Quote from: kdgrant6 on March 01, 2015, 09:32:00 PM
By the way, I'm sure there are extenuating circumstances, but what is your idea of the best height for bench work?

It's not on this topic, but at this point since it was brought up a couple of posts ago, i thought I'd ask--since there are no dumb questions, only those with faltering perspicacity.

KD... Best height for your bench work.... Take Regular 2x4's 8 footers 96" Long & cut in half @ 48" it will make 48' Leg's... This Height is PERFECT for me... Only draw-back I experienced is I have to keep 2 folding step stool's handy for viewing & operating sessions with my friends... I am 5'11 so I don't really have any problems reaching across layout... but for a smaller person viewing they need the step stool... One of my friends that comes over for operating sessions "Saturday Mornings 9-11am" he needs one of the Stool's... He's only like 5'9 or so & he is my Yard Man on operating session's... He made a good suggestion to me the other Saturday... & that I should build a BENCH STOOL in one section about the size of a regular stair step the length of the layout & screw it fast to the existing layout legs... Because the simple fact is folding step stools can be unstable at times if not completely opened & locked to the user can cause a fall... I told him good point & put his Motion into a Second & Motion Carried... But I am going to wait on the Bench Step Build until I can make cut's with my miter saw outside & right now there is 38" inches of snow on the Ground in my area of PA right now...

Quote from: ALCO0001 on March 01, 2015, 08:58:44 PM
Hello Everyone,
I replaced the motor myself per Bachmann warranty.The stated the reason for the motor failures /excessive noise grinding hooting ect.. was using

my MRC 9500 transformer when I run it in DC.I have the ability to switch from dcc to dc on the layout with a switch for someone that wants to run dc

it is there.Never had any problems with anything it has been proven.Anyway they (Rodney) stated the MRC 9500 was a pulse type transformer

that was discontinued because this was not disclosed to the buyers .I removed it ,installed the new motor in the s2 and ran it about 2 hours at

different speeds and directions.Note the s2 was completely gone through gear cases ,everything.including all new soft Flexible  wiring.

The motor runs smooth and silent until it gets to notch 6 and 7 where it makes a hooting type of sound Loud that overcomes the sound at max

Either direction Sometimes only one direction ,but always at notch 6 and 7 !Even stranger it goes away and is silent at notch 8 .Take it to NOTCH

5 silent. I reset the decoder, activated the speed tables and basically that just changed the notch the noise occurred.
Another thing to mention is that when the hooting noise occurs it  also sounds like at the same time there is a static type bacon frying noise.The motor bearings were checked and lubed before install.Any Ideas?
Not so much fun any more.
Jack

[/quote
Question Why are you switching from DCC to DC... I don't understand why a lot of you guys want to still Run DC on your Layout's... I understand its a cost issue with most guy's... I run DCC on my Layout & hardly ever experience ANY ISSUES & would not have it any other way... I buy all my Loco's DCC Ready & have Sound installed I use a Brand I can't say hear... DCC is so simple with the Advancements DCC has made over the year's... I think that's part of WHY your loco's are having issues case your switching back & forth... I f I was you I'd run one system of your choice & be done with it...

I was going to suggest adding 1-2 power lead's to your layout... But I remembered you are using EZ-Track... In this situation I would drop a few power leads down to my Main Track Power Wires under my layout & solder then up to the rail's & my power issue is fixed LOL but in this case KD you cant do that for the reason you get the power from the DDC unit you are running... AS for myself I have a separate power system running my layout... & run a different DCC system that I cant say on hear...

For the $$$$ money you would invest in doing such a task... You would be better off getting a Engine already with a DCC decoder installed...For example I just got a Engine givin to me... It's a PA-1 I plan on using for my Lehigh Valley Passenger Train" I want to get another LV PA-1 & run both engines back to back " I was able to get a DCC decoder in but the Body is very snug fitting The Decoder fit in quite nicely with hardly no issues... But there is NO Way I could put a sound speaker in the Engine... Well there is a way But I would have to Mill out a good chunk of Material to do it & thus possibly taking a good amount of weight away from the Engine...

