Well I posted this question on the modeltrainforum.com forum a while ago, but apparently they don't like to respond as quickly as this group here 

I was reluctant to ask, because my question involves other brands but here goes:

"Can anyone recommend a good decoder/turnout/motor combo that I can use remotely with the Dynamis system with no problem?? that's all I need is just a step in the right direction... so many options for this hobby... price is not a *major* factor, but I would like to keep it fairly mid-range... IE.. nothing that will break/fail, but nothing plated in gold as well. I've heard PECO makes a good turn out.. so I hope that would work with my Atlas track.. all I need to know is what decoder and motor to set up with it."

that is what I posted. After a little research I have found that the Tortoise turn out machines are highly praised... but require a DPDT switch set up? I want to be able to control the switching WITH MY DYNAMIS...lol is that too much to ask?

On that note.. I have heard rumors about the same company producing what is called a Smail.. which is the Tortoise with a Decoder installed? How about that?

Also... I'd just like to brag that I won an auction on Ebay tonight for a lot of 6 Bachmann rolling stock (hope I wasn't bidding against you! lol) and I am awaiting another bid on a Bachmann DCC GP40-2 with MRC sound installed (fingers crossed)

Got a VERY nice tax return on the way, and my girl already said I can allocate some of it towards my new hobby as long as I pay off the entertainment center we have on layaway   

Thanks guys, and have a great night!

Back again.. with another question    I'm really having fun planning this build.

So... I'm 6'3 tall... and I want a nice layout at a decent level. My question for you all is this... what is a desired height that most people seem to use? is there any kind of "standard".. maybe something clubs use to get the best effect of the scenery?

I know this sounds like a silly question, but once again looking for suggestions.

I also wanted to know if maybe there were some hidden deals out there that a certain height could be to my advantage.... maybe a good price on tables/legs that some people know about ? (I plan on using 2x4's at this point unless someone can suggest better)

Its a boring Friday night.. my girl is still at work... and I'm about to head to Home Depot to do some "window shopping"

Cheers!

My local hobby shop has a DCC equiped Bachmann SD40-2 in the Santa Fe blue and Yellow that reminds me of an engine I had when I was really young.... id love to run this for the nostalgia factor but I'm not sure if it will derail. I plan on having mostly 22" turns on my loops (4 feet wide sections with protective barriors) but I may put one or two 18" turns into yard areas... not sure yet. Would you guys suggest I stay away from this particular engine? I love the look of the 3 axles... and the length... it seems "tougher" than the GP40 I was considering....

Any input? I have until next Friday to decide this...

Planning my wiring for my 10x10 room (around the wall setup)....

I was wondering if those rail joiners that had the wires atatched are any good? I would prefer to use them over soldering my own line to the track if possible

also.... with a "block" does it work like this:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Dynamis---> 14ga wire------> Block{8  8  8  8 8}
                                                         l   l   l    l  l
                                                         l   l   l    l  l
                                 (*track joiners in different areas of layout*)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

??  sorry for the odd... uh... "diagram"   I hope it makes sense...

and any idea's on a good site to pick up these blocks?

EDIT:   Also... how long can the wire be from the Dynamis to the block, and from the block to the track? I know resistance will come into the equation after a while...

I picked up 25 pieces of Atlas code 83 flex track today for a good price... now I have a few DCC questions:

1. I think I'm going to stick with Bachmann products... and get a DCC ready GP40 engine.. I found one I really like on ebay. Since I currently do NOT have a DCC set up, I found this link searching the boards here

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-36505-Dynamis-DCC-Controller-p/bac-36505.htm

Is the above system *everything* needed to hook up to the track I ordered... or is that just a controller and I need to buy other stuff for it? I want to make sure I have an entire "plug and play" set up ready soon.

2. I have read DCC works best if you add feeder lines to it every few feet into the layout. what do I need and where do I get it? 

Thanks!
-Mike

Ok guys

Christmas is over, and I have put away my holiday set-up.... for now... and I still have the urge to build. I have been looking around online for a few weeks now and have found this layout plan that I feel would be a good fit for the spare bedroom that is available to me.

