After the Exeter Model railway club show I took stock of what locos I had that were digital and with soun. Ideally I wanted something that would also demonstrated the second tier of buttons available on the Dimax Navigator, and which also came at a cost that meant I was preapared to take it to shows etc
The following loco which had been advertised previously on one of the forums I frequent met some of those conditions - namely price. It also replicates the sound of a petrol mechanical (gas Mechanical in American jargon) rather than traditional diesel loco which sounded quite interesting. Given the relatively modest price then I'm quite pleased with it.
It's the Liliput V3 - their European version of the Davenport. The sound is by Dietz - I don't have the exact details with it being second hand but after some listening I'm tempted to say its the standard Feldbahn dieselok...
Comments on implementation of the Dark Arts today.
A while back I was asked for help on solving a problem with a wireless network (turned out to be European vs American frequency on the transmitter) but following that I produced a quick reference card on selecting the right train with the Dimax Navigator. The start up screen also sometimes shows "Analog Loco" amd I need to determine when that happens and update the card.
Changing point decoders will be next and then perhaps advanced stuff like consists. The manual is a walkthrough of the functions but not especially "user task friendly".
The other thing are my DCC sound sheets.... probably nothing very new but each locomotive has its own A5 card (and I have some A5 clipboards) in two different versions (LGB - 8 button, Dimaz 16 button -red/blue side stripe) for ready reference for users. Spreewald and U class shown.
Today has been sunny.
I was able to get out into the garden without either getting wet or bringing large amounts of sludge in. The wet weather of last year has taken its toll though.
Given that I intend to revise the the track plan and putting it down was very much planning, then I decided to lift bits and take it for a trip to the washer. The pictures without track also illustrate something I hadn't appreciated. I'm using decking, but use it on the grooved side and soil will collect in the grooves, and because its level it won't wash away. Solution - turn the board over !
This is the pile of some washed and cleaned (nice and shiny) track and stuff waiting (dark and covered in plant residue, snail snot etc...).
The other thing I did today was test out a couple of controllers I'd bought second hand. Another wireless transmitter and a complete handset with transmitter. Everything works good, so I'm now good to have 6 people controlling trains at once, which should be good for open days and operating sessions. The two at the right are a bit different and the only means of controlling any digital controlled points.
Ok, so Sunday I'm out with the rescue team but I take along a couple of locos which ultimately get some "testing" by the grandchildren whilst we are there. AFter about 30 mins, one decides to play up and basically refuse to obey any DCC commands..
Appears to run on DC (analog).
Loose wire is suspected.
Deep Breath time...
Open the chassis...
For those who know Paul (aka Stainzmeister) from other places then I'm deeply impressed by the neatness of the wiring and extra weight.
The downside is no obvious loose wires on the top part.
I'd previously tried a change the loco ID to no effect.
Tonight I tried a factory re-set on basic settings and motor functions on the chip. I'm not sure its registering as I'm not hearing the "click" I would ordinarily expect.
Before going further though its time to see if I can read the chip which means getting the SPROG 3 I bought for Christmas into effect. For various reasons (my health, elderly mum with dementia, complexity) then I've not actually loaded the software (tried to but the machine rejects the disc so it's going to have to be a download and install) and then checked all the wiring....
Growing up as a child in the 60's then if there were emergencies and crisis, then the solution was simple - Thunderbirds...
Today was spent off to see to a Garden railway where the owner is currently ill and not had chance to look at it for a while, there were a few problems and try and get it running. I was the DCC "expert" (in the land of the blind, the one eyed man with fuzzy vision is king...) on hand.
My aspect was soon sorted after some detective work, and I had along my own kit. I like to think of the car boot as the "pod" that Thunderbird 2 chooses....
The Massoth Transmitter was set for American frequency and trying to talk to a European receiver. There were a few other issues though - one loco appeared to have had its D changed, which was quickly sorted.
A shay posed other problems though. Again, by a process of elimination (Trying it on DCC, trying on DC) the decision was taken to open to it up and the teamwork came in here. Whilst the local organisor of the G scale society got to work with the soldering iron on some loose wires, I was back to probably my true place as track scrubber with the LGB track rubber. The Track had been given a fairly good clean, but I still think the LGB track rubbers are better than things like scotch pads etc...
Still, the rescue pod (i.e. car boot) had one more task to perform.... There was a effectively a tunnel (a space beneath some steps) that was a real problem to clean unless you had arms that were say seven feet long to be able to reach the middle.
Several passes with this (LGB Track cleaning loco) and the space was up and running on DCC. So, by the end all locos working, on wireless DCC, and all track available to be used.
Last week saw a major move forward in the dark arts. Fellow G scaler down here was having problems with DCC and asked for my help: which shows how desperate things were. Got the gear but now getting nothing - no sound, no light, no motor - could I pop round....
So, the Monday before set to and had a bit of a play with the Dimax on decoder programming - scary stuff... Changed some loco D's and (sound of trumpets please...) some CV's. In my case it was to get the extra sounds (on Function buttons 10-16) that live on the Massoth chip.
Success on my part and the following night - scary stuff - but a factory re-set by rewriting a CV (which got us sound and light) but no motors and then after a bit of testing and thinking a motor re-set which got the motors working. End result one happy G scale, one happy G scaler's wife (as G scaler is now not so grumpy as his new toy works) and a success. Thanks must go to G scale central forum which provided lots of useful help and advice before the big evening.
