E-Z Command DCC System

[gmat]

I got the Bachmann E-Z Command DCC System set as well as a Bachmann Highballer with E-Z Tracks to see how it runs with the E-Z Tracks before I look at using the controller with Tomix Tracks. Now that I have actually inspected the components, I'm thinking that the plug for the track connection wires to the Tomix Controller might work both with the Bachmann DC and DCC control boxes. That way I could skip to running a DCC train on the Tomix tracks. If anything goes wrong, then I'll hook it up with the E-Z tracks to see what might have gone wrong.

The instructions for the DCC System are in a DVD and a booklet and there is a PDF version from the UK on the internet. The system looks very easy to learn and my students, four and five year olds should be able to learn how to use it easily. The major caveat is to connect the power cord to the outlet LAST. I think that I'll make an illustrated instruction booklet showing each step with plugging the power cord last.

Both Bachman E-Z Command Control Center and the DC Speed Controller have a roundish knob that could do with a handle to make it easier to twist.

The HighBaller set looks OK, but the tracks are placed on the underside if the styrofoam block, so unless they are secured by the plastic sheet provided, they'll fall out as you try to put the styrofoam block back into the box. When you turn over the block to put in the tracks, the EMD F9 falls out unless you affix the plastic sheet provided. I prefer to paste the top sheet to the box as the cutouts so that you can see the locomotive and cars are left open. I'll put a set of Tomix Tracks in another container and find a way to fit it into the box. The Tomix Thomas the Train set was better designed.

I have a DCC equipped train coming, but am looking to modifying the Tomix Thomas the Train with both a DCC decoder and a separate sound decoder. I don't think that a decoder with a speaker could fit into the Thomas locomotive. I am also thinking about adding a decoder to the EMD F9.

Also, has anyone posted instructions on attaching a DCC decoder with speaker to the Kato or Bandai power units?

 

That's all for now. I haven't tried to set it up yet.

Best wishes,

Grant

[Guest Closed Account 1]

Four and 5 year olds handling N Gauge trains?  Yikes.

 

DCC Thomas install can be found at TCSdcc.com

[gmat]

The older child played with them frequently for quite a while with no problems. The younger one apparently took the Kato powered units (for the B-trains) apart, (the gear had slipped out) but I was able to put them back together and then still run. The Thomas train was still OK.

Thanks for the suggestion, Webskipper. I don't think that the two 'How to instal DCC in the Tomix Thomas' articles address installing a speaker, which is what I'm interested in.

 

I'm going to try to run the F9 with the E-Z tracks tonite. Don't have a train to run with the E-Z command. I started taking apart the F9 and dislodged the front couplers. Going to take some pics of the unit and parts before going further and repairing that part.

 

Thank you,

Grant

[Guest Closed Account 1]

You'll have to find some 28 gauge or finer magnet wire and install the sound decoder in a permanent car like Annabel or such. There's barely cooling air space around Thomas' motor as is.

 

Let us know how it goes.

[gmat]

I just finished setting up the E-Z Highballer Set and running it. Some thoughts, the F9 does not look as finely engineered as the Tomix Thomas. I think that if the starter sets are the toe in the water for beginners, I would provide an example of the best/latest kind of engine so that the buyer would be impressed with your products as well as have one that is easy to run. The E-Z tracks provided are only the curved ones (24 inch diameter) and the total length is much less than provided in the Tomix Thomas set. I think that Japanese kids would get a little bored with such a small track. Assembling the tracks seemed less easy than with the Tomix tracks. It didn't want to snap into place. One frog connector was a little squeezed in so it was a little difficult to connect that part. I'll know better about ease of assembly when I let my students put the tracks together for the first time. I noticed that the F9's gears had a thick coating of oil and the recommendation of not running it at full speed until after running it for a few hours is something that I didn't know when I first ran the Thomas train. Since the instructions were all in Japanese, I wonder if I broke any rule about operating the train.

Can anyone tell me if Tomix and Kato recommends slow starting their trains?

