This is becoming really sweet. I really am enjoying watching this come together !! Cheers man and Looking forward to seeing it come alive for christmas. I'll be having the old G scale under my tree haha cant wait !
Thanks Sams! So worked most of the afternoon putting on the last of the track. I gotta say, it has been a roller coaster of a ride.... literally! Here is todays pic (and once again, sorry for sideways pic.
My newest problem is I build up ALOT of speed on the way down, I guess that is just going to make this more exciting, most of the time it makes it. I am still going to swap the engine to a "switcher" which I just got in today. What kind of couplers should I get? Any recommendations?
You don't even need a sensor to fix that. A current limiter attached to the downhill section will, or even a plain old resistor (assuming you aren't bothering with DCC to run one single train). Just insulate one section from the other and wire the component in the feed for the downhill run.
Me too, a few years ago. Luckily we have an even better electronics shop here in town, but it's no chain. There are several sources online for electronic components. Anyone have any input on what sort of limiter might work, or what size resistor would be best?
Are you going to be using DC or DCC on this project? We might be able to figure out a CV to control this if you are using to latter. Please tell us also what switcher you are using. Thanks!
catfan, I would have loved to go DCC but I am already way over my head before I even started this project, lol! I went with DC with the plan, if its perfect to convert it to DCC next year. So I have created one fix, I removed the re-railer so it keeps the tree exciting. My kids were getting so excited when the train comes over the top and out of the Helix.... because its about to get exciting!!!! I plan on running it tomorrow night, I had to create a shelf today to hold the controls as well as support a back piece of the track that was beginning to sag.
If you go up the branches and down the helix trunk, the train will spend more time out where it's visible.
acptulsa, when I studied the Bill Henning tree and read about his issues, one he had was the engine burning up after extended use, so my plan was to make the most compact Helix I could make which is what I built then I wired in feeders all the way up it. My last feeder was a little before it reaches the top, so I decided I would starve the train coming down since it would not need much power. The train can climb the outside, but its definitely harder on the engine. The other problem I have when I tried it is because I didn't put feeders on the outside, it takes more power which is not an issue... until it gets in the Helix with lots of power. You ever seen a centrifuge work, lol!!! So unfortunately I can't do the outside without ALOT of rewiring. I THINK, I have a solution. I removed the re-railer/de-railer as well as I am adding an extra engine. The engines are actually switchers which should work better because the axles should handle that tight Helix better. Hopefully with the extra engine it will also drain more power from the downhill rollercoaster run! This is both frustrating and exciting! Its a weird feeling. I have added a special topper as well... flying Santa.
I see what you mean. The bigger diameter would make the grade less steep, but the fewer circles actually makes it more steep. Well, good trains come to those who wait. Model locomotives don't shed heat well, and I'm pretty sure heat buildup will be your biggest enemy. Buying two locomotives is good (three is probably better), but I suspect you'll better alleviate the problem not by running them together to lighten the load, but by swapping them out so each has a chance to cool down.
As I understood it, that's his plan. But even light duty leads to heat buildup. I'd run whatever looks best, but for no more than two hours continuous running.
I probably wasn't paying attention! I agree. Two hours of climbing up and down a helix will give the locos a pretty big workout! Back to your regularly scheduled program....
so what does "MU" mean? I am guessing it has to do with two engines? So if I do run two engines, do I put them together like you I see on the tracks or do I put one on the front and one the back of the line. I plan on having 18 cars plus two engines. I don't care about looks, we are aiming for functionality. I would like to have one on front and one on back that way if the front one hits a dead spot on the track, the back one will push it through and vice versa. However, I am not sure what the push/pull will do to the cars... will it likely cause derailing?
MU is Multiple Unit. Originally that meant coupled, but, now they have radio control (though that works much the same way, it's actually called something else). Trains going up steep grades have had pushers at the back for over a century. Yes, that can lead to catastrophic derailments and falling rolling stock, especially when one engine hits a dead spot. If you don't care about looks, but want impeccable functionality, use one engine (at a time while the other cools down) and six cars.
If you are going to use Multiple Units for this particular situation, I would put both (or how ever many you are using) in the front since you are going up and down a helix. I wouldn't try to mimic real life and put the second loco in the middle or at the end of the consist. You're probably asking for derailments if you do, especially when that brief moment where one loco is going down the helix while the other loco is going up and that second loco crests the high point.
acptulsa and MK, this is GREAT information! I think I am going to risk the overheating and just turn it off after a couple of hours because it is not easy putting these little things on the track!!! Not sure I want to lay down on the floor infront of everyone and let them listen to me cuss as I try to get all the little cars hooked back up, lol. I love the longer train, however, in testing last night with the only switcher engine I have.... it couldn't pull 14 cars up the Helix (something may have been hung) This was very disappointing, but as the cars entered the Helix, several never made it in and I could hear the train spinning. This was late last night so I didn't investigate, just backed it back out and will check it tonight. Also I ran one lap with the switcher alone, carefully inspecting it to see if it ever skipped a rail... it never did.... the switcher is awesome. So you recommend six cars with one engine, can I do twelve cars with two switcher engines?
