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gp38-2
Mar 11, 2014 15:55:24 GMT -5
Post by domi on Mar 11, 2014 15:55:24 GMT -5
My 3 GP38s: the cheapest locos I have, and among my best runners (with AZL Sd70s and MTL Geeps and SD40). I love watching them creeping at a scale man walking speed. Unfortunately my Geeps are not going oftenly on my layout as they are (still) undecs... Dom
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Post by domi on Mar 11, 2014 15:30:51 GMT -5
"We can handle it TOO"! Love that sense of humor... Dom
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Post by domi on Feb 11, 2014 17:55:37 GMT -5
Mark, I'm not a big fan of soldering the track joints: it takes a fair amount of heat to get a good solder joint and there's a potential for damaging the roadbed. I prefer to rely on the wiring to carry power. You're right but if you don't solder the track joints rail to rail, you're very likely to wind up with a kink at rails junctions between two samples of flextrack. Dom
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Post by domi on Jan 17, 2014 7:39:36 GMT -5
Excellent news! In the (yet) tiny Z scale market I think cooperation is better than blind competition. However, one question: will the customer have the choice of coupler when he purchases one of these locomotives in brand-new conditions? Or, like in the "good old times", will he have to use a dremel and set by himself a new coupler box if he wants to shift to an AZL (or MTL) coupler?
Dom
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Post by domi on Jan 13, 2014 15:00:50 GMT -5
Yes, I'm using Wright turnouts. My track is MTL flex so I don't know whether they're Peco compatible, but I guess so. I'm very, very satisfied with them. But I confirm craftsman Peter Wright gave up manufacturing them a few years ago due to health issues. I guess they're rather difficult to find on eb** or elsewhere... And true, I'm myself in the process of building FT turnouts as I'm definitly needing power routing turnouts, without roadbed nor side mechanism, such as is available for other scales with manufacturers such as Atlas or Sinohara...
Dom
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Post by domi on Jan 4, 2014 16:21:23 GMT -5
Really?!? And does he live ( and has his layout) in France? Dom
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Post by domi on Dec 25, 2013 2:23:51 GMT -5
Wonderful! Prototypical speed, prototypical length! All what I love! We're far from the "so cute" mad cockroach!
Merry Xmas to everybody,
Dom
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Post by domi on Oct 30, 2013 13:27:42 GMT -5
Thanks for the wise advise. Indeed I'm not that affraid. Dom
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Post by domi on Oct 29, 2013 17:34:55 GMT -5
Hey Dom. Here's a thought for you. During the construction phase of your turnouts, or redesign of your MTL's what about adding built in terminals to connect signals such as bi-polar to operate when the points change? If they connect directly to the turnout, you wouldn't need separate wiring back to your panel or to a relay and you could connect as many signals as needed up and down rail. Of course you'd need enough power behind it for operations. Just a thought. Hi Boxcarwilly. As my future layout will show a mexican branchline I don't expect any signal as there are not any in the prototype. Basically I'll have a freelanced hidden yard, then a small yard that is rather busy in the prototype, but without signals and with many weeds and much grass... And beyond it there is a 80-mile ling branch that sees only one to two trains each way every week. Thus no signals. BTW I just received my FT kits, I'll be starting assembly in ~one week.. Dom
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SD70
Oct 12, 2013 4:43:11 GMT -5
Post by domi on Oct 12, 2013 4:43:11 GMT -5
According to a truthful source, A Field guide to Trains, Gerald Foster: -SD60: length 71'2" -SD70: length 72'4". So if you want to remain accurate, more than changing your trucks' side you'll have to chop a little bit the locomotive's chassis and carbody.
Dom
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Post by domi on Oct 12, 2013 3:13:21 GMT -5
I don't even know where this guy comes from. But true, his first name is John and his email address starts with "scott". I'm still waiting for a second batch of 10 turnouts from him, but as he apparently had an heavy surgery to deal with I don't know when I receive my samples. On another hand I ordered FT some gigs and templates a few weeks ago, I should receive them shortly. That's definitly the kind of turnout I'm needing. Best look, and best operation as it's power routing. On my current layout I'm using Wright samples, which are perfect as well, but they are no more available. But If I'm pleased with the modifications I'll carry out on my MTL turnouts, maybe I won't bother building FT turnouts beyond the gigs I'm due to receive... But I don't plan to establish a license nor a business with this! I'll only let you know how I proceed. Dom
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Post by domi on Oct 10, 2013 16:19:37 GMT -5
Thanks for your input folks. Please be sure I'll let you know the progress. About FT I'm already in contact with one guy, he made me a first batch of 10 samples but I don't know whether he'll be able to continue...
Dom
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Post by domi on Oct 1, 2013 0:34:29 GMT -5
Still the issue with Z scale turnouts, as long as no major player releases a sample like what manufacturers such as Shinohara, Atlas or Microengineering release for N or HO.. Still the choice between Marklin's 40-year old toyish looking samples, excellent but non-US style Rokuhan's or rather disappointingly reliable MTL's. That's why I finally ordered Fast Tracks templates for my future layout...
But the last night as I was fully awake an idea came to my mind: I believe I'm going to dismantle one of my unused MTL turnouts, removing all what is underneath including the circuit board. Then I'll solder a feeder on the point's hinge, such as the true power-routing turnout I'm dreaming of. And I'll connect the feeder to a + - switch, thus giving a full electrical supply to the points. I'll let you know the result. Event if these turnouts are no way visually the same level than a non-roadbeded US-style N scale Atlas or Shinohara turnout I'm dreaming of for Z, they don't look odd and if I can obtain a 100% reliable turnout following this way that could be a better option to me than building the 40+ FT turnouts I'm needing for my future layout.
Dom
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Post by domi on Aug 11, 2013 10:43:33 GMT -5
However, if one day you have such plans, my No 1 hope is a power-routing turnout, with US standards for tie spacing, and with no roadbed and no side mechanism. Such as manufacturers like Atlas or Shinohara release for N or HO. Deeply missing in Z scale... Dom
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Post by domi on Jul 13, 2013 3:34:00 GMT -5
Great news! Can't wait to have mine! But I understand I'll have to do so till 15th of october!
Dom
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