich did on his modules http://japanrailmodelers.org/pages/modelingjapan/minimodules.html jr

It’s only the older 100v wall warts that could potentially be an issue. most stuff like this is designed with 25-50% over capacity so may be fine, but in the past I read stories of insurance companies declining coverage with fires if any 100v stuff or 100/120 converters was found being used in 110/120v plugs. Last decade most all of them have gone to 100-240v power regulators so no worries. Just check the label, jeff

Due to health issues, my dexterity has suffered a lot, so I have to rely on ready made stuff as much as possible. Even those simple U-modules impose a problem these days - sigh!

Ulrich, I loved the look of your U modules made from shelving wood. jeff

All six of my N-1001-CL and Power Points are plugged in 24/7 for past 5 years. Never been an issue. The power adaptors are pretty universal (100-240v) like any other devices. But nothing wrong with exercising caution.

And what ratios and substances was he mixing with those products?

Wow, looks like a really fun time! All your trains really shine running on that layout.

UHaul dealerships in Massachusetts include a clause in the contract that if you drive the truck on Storrow Drive in Boston, their insurance will not cover your stupidity for ignoring all the warnings. https://www.google.com/search?q=storrowed&sxsrf=ALiCzsYiCo8jClaZcfK8ST4ETdr9s2Miaw:1653355925391&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjC4frk_vb3AhVtpokEHUFQBdgQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&cshid=1653356032744269&biw=826&bih=440&dpr=1.5

100v is the input from the wall socket. Your trains will still run on 12v at track level. Just don't leave it plugged in when you are finished running trains.

Check the description on the Youtube page for full list of products used.

The Tomix power unit transformers I have are rated 100V ~ 240V so they should work as-is (assuming it's a new-ish power unit).

Been looking at the Basic Set SD series from Tomix and they seem reasonably priced, and as I live in the US the transformer's plug should be able to fit in a standard wall outlet, but I'm wondering if I need a step down adapter for it to output 100V. I do have an old Railpower but it outputs 15VDC, which would obviously not be a good fit.

Needs some text to explain what he is doing with what products. But good vid.

Some indeed thought that way, actually so did I. Some closer look changed my mind. here's a good picture from wiki to tell the difference. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/CRH1A-1106_经过广园快速路_20190331_155225.jpg But anyways, the recent photos from 国铁小站 appears that they solved this issue.

This blows my mind! Rich K.

Brilliant premade modules! Like those wood canvas modules that are right at 12” for Ttrak modules. Sadly these are 43 1/4” so not track (but could do them as a pair). looks nice on the wall, love the hidden shelf. Actually could build the hidden shelf bracket holder to Ttrak modules to store your Ttrak modules on the wall. There are a scad of hidden shelf brackets out there. Wouldn’t be horrible to probably retrofit onto a module already done. There was one I saw that you set into the drywall and the peg just screwed into the flush bracket so if you took the shelf down you could have the pegs off. jeff

Those would be pretty easy to whip up in CAD if you have access to a laser cutter.

Some interesting scenery techniques here.