Noel

This fantastic Dave. Where did you get the 'negative ion generator'? Was it out of an air purifier? So glad I searched this forum for 'static grass'. Having watched some Everard Junction videos, static grass seems the way to go. The timing of this is great. Where do you source your static grass material?

Thanks Dhu Varren. There may be life yet in the old 33s. Not sure if I'm tooled up to handle the wheel job. "All that is required is a drive gear for the motor" - Any suggestions for a source for the drive gear? Noel

It's many many years since I dissected, repaired and serviced locos, and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it? All the different and sublet ways of getting bodies off, bogies out, wheels off, steam running gear off, etc. I've started servicing and evaluating my 15-50yo collection of Locos for suitability for DCC. Basically I'm giving each one a basic service so I can test run on DC and decide if they run smoothly enough to bother putting a decoder in. I have already ruled out the Hornby-Dublo and Triang locos, but some of my older Hornby steam locos from 1980s onwards might be ok, and I hope most of the early 90s Bachmann, Hornby and Dapol will run smoothly enough to warrant fitting decoders. I've already added power pickups to some of the bogies on 2-6-2 tank engines which seems to have made a huge difference running over points. Tonight after the Lima class 33 thread, I took my pair apart and serviced them. Both running a lot better, but those late 1970s Lima power bogies are very basic motors, so I don't think I'm going to convert them to DCC unless I re-motor them and add flywheels, or buy modern replacement bogies that they used in their later 90s models (bo-bo). I'd prefer bogies that don't use friction tyres so power pickup is possible on all eight wheels (i.e. four axels), rather than two wheels on opposite sides of powered and non powered bogies as was the custom in the 70s and 80s.

Great stuff. Can't wait to see this evolve.

Hi Folks Could anybody please advise me are these coaches Laminates or Bredins or another? They look very like the coaches I remember travelling on in the 60s. Thanks They have a vague resemblance to LMS Staniers

Just realised how old my pair are - CIE. Your 33s in IR livery look a lot fresher. If I can re-chassis mine to co-co and run well, I may keep them and convert the front of the cab to look more like a 001 class. Convert to two windows, remove overhead cab box, put lights on facia above centre panel between windows, remove drip rail and put a buffer beam on each end. The doors will still be in the wrong position, but for nostalgia reasons it might be nice to retain locos from my childhood if I can get it to look half like a 001 class and run well enough for DCC. A winter project?

Hi Aramand I have a pair of those also. Have been pondering what to do with them. If I converted them to DCC I feel I'd have to re-bogie them for four axel pickup, loose the rubber friction tyres, and get better low speed running. I think I'd also have to convert the cab to two windows . . . a lot of bother - is it worth it on such old 'toy' stock locos that don't run that great. Cheers Noel

Yes before I tried it I was a bit sceptical about the bother of having a laptop in the mix, but got one of my retired old laptops, wiped it clean and put JMRI on it. No AV nor bloat ware, just JMRI, so it boots/hibernates like a rocket and lives under the layout like a black box. I was surprised how well it works, especially with iPad in 4 throttle mode controlling 4 locos without switching or recalls. Saved me a packet on wireless cab gear and extra cabs. Using iPad as Central command station, 4 throttles, iPhone for wireless walk around 5 cabs for FREE

Wow - That's an amazing track plan. Looks very close to the real LJ. Huge operating potential. Looking forward to watching this one.

Yes, I'm not sure which way around! Who got the latest, etc. I purchased mine only last month, his video was posted last may, but made when I don't know. I will check the version no on DCC programmer. BTW, Thank you for the link to the amazing series of how-to videos on Everade Junction. An absolute gold mine of info for me after 15 years break from the hobby.

Thanks Skinner75. Very enjoyable video. I haven't had any of those problems with the 36-557s in my MM141/181s. Just powered up the layout to double check, but no chip noise when stopped, acceleration/deceleration is good, and they stop immediately the 'STOP' button is pressed. I have a Lenz Silver 21pin in a MM181 and the performance seems identical to the 36-557, if anything the 36-557 has slightly smoother crawl speed but that could be a difference in the two MM motors. I wonder if there were different production batches and I got lucky with my 36-557 stock. I posted this comment on his youtube: Thanks for the excellent video clip. Interesting experience you've had with your chips. I have a mix of Lenz Silver 21s and Bachman 36-557 in my Murphy Model Irish GMs (141/181 class) and have been surprised how good the 36-557s have been in my 141/181s. After watching this video, I have just double checked the locos running the 36-557 and they all stop immediately when 'stop' is pressed. No noise either when idle, and their slow running and acceleration is fine. I wonder if there are different versions or batches of the 36-557 chips produced and I've been lucky with mine (so far). The Lenz have performed well too. The MM141 and MM181 ultra slow running with the Bachmann has been impressive. I think they are rebadged SoundTrax M1s. Bachmann don't actually make decoders.

