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Took the plunge today

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Wylie, TX
  • 238 posts
Posted by SqueakyWheels on Saturday, November 18, 2006 5:29 AM
 cwclark wrote:
 Medina1128 wrote:

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on. Seriously, keep us posted on how it works. This is what prompts us old DC guys into taking the plunge, too. In hindsight, wouldn't the Nestea plunge have been easier on the plastic?

 

      I dunno about that Nestea plunge and all, but in the back of my head,  I've always wanted to go to DCC but could never afford it. Everytime i tried to save up some cash for a system, well...that new locomotive or piece of rolling stock always took center stage.

      I just had a bunch of stock mature and was forced to use it or loose it. (company policy) so I cashed it in and lo and behold; it was enough to get a system plus a little left over for this Christmas.

     My wife thought I was nuts for putting in that much cash for the system but what does she know about it? I can't even get her to take control of a throttle and see just how much fun MRRing is.

    The only problem i'm having with it now is all the "what if's"   I jump out of bed from a dead sleep dreaming about what could happen during  certain wiring configurations. It's 4 o' clock in the morning right now and why am I up so early?...Yep! another dream about how my new buss wire will run around the layout. Geez!..I'll be glad when I get this thing in and it won't get here until Friday....chuck

   



CW,

I think there are a few of us out here that can sympathyze with you over your better half's thinking in this hobby.

My wife freaked out over my purchasing a second locomotive- now I have twelve. Not only that, I told her she can help out with the scenery. Now she gets to do the scenery and I get to take care of the locomotives, and the rail beds. Life is much better now as I don't have to worry about getting beaten up over purchases made for what seems like a dream to me, and unnecessary expendutures to her.


Tim _______________________________ Our Father is MY PILOT!!!!
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Jarrell, Texas
  • 1,114 posts
Posted by Tom Bryant_MR on Saturday, November 18, 2006 5:26 AM

Wow!  I know how you feel though.  Our annual bonus is due in a couple weeks and I've already spoke with the CFO and 1/2 to her (to take care of Xmas) and 1/2 to the RR.  I'm not complaining.  I've already notified my LHS to stock up cause "Christmas is coming".

Regards,

Tom

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Saturday, November 18, 2006 5:07 AM

 tstage wrote:
Wow, Chuck! Shock [:O]  I think you automatically get membership into Tony's "Gold" club for that order. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]  Keep us up-to-date when your package comes in...

Tom

Tony's never mentioned the Gold Club to me.  I'll have to call him to find out where my membership  card is Smile [:)]

 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Crosby, Texas
  • 3,660 posts
Posted by cwclark on Saturday, November 18, 2006 4:54 AM
 Medina1128 wrote:

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on. Seriously, keep us posted on how it works. This is what prompts us old DC guys into taking the plunge, too. In hindsight, wouldn't the Nestea plunge have been easier on the plastic?

 

      I dunno about that Nestea plunge and all, but in the back of my head,  I've always wanted to go to DCC but could never afford it. Everytime i tried to save up some cash for a system, well...that new locomotive or piece of rolling stock always took center stage.

      I just had a bunch of stock mature and was forced to use it or loose it. (company policy) so I cashed it in and lo and behold; it was enough to get a system plus a little left over for this Christmas.

     My wife thought I was nuts for putting in that much cash for the system but what does she know about it? I can't even get her to take control of a throttle and see just how much fun MRRing is.

    The only problem i'm having with it now is all the "what if's"   I jump out of bed from a dead sleep dreaming about what could happen during  certain wiring configurations. It's 4 o' clock in the morning right now and why am I up so early?...Yep! another dream about how my new buss wire will run around the layout. Geez!..I'll be glad when I get this thing in and it won't get here until Friday....chuck

   

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
  • 4,261 posts
Posted by Medina1128 on Saturday, November 18, 2006 3:02 AM

WOW! After dropping that much 'kaching' at Tony's, he may be eyeballing you to get rid of a daughter on. Seriously, keep us posted on how it works. This is what prompts us old DC guys into taking the plunge, too. In hindsight, wouldn't the Nestea plunge have been easier on the plastic?

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,239 posts
Posted by tstage on Saturday, November 18, 2006 12:12 AM
Wow, Chuck! Shock [:O]  I think you automatically get membership into Tony's "Gold" club for that order. Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]  Keep us up-to-date when your package comes in...

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, November 17, 2006 11:54 PM

Wow, that is a hefty wad of cash!  Smart move on the Never-never Card.  You know, never have to pay for it...? Big Smile [:D]

I hope you get many useful hours out of that system.  I went with the old Klunk..the SEB last year, and must say that it is serving me very well.  I think I might upgrade to radio in the next couple of years, but not sooner.

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Friday, November 17, 2006 10:15 PM

You shouldn't have to rewire, just refeed the blocks from the PS4.  A number of us have similar systems, so don't hesitate to ask questions.  I don't know of the NCE decoders have dropping resistors or current limiting for the headlights.  I know that Digitrax decoders do.  It cuts down on installation time.

 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Crosby, Texas
  • 3,660 posts
Took the plunge today
Posted by cwclark on Friday, November 17, 2006 10:05 PM

Hello sports fans,

        Well,  finally took the plunge head first into a DCC system today.   After an extensive study program from some books about DCC, I went to Tony's Train Exchange website this afternoon and purchased the Digitrax Super Chief 8A R DCC system, a Magna Force MF615 power supply, a UT4R throttle, two extra throttle recievers and two 30 ft. sections of 8 pin phone wire,  an NCE  PS4 circuit breaker for 4 power districts,  an AR1 auto reverse circuit for my wye, and 21 NCE decoders for my locomotives ranging from BB Athearns to Atlas, and Proto 2000's...Whew!...$1150.00, my credit card was smok'in like an old coal burn'in shay when I got done and it ain't over yet!

     I still need about 5 or 6 more decoders, but like the dummy that I am, I threw the old locomotive boxes away and don't know whither the Athearn locomotives were Genesis or RTR  unless I tear into them and  I do hope the majority of them are RTR ... 

     I think i'm going to be real busy the next few months.  I have a 28 block DC layout to totally rewire....chuck

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