JeffofSpace
Registered
Hi All,
I am just joining now, after really getting serious about our serious fun. I kept my playmobile/LGB set from when I was young and have been collecting track oh so slowly for 30 years.
After having a genetically train crazy son and buying our first house, I knew it was time for a permanent install. Three years ago we got a basic oval in powered by the little little little transformer that came with the Playmobile set. It finally failed, so I set about on a ridiculously circuitous journey.
I first bought a large vintage transformer, then decided we needed switches and they of course had to be electromechanical...so how to wire that. So I designed a dc controller using push buttons for switches and a pulse width modulator for throttle. It looked satisfying, built out of a wooden cigar box. But it was lacking in that it used block control and could not be expanded upon.
After pouring in beyond plenty, I suddenly had the realization that I had a digitrax dcc system not in use. My nscale module is in storage currently, but I had gone pretty far down the rabbit hole with dcc...working signaling and detection, automatic crossing gates, etcetera.
Why would I not use the advanced technology? Why make it easy? Probably should just keep plowing ahead with the project I started just to be hardheaded.
So, now we are at a happy place...dcc, a siding, a spur going in, great looking basic LGB stock, floating track on a realistic bed, a trestle I spent weeks building (which is constantly attacked by children), and tons of projects to look forward to.
I am just joining now, after really getting serious about our serious fun. I kept my playmobile/LGB set from when I was young and have been collecting track oh so slowly for 30 years.
After having a genetically train crazy son and buying our first house, I knew it was time for a permanent install. Three years ago we got a basic oval in powered by the little little little transformer that came with the Playmobile set. It finally failed, so I set about on a ridiculously circuitous journey.
I first bought a large vintage transformer, then decided we needed switches and they of course had to be electromechanical...so how to wire that. So I designed a dc controller using push buttons for switches and a pulse width modulator for throttle. It looked satisfying, built out of a wooden cigar box. But it was lacking in that it used block control and could not be expanded upon.
After pouring in beyond plenty, I suddenly had the realization that I had a digitrax dcc system not in use. My nscale module is in storage currently, but I had gone pretty far down the rabbit hole with dcc...working signaling and detection, automatic crossing gates, etcetera.
Why would I not use the advanced technology? Why make it easy? Probably should just keep plowing ahead with the project I started just to be hardheaded.
So, now we are at a happy place...dcc, a siding, a spur going in, great looking basic LGB stock, floating track on a realistic bed, a trestle I spent weeks building (which is constantly attacked by children), and tons of projects to look forward to.
Who was 'driving' in that clip! 
