What will be the next innovation in HO scale MRR?

[simon1966]

There has been some really good discussions on some of the threads over the last few days. Antonio's Athearn one, sparked some debate for sure. I think most of us would agree that there have been some important periods of change in the market. The introduction of the P2K line, bringing well detailed plastic locomotives to the masses several years ago is one example. The introduction of sound equipped DCC locomotives by BLI is the classic more recent example of the market changing. What do you think might be the next big change?

[SpaceMouse]

Liliputians

Robotics. DCC is virtually untapped in it's potential. Add a PC and you can animate and add sound to everything (And pay through the nose.)

[Anonymous]

The way things are going, sound and DCC decoders will probably be standard before too long. Radio control too maybe!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Control stands that look and feel like the real thing that operate a model locomotive. There is a control stand by RailDriver. It connects to a computer via USB interface for direct control of computer controlled DCC systems. This would be for all scales though.
You could mock up a cab interior and set a big screen TV, with surround sound, in front of it in another location. Images would be transmitted from a camera mounted on a flat car being pushed around the layout. I think that would be a way to go. Only thing missing is the vibration and diesel fumes, but that can be duplicated too.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern

The way things are going, sound and DCC decoders will probably be standard before too long. Radio control too maybe!

Bob Boudreau

You're right Bob. There's nothing really expensive in there. Once the MFRs find an Indian or Pakastani firm willing to reverse engineer Soundrtax's hard work, the prices will plummet.

[ndbprr]

I think two things could happen soon:
1. Using dummies to hold batterries to operate the consist in DCC with radio signals freeing the engines from the need for contact with the rails. Sections could be left with current to recharge the batteries.
2. My personal desire is to see virtual reality with a fiber optic view out the cab windows front and back to operate your train.

[Anonymous]

I think onboard cameras might make an appearence - if the proposed two-way DCC communication system comes in it might be possible to use this to communicate with a camera, so you'd have a small monitor next to the throttle recieving a signal through the rails from onboard cameras. Then you'd have a reason for the ultra-bright LED headlights - how else would you see in tunnels?

[SpaceMouse]

See in the tunnels--Now I'm going to have to landscape the tunnels. Do they make 40 lb rats at Woodland scenics?

[CNJ831]

I'd have to agree with NDBPRR that radio controlled,onboard battery power will be the next truly important step in the hobby. Onboard cameras are an old generally unsuccessful idea, so are separate control stands (done as far back as the 1940's!), and sound isn't everyone's cup of tea either.

CNJ831

[Virginian]

Ready to run engines, steam and diesel, and rolling stock, that truly are READY TO RUN.
WAIT, hold it, we're there. I just recieved some BLI N&W hoppers. Of course for that price they ought to be, but they are truly ready to run. The air hoses on the couplers don't even hit the track. You don't suppose manufacturers have started buying KD height gages to spoil our fun after pretending they didn't exist for 40 YEARS do you?

[sparkingbolt]

How about couplers that uncouple on demand, perhaps by pointing a laser pointer at them. I don't mean like that recent locomotive that lifts it's coupler above the other. I mean something like tiny battery or track current (on DCC systems) solenoids hidden in the cars, that have photosensitive activators. Or they could be DCC operated if you could afford decoders for every car.



Cheap? Probably never. Doable? Probably now. Innovative? I'd think so.

Still, I'm quite pleased with my Kadee Delayed uncoupling system. Dan

[selector]

Will someone market an inexpensive, but extensive, line of layout modules, complete with idiot-proof wiring hookups, so that you can be up and running trains on a 3' X 26" layout, complete with turntable, lighted structures, etc., in about 30 minutes. For another $120, you can let the optional computer run the set-up for you and you can just sit back and relax with a beer or coffee. No need to really get involved at all!

(Note- above said with tongue firmly in left cheek.)

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm.... I dont know what to think. All these innovations above sound like great ideas, but they would be completely changing how MRRing is. All those pre-built layouts and such are great for people who just want to run trains with no effort. But I know I am not the only one who gets most enjoyment from building something with your own 2 hands and then getting that great satisfaction of watching a railroad run through an ideal miniature landscape. I like to do things myself, if I cant do something then I learn how so I can do it in the future. I do have some RTR models, but I get a lot more enjoyment out of something I built. My 4-6-0 kit may not look as good as something off the shelf, but I sure had a good time putting it together. Even though it did take 5 weeks instead of 5 minutes to get it running. Dont get me wrong, Im not flaming anybody. Its all up to the individual. Just thought I would express my opinion.

