The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[Steveruger45]

@Steveruger45,

I don't know how big an iPhone 4 is, but the ESU controller is definitely smaller than my iPhone 7.  If I didn't upgrade to the ProtoThrottle, I would still be using the ESU controller without much complaint.  Again, I still prefer the ESU CabControl system over Digitrax and NCE.  The number one reason is that the ESU controller allows much easier access to and/or the display of functions above F10 on the controller without having to press additional buttons.  This became an issue when I began using DCC and sound.  If I remember correctly, anything above a low function number (approximately F6) on the Digitrax DT402D and the NCE ProCab would not even show on the display, so there was no way to verify whether functions were on or off.

DFF

Thanks Dave.  I did some research and the iphone4s screen is a fraction bigger at 3.5” over the CabControl 3.2”.  I tend to use a bigger old iPhone 6 for withrottle.   I too am standardized on esu decoders etc etc and leaning to the CabControl anyway. I think I will use my old iphone4s on WiThrottle for a while as that would tell me pretty much how I could or couldn’t live with that small a screen.  Oh yes, you’re right max function display on the powercab/procab is  to F6.
 Thanks much. This has been helpful.

[davefoxx]

@Steveruger45,

I think the only problem that you will run into, if you don't have an ESU throttle, is the ability to turn track power on and off, unless there is a workaround for that, which I haven't looked into.  I wish the track power just came on when I plugged in the CabControl.

DFF

[Vince P]

@davefoxx

Question for you went to look up super leafs and found it.

But would you know which color I might need.

As I'm modeling the fall of 1979 when all the leaves on the tree's are in various colors.

And before they severely start falling.

As I found my poly fibre and getting ready to order some super leaf material to test on a kudzu diorama.

You've been a major help Dave.

[davefoxx]

@Vince P,

I'm colorblind, so I'm probably the last person you want to seek guidance from on questions about color.  That said, on the Seaboard Central 2.0, I wanted to model springtime, but after I installed the trees, a few people said it was the best fall colors they had seen.    So, while I am physically prevented from telling you what colors will work for you, I can tell you what colors I used, and you can reference the photos over in the Seaboard Central 2.0 thread, which is probably buried pages and pages down in this Layout Engineering forum.  I'll try to remember when I get home tonight, to pull out those containers of Super Leafs and tell you which colors I used.  If you like the way those trees came out, then maybe I can help . . . in my own backward way.

DFF

[davefoxx]

All of my local pushers (MBK, Nicholas Smith Trains, and Yankee Dabbler) are out of stock on Atlas Code 83 flextrack, but I finally found some available for purchase and placed an order for five pieces.  Thank you, Tony's Train Exchange!  As shown in the previous photos on this thread, I had a few pieces, including the siding I pulled up and realigned, which would get the track out onto the new shelf.  But, once the two three-way turnouts arrive, I'll need more pieces of flextrack.  The plan is a three-track double-ended yard with a short lead at the far end just long enough for the locomotive and caboose to runaround the train when switching.  I was too lazy to do another sector plate, as I did in the SC's staging yard.  That was a lot of work, and I think I have a little more room here to make that unnecessary.

The Peco turnouts give me a few advantages, despite the obvious disadvantage of being Code 100 rails: First, the three-way turnout saves a ton of space, but they're not available in Code 83.  Second, I will need no switch machines and can just flick the points to throw the turnout.  There's also not a lot of room under this narrow shelf for under-the-table switch machines, and I barely scrounged enough parts to build a complete Bullfrog Switch Machine for the curved turnout the other night.  Fully MacGyvered that one, or maybe it's MacGrubered.  But, it works!  I would prefer not to have to order any more Bullfrogs, and, thinking about it, I don't know how well Bullfrogs would work on a compact, three-way turnout anyway.

I had considered just using Code 100 track in the A&R yard to solve this track shortage problem.  This is what I did for the Seaboard Central's staging yard, but I hesitated to use Code 100 here for a few reasons:

1) This A&R track is much more visible, as the SC yard is raised (it's the highest point on the layout) and concealed by a fascia that provides protection as a sort-of fence in the event of derailment up there.  The SC yard is also behind my entry door to the room.  In other words, the rails are well camouflaged.  The A&R is not, and, although I can't change the fact that the Peco turnouts are Code 100, I can at least make the rest of the track look more pleasing to the eye.