Agree about Lenz. The Bachman 36-557 is actually a rebadged SoundTrax M1. It does seem worth a few extra bob to put a reasonable decoder in older locos rather than budget decoders. They seem to have better features for driving old motors smoothly. Spent a few hours this evening dismantling the first batch of my older steam locos for a pre DCC service and DC test run. Also allows me to evaluate what space is available to fit decoders, pick ups, etc. It doesn't seem worth fitting DCC to a loco unless there are pickups on at least 3 axles, and preferably 4 axles. Some of my old BR diesels have pickups on only two axels on one bogie!

Respect Superb workmanship - Enjoy.

I've used a mix of Lenz Silver 21pin and Bachman 36-557 21pin in Murphy Models 141/181s. The low cost 36-557 performs remarkably well with MM141 crawling smoothly without any juddering.

Two queries: 1. Does TL mean lighting provided along the length or a coach rake by a power van with genie? 2. How were the 'steam heaters' fuelled (Diesel, Gas, Electric, etc)?

I'm fairly new myself to DCC, but as I understand it the number of pins is more of importance when using 'direct fitting' decoders (i.e. decoders that plug directly onto a circuit board in the loco or into a lead already fitted into the loco). If using bare wire decoders than I don't think the number of pins/wires matters too much if using basic four function decoders (i.e. loco drive plus a few lights). 21pin decoders seem to support more functions (i.e. lights, fire box flicker, simulated steam module, sound/speaker connections). There are wiser and more experienced owls on here who I'm sure can give a much better explanation. I'm about to embark on a phased programme to install decoders in about 30 of my old locos, mainly LMS, GWR, BR (exLMS/exGWR) and a few LNER steam. None of these are DCC ready (i.e. don't have DCC sockets), so I will be fitting basic drive only or four function wire decoders in most of them, but I plan to use 8pin plugs and harnesses for ease during future maintenance and in case I ever need to change the decoders. I've bought a few test samples so far and have found some are better than others for slow speed running especially with older style motors. Some of the budget decoders don't seem to run locos as slow speeds as smoothly as others. The recent Murphy Models GM locos I have collected take 21pin direct fitting decoders so no choice there as regards pins. So far I'm impressed with LokPilot 4, LokSound 4, Lenz Silver and surprisingly the Bachman 36-557 (rebadged Soundtrax). Have a few more yet to try.

Hi Dave. Yes Engine Driver JMRI Throttle seems to do the same job on android phones and tablets. Happy days wireless cabs walking around layouts. Ideally such cab apps should be able to interface directly with decent DCC control systems using WIFI (i.e. instead of needing a PC/Laptop/Mac in between), but turkeys don't vote for christmas, so I guess DCC system vendors don't want us all to use our phones instead of buying their propriertory cabs. The WiThrottle app has saved me from having to buy two additional cabs. And WiThrottle has a more direct interface to higher value functions than most cabs I've seen (i.e. no need for silly shift buttons). This is useful for sound equipped decoders with many useful functions above FN 0-9 (e.g: notching GM motors up/down). Engine Driver - Android App

Some photos would be nice. Unfortunately I couldn't make it to the show. Sounds great.

Hear hear - inspirational. Just an awesome layout. I love the scenic work.