Since the tracks are all curved, Bachmann didn't provide a rerailer. The terminal/rerailer curved track provided isn't the easiest to set the F9 on. It took a while to set it right. When I turned on the power, it didn't move which made me panic, a little. Fortunately I had the Thomas train out and it worked on the E-Z tracks so I knew the problem was with the F9. I rejiggled the F9 to see if the wheels were seated properly on the tracks. Not so easy to do with most trains in normal situations. A straight track or a rerailer would be quite useful here. I moved it back and forth even took of the shell and cleaned off some of the grease from the exposed gears. I unwisely used a tissue, which left fiber residue and although a Q-tip cleaned up more of the grease, it took a push pin to pick out the pieces of tissue. After reseating the train and jiggling a bit more I finally got the head light to briefly come on. I increased the power and lowered it a few times and then increased it to about 70 and it moved slightly. A few more nudges and twisting the power knob and it finally started running. After about 10 minutes in which the  train clattered a little more loudly over one joint, the train stopped. Jiggling the power knob and pushing the train and also trying to reseat the train didn't help. I did notice the joint was definitely out of joint. I straightened it out. That was the cause of the stoppage, but it took more jiggling and then turning up the power higher than before to get it started again. I didn't run as smoothly as before but after a while, it ran more smoothly.

After about an hour, I stopped the train and put everything away. By contrast, the Tomix Thomas ran as soon as the wheels were properly set and we quickly ran it to full power and it didn't seem to hurt it at all.

 

Once you ARE able to get the F9 running, there isn't much to chose between the two sets. One small thing is that the handle on the Tomix controller may be more attractive to kids than Bachmann's roundish knob. Kato has a small steam locomotive but it has a push button controller and the lettering is in Japanese. I don't think that's as interesting as one with a control knob with a handle, either. The lettering is also in kanji. The Thomas kit controller is one of the few Tomix controllers with all English lettering.

 

That's all for now.

 

Best wishes,

Greant

[Guest Closed Account 1]

Tomix Thomas is 1:148 scale.

 

Who made your other train?

 

Either 1:150 or 1:160 scale.

[gmat]

Sorry, it's the EMD F9 from the Bachmann Highballer set. It was the cheapest way to get a basic E-Z tracks set up with controller, power supply, loco, box car, gondola car and caboose.

 

1/160 scale. $115.00 retail, $69.99 from MB Klien/Model Rail Stuff.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-N-24002-Highballer-Set-with-E-Z-Track-UP-p/bac-24002.htm

 

The other train coming will be the Broadway Limited Imports EMD E7A/E6A B&O w/DCC and sound. $249.99 retail, $199.99 from MB Klien. 1/160 scale. A cheaper way to get a DCC and sound equipped ready to run train. The E-Z Command controller awaits its arrival to be set up and used.

 

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Broadway-Limited-Imports-N-E7A-E6B-Set-BO-p/bli-1672.htm

 

I also got the Bachmann E-Z Command DCC Control System starter set. $160.00 retail, $99.99 MB Klien.

 

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-44902-EZ-Command-DCC-Control-System-p/bac-44902.htm

 

And the Bachmann E-Z Command Walkaround Companion, so that two can play at once, once I get/convert another dcc train and buy more Tomix tracks. $135.00 retail, $99.99 MB Klien.

 

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-EZ-Command-Walk-Around-Companion-p/bac-44907.htm

 

Will post photos of the Bachmann set next.

 

Oh, I was wrong about the Bachmann connector plugs being the same as the Tomix plug from their respective controllers. (to the tracks/dcc controller) They're different. Have to buy a connector and/with wire and do some splicing with a Tomix track wire connector.

 

Sorry, the Highballer set F9 isn't DCC equipped, so this thread won't be about the E-Z Command Set until the BLI F7A arrives in about two weeks.

 

Best wishes,

Grant

[gmat]

I've posted photos of the Bachmann N scale UP Highballer Set with UP EMD F9 in Non Japanese Modeling.

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,7350.0.html

 

Best wishes,

Grant