The California Wild Fire and Growth Exhibit

sams Nov 11, 2019

  1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    *THIS*

    BINGO !!!! (y)(y)
     
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  2. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Sams,

    Just spent some time catching up. Wow! You have made a huge amount of progress! And it looks good and sounds like you are having a ball! Keep it up!

    Yes, the BLI decoders are problematic. Very nice sound, but BIG issues with consistent function. Hence, I have only one and it will become an ESU decoder as soon as I get rolling on the layout again, which may still be a while. Heck, most any sound decoder seems better than the BLI, in my opinion.

    Keep posting and having fun!
     
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  3. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    @Massey

    Fair enough ! I can understand why you guys don't want to deal with them and there noise. Especially in N scale. Everything is so small my big hands have a hard time haha They are also very loud. You can literally hear the train in the middle of the street where my garage is in the back. Almost like the real thing. Very Loud !!

    Thanks @badlandnp I'm glad your enjoying it as much as I am. All the people I have been on the phone with about these locos has said the same thing. The last week or so I do have to say the guy from BLI has been very active with me and has been trying to help me out to fix the issue. I have to appreciate that. Though it is very very frustrating.

    Last night night though I think I broke some ground on getting the unit to run right. Only time will tell but after a few decoder resets I was told by the BLI tech to lock the cvs by setting CV 16 at 1. All this after I adjusted it for speed matching.

    I do have to say though the motor in the BLI units is like the hulk compared to the Atlas ESU loco I have. So consisting them was a mission.

    Check out the comparison to CV settings and tell me what you think lol


    Broadway Limited AC6000 Paragon 3 Sound:
    CV2 - 0
    CV5 - 5
    CV6 - 3 I literally have nothing on this because it so much faster

    Atlas SD-40 ESU LOK sound:
    CV2 - 190
    CV5 - 255
    CV6 - 225

    Thats the closest I've gotten so far. I have changed the numbers around a lot and cant seem to find a good match. These locos only are good together at 31% throttle lol.

    So set the throttle fast is the recent approach haha. Until I got my other unit back I'm not sure if I can get these any closer as the Atlas is maxed out on settings.

    Any Ideas though ? Just figured I'd Ask ? lol

    Also the power of two :D



     
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  4. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    You can't compare those three CV values from different manufacturers' decoders. As a matter of fact you can't even compare them if they are the same manufacturer decoders even in the same model locos. That are just too many variables that will affect their values.

    If you find they match only within a short range of speed using these three CVs, then you will have to use a speed curve to match at every speed step. Then get ready to pull your hair out! :eek:

    If they are "close enough" you will be fine. They won't damage each other.
     
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  5. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    @MK I've been reading about speed curves but nothing in depth. I got the feeling I was already neck deep after a few lines and haven't went back. All the guys on you tube make it look easy. They say hey just change these CV's and adjust CV5 and CV6 and you will get a match. ..... haha I'm not sure about that lol. Reading the user manuals for both decoders have different variables to change just to "start" speed matching. I'm new so I gotta figure this stuff out !

    Dam newbies..... :D

    It must be very rewarding though when you finally dial in speed matching and consisting locos. I love it when they run with 5 or 6 in the front. THE best ! (y)(y)
     
  6. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Bein a steam only guy, I have never played with consisting. I do try to speed match my locos to some extent. I try to get them running the same distance at various speed notches in the same time frame-ish. When I do put one in pusher service, it is juggling two speed controls and watching the slack in the train as the pusher takes it up. Active and fun for me.

    So, pay attention to what them diesel guys can tell you about the consisting stuff....

    (y)
     
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  7. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    @sams start slow. It doesn't have to be perfect in the beginning. When you are more comfortable, look into JMRI software. You can program/adjust a speed curve in a snap of the finger.

    DCC is a hobby within a hobby. :D
     
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  8. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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    Wow! You have to set Vstart to 190 to get it to crawl? I don't have a Locsound decoder but those CV2 and CV6 values make me think there is something going on with the motor or with some other speed-affecting CV.
    Just curious, if you have a DC throttle somewhere, how much DC does it take to get it moving? And might be worthwhile resetting the decoder to factory settings.
     
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  9. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    @badlandnp I can imagine that must be entertaining lol ! At least you have a method.

    @MK DCC is very complex. More so than I thought before getting into it.

    @NtheBasement I could be doing it wrong but the thing is. When I have the CV values set for starting to speed match....

    CV2 - 0 (Atlas only goes to 01)
    CV5 - 255
    CV6 - 128

    The Atlas locomotive will take time to get moving. Compared to the BLI Locomotive. Originally it was because back EMF and in the extended configuration, "prime mover start up delay" was ON. After that it started to move but very very slowly. The BLI locomotive took off like a rocket! It is pretty even though at higher speed steps but between 0% - 60% its way off. I spent a good amount of time trying different CV's but I only got "close" with the values in the other post. I'm doing some more research though. and if you have any thoughts feel free to share !

    Thanks !
     