[selector]

Precisely, Joe. Hence, my disclaimer at the bottom of my post. I agree that a if a whole lot more changes, we might as well just sit back and watch.

However, Gasturbo mentioned remote activation (would need cameras mounted in participating owners' layout rooms). This is now done in both professional and amateur astronomer circles. You can seek scope time at a network of remotely operated scopes worldwide, and then point the scopes and activate CCD cameras to take timed exposures of distant galaxies, star systems, gas clouds, etc. All done from your computer desk at home.

[simon1966]

Since I started this, I will chip in with my thoughts on this.

1. DCC:
I suspect that DCC will be around in its current incarnation for a while. Any new control system would have to be a signiificant leap forward to get us to abandon a system in which we have invested so much time and effort (installing decoders etc) and money. However, I can not beleive that we will not see far more intuative DCC control systems appear. I use Decoder Pro for programming decoders, this eliminates the need for know info about CV's and hex values etc and provides a much more graphic and intuative interface for setting up a loco. I would expect that we will see throttles and control stations provide this type of GUI using some of the small but bright color LCD's that are available.

2. Materials and manufacturing methods:
There is a clear demand for higher quality more detailed rolling stock and locomotives. In most cases this has been achieved at the expense of ruggedness and we have very delicate models that are hard to handle without breaking fine details. I would like to think that we might see some movement in the use of different plastics/materials that will provide the detail, with some strength. The current method of manufacturing MRR is not very efficient, in that relatively small batches of locomotives are ordered from a subcontracting factory months before they are to be delivered and sold. How often do you hear us complain on this board that these production runs have sold out on preorders alone and so many modellers never really have access to the models they want. IMO, suppliers are losing sales and buyers get frustrated. I bet it wont be long before some clever importer/manufacturer lets us custom order what we want on the web. Kind of like some of the auto makers web sites where you choose color, options etc. Pick your road name, pick the color scheme, pick the detail parts needed, pick the road number, pick the control option (DC, DCC, Sound DCC), choose the sounds you want installed, select the DCC ID, choose if you want it pre-weathered etc, click order, and less than a month later, your custom loco arrives completly R to R, or not as you choose.

[mustanggt]

Automatic couplers ,radio control, opening access doors on the hoods of engines, boxcars with opening doors that don't have big claws, oh yeah, and FRED's will be optional on every peice of rolling stock you buy. You'll have so many you will be throwing them out like Horn hooks[:p]

[Javern]

a full line of multi scale model railroading equipment by Martha Stewart. High quality items available in shades of pastels and earth tones which will match all road schemes. Depot building kits with reversable two color walls so you can color coordinate with the change of seasons. No more painting will be necessary!

[challenger3802]

An engine that wanders off to the kitchen, makes and brings me back a mug of tea - all without being asked!

Oh and also some lifelike passengers who run onto the platform with seconds to spare as the train is about to leave, forcing themselves on to already overcrowded carriages. (You can tell I commute to London, can't you!)

Ian

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ndbprr

I think two things could happen soon:
1. Using dummies to hold batterries to operate the consist in DCC with radio signals freeing the engines from the need for contact with the rails. Sections could be left with current to recharge the batteries..

CVP, the folks who make EasyDCC make a product for outdoor railroads called Airwire. It is exactly what you describe above. I see no reason why the large decoders couldn't be reduced in size for HO where less power output is needed and presto! You've got the system you describe above. See their website: Http://www.cvpusa.com

[willy6]

"Made IN America" products at a reasonable price.

[JohnT14808]

I'd like to see an advance in decoders that would allow modelers to put a decoder into ANY engine, regardless of size. With improved miniaturization you could put decoders anywhere, to do many, many types of different functions, from running an old 0-4-0 switcher to animating scenes on the layout.

[Anonymous]

The ability to send a locomotive out with a train and switch a series of industrys with a programed route, it would hold in a siding to wait for a passing train with a simple keystroke on a computer.

Dont have an extra guy to run the Bumblescum-nowhere local? call up one of those GP7's with the route and switchlist programed in! And how would you handle uncoupling this dead-mans train? simple. each car and engine in the train has a Decoder that controls uncoupling by singals sent from the lead engines "crew decoder".

