Hello fellow Hobets & Hobos, I've been out of n-scale since 2003 and is trying to get ready to where I left off. Which was trouble shooting operation forward and backward through out the layout. I'm looking a good DC walk around throttle power supply to add to my two Tech 4 260's. The old Tech 2 1440 Tru Sound will be replaced with a walk around hopefully. I'm sticking with DC throttle control but I'm willing to go the DCC sound clip route down the road ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also ready for my 1st modern passenger train, looking at Kato's 5 piece box set. I have it hid under a 10 piece coal car set at the LHS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I hope these are my next two major purchases in my return to Barleycorn Junction and getting satisfied with a smooth operation. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, & tank you for your time, Cliff
When I was still in DC I had a Starr Tech Hogger that I added several plug in locations around my n scale layout using modular telephone parts. I still use it to power my switches. You may be able to find one on ebay. I think MRC makes a walk around controller similar to the Hogger. There also was a company making walk around controls that replaced the control knobs on the MRC tech throttles with a motorized unit that was operated by a hand held throttle enableing you to walk around the layout.
Just finished making one up out of parts from Ebay, using plastic throttle boxes, a couple old MRC rheostats, some flexible 20-gauge cabling, obsolete trailer plugs, and a Radio Shack DPDT. While I have a couple aging transistor throttles (an old CAMA that's got very little original material left) and a PSI 550 cabtroller (sweet)) the pager motors on gearheads and the Faulhabers run a lot quieter on plain old DC. The trick is finding the old taper-wound rheostats, and then knocking down the supply voltage to the point where the rheostat can control it well from the hand. I've always solved that by either running it off the track power of another pack, or putting in a second rheostat in the input side. I got lucky finding original MRC rheostats, but you can also tear apart old MRC packs to get the same components. Those things hardly ever die.
My recommendation would be to not go with plug and play but get a radio control throttle. I have always thought that a plug and play was only going half way. I use Train Engineer thottles and receivers. They are kind of pricey but you can run up to 10 powerpacks with one thottle and a receiver for each powerpack. Currently I'm using 4 powerpacks. Obviously you have to wire your layout accordingly so you can have the powerpacks sending current to different tracks at the same time.
These are very interesting replies, I got to figure something out in the DC Walk around world. Does anyone have experience w/ the MRC Tech 6 walk around ? Would it work on regular Atlas & Kato engines, non-DCC ? Thanks for leading me in a productive path, have a great day ! HENKE
Our Ntrak club uses three Aristo Craft radio throttles. We went to them several years ago and have been well pleased with them. Now we get some exercise as we walk around with our train.
Same for our NTRAK club, but we use 4 (we run a mountain.green line) we've been very happy with them. We also like the momentum feature whiich makes our "old" non-flywheel locos coast to a stop and the gradual acceleration we get.
Would the Aristo Craft radio throttles be compatable with the T4 260's ? I use them to work certain yards but the third cab is wired to where it can run anywhere on the layout, any block. But in the past this was from a stationary cab position. I would love to be able to walk the entire layout, G shape layout, walk in & around 9' x 12'. I hope I explained this good enough ?? Sorry, I've seen the Aristo Craft radio throttles in the W. catalog, are those the set ? I also remember hearing about them 14 years ago, good to hear a product is still around like that. That also means something. Again thanks for helping me with this by sharing your stories with this project. I'm way behind but trying to catch up when I can. Curious Cliff
NTRAK has a booklet on making your own tethered throttles, and I have two I built and love them. Also MRC made one called the CAB CONTROL 55 and I have two of these, and love them also. Don't know if they are still made.Mine are all thethered throttles and are powered by the same tech 2 or 4 power packs. My layout s have never been so large that I cant reach anywhere on the layout, a center island is where they've been located and I can reach everywhere with these.
Yeah, the Aristo Craft radio throttles seem to be the throttle of choice for Ntrak clubs that have not gone DCC. At the two N Scale Weekend events in Bedford, PA and Columbus, OH there are a bunch of them. Luckily the throttles have [I think] a hundred channels or there abouts so it is no problem if some other club uses the same channel you do. It is easy to switch to another channel. Also the momentum feature is programable so you can increase or decrease it as you desire.
Our pike isn't so large, it's a G shaped walk in, walk around. 9' x 12' in a 13'-6" x 13' x 6" trainroom. My issue is the original layout section. ( The center ) This may looked finished, but it's really sub-terrain mainly, really. The entire layout at this point is at this stage. Seeing what fits ? This whole deal started on a 4' x 8' x 3/8" plywood. I started building off each end as time went on. The rest of the layout is 20" - 24" wide. But I would really like to follow the cars on the other side of Pepe Mountain. All over the rails really. That Train Engineer set-up looks interesting, says no change in wiring or track setup, just splice between PS and Track. Anyone using this system have any advice ? Thanks again, looking forward to your replies, Cliff
Here's a piece from my club: http://www.nvntrak.org/index.php?op...ss-throttles&catid=6:how-to-articles&Itemid=5
Thanks Doug & everyone else for the replies, I'll admit, this Train Engineer Radio deal is sounding better all the time. Doug, thanks for sharing a page on this setup that I have not found in my research. Good stuff. Still studying but the list is getting shorter, Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge on this project, Cabless Cliff
See my post above--At the time I was looking for a system, this was the best I could find and it has served me very well since.
I've used the Aristo system and it functions as advertised. If I were a DC guy that is the way I would go. BTW, the club website was recently re-done, so many (most) of the links unfortunately don't work. Sorry 'bout dat!
I got a corded walkaround over ten years ago from GSL, reliable and very happy with it. They have stuff specifically for N scale. http://www.thegmlenterprises.com/ There are the usual features you would expect. Mine has the memory feature. If you have a large layout you can unplug the throttle from one socket, walk over to another and plug it in there. Engine keeps going while you do this. If I were to get one today I would go with the half speed option too.
Heinke.......the Aristo units wire in to the layout just like a regular pack. In fact, all you need to do is add the receiver between your current powerpack and the track, crank the powerpack up to max, and then the Aristo throttle can be used to control the train......the Aristo is a THROTTLE, and not a powerpack. Once installed, you can walk anywhere around the layout with the transmitter and control your train. If you have extra receivers, you can control multiple trains (in separate blocks) with one transmitter.
I have both types mentioned here in threads. My Aristo is linked up to an old Hammant & Morgan ( I'm in U.K.) controller which is turned up to 12v, and I also use a superb GML walk-around memory unit.
I have the Aristcraft myself and I love it. I highly recomend it. I have one and only one problem using it and I believe it lies within the locos and not the throttle. I had 4 FVM locos and using the Aristocraft they would accelerate like a top fuel dragster. None of my other locos inculding Athearn, Atlas, Kato, LifeLike or Overland had this issue. I could not get a answer frrom anyone on this so I sold the FVM locos. I have had mine 10+ years and would buy it again. Jeff
That's alright Bob, I can tell from the look on your face you enjoy this stuff. I subscribed to your RR videos, thanks for the quality entertainment. You know, I have checked a few web stores for the Train Engineer and they all say "out of stock" or "discontinued". I'm I looking for the wrong Radio & Reciever ? "and I also use a superb GML walk-around memory unit." It seems I can get a hold of these, I've heard very little about this product. Do these mount the same as TE ? Between PS & Rails ? I like the features of moment & brake etc., similiar to the 260 cab. Stationary but busy
