Hello all, I dont want to beat a dead horse with this post, however I am still a little mixed up.  For example on the Atlas forum I have found a couple pics of the innards of the S-4.

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68434&whichpage=3



The first two pic's obviously have a DCC decoder and yes, I see the speaker in the front, thus DCC sound, right OR, is it the DCC ready version (DC) and the owner installed his own sound equipment?

However on my second find, the board is rather different (no wiring-harness-type decoder, and I can't figure if that black box in the front is the speaker)  The fellow who posted them described that this also was the DCC sound version.

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=68768&whichpage=1






Can someone please help me understand.  From what I have read the sound and running characteristics are very good so I'd like to pick one up.  Also will the sound run in DC?, that is all I run.  Thanks, Nathan.

Hello everyone,  I don't know if this is the right place to post this but...  I know that motors have their limits, but I am not sure of how much current you can pump through the motors we use in HO scale.  Would the more current mean better control?  (keep it in perspective, i'm not trying to run lightning bolts through a GP40   )  Reason I am asking,  My power packs are around 2 amps,  but I have an auto-transformer that regulates AC 0-130v at 20amps!  If I put a bridge rectifier on it, it probably would burn out every DC thing in sight    (It can fry .22 gauge wire in about 2 seconds) 

Nathan

Hello all, I am a bit confused with the term "constant lighting".  Does it mean that the headlights stay lit via capacitors if the loco goes over a short?  -Or-  Does it mean that that light is brought to its max brightness, even though the track voltage may not be that high?, don't think that would work.  Found an old MRR magazine (Dec 1992, pg.124) with an article on how to make a constant lighting unit, and couldn't understand why you would need it.  Thanks, Nathan.

Hello all, I don't know if this has already been asked but are the Sound value S-4's able to be powered by DC (Dual Mode) or are they exclusively DCC.  I am not that familiar with the differences between DCC sound and DC sound decoders.  I have a blue line with sound and also a Loco with a tsunami, and the sound runs fine on my DC layout.   I really like the s4 style and I like sound however I don't want to get the sound if its not going to work on my layout.  Thanks Nathan.

Hello Bachmann, I was wondering when the pictures of the Wisconsin Central and New England Central GP38-2 are coming out.

I just bought the new athearn genesis gp15-1 with sound and hoping I would get something that runs good for the $. Nope (my bachmann gp7 runs smoother) I ran a break-in period of 20+ mins in each direction no cars, and then with cars (about 16). It is hard to get going, it should slowly go from stop to go,  looks like someones popping the clutch.  At higher speeds it kind of bobbles around like it has half square and half round wheels (fast, slow, fast, slow, fast, slow, type of speed pattern), however the wheels are round and not bent. Motor spins freely but I can hear it with the Tsunami. Other than that it looks very nice and sounds good. I am using DC (Troller 1001). Help greatly wanted/needed, should I return it?

This is just for fun. Think of some sort of motor that has allot of torque but is smooth and slow, that can be applied into an HO gauge. Get your Imaginative juices flowing ! Go crazy, be extravagant, think elaborate!
I know 5 pole skewed motors are good but...

Ideas: Ball Bearings, 12 pole SKEWED, ?brushless?, etc

See what you can think of

pancake motors not allowed

Q: What are those marklin "sine" drives, are they some kinda stepper motor?

Hey Bachmann, When are the new gp7's coming out?