Here is a link to the layout I want to try and set up (with my own altercations of course):

http://layoutvision.com/id56.html

I plan on doing a 60's-80's theme with Diesel loco's and shorter style box cars and oil cars... nothing too long... so I can keep the radius of the track around 18-22"

Also, I want to do an over/under in this layout with a mountain side and a climb area where the train will rise up over a tunnel (not sure if this makes sense)

I have a bedroom which is roughly 10'x10' with a doorway at one corner and a closet that is not used at the opposite corner. here is a pic of that area:





so any suggestions are welcome.... I'm not sure if I want to use EZ track or Flex track yet... I have to figure that out after getting some online input. I want to convert to DCC, but I still need to read up on it as well.... the local hobby shop in my area actually has a very nice Union Pacific Diesel that looks pretty close to the one that runs down MoPac here in Austin Texas... I think I may pick it up soon.

Anyways, just wanted to check in... I'll be sure to upload progress pics in the near future.

Cheers!
-Mike

I am currently browsing e-bay for track... it seems that Flex Track is the best value for buying in bulk... however I am seeing "Code 100, Code 83, Code 80" Etc .. Which is the best one and why?? I'm a bit confused on this. 

Trying to plot out a new layout, and I think Flex Track may work a bit better for me than the EZ Track I currently own...

Thanks!
-Mike

Ok well after running this track for a few weeks, this engine has suddenly decided to start derailing on me. It happens to the rear trailing wheels. What is strange is that it happens after it passes over the re-railer section of track. I've checked for debris and bends.. and found nothing. Any ideas?

It is the 4-8-4 Overland Express engine I am using.

First off I'd like to thank you all for your advice/help with some recent questions I've had... I got my Christmas layout pretty much finished (took a few days) and Just wanted to share.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

I found this in some old boxes of mine.... one I used to run when I was a kid. It is only the shell, and I know it may be possible to just swap it. But I would rather have a new, fresh one (this is a bit scratched and some of the details are broken off)

I've tried to search google for a deisel like this but only come up with other style engines in the same paint colors.

Any ideas?

Just curious....

That is where my love of trains began when I was young, back in the mid-80's to mid 1990's my family would always take a trip down there from San Jose and ride the train... also I remember buying some HO scale rolling stock... well not me buying it, but my grandmother graciously spoiling me...

good times.

Hello again,

Back with another newbi question  ... so I am still patiently waiting for both my starter sets to arrive, and I have a 4'x8' sheet of wood on a sturdy table... now I need to know if I will suffer from any loss of power or speed if I add a few pieces of track to my stock sets. From what I recall a a kid, my trains would slow down the further they got away from the power supply (mainly with my O scale sets)... is there some kind of formula I need to know to plan this out? I have 2 sets on the way, both DC style (thinking I should have gone DCC now...)

Also, if I were to get into DCC in the future.... would the track I have now still be useful or does it require special digital track?? I'm a bit confused on the issue...

Thanks!!
-Mike

Hey guys,

I am currently planning out a set up for my HO scale track. I have some old porcelin houses that light up (holiday stuff passed down from the family) and I am going to make a standard 72''x45'' oval

I have the EZ track as well.. never used it before so I don't know what to expect..

Is there a preferred type of wood/building material that you guys can suggest? I was going to go with 3/4 inch plywood but I live in Texas and the humidity may warp it during the warmer season (storing in a garage) ... so.. any input?

Thanks!
-Mike

Hello all,

I am new to this forum and wanted to first say hello!  ... I recently purchased the Overland Express set online and am patiently waiting for UPS to deliver it. I have not ran an HO scale or O37 scale model train set since I was 12 years old or so (1994) and it seems some things have changed.. and some have not. I have a few questions though....

First off, how is this set? I read some reviews on Amazon.com and the only negative ones had to do with de-railment and wheel issues. I figure that I have the ability to remedy these problems pretty easy, but would like some input on this set.

Second, can somebody please explain to me what "DCC" is and if it is compatible with this set...

also, I remember as a kid, I had alot of issues with my engines running low on power... I could never quite figure it out.. is there a formula I need to know for the amount of power a length of track requires? I know the basics of "ohms law" but some more info would be really appreciated..

Cheers!
-Mike