2) The SC's staging yard was specifically designed to be off-stage.  I may not even apply much scenery to that yard and just borrow from the Carolina Central's playbook by painting it black.  As for the A&R yard, it's right in your face when you're on the Aberdeen side of the layout, and I will probably scenic this yard, despite it also only being staging.  So, the track needs to look better, and taller rails in the yard as compared to the mainline is weird.

By the way, here's how the alignment ended up (see below).  I wanted to get an 18" radius, which is my minimum for the short lines on my layout, but I also had decided last minute to add the curved turnout with its broader curves.  Thankfully, I achieved both goals, and the track cleared the water supply and sewer pipe almost perfectly.  When the three-way turnouts arrive, then I'll be able to figure out just how long the yard tracks will be.  Five cars would be great, but I'm hoping for a minimum of four cars per track, which would be similar to the SC's yard.







DFF

[Vince P]

Thanks Dave.

And that's turning out very nicely

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Thanks Dave.

And that's turning out very nicely

Agreed!

Although I'm amused by the 18" radius. 15" was my minimum on my old layout and that was N!

[davefoxx]

Agreed!

Although I'm amused by the 18" radius. 15" was my minimum on my old layout and that was N!

I can appreciate that, @Ed Kapuscinski, but if it's that or nothing, I choose that.  The benefits of additional and improved ops more than offsets the disadvantages (looks) of sharp curves.  And, we're on the inside of the curve here, so it's not nearly so objectionable.  Finally, it just doesn't bother me like it does others.  If I can get the trains to consistently stay on the tracks (I'm looking at you, Amfleet cars), what do I care?  And, it's really not much worse than the 10" minimum radius on the N scale Seaboard Central 2.0.

DFF

[DKS]

Well, all of that and -- I'm assuming -- the staging yard and lead aren't going to be sceniced. Right?

You may want to squeeze in a scrap pf Plexiglass behind the water pipes to keep any potential stringline from turning into a disaster...

[davefoxx]

Well, all of that and -- I'm assuming -- the staging yard and lead aren't going to be sceniced. Right?

You may want to squeeze in a scrap pf Plexiglass behind the water pipes to keep any potential stringline from turning into a disaster...

I probably will scenic this staging yard, and it will get a backdrop, which will connect to the existing partial backdrop.  The guardrail near the water pipes is a good suggestion.

Thanks,
DFF

[davefoxx]

@davefoxx

Question for you went to look up super leafs and found it.

But would you know which color I might need.

As I'm modeling the fall of 1979 when all the leaves on the tree's are in various colors.

And before they severely start falling.

As I found my poly fibre and getting ready to order some super leaf material to test on a kudzu diorama.

You've been a major help Dave.

@Vince P,

Here’s the colors of Super Leaves that I used on the V2.0:

SE6373 Red Oak
SE6143 Moss Green
SE6153 Olive Green
SE6133 Medium Green

For kudzu, I use SE6123 Spring Green

Hope this helps,
DFF

[davefoxx]

It appears that I may have some cork roadbed and two Peco three-way turnouts waiting for me when I get home from work today.  Oh, boy!  Oh, boy!  Oh, boy!  I'll try to get the yard laid out as soon as possible.  I'm really curious as to how much capacity the yard can add to the layout.  I'm hoping for two tracks to have four to five cars each plus the third track for a runaround.  This will be fun, because I've been having a blast JFRTM this week by merely running back and forth in and out of the single track on the shelf.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I can appreciate that, @Ed Kapuscinski, but if it's that or nothing, I choose that.  The benefits of additional and improved ops more than offsets the disadvantages (looks) of sharp curves.  And, we're on the inside of the curve here, so it's not nearly so objectionable.  Finally, it just doesn't bother me like it does others.  If I can get the trains to consistently stay on the tracks (I'm looking at you, Amfleet cars), what do I care?  And, it's really not much worse than the 10" minimum radius on the N scale Seaboard Central 2.0.

DFF

Oh yeah, without a doubt!
And if it works, it works.

I actually really dig it. I was more impressed since I didn't know that was an option.

[Jbub]

I love the excitement! 

[nuno81291]

Nothing like some staging to make a layout come to life (operationally). Best of luck with the Amtubes, mine have been nothing but a headache. I tried getting them to work reliably on an 18 and then 24” radius. Lots of problems and settled on a 40” for my current layout mainline. Any tips on what you may have tweaked on them? Part of the problem is the rapido F40s tiny flanges, when pushing those stones it quickly exposed any less than ideal track work. I’ve settled on trying to speed match a (powered) cabbage on the other end And hoping it give me reliable amfleet goodness.