Want to run around your train on a grade? Simple. Just call up one of the cars with an airbrake decoder, the decoder puts resistance on the cars trucks so the whole train stays in place.

[ukguy]

Personally I would like to see more animated accessories/mini scenes rather than trains passing through a 'frozen' scene. I guess I would like to see stuff moving that wasnt just on the track.

I have ideas for a tree swing using magnets, one or two loggers/carpenters using a saw, someone chopping wood, someone painting a fence moving the brush up & down the panels. I have seen a scene with a rocking rocking chair on a porch and will probably attempt this also.The trouble is the motions need to be realistically repetative, as in my thoughts above. We have the technology.

Have fun & be safe
Karl

[GDRMCo]

Well I believe that we will have deisel locomotives running on R/C car fuel. It would pretty much use scaled down engines with cubic millimeter bore cylinders and use a air fuel mixture that would be ignited by a small spark. so if you had opening side doors you could see a minature V12 hard at work driveing the locomotive. plus you'd get the fumes and all!
The DCC system would control the valve timing and you could buy small turbochargers and superchargers to get a boost of horsepower from say .6hp to 1.6hp. Now if you had a AC6000CW or SD90MAC adding a turbo might make it a rail frying monster.
Well thats my thoughts on the subject.
Cya guys
Mitchell

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GDRMCo

...Well I believe that we will have deisel locomotives running on R/C car fuel. It would pretty much use scaled down engines with cubic millimeter bore cylinders and use a air fuel mixture that would be ignited by a small spark. so if you had opening side doors you could see a minature V12 hard at work driveing the locomotive. plus you'd get the fumes and all!

I agree Mitchell, that would be way cool - except, wouldn't having that fuel indoors be a bit of a fire hazard? That is one of the reasons I was so glad when water-soluable paints [poly-scale etc.] came out...

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ukguy

Personally I would like to see more animated accessories/mini scenes rather than trains passing through a 'frozen' scene. I guess I would like to see stuff moving that wasnt just on the track.

I have ideas for a tree swing using magnets, one or two loggers/carpenters using a saw, someone chopping wood, someone painting a fence moving the brush up & down the panels. I have seen a scene with a rocking rocking chair on a porch and will probably attempt this also.The trouble is the motions need to be realistically repetative, as in my thoughts above. We have the technology.

Have fun & be safe
Karl

This is what I meant by robotics.

[SpaceMouse]

One thing that we do have is the ability to add realism to train driving.


With the DCC controller and a computer chip, we add realism to the way trains run and in doing so add more fun to the engineer's job.

For instance:

Add variables of steam, water, fuel, and sand to steamers. Making it so you have to stop and fill-up and switch engines.

Add momentum to the train with the addition of each car making them harder to start and stop. (and making it impossible ti just reverse direction by flipping a switch)

BE able to visually know the location of all trains on the layout.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with a couple of posts here. I think we will see more robotics/animated scenic elements. The miniaturization has reached a level that allows for such things without the toy-like appearance such items had in the past, while being less cost-prohibitive. I would personally love to have a few of these on my layout, and it would definitely increase the fun factor for kids. I think the recent growth of operations-based realism, while great for adults, has maybe crowded out the development of items that appeal to the imagination of our younger MRRer's. Products that will fill this need will be, IMHO, an important area of development in the near future.

[Wdlgln005]

I'd like to guess that someday more Nscale will be sold than HO. The growth will come in more apartment & condo sized layouts that fit in a small bedroom. The pu***o double deck & mushroom style layouts take up too much space in the home to be very popular. Most modeler's don't have the time to devote to such a large project. The 4x8 starter layout will become an Nscale empire. HO may become more of a modular system, because you need so much space to make a realistic scene & have a reasonable size run to the layout.

Lionel & American Flyer S gague will become scarce. Lionel's bankrupcy problems & the lack of WalMart to stock trainsets becomes a problem. LGB & the outdoor scales will continue where people still have a backyard to decorate. Perhaps new layouts could fit on a outside deck, next to the grill.

[Stevert]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 8500HPGASTURBINE


2. NETWORKING DCC that will let you run trains on other peoples layouts.

This is available now, for free. See http://jmri.sourceforge.net/

P.S. Sorry to revive an old thread, but I just saw this...

Stevert