Len, you describe the parallel wiring pretty good. now do I solder each connection or can I wrap the wires together then shrink wrap them? What gauge wire are we talking? If I use those prewired SMD's as you suggested stick with the same gauge to the power source?

Sid, love the Just Plug however it will cost quite a bit for all I have plus more in the future. The Model Power were pretty cool as they concealed the connections and don't need special power supplies.

Mr Mechanic, I've gone that route and if I had a little more brains I would continue trying to go that way but I have reached my limits on that so now finding a easier way for me to do it.

James in FL, yup that is what many before you have tried to explained to me. Just not working for me HOWEVER there may be a few modelers out there that will understand and benefit the time you ALL have spent replying to me.

I will keep this going once I figured out what to do. Have an awesome evening gentlemen. M

Thanks all for your input. I do not have the knowledge nor understanding to wire parallel or in series or use this resistor or buy this or that. RS is a joke, hasn't been a knowledgeable employee since the early 80's.

I believe I should of asked if anyone has used the Model Power peel & stick lights and if so in 12v or 3v and did they like them. If they have how did they hook each one up to a power source?

I guess I could include the LEDs Len suggested as they appear to have 2 wires, hot & ground and prewired. I've watched how to on youtube none I found was for dummies such as myself. They babble this or that or say do this and the next scene is the pretty little church lit up. I need step by step I guess to guide me from point A to Z and everything in between. So if anyone out there can direct me to a good how to video or walk me through wiring I would be SO grateful. I have old train power sources that you can hook up to dc or ac so I have that. I can solder a tinnie tiny bit.

Oh yes the xmas lights are LEDs. and some of them I hooked up to 4v did not flash burn out. they took a slow bright to dim to out approach and would burn at the touch so no idea what that was all about.

Thanks. M

I am addicted to lights/lighting. What I do now (don't laugh or judge) I use dollar store strands of lights, 3mm I believe. They use 2- 1.5v batteries (totaling 3v). I use Lemax power adapters that is rated 3v with 4 leads to each adapter. I snip and add one or two from a strand with a quick disconnect wired in for each building or whatever. I do not want to use battery power is why I wire them to an adapter. The problems I run into, 1. takes a lot of time to wire them up like I do. 2. I put too many on an adapter I am losing power, reducing the intensity of the lights. 3. There are now 4 leads with multiple leads coming off each one so it looks like something from another galaxy sent to earth to drain our life force. I upped to a 4.5v adapter with the 4 leads and now bulbs are burning out as they are over heating. I do attempt to solder 3mm and some smaller to wires but they don't always work and still having to wire to an adapter. Resistors are suppose to come into play someplace but not sure were or what omhs they should be.

12volts scares me, not really wanting to go that route.

I found these https://www.amazon.com/Model-Power-Stick-Lights-4-Pieces/dp/B000BQSWJO They are from Model Power, self stick comes in either 3v or 12v. would these be what I should use? I know Woodlands Scenics has some handy dandy lighting system however I cannot afford them.

IF I was to consider 12v won't there be a lot of electric usage? How would I hook them all up? I'm talking lots of buildings and lots of other lighting.

I guess same question on 3v, how do I hook them all up? I don't know much about power/electric stuff and it has to be safe and not a fire hazard.

I hope I gave enough info on how I do it now verses how it should be done. And please take into consideration I am not capable of crawling under a layout soldering stuff together upside down.

Thanks all, you always give the best advice. M

Well folks despite we had yet another snow storm on the day of the show I made it through my first train/hobby show and came out broke . Connor mentioned on our way home that next year I need to bring more money!!! I said I think he needs to do odd jobs to buy more stuff next year! Due to the nasty weather conditions it wasn't crowded so we could take our time. Now I don't know jack crap about these types of shows but I would say this is a tiny show. There were around 25 - 30 vendors trying to go by memory. several selling thomas the train stuff and lots selling Lionel large scale guessing O scale? There were several layouts set up. Keep in mind I'm with an 8 yr old that is hoping to purchase LOTS of stuff. Our first buy was a Erie US Postal railway car $5.00 in the box. Next we came upon the actual one and only HO Scale Engines table. All in original boxes and priced I felt reasonable and make an offer pricing. The story behind that table of mostly Atheran products was a man had rooms and rooms in his home filled with train products he also had storage units filled. Due to age and illness he was put in a retirement home and all his stuff was sold. The guy didn't even have a layout, he just collected the stuff so it was priced to sell. Connor is in love with Amtrak and Metro North, he has a Amtrak engine and cars already but there set on that table a brand new Blue & Silver Amtrak engine. It now is part of the C & G Railroad lol. He also spied a really nice diesel that actually we both liked. Now this is were things go wrong. I took everyone's advice/suggestions very serious and took that with me however, yes however, I didn't even know dummies existed or if I had heard about them it slipped my mind. We purchased what we thought was a really nice GE Dash 9 engine only to bring it home to realize it was fake. I am still beating myself up over it. The "great" deal I made didn't turn out so good. Connor the great little guy he is said "It's ok Grammy it still looks good on the track". We proceeded to pick up a few cheap items, little vehicles and such. Luckily there was not an ATM machine nor did they accept debit or credit cards if there had been I'd of spent a lot more on buildings.

