The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[ChiefEagles]

Proof that the SOUTH will rise again!!!! The sun is out, temps are up and the OHIO has melted. [:D] Off to the gun and knife show. Later

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, The wife and I are headed to the Las Vegas strop for a couple of days so I won't be on here until Tuesday night or so. Have a good one and take care. Oh yeah...the sun is shinning and it is 57 degrees at 10:30 AM. Looking good.
Larry

[Anonymous]

A beautiful snowy morning and a blistering 10 degrees. Got about 4" of Idasnow last night and still falling. If it warms up another 10 degrees I will be looking for some sunscreen, and short pants. Layout construction today.....Tim

[daan]

No we don't have frozen canals this year. It's really no winter at all. We still are in the 60's and have sun, but we will change into 65 with rain in a few hours..
Even in Norway and sweden there is almost no snow and where my father lives in switserland they don't see white mountains either. It's a rubbish winter..

I saw something about a pop-up eater for free on microsoft's website? (It's very odd,
"microsoft" and "for free" in one sentence..)
Hope winter will be here eventually, but I don't know if that whish comes true one day..

[TurboOne]

Good afternoon all, its 75 and beautiful out today. Going to clean out some more room in the garage, and maybe start on the benchwork.

Tom, haven't had a chance yet, but tonight I should have some time to see what i did wrong. Probably a bracket on img.

Daan, sorry you don't have the white winter you were hoping for, ask PE Tim to send you some.

Chief, I am from CA, thought the Yankees were a baseball team. [:D]

PE tim here at least are the shades for your heatwave. [8D][8D]

Take care all

Tim

[cnw1995]

Buckeye - get Ad-aware - it's free, type it in Google to find a link or go to lavasoft.de
For another look at anti-spyware options, see http://www.spywareinfo.com.

Can you help me visualize this wiring issue? I have 2 crossing flashers. I connected one wire from each to the middle rail, and one to one of the end rails. Then I insulated the end rails. I was hoping to get the flashers to go on when the track entered this section. But they turn on when I power up the transformer for the train - and turn 'brighter' as I up the throttle. So I didn't do this right somehow. Any advice?

Bitter cold today! But blue sky.

[GregM]

Doug,

You need an insulated outside rail section for this to work. These can be made by loosening the clips that hold one of the outside rails to the tie and putting electrical tape between the rail and the tie. Unless the outside rail is isolated, the metal tie completes the circuit even though you have insulating pins in the rail. By isolating the one outside rail, it becomes electrically "dead." Be sure the insulating pins are in the "dead" rail. Connect the wire from the signal to the "dead" rail. Then when the train wheels are on the insulated section of track the axles complete the circuit and the flashers will be on.

Hope this helps.

[laz 57]

HI GUYS,
Just got back from train show in York. Not too bad about 250 tables. CHIEF, SPANKYBIRD, BUCKEYE, and JIMBO I have graduated to DCS bought it at the show. The guy who sold it to me was very helpful to answer all the questions about it. The only thing that I need is the cable to hook up the DCS to the TMCC. Is there anything else I should get will I be good to go? Got to go to Harrisburg tomorrow to get that cable. Now I should be able to run the conventional engines on the layout.
PIGSEYES nice layout that your starting looks like good construction techniques.
TURBOTIM you lucky dog, bet you have shorts on?
Could be an all PA Superbowl this year? Wait and see?
CHIEF I picked up two hi cap mags for my Glock 17 two weeks ago $20 each hope you saw some good stuff there.
Laz57

[cnw1995]

Wow, Greg. Thanks! That's very clear. TurboTim, I'm envious of your good weather - I have a friend who works at UCSD and it sounds like paradise this time of year. In fact, I'm envious of all of you who live somewhere warmer than Illinois - which is almost everywhere it seems 'cept Ohio... Laz, congratulations on your big step. I will look forward to hearing of your adventures setting this up..

[spankybird]

Laz – congratulations on DCS. You will love it. I would still pick up the OGR video/DVD on DCS, it is better than the one MTH supplies with it. If you are using an older type transformer, then you should add a circuit breaker to the line between the transformer and the TIU. If you have a newer type transformer, this would not be needed.