Here are some basic steps to use iPhone and/or iPad as a low cost wireless CAB control on most popular DCC systems. You can control up to TWO locos from an iPhone, and FOUR from an iPad. Prerequisites: Laptop or PC must be on the same WIFI network as the iPhone/iPad JMRI must support your vendors DCC controller - most are supported (check JMRI website) You will need either and RS232 serial cable or a USB cable to connect your DCC controller to your laptop. Install the free WiThrottleLite app on an iPhone or iPad (later if you like it you can buy the full version for €8.99) 1. Install JMRI on Laptop, PC or Mac. Connect to RS232 or USB port. 2. Configure JMRI Connectivity to your vendors DCC Control Unit 3. Check JMRI is communicating with your DCC controller. Look for green ONLINE message in the bottom of the JMRI window. 4. Add one or more of your LOCOs to JMRIs Loco Roster List. Choose Decoder, enter loco address and a description 5. Try driving one of your LOCOs using the JMRI Throttle. This will act as a test to ensure JMRI can interface with your DCC controller. 6. Start JMRI's WiThrottle Server. Use Actions menu. This will listen for iPhones or iPads on the same WIFI network running WiThrottle app 7. Start WiThrottle App and choose a loco to control by using SET. WiThrottle will display your Loco inventory from the JMRI Loco Roster List. Swipe to Throttle page and drive! 8. JMRI can label each locos decoder functions in plain english. The labels are transferred to the iPhone/iPad apps 9. WiThrottle App with custom function labels. (Murphy 071 Sound Decoder) Have fun. The best thing about this is you can use old phones as free hand held wireless cab controls, or pay only €9 for the full WiThrottle app. iPad/WiThrottle controlling TWO locos

As I understand it YES, but I think you will need to download the latest version of JMRI which is still in beta test, but available for download (i.e. 3.9) and supports MRC. I just checked the latest production version of JMRI Decoder Pro that I am running on my Mac and PC, both of which are running version 3.8, but MRC/Gaugemaster is NOT listed as a manufacturer in the 'Manufacturer' section of the system preferences in 3.8. Suggest you download the free 3.9 version and check to see if MRC is listed in Preferences. Cheers Noel Steps: Install JMRI on PC/Laptop Connect PC/Laptop to DCC system (ie RS232 or USB depending on system) Configure 'System Manufacturer' section of JMRI preferences, and 'System Connection' (i.e. COM Port, etc). Check the bottom of the main JMRI window to see that your DCC controller is listed as 'ONLINE' in green. (i.e. RS232 or USB cable is working and correctly wired/configured). Add a LOCO to the JMRI Roster list (i.e. choose decoder type and enter loco address) Test JMRI is talking to your DCC system by trying to drive the loco using JMRI's Throttle Window. Ensure your laptop is connected to your domestic WIFI router. Under 'Actions' click 'Start WiThrottle Server'. This will listen over WIFI for any devices running WiThrottle. Start WiThrottle on smartphone/tablet that is connected to the SAME wifi network. After a short while it should see your JMRI system, and your JMRI WiThrottle Server window should see your phone or tablet. Choose a LOCO on the phone, SET, and run it. For MRC there may be an earlier step to tell JMRI which MRC cab it is.

Hi Folks What are popular methods of weathering? I've read an excellent piece on here using black/leather spray mix with lots of thinners being wiped off with cloth/cotton buds then allowed to dry (ie the wet method). Are there other methods? I've heard of a dry powder application which presumably is then sprayed with some sort of Matt lacquer to seal and fix it, is that another? Pros & cons, etc. thanks. Noel

Ok after my moaning about jurassic software interfaces for decoder programming, I hooked up our NCE Pro Cab DCC controller to a laptop running JMRI, which in turn could be controlled by the WiThrottle app on my iPhone and iPad over WIFI. (too many acronyms ) And surprise surprise it all worked! Now I have an almost zero cost walk around wireless cab that can operated as a single or dual throttle control. OK the daft laptop has to be running, but it has spared me the cost of buying more cabs and especially wireless ones. An added bonus is I did not have to buy one single extra bit of hardware. Out of the box the NCE controller has an RS232 port so no need for USB converter as I used my retired old Win7 Laptop. WiThrottle iPad app running two locos - WIFI interface to Laptop running JMRI connected to NCE via RS232 cable. WiThrottle iPhone app - low cost wireless hand held cab Now if there was a half decent iPad app for decoder programming . . .? JMRI is not bad for advanced decoder programming, especially for speed curves, function mapping and quick access to sound settings. It takes a while to import an entire decoders settings from the program/test track. JMRI didn't have library settings for the popular Bachmann 36-557 decoder (ie. rebadged SoundTrax tsunami). Lots to learn, lots to experiment with. BUT in the end - I now have two wireless cabs for only €9

Agree Wireless hand held walk about for FREE with WiThrottleLite app or only €9 for full WiThrottle version. Costs a micro fraction of manufacturers wireless systems. WiThrottle controlling NCE system using WIFI via JMRI on a Laptop

Having watched some youtube videos the age demographics in usa modelling seems a factor alright.