Now can anyone explain why some Ho scale buildings seem to be of a different size HO scale? I seen some smaller versions of some of our buildings that both are suppose to be of the same scale. The vendor said its based on the size of the front door?  He had lots of pre erected buildings and lots of kits. I really wanted several of them. At another table I spied the power plant Jonathan has so expertly created. I also eyeballed Brass engines and tenders that I believe Jonathan also fancies.

All in all we had a great time. We came home ate a quick lunch and spent hours playing with our purchases. I think I know the answer to the question is there any inexpensive way to turn our dummy into the real McCoy?

I look forward to the next local show that is a lot bigger I'm told. Thanks once again for all your advice and knowledge you shared with Connor and me.

M

Jonathan it is this coming Sunday and I can't wait! I think I am more excited as I have not attended one before. Connor on the other hand went last year but wasn't into MRR. He told me it was a BIG show. I know it isn't by the size of the building but it will be fun none the less.

https://flic.kr/p/QtpLTN

This is a little steamer I purchase with some other pieces. It is Connor's favorite because it hauls butt around the track and easy to line up on the track. Now this little bugger ran backwards or best I can describe it, it was polarized incorrectly. If you put it on a track along with another engine and applied power they would go in opposite directions and would crash head on. Thanks to searching the internet I found how to fix it which I am proud to say I did! Switched the wires and bam it now goes forward following the same direction the others go. It was incorrectly wired from the factory. I guess it happens.

I will be sharing my first MRR show and tell you all all about it!

Once again, thank you all for such excellent advice. I believe this is a small show which is good, hopefully I won't get into to much trouble purchasing. I do have a budget and I will take cash and no credit/debit cards. Course it is less than 2 miles away, will just need to find the strength to control that spending. Looking forward to it. M

Once again, thank you all for such excellent advice. I believe this is a small show which is good, hopefully I won't get into to much trouble purchasing. I do have a budget and I will take cash and no credit/debit cards. Course it is less than 2 miles away, will just need to find the strength to control that spending. Looking forward to it. M

No maps that I can find however richiy great advice I will contact the local club. This one is a small one, good one to get started. Thanks!

Thanks Sid and Terry and Terry yes I would.

My Grandson who is 8 and I are attending our first Model Train and Railroad Hobby show in a few weeks. We are novices on this stuff and hope to learn from this experience. We are starting our own 4' x 8' layout so figured this would be a good thing right? Question is is there anything(s) to watch out for such as poorly made products or dealers who try to gyp me. Do they generally take Credit Cards or cash only? Also how much money should I bring? Are we talking a domestic type car or a high end type car? I know depends on what I am looking for right? Fellows, we are just starting out so imagine how the 2 of us will look, deer in the headlights, candy stores, Christmas Eve all come to mind. Some things I'm hoping to look for such as the rock wall Jonathan uses, some mini lights or bulbs, need fire trucks, police cars and first responders. Oh the list goes on.

Any suggestions or watch out for is greatly appreciated.

Fencing.... just a suggestion try heavy spray starch on it prior to cutting it might make it stiff enough to cut. I'd lay it on cardboard or paper towel. Spray it, pin it to lay flat and let it dry. There is commercial stiffening products out there too.

I look forward to seeing your bucket. And I hope to share the C & G RR in the future.

M

I for one will be sad when you stop this thread. You're my lighting hero! I am so envious of your talent especially the lighting. I gained a wealth of knowledge looking at your old and now new layouts. I am now embarking on a new layout with my 8yr old Grandson. Nothing elaborate or probably prototype as I hear that word often, its me and Connor creating the C & G  Railroad. It has been fun and challenging so far and my Grandson is having fun and we are creating a bond I hope will last a lifetime. I will continue checking the forum for anything new you might be working on. I am sad also I haven't seen that broken bucket any place on your layout .

Thanks for sharing Jonathan! 

Martha

Thanks Len (and Jim) for rock wall info. M

awesome. thanks.

Love the look of the stone block wall.

Quote from: jbrock27 on December 27, 2016, 08:59:37 AM
Love the look of the stone block wall.

What is the stone wall? Paper?Plastic?Hand painted?Store bought? I will be needing some of that!