What are Slugs used for ? They don't that type of engine in my Area of Eastern PA... The only thing I can think of is Added Power to the coupled up engine... ?.....

Quote from: Trackman Ed on February 26, 2015, 08:31:24 AM
Thank you guys for the information.  I found the problem to be wiring to the specific turnout.  I inadvertently cut one of the three wires when I was tidying up the wires under the table.

Thanks again for the help.

I was going to suggest it has to be a wiring issue... But Glad you found the problem

Quote from: kdgrant6 on February 26, 2015, 07:02:41 AM
What a good idea!

Is it available from Home Depot/Lowe's?

I think Code 100 Flex Track 3 foot sections available @ many hobby shop's on cork road bed is BEST... Or WS Road Bed Products...

Athearn make's Coupler Covers My Friend... You can try them...or you can try making your own cover out of styrene or similar material...

Quote from: RAM on February 20, 2015, 11:27:44 PM
Well it sure looks nice.

Thank You RAM... I work hard on my layout...Should be all done with it scenery & little detail add-ons & some re soldering of a wire leads from weathering track rail's... & I will be ready to roll... 3 years of hard work will be well worth it

Quote from: sgasales on February 21, 2015, 07:15:24 PM
Does anyone have any idea where I can get a set of Spectrum SD-45 handrails?  Specifically for the black PRR version.
Thanks

Try to see if you can get an engine dress-up kit somewhere... That might be your best bet...

Quote from: RAM on February 18, 2015, 05:14:03 PM
TMB What did you use for the backdrop for your city. 
[/quot

RAM... I used 2 scene photo sheet's of a town "no particular one" that I picked up at my Hobby Shop & contact cement on entire backing of backdrop board & on the photo itself & applied it & rolled it smooth... After that I used 2 sheets of construction paper & painted it with a brownish color & with little strips of wood to spaced out to look like a retaining wall on the bottom... & just added my building's...

You can find out on hear... Just Click Parts & service & Information after that Click Product information & the SHAY's are listed & shows a breakdown of every part of that Loco including part #'s....

http://s35.photobucket.com/user/maintrackbrian/slideshow/

These Pictures are combined into different fazes of construction from Start to Now.. & is 85% finished planning on finishing hole layout complete with scenery buy End of March or April... Enjoy post your comments....

Welcome to our hobby you will find it to be Very Enjoyable.....

#1 Decide what industries you want to go onto the layout  Coal / Lumber mill / warehouse / ECT
#2 Then obtain the proper rolling stock for your industries IE gondola cars / coal cars... or whatever style you choose works well too
#3 If you Plan on doing a lot of Switching I would suggest making your grandsons layout a little bigger IF YOU HAVE THE ROOM TO DO SO I would be safe to say add another sheet of plywood the EXTRA ROOM WILL NEVER HURT....

#4 Plan everything out Lay the track out first & decide where everything is going to go & your Rolling stock & locos will have room to pass through all the buildings & stuff

#5 Consider getting a YARD Switcher Loco & using Road Locos for pickups & Mainline running you can use the Switcher loco to deliver trains to mainline pickup...

These are only my thoughts off the bat... But half the fun in hobby is how you want it & what you want to do with your layout... Everyone in this Hobbie has there own idea's & visions... But this should be a good starting point for you

One last thing might want to consider SCENERY too if you plan showing a lot of people as well & or introduce you Grandsons to that aspect too of the hobby THERE are a lot of LAYOUTS that look Awesome with scenery... I am in the process of building my HO LAYOUT complete with scenery Buildings trees passenger station 9 track storage yard my layout is 17ft long x 6ft wide I have a 2 track mainline 3 track interchange & 84% complete over a 3 year build process....

So Far good looking Layout... Is it going to be complete with scenery from Bachmann...I'd like to see the difference from Bachmann to WS products...