Here is a link for one if you need it.

http://www.scottsodds-n-ends.com/circuit_breakers.htm

tom

[ChiefEagles]

PE Tim, I like the word Idasnow. [:D] OHIO is that white stuff no one wants. [:p] TurboTim, you were not a state when there was the War of Northern Oppression. [:(!] Any bunch of folks that do not have grits and iced sweet tea are YANKS. [;)] The worse of the bunch is those from OHIO. [;)] Could not find a high capacity mag for a .45 Beretta Cougar. Frankie bought a new AR-15. His Captain [who is chief fire arms instructor] told him, if he qualified with it, he would get the Sheriff to allow him to carry it in his patrol car. Now go play with trains some. Fill the house with smoke. When I do the train roon next to the temp one, wife agrees for me to install a ceiling exhaust fan. Then I can exhaust the smoke out the attic just like the upstairs bath.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

. [:p] TurboTim, you were not a state when there was the War of Northern Oppression. [:(!]

Actually the war in the 1860's was about giving us Buckeye's access to the beaches at Hilton Head so we could play golf in the early spring. [^]

[laz 57]

SPANKYBIRD,
Watched the CD that they supplied and read the book some. The transformer I am using is the newer ZW with 4 180 watt power supplies , one to each track. Do I still need the 16 gauge wire from the transformer to the TIU and to the track? I am not running any MTH yet?
Laz57

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ChiefEagles

PE Tim, I like the word Idasnow. [:D] OHIO is that white stuff no one wants. [:p] TurboTim, you were not a state when there was the War of Northern Oppression. [:(!] Any bunch of folks that do not have grits and iced sweet tea are YANKS. [;)] The worse of the bunch is those from OHIO. [;)] Could not find a high capacity mag for a .45 Beretta Cougar. Frankie bought a new AR-15. His Captain [who is chief fire arms instructor] told him, if he qualified with it, he would get the Sheriff to allow him to carry it in his patrol car. Now go play with trains some. Fill the house with smoke. When I do the train roon next to the temp one, wife agrees for me to install a ceiling exhaust fan. Then I can exhaust the smoke out the attic just like the upstairs bath.

Grits ummmmmmmmmmmm, had a friend from N'orleans make some. ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm never have had such a flavor. Also I hate yanks. OK Yankees, but its cause they wooped my Padres and their fans are mean, pouring bear on little kids cause they got a Padre uniform on. I must be a guy from the south Chief.

Buckeye, do you really want access to HH ? Isn't that where all them tornados land ? I take a good ole CA earthquake anyday.

Hope everyone is doing well. Have a great day, or night. [:D]

Tim

[laz 57]

Good morning GUYS,
Off today YEA!!!!!!
Got to go to Harrisburg for the TMCC DCS cable, wife has school in service so I have to do all the shopping,laundry, and cooking today(venison stew). Might find time to work on layout. See yous guys later.
Oh by the way 22 this morn and about 1 inch of snow.
Laz57

[spankybird]

Good Morning all,


NE Ohio is cool at 16 with snow. We pick up about 6” to 8” depending on where you live.

Laz – you won’t need the breaker box with a new transformer, it already has fast acting breakers in it. Just guys like me and Chief that use PW ones that need it.

Before you change your wiring, try what you have first. I did and it worked.

Pick of the day


tom

[Frank53]

aye yi yi - 51 in sunny (?) Florida this morning!

Mrs. is taking teh car this morning and I have to drop a few things off downtown, hence, I am about 30 minutes away from jumping on my motorcycle. Riding into it at 45-50 should make it feel like about 20 or so.

[cnw1995]

2 degrees today, minus-17 with the gentle breezes wafting in from Lake Michigan - felt like I was wearing paper today on my walk to work - also made the mistake of wearing 'regular' shoes - my feet feel like..or rather I can't feel them... I seem to be the only one in Chicago working today too.

TurboOne, HHI has fortunately avoided most hurricanes - we have been fortunate to visit the island during the summer when it's nice and hot and humid - I alternate taking the kids from the beach to a pool (I can't golf - don't hold it against me) I can just imagine what the Union soldiers experienced when it was nothing but beach and swamp and bugs.

