Well just in from Japan 2 Kato Suburban Overhead Stairway kits that I am going to use to create a track crossing to my elevated station. Already have one apart. 100_0021-1 by John Moore posted Mar 8, 2023 at 6:46 PM
I refuse to buy locomotives from Atlas with the NCE decoders installed. I am not sure if it is a decoder issue or if it is the factory not paying attention. That is because I have yet to buy an Atlas decoder equipped locomotive that actually worked out of the box. I always had to remove the shell, and fix it. The couple of the SD60's that came with factory installed deoders were not able to even be read or written to from either the throttle or JRMI. I ended up using TCS decoders instead because I had them on hand on the SD60M's. I have no way to test a NCE decoder, I have both the Zimo tester and the ESU tester, so I am probably going to stay to either of those brands.
I have been able to revive 2 more locomotives. One was an error in the decoder programming that Digitrax never caught, but ESU did. That was assigning a 2 byte address to a one byte DccID. So I call that human error. I also realized when I looked at things that a lot of the problem decoders are TCS and there was a code error that they had. So those get pulled and sent to TCS for replacement. So I am looking at the Zimo or the ESU decoders for the new locomotives while I wait for the replacements form TCS. So next up, is back to laying down track here at the house and running trains again. Or back to the ranch and work on scenery, since all the trackwork is done there.
Was getting near the end of my PCB ties so ... .... spent an hour listening to music and made some ties. Sumner
Speaking of "human error"... At work, it was often referred to as "low operator pressure." One of my favorite SPICE (analog circuit simulator) error messages helpfully suggested that the user "Try increasing ITL4, to get you through the tough spots." Can I get a bottle of ITL4?!
Got my new decoders in earlier this week. 2 Kato EM13s and I went to install them and ... nothing. Well nothing at first, one didn't respond at all, the other one worked fine. I swapped engines/decoders and the decoder is DOA. Called the store I bought them from and they are sending me to Kato. Called Kato and they want me to send it to them for warranty. OK, Off to IL it goes.
Putting together a station platform from outland and using underground stairs from Noch. The platform came with it's own stairs but I like these covered ones a bit better. Had to trim out the hole a bit bigger to accommodate everything. I'll need to clean up the parts a bit more then they should be ready for paint.
So I decided to create a new command station box. Due to the slowness of the Raspberry Pi 3 and also how no one in my club knows how to use Linux, even though I set it up like windows, I decided to go a different route. The new box will be more durable than the wooden box, and this time it will have a USB port on the side for a standard laptop to interface with it. I am also integrating the power manager into the box for an all in one kinda thing. Tonight was full of planning, cutting holes and getting stuff ready to lock down. I’m going to make a mount for the PM42 and also some clamps for the command station and power supply. I’m still planning on allowing DC operation, but this time it will be limited to the red line only. There will be a track status indicator for all 4 channels, a plug type input for the DC throttle so no more pulling out wires, and I’m even including a USB charging port for those who need to charge their phones. I think this will be much better. All you have to do now is plug it in and turn it on, and DONE! Pics to come tomorrow.
3D printer is on it's way to making me some blocks for the PM42, and a clamp for the command station. It is looking like it will work out perfectly. Pics when the printing is done.
Remember the new center cabs that were 4.5 volt mechanisms with the side rods that would not run well on my Kato track. Well I found the answer at last in another TGW mechanism this one with larger wheels, only two axles, and no side rods. Using a TU-TMC100 mechanism. I had to extend the original underframe by about 2 N scale feet and splice it back together. Then I had to modify the body shell. I also created my own side frames from some leftover Bandai side frames and styrene. Now fitting parts on and painting. The original body shell is in the rear with the modified shell in front of it. The new mechanism with my bashed side frames installed the roof to the side with the headlight brackets installed and sprues of parts. 100_0046-5 by John Moore posted Mar 13, 2023 at 4:39 PM
Here is some of what I promised. These are the blocks for those circuit boards Digitrax likes to use, and a clamp to hold the command station to the board. Well here is the 3D model images, the actual unit is printing still.
Here are the finished pieces. They turned out perfectly. Here is the clamp for the command station. It works perfectly with the DCS210 and it will prolly fit others as well, but since this is the only one I have current access to, it’s all I can compare with. I plan on putting some thin foam tape under the main bar to help hold everything in place. these are little feet to mount the PM42 or any other circuit board type device. They are tall enough to clear the edge connector and they allow multiple mounting options. I purposely didn’t make holes in the top as each board has different mounting requirements so there will need to be some slight drilling for these.
Back on the bench for these two. New Kato motor and MT couplers arrived today for 1722. 1755 is too loud, so after thorough debugging of all gears, I ordered a Kato motor for it too. Sent from my SM-S901U1 using Tapatalk
Well after all the crazy business of testing all the locomotives with decoders, while waiting for the new decoders to arrive, it seems I need to do a lot of cleanup and reorganizing of the work bench. It is currently a gigantic mess!
Nice work on the mounts . I run into that on some projects and if the hole is in the same place but could be a different diameter I have it print a .060" hole in the correct place as a pilot hole to make drilling it out easier. Sumner
I thought about that, then as I was experimenting with a prototype part I noticed that sometimes a solder point or some other protrusion under the board would get in the way if all holes were in the same location. I will just start my holes with a pin vice and go from there. I have also considered making a groove in the part to let the board slip in, instead of using the through holes, I decided against that idea when I figured unplugging the end connector would cause the board to move, or mounting it with the end connector down would cause the same. Either way, I think this will suit my needs quite well.
I like that idea. Might not work on all boards but for some it might be a nice alternative. Maybe a corner mount option where only the corner slides in? I have a lot of cable clamp options ... here... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/3D-Printer-2/page-54.html and ... ... solder pad optons here... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/3D-Printer-2/page-55.html ... and ... ... stepper motor and buck converter brackets here .... http://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/3D-Printer-2/page-56.html The print files are up on thingiverse.com here.... https://www.thingiverse.com/sumner/designs They have been popular downloads, Sumner
