I'm thinking DCC eventually, but nit sure when. At this point, none of my stuff is DCC, and I don't own any DCC electronics. IF I was to do this, I would most likely go NCE for this layout. But I need to make that decision soon, as I'm not sure how easy it will be once I start the hardshell process...does anyone know if a decoder is coming out, or is already out, for the SD70Ace's????
My suggestion is to put in some extra drops now so that you won't have to do it through scenery and all the other headaches later. You can always leave them dangling for now, just make sure your wire is color-coded and you remember what the color-code means.
It's on Kato's Web Site tonight - the Digitrax DN163K1C; the SD70Ace shares the same lightboard as the 2006 release SD40-2 If you go for a NCE system for this superb layout, I think your best bet would be the 5Amp PowerPro rather than the 2Amp PowerCab. As a European I can confirm that Fleischmann track is on a par with Kato Unitrack - although as a Brit I also have to say that Peco more than gives them a run for their money :tb-biggrin:
I am quite fond of Peco turnouts myself, and I'm not even a Brit. Maybe it's the English and Scottish heritage.:tb-rolleyes:
I have no experience with this Fleischmann track at all, but if you are comparing it the most awesome peco, then I think I'll have a great layout running here soon...., and yes, I have already decided to run the 5 amp system....as I understand it, all the track is wired up and running, and all switches work and are wired up...now, heres the kicker..all of the switches are wired up to a common control panel, meaning all I really have to do is run a bus and drops, if any, and I can basically plug in the DCC system and go....nice....I will keep the switches separate from the NCE system in hopes of maybe having a dispatcher some day....
you have what ?????? are you talking about the green pwrs ones ?? if yes i will kill dan for not shipping them to me first .... ;-)
Well, you live a LOT farther away than I do....I'm in California, you in where?? Exactly....... In any case, when are you gonna post pics of the Kato 70ace's you got yor hands on?? BTW the cars are worth the wait, trust me on that...
Make sure you clearly mark which piece fits with which other piece(s) or you'll be putting together a jigsaw puzzle when you get home. Do not rely on memory or assume placement of pieces will be obvious. Do not ask me how I know this... Also beware of some flexing, etc once you have a number of screws out.
How big is a panel truck? Make sure it will fit in, mostly at least. That's going to be much heavier than you might imagine, and more flexible when tilted sideways. Plan this move very carefully, or you'll have popped/kinked track nearly everywhere. Good luck!
This is the one aspect of this move that scares me the most. But making any cuts in it is out of the question. AS far as flipping it on it's side, I do not expect it to be on it's side for more than a couple minutes, then right side up, and into the truck. From there, it will not be flipped again unless we crach the truck on it's way over here...it is going into the garage, so we just lift it and roll it into place...I have voiced my hurrendous concern over the flex issue of this, and he has assured me that this layout is built very sturdy, that it will make it. So, we will see....but am I nervous?? Oh, you bet...:ru-confused:
I talked to the guy today, I will renting a 20' enclosed panel truck to run it up here...the layout will have the legs taken off, and set down on a bed of blankets and pillows and tied down so it can not shift during transit. Hopefully, it will get up here in the same shape it left in. As far as being flipped, it will only be on it's side long enought to get it out the door, then it will never be on it's side again.....I will try and take some pics of it and the move, then post them up here, as well as the progress in bringing this layout back to life....that is if anyone is interested....LOL...
Cool, I pick it up on the 20th of June, then get it back over here, then head out for Portland on the following Tuesday night.....
That's some layout you've got. I can really appreciate the detail and work that went into laying the track so straight. I'm more of an operations person, so I'd have to cut in some industries to make it work for me, but you've said you're a unit train type person so this looks like you'll be enjoying yourself. I might think of making it a single track with various long passing sidings to accomodate your unit trains to make running trains in opposite directions more challenging, but overall all I can say is I'm jealous of your space and luck in finding such a nice layout. Good luck getting everything back together and keep us posted on your progress. You should start another thread with pictures as you reassemble the layout and start to scenic it so we can follow your progress.
I read in one of the posts this layout has a reverse loop in it. If so, it may be a good idea to go straight for the DCC, it should be easier to manage the reverse loop. (I'm not a big fan of reverse loops, but if it's there already...)
Ron, I'm a big fan of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" types of things. This layout is one of those. I will be taking out the turntable and replacing it with a 130' walthers cornerstone turntable,a s well as a new roundhouse, and to the bottom of that, I will be setting in an auto rack unload as well as a few other things, I have a lot of tropicana cars, they have to go somewhere, etc. The guy who built it, got about 95% of it done, the last part being the area to the bottom of the turntable..so I need to take a look at what I can get in there...should be a lot.,..I amy also redo the trackage in the front area to be more of a yard, with some intermodal? Time will tell.... But I don't see single track anywhere, as sometimes, it's fun to just watch them go...
Yeah, I need to get under it, but from what I have been told, all of the switches work, are all wired up, but there are no blocks for the layout.....this tell me all the feeders are done also, and all it needs is the actual DCC wired up to it....but I am looking at an NCE 5 amp system...to start..noce of my engines have a decoder in them, so will need to install those beforehand...but hey, that the fun if it, right????
Where you have the three three track dealies in front of the roundhouse would definitely be a cool place to turn one of those sections into an intermodal ramp. That was my first thought when I saw it. That would also give you a reason/type of unit train to run.
Tad, thats the area I was talking about...I would like to get a three or four track auto facility in there, or, maybe some intermodal, or maybe just a small switching area....I'm not sure yet what I will do. I have decided to do a turntable, but in the modern version, where I still use the roundhouse for engine storage, and the table in liue of a wye. Any steam that wanders onto the layout by mistake (actually, steam is NEVER a mistake) will have to use a fuel truck like the rest of us...LOL...I ordered a 22' panel truck from Penske last night also....I used that "other" rental service a while back for something, and will never use them again...