Laz, I would second getting the OGR video about DCS - I have heard nothing but raves about it. I think one of the coolest things about DCS I have heard is being able to assess an engine's performance like the number of "miles" it has run kind of like with a car's OBC. (I'm resolutely committed to running conventional.)

Greg, I tried to slide some duct tape under the outside ties as you suggested - but it didn't change anything. The flashers still light up when I turn up the power, not when the engine enters the new block. Before troubleshooting to make sure each tie is truly insulated - was I supposed to work on the first tie 'within' the block or outside it from engine's point of view)? Here's what I tried to do - added an insulating pin to an outside rail, then insulated the outside rail on the tie closest to the pin within the new block - then wired the flasher to both the middle rail and the outside rail that was insulated. Then added a pin and insulated the tie at the other end of the block half a loop away. Any guidance would be deeply appreciated. Boy, this electrical stuff is sure confusing.

Going to hear a visiting preacher tonight and then teaching tomorrow night so hopefully will get back to this on Wed night.

Does anyone have any ideas at enhancing a Plasticville farm setup to represent crops? (I'm anticipating getting a few tractors and need someplace for them to work) I was thinking of gluing green pipecleaners to a piece of cardboard that I could place over my grass mat - or cutting strips of fake fur to look like rows of something...

[ChiefEagles]

Doug, you have to put tape under the complete rail [insulate all of the ties under that rail] and a insulating pin at each end of that rail. Now if you want a long section [to make the signal flash before the tain gets to it], you can do several sections of rail and put a pin at the beginning of the and the end of the completed section. Now, if you are locked on to the outside rail [or soldered on], I would insulate the inside rail. Then attach wire to the inside rail that is insulated and other to the center rail [or to transformer at a fixed voltage terminal]. Then you have built an electrical "switch". You have the center rail [or wire from transformer] that I think as "hot'. Then you have the outer rail as the ground. When the metal wheels and axles hit the insulated rail [where your wire is attached], they "make" [like closing an electrical switch] the circuit from the inside rail [not cneter rail] to the grounded outside rail. Completed circuit. When the wheels and axles leave, the circuit is broken [switch is open].

TurboTim, you are a great Rebel. [:D]

Those Yanks are trying to get me. Only 29 and windy [this late in the day]. [:(!] [:(] We will prevail though. Got to get some Southern Comfort. No word from JON nor PETim. Bet they have frozen computer lines. So cold the letters will not travel over the wires. [;)] God bless all.

[ben10ben]

Morning(or afternoon), Folks

It's about 25 here now, and with a little bit of Ohio on the ground, finally. Started yesterday morning about 9:45 somewhat suddenly. By the time church was over, the cars had close to an inch, with a little less on the ground. It kept on for most of the rest of the day, but most of it melted off at the same time.

Hope that you all have a good day.

[Jim Duda]

Hey Roy - you did a helluva job "softening things up" for me in Phoenix since we arrived there Thursday morning! FOUR CONSECUTIVE days of cloudless skies @ 70F, with just a touch of breeze. Only thing that wasn't perfect was our racing results. We got our
Arses Annihilated, our Butts Beaten, our Duffs Demolished, our Egos Exploded, our Fannies Flamed, etc.,...and finished 30 something out of 76 entrants. We were usually first across the finish line but the judge at Pylon #2 said we continuously turned inside that pylon by 2 feet. He makes his call from 300 feet away so he must have very good vision...oh well.

My neighbor ladies must know that career advisor- they strip while they work in their yards and usually the guys PAY THEM for cuttin' their weeds...hmmmmmm. I'd say that Career Dude just "told it like it was"...

