Recent Posts

1

N and Z Scales / Re: Bowser Cylindrical Hopper accuracy?

« Last post by Mark5 on Today at 10:52:04 AM »

The Sterling Salt is prototypical as well - I have a photo of SHPX 61776 in 1971 in the same (white) scheme.

If the the model has three bays, then it is correct. 

2

DCC / Electronics / Re: TCS N Scale Keep Alive

« Last post by John on Today at 10:35:50 AM »

To me anything smaller that few hundred thousands of micro Farads is not a real keep alive. But even at 900 µF, it will prevent decoder reboots during very brief interruptions of power. A real keep-alive to me has to power the model for a second or more.

KA-N1 basically is what many members here make themselves by just adding few tantalum caps to the decoder.  Still, it's convenient ad tot too pricey for those not wanting to roll their own.

I think the video shows a good capability, one that could serve nscalers well ...  I agree its not going to run your engine for 10 seconds, but could provide enough power to not reboot your sound decoder every time it hits a spot of dirt or a dead frog  -- it's also smaller than the similar iowa scaled engineering device

3

DCC / Electronics / Re: TCS N Scale Keep Alive

« Last post by peteski on Today at 10:24:07 AM »

To me anything smaller that few hundred thousands of micro Farads is not a real keep alive. But even at 900 µF, it will prevent decoder reboots during very brief interruptions of power. A real keep-alive to me has to power the model for a second or more.

KA-N1 basically is what many members here make themselves by just adding few tantalum caps to the decoder.  Still, it's convenient ad tot too pricey for those not wanting to roll their own.

4

Product Discussion / Re: Quality Streetcar models in Nscale

« Last post by peteski on Today at 10:16:37 AM »

Just for the record, I’m truly not 100% on that trolley pole rope on my model, so I’m still on the hunt for better contenders (Peter - I retrieved a length of white human hair from a basement stair yesterday and placed it on the workbench, just in case!).

 

And now we have information from someone who actually used a hair for their model.  Painting will likely thicken it slightly. But as shown, white is actually prototypical. If that is not a desired color, I would color it with a Sharpie permanent marker. They are available in a number of colors, and the ink is thinner than any paint, so it will leave the "rope" as thin as possible.

5

N and Z Scales / Re: Kato n scale SD40-2 mid trucks

« Last post by peteski on Today at 10:10:49 AM »

Assuming that the black worm cover snaps and stays in place on the truck, the only thing that's missing is the outer bearing for the worm shaft.  That will make it run really rough since the worm will be wiggling around (to use a highly technical term).  Someone took the truck apart and lost the bearing.

That part is not sold separately. You will have to buy the complete truck from Kato. Well, unless someone here has a truck they parted out  and has a spare bearing.

6

Product Discussion / Re: Quality Streetcar models in Nscale

« Last post by mcjaco on Today at 09:42:05 AM »

So Dwight, no human hair anywhere in sight?     I guess the peer pressure didn't work well this time.
Just kidding.   

The LED lead wire looks acceptable. but I'm thinking that if it is a stranded wire, you could strip the insulation and just use a single wire strand.  That would be more in-scale.

I did that on an early attempt at tie downs on an old Red Caboose centerbeam car.  It was small enough to look "right."  I used a paint pen to lightly brush the wire strand so as not to glom up the wire strand with paint.

Really enjoying this thread.  Been look at building a small interurban shelf layout for my condo. 

7

Product Discussion / Re: Quality Streetcar models in Nscale

« Last post by Dwight in Toronto on Today at 07:39:12 AM »

So, back to the workbench to examine potential N scale streetcar pole-ropes.

Here are the main contenders, shown from left to right:
a) ESU decoder wire, with insulation burned off using gas stove open flame
b) 0402 prewired LED wire with insulation burned off (presently on the model with insulation)
c) human hair (actually looks ‘thicker’ in the photo than IRL … it is REALLY thin, barely visible)
d) high D string, ‘light gauge’, from my 5-string bluegrass banjo (VERY stiff, relative to the others)



I’m leaning towards b), but wanted to share my investigation with the group!

8

DCC / Electronics / TCS N Scale Keep Alive

« Last post by John on Today at 07:26:36 AM »

Larry Pucket video shows how he uses the TCS KA-N1 small Keep Alive decoder with an HO Soundtrax decoder . it's pretty impressive ..

https://www.tcsdcc.com/product-page/ka-n1

9

N and Z Scales / Kato n scale SD40-2 mid trucks

« Last post by Southern1970 on Today at 07:14:07 AM »

Hi all.  I purchased a Kato SD40-2 mid off eBay second hand.  when I try to run the locomotive the trucks sound really rough.  When I pulled the drive tower apart it looks like something is missing to hold the drive shaft and worm in place.

As per below photo is something missing from the truck/drive shaft?

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Cheers
Allan

10

Product Discussion / Re: Quality Streetcar models in Nscale

« Last post by Dwight in Toronto on Today at 07:09:07 AM »

Rich K … I’m the first to admit that I know diddly-squat about streetcars (or, at least, that was the case until I started this little project); thanks for sharing your insight and expertise.  I’ve been learning a lot!

Just for the record, I’m truly not 100% on that trolley pole rope on my model, so I’m still on the hunt for better contenders (Peter - I retrieved a length of white human hair from a basement stair yesterday and placed it on the workbench, just in case!).