The following are my opinions after 4 years of running N scale, reading books and the forums.
As one who runs N scale with a mid 1990's theme I would say you will need to buy either new large steam or 6 axle diesel engines if you want sound. If the engine is not manufactured with this in mind then trying to modify an older one, will in my opinion be far to much work as there is no inexpensive or idiot proof way of doing this.
Any camera will have to be mounted on a flatcar that would be pushed by an engine. As there is no room in an N scale engine for one to be installed unless it was gutted of all internals.
I have always used twisted strand wire as I is easier to pull and works the same as solid cooper wire. Others prefer solid strand.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
Thank you for the replies.
Further:
I need DCC to run locomotives with on-board sound correct?
I think I need DCC and sound decoders specific to certain engines by manufacturer.
Or can I use a sound decoder with a simple DC hook-up? I don't think so?
The urban lighting will be run off a seperate DC power pack.
Again, sorry for the ignorance in this topic but we all start somewhere. This is my "here".
I am not sure if you need DCC. Will you be operating two or more trains on one of the loops? The main advantage of DCC is to allow you to operate multiple locomotives at different speeds on the same loop of track. Actually, if there is only one train per loop you can just use two standard DC power packs - one for each loop.
A Dgitrax Zephyr would be adequate, and simple enough to use. I do believe it uses an external wall-wart, so you could just get one for Australia when you move there.
As to using an iPod, WiThrottle with JMRI and a Locobuffer will give you that, should you want to go in that direction at some time. Loconet will also make adding additional throttles easy, including ones included in JMRI.
You can then use the power pack included with the set to power the lighting in the buildings.
I'm sure that others can fill in any details I missed.
Greetings and salutations,
Fellow railroaders, I have a series of beginner questions. I have perused the forums (and other on-line sources) yet not discovered the specific answers to the variants my questions pose. Your knowledge and assistance is greatly appreciated.
To help you help me here are a few basics:
1. Layout is a simple 3’x 4’ N Scale double-loop mounted on insulation, surrounded by a wood frame.
2. Layout is fully transportable.
3. At least two consists will operate continuously, perhaps up to four (?).
4. There is no real switching as such.
5. There are only two switches (turn-outs), one on each loop, that do not allow crossing between the loops but go to spurs. (Station and Industry).
6. There are fifteen illuminated buildings, perhaps as many as twenty street/park lights and I would assess about ten more lighted or powered accessories. Maybe a crossing guard or something like that – depending how competent I become.
7. Layout will move from America to Australia within the next 5 years.
8. This is not DCC (as of yet?). Presently the system runs off a courtesy pack from a recently bought package train set. And this leads to the inquiry please.
So, away we go;
I would like to do a DCC set up, though it means installing soundcards in old engines (if possible). Do I need DCC to have on-board operational sound from the locomotives? Is there a relatively “idiot-proof’ (myself being the idiot in this example) DCC unit or set up that is somewhat inexpensive? What would you recommend?
Should I stay with a DC power source? Using a control panel verse an IPoD App to run my trains is okay.
What are the requirements to run an in-cab camera? (Aside from needing a camera of course.) Any recommendations on an inexpensive in-cab N scale camera system?
Can you recommend some specific voltage/amp/output requirements for running up to four trains and powering a small suburb as described above?
Is it a good idea to use solid copper wire verse twisted strand to wire a layout of the size we are discussing?
Do I have to worry about voltage in Australia as it applies to locomotives? I understand using a step-down transformer for the power-pack. But are DCC power-packs too fragile for a step down and will I just have to buy a new one in the next five years?
There are dozens more questions as my son and I build this little piece of railroading. Being that he is only 19 months old his electrical engineering input has thus far been questionable. His enthusiasm is not.
As an aside, one reason for doing the model railroad hobby is to develop our children’s synaptic development and cognitive reasoning capabilities. For those who question this goal I conclude my initial post with the following story.
Seven months ago my son was 12 months old. We purchased a BACHMANN single engine, four car, EZ-Trak loop train set. Within a month his spatial relationship skills had blossomed as he understood “Go”, “Stop”, “Fast” and “Slow”, relative to the speed dial (throttle) on the train set complimentary power-pack.
Unfortunately, within a month of that understanding, he used his new mental awareness to compromise all child-proof locks in the house…
Thank you in advance for your assistance.