...but the SCARIEST thing of all is Chiefie at a Gun and Knife show...has anyone ever watched "Tool Time" on TV? Who would you cast as "Al Borland" and "Tim, the Tool Man", if you had to choose Spanky and Chiefie as the actors? I'd pick my neighbor to be "Heidi"...(wink)

[ChiefEagles]

OH No, old man is back. 33 here now but the wind is something. [:(] Need to stay in the greenhouse. 88 in there a little while ago. Makes your glasses fog up to go in and out of the greenhouse. What a difference. Waiting for LAZ to get back with cable and see if he can get DCS started. [:)]

[daan]

At your service!![:D]

[jonadel]

Good Afternoon,

I'm here, fear not. Baby It's Cold Outside, -12 this morning but thankfully no wind. Another day of bright sun and a warming trend that begins tomorrow. Don't laugh, it's supposed to get up to 30! That's a heat wave compared to what we've had for the last week. It was semi crowded at the gym this morning, not used to that but the views are always good--Spandex was a wonderful invention!

Spent time in the train room last night just having fun. It's was such a grind this fall trying to get that last part done, we both end up now with more free time on our hands that used to be spent working on scenery. I keep trying to visualize what I want to do on the next build but I keep that to myself, I'm afraid my wife would have a heart attack if I even mentioned rebuilding certain parts. I do think though in 3 years she will be ready and that will be our last build. I know for sure it will have lots more levels and a minimum of O54 radius except for another Trolley loop. I really struggle with design but I sure like to build, I enjoy wiring more than I thought I would and I'd like to be even better at it by next time. The other thing is that I doubt that we will ever move to another house, I will not move to a townhouse as we've really gotten spoiled with living out in the timber with no neighbors. An acreage is a lot more work than you think it is but well worth it in the long run.

OK, enough rambling. Have A Great afternoon.

Jon

[ChiefEagles]

Got a nail pouch/tool belt just like that Another one of my hobbies, building buildings. [:D] I think I have a picture of a Holstein I can put Daan's head on. [;)]

[Jim Duda]

I have a tool belt like that too...but down here in TexASS, we put pistols in 'em to keep the varmints out of our yards...gotta keep them neighbor ladies safe...(wink)

[ChiefEagles]

Jon, better quit talking about Spandex or your wife will take away your gym card. [;)] I will be glad to give your cold air and wind back. Temps have dropped to 32 and the wind is brutal. I have to go walk. BURRRR. I love the building and wiring too but dot too much on scenery. Hope that Pam jumps in and helps with that. Later

[Roger Bielen]

Afternoon all, was a cool 21 here in GA this morning, windchill down to 14, colder in the mountains, colder tomorrow. When I moved south I thought I was done with freezing weather. Glad the Mrs. made a nice pot of chili, and another of chicken soup, yesterday, I'll have what chili the granddaughters left me for supper tonight.

Had some time to work on the layout yesterday, started weathering and detailing a Lionel building, Al's Hardware, I picked up a few weeks back when they were on sale. I used the tempera (powdered) paint system I read about a while back for doing the brick mortar . It gives good looking results and you can mix whatever color you desire. Since no football tonight guess I'll turn on the heater in my workroom and do a bit more tonight.

Was having anemic smoke with my Lionel Hudson, the local Lionel dealer suggested trying a reprogram of the engine, it worked. A simple solution to what appears to be a common problem.

[ChiefEagles]

My new Lionel SD80 was getting weak on smoke. So I added Lionel smoke to the Mega and it will run you out of the room with one loop around the room. I thnk the right mixture is half Lionel and half Mega. Mega diesel smoke seems not to do too good on its own. [?]

[GregM]

Doug,

Every tie must be insulated from the rail for the entire length that you want to use as the control rail. If you have a test meter (the folks at OGR sell a real nice one for a reasonable price) use the ohms measurement function to confirm that the outside rails are isolated from each other after the tape is placed under the rail.

There is another way to do this but it gets pretty involved. Two short insulated rail sections, a rectifier (to convert AC to DC), two relays, one must have normally closed contacts, and some fairly complex wiring. Basically what it does is the first control rail causes one relay to operate that turns on the signals. When the second control rail is activated, the second relay operates which turns off the signals. Part of the wiring involves using a set of contacts on the first relay to keep it energized until the second relay is operated interupting the power to the first relay. I realize this sounds crazy, but I can attest that it does work. I used this setup on a layout I built many years ago for my son. It operated a crossing gate that stayed down while the train passed. One thing that was very nice about this setup was that the power to the accessories can come from another source, don't need to use track power.