Kor,

Your email address was hidden. Please send the .pdf file to dsilverton@comcast.net. I really appreciate the information.

All,

Sorry for the locked post. I was wondering why there were no replies.

I will be using LGB and USA trains track; both sectional and flex. And yes, I will be running a K27.

Thanks for the help.

What is the minimum recommended center-to-center track spacing for 1:20.3 scale both for stright runs and curves? I will be using both 5 and 8 foot radius curves.

I have a DRGW short caboose in brass from Accucraft. They also make a long version.
Regards,

Soundtraxx manufactures a sound unit thatis designed to fit into the climax. Check out their website.

Regards,

Take a look at the NMRA website under standards and recommended practices. Use the spacing they suggest for ON3.

UPS is scheduled to deliver my batch of ME ON30 turnouts from MicroMark today. They had been on back order since the beginning of February; and promised by ME for a couple of years.

A couple of hours have passed since the first paragraph of this post. UPS has just delivered my order of twelve turnouts. They were definitely worth the wait. ME did a good job in producing these turnouts.

The first thing I noticed was how long they are: slightly over eleven inches along the straight stock rail. They do match up nicely with the printed templates I picked up at the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Dearborn, MI back in 2005.

The turnouts come with a two sided set of instructions that cover everything from them being DCC ready to mounting and detailing. That's right, detailing. They come with bolt head castings for the frog and a switch stand mount that can be located on either side of the turnout.

The frog is isolated and made from metal so it can be powered through switch machine contacts if desired. The rails are un-weathered but instructions are included on weathering the rails to match their flex track (of which I have about 75 feet).

The gauge checks out OK, although they may be a little tight on the diverging rail. As received, the turnouts may need to be straightened slightly due to the ties taking a set during shipment. No big deal, just press the side against a straight surface or use a straight edge while mounting. There are even directions on how to curve the rails immediately past the frog.

Now I need to get busy laying track.

Grade is grade whether in actual or scale measurements. a 1% grade is a rise of 1 inch in one hundred inches. So for a desired 2% grade over 300 inches that would be a 6 inch rise.

Regards,

I have the ON30 railtruck and have added sound to it. I put a body on the flatbed and mounted the speaker in the roof below a roof vent.

The factory labeling is not decals, but silk screened on the car.

I use a Control Master 20 and runb a Shay and Connie at the same time. I have had no problems at all with my unit and have purchased a second hand controller because I have a tendancy to drop it.

Regards,

I would not recommend trying to install DCC in the ON30 Porter. It can be done (I did it) but it far from an easy or straight forward task. I ended up using a Digitrax decoder normally used in a "N" scale engine and fitted it the cab on the engineers side. To hide the bright red color of the decoder I just slipped a piece of black shrink tubing around it.
Good Luck,

Take a look at Bachmann's ON30 V-Dump or side dump ore cars. Either will work well as Large Scale mine cars. Not only that, but you can use ON30 flex track.

I just received a Soundtraxx DSD-090LC #821250 from Tony's Trains. This is the DCC/Sound decoder for a "Goose" which I installed in my Bachmann ON30 railcar. Try Tony's for another source of Soundtraxx decoders.

I ended up buying a replacement motor from Bachmann parts for $10.00.