  10. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    I went DCC for a multitude of reasons...trying to speed match locomotives wasnt one of em !!! :eek::censored::censored::censored:


    I have a regional railroad...single 4 axle locomotives are the plan everyday. (y)(y):whistle:
     
    Last edited: Jul 9, 2020
  11. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    @mtntrainman What is the brand for those locos. I've been looking for them in DCC. Sound or not I would like to see if you could share a link possibly ?

    Ok guys boredom has become apparent after this one hahaha. :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

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    I have had a hard time applying fine ground foam to some vertical sections of my layout. The glue is strong but the consistencey of the foam with the glue isnt working... so I just pushed against it and am going to do layers. It seems to be working.

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    Paint Job !!!!

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    Testing Scenery Ideas !
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    Cheers !
     
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  12. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Sams, I have a suggestion about the dead tree. You might use ground up dead leaves to put around the trunk.

    Joe
     
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  13. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    @Joe Lovett Yes Joe I agree !! Those are actually dead leaves from my orange tree ground up. I will have to paint them though to get the right color. They are still to green haha
     
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  14. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    I'm just testing the glue and everything together to see the final outcome. Its in a hidden area and more then likely will be surrounded to the point you wont see it.
     
  15. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    YA ..... Tall glue and grass is hard to apply .. Its been fun. Almost there. Anyways I ran out of plaster cloth fast. I remembered that home depot does not carry it at all. SMH at myself. Had to run to the nearest michaels and everything was sold out. People are stocking up on arts and crafts like they are TP and water. After a few months of this I cant blame them. I got some new lights and they are pretty helpful.

    I also am helping a friend at the moment by repairing his VW GTI. He rewarded me with some mini trees lol. I was very appreciative of that! After getting some of my old HO stuff out its a bummer this layout isnt in HO it would be massive! All these HO models I seem to have though smell like ultra modification and are missing some(LOTS) of parts. Who's to say I wouldn't do anything like that as a young child !!?!?!?! hahaha

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    Where could the missing parts go ?!

     
  16. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Sams, I use a diluted version of elmers wood glue (white should work too) with water then use a cheap art brush to apply to surfaces then like you mash the foliage into the surface. Consider static grass application. Back when I built my existing layout that wasn't a thing but now it is and I've gone back to detail some of the layout and the results are amazing.


    20191104_085438.jpg
     
  17. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    I found that mod-podge (straight) works well for the completely vertical surfaces. You have to be fast though when you apply it. and pressure is key. I'm on my third layer and it is almost done. Can't wait to show you guys.

    Very Nice @freddy_fo !!! That looks good (y)(y)(y)! I really like how you blended it into that stained wood trim too. I actually purchased a kit of 6 color static grass jugs. Can't wait to make a home made one. The pre-made ones are very expensive.
     
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  18. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    We made it to SEPTEMBER !?!?! I'm amazed... This thread was hard to find since I've been away from it. :LOL::LOL:

    Life and I took a walk one day and we had a long chat. He basically told me to take things into my own hands and start working again. After just getting a new/better job (with health insurance) a week later I was laid off due to corona virus in March. I chose to take it easy, considering my older mother lives with me and the fact I believe my brain mentally needed a break. It gave me plenty of time to "train" around. :cautious:

    Anywho, I went into the past and decided to find a way to keep my hands dirty. Getting into a new rhythm of working is an ongoing project!
    I re-learned how to "monkey" around



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    I'm currently working on a three way bridge similar in style to the "BIG BOY" N scale bridge that is really HO but w.e. It wont be as massive but something more fitting for N scale!



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    The nice vertical turf is also filled in.... except I'm going to have to do some shaving o_O


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    New video !


     
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  19. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sooner or later...it all comes together...and we smile. :D:D
     
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  20. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    Happy Sunday beautiful people !!! I wish my two BROADWAY LIMITED locomotives would be as beautiful as all of you. I finally received back from them new replacements they issued me due to a lot of on going operating issues. I went ahead and starting to test run them. The switcher which is in the video below starting making a horrible noise after a few laps. Then I tested the AC6000 SP 602 and the results were the same. A lot of speeding up and down randomly. Literally losing all control of the locomotive. You know all things I've complained about previously in this thread. Its ok I got a label from Broadway Limited and sent back on Saturday. I even asked if they could expedite the process and was surprised that they said yes. lol



    At least they honor there warranty (so far) and maybe after a year I might be able to use these locomotives haha. (Pieces of $&%^)


    Brightly enough though I've gotten some time to continue working on the scary house on top of the hill for the layout. My "wife" was suppose to help me build this but I think the rabbit and cell phone became more of a relaxing thing for her to do rather than glue a bunch of plastic together :D:D:D

    I even purchased a Model Power steam loco with DCC sound. I'm not quite sure how I feel about the model yet. It takes half the throttle to even get going and the sound isn't very loud. Which I can deal with. Once you get it moving though the operation is pretty smooth.

    I did pick up a 3 pack of Athearn Burlington Northern Coal cars. Wow Very nice models. I'm very happy with the way the trucks and steel wheels are!! They are super smooth. Anyone have suggestions for trucks and steel wheels comparably ?? (y)(y)




    I Also found a gas tank

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    How is everyone one holding up out there !?!?!?!?!?!?
     
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