Since then I've enabled the remaining sounds on the remaining locos.
This is one of the Stainz showing that the yellow functions are now working, and in particular the bell at item 15.
One of my favourites now has to be the "gong" sound on the U class.
I've not forgotten the blog - more busy with the trails of life (mum and dementia, OR me and a bad back/sciatica) and have been busy reading books/magazines (its been rather wet to get into the Garden), and forging ahead. If I regret anything at the moment it's lifting the "temporary" loop that I put down in the good weather in Feb/March as I could easily have then nipped out and run trains in the few clear spells we have had.
Iscatalbahn has moved forward on several fronts since the last post....
Digital Control - I've upgraded to LGB MTS 3. Essentially this means the purchase of a new 'central station" capable of handling the Dimax Navigator. For an LGB MTS user then the upgrade benefits seem very negligible (one extra address, possible other benefits) but the MTS 3 kit works with the Dimax Navigator. The digital starter set that I purchased came with MTS2 but with a booklet (typical LGB at the end of days) that suggested it had an MTS 3 central station and would therefore work with the Dimax Navigator. Around Christmas time I got a second hand Dimax Navigator and wireless receiver through an offer via the G scale central forum after discussions about DCC/MTS/Dimax. Seems like I'm getting lots of stuff from estate sales or (older) people giving up, although I suppose they know its going to a home to be used and I've offered running rights on visits if appropriate. For me, the big difference aside from access to 128 loco address (rather than 22) is the access to 16 sound buttons rather than 8. Dragon G scale used to offer a 5% discount to member of the G scale Central Forum AS WELL as probably the cheapest prices in the UK and a nice postage structure but a decision was taken to end the discount. With already probably the cheapest prices then I can't say I was surprised but it brought forward the purchase of the MTS 3 central station from my viewpoint. The idea had always been that I could have this as the reward for breaking the 16 stone weight loss barrier, but with current interest rates giving pence on accounts, then the decision was made (by me) that I could have it early....
And I have to say that I am very pleased with the Massoth Dimax Navigator. No pictures I'm afraid as I really need to understand the control booklet and post something meaningful. Equally so, I'm glad that I have the LGB controls for the ham fisted adults / responsible grandchildren from next door which are simple to use and with 99% of what I have deliver all that there is.
Rolling stock. Ever since the Chief Financial Officer (CFO - SWMBO) discovered that I had what purported to be a "working snowplow" then she has been waiting for the winter and snow to see it in action. Problem here was something with enough 'oomph" to push it forward, meaning a two engined locomotive. I'd been considering the 251 class (diesel), and the Saxon IV K (Meyer) with cardboard mock ups of both (The PIKO Taurus would have had the oomph but at 71.5 cm long would just have been too big for the garden): the 251 class seemed quite specialised (only 3 made) and the Saxon seemed long and I didn't relish the the thought of letting it near snow in the event of real snow, given all of its cubbyholes and intracacies. So, when someone on the G scale central forum starts pulling up a garden railway and mention is made of a digital double engine diesel then I enquire about the price.
End result is a number of further acquisitions for the Iscatalbahn line...
So, there is:
a) LGB 21950 - Austrian Diesel... built for the narrow gauge lines (sixteen at least)
b) Track cleaning loco (digital) - I asked if there was anything else digital and the reply was this at a very reasonable price. The extreme wet weather this year as caused to me see the sense of this. And it can also be run in non track cleaning mode, giving me an ordinary looking big diesel.
c) Two blue/cream short coaches. In some ways these go with the blue Stainz but are also (I believe) typical Austrian colouring from a particular era. A later post (I wont have time tonight to set up the photographs) will expand on the passenger coaches/steam locos on the Iscatalbahn line and which will reflect the inspiration of a Lake Constance/Bodensee line, with mixed Austrian/ German/Swiss traffic.
d) Blue Stainz. Very much of a "why not" purchase. I've wanted a blue loco for some time now after seeing pictures of the real life Darjeeling loco that was on loan around England...
and which had featured in Narrow Gauge World Magazine.
e) Lastly the DB Otto. I've been going down an American sideline for alternative running after getting first of all some brightly coloured reefers/box cars and cabooses for the ham fisted adults / responsible children to play with (whilst keeping the quality German stuff away from them) when I got hold a PIKO 0-6-0 dockside Switcher (small fittings broken - so bargain price - yet to digitise) and an LGB 0-4-0 Porter (second hand at a good price) on which I just liked the colour and lines. This had led to the discovery that the Porters made by LGB in the early 1990's (e.g. Casey and Rusty) were sourced out to Korea and there were quality control issues over the plastics. The chassis is shared by the Toy Train " Otto". Fred (forum member) offered me the chance of a Porter at a good price whilst I was discussing Korean Porters on the forum. Not until I get there do I discover that it is in fact a DB Toy Train rather than an "Otto" and is rather fetching in fairly dark green livery. Being DB it also fits in very well with what I already have. So, rather than go to be base of an American themed Porter, this will be chipped as is.
Had the locos out a bit tonight. I wanted to see if the chipped Spreewald had had the smoke unit chipped as well. Sadly the answer seems to be not. We ran a bit around the garden to build up power but the reality is that they will go into smoke on a standing track.
This is a new video of an acquisition from a while back that people won't have seen. It's and LGB 0-4-0 Porter. American, and from what I gather somewhat over scale in that it is 1:20 scale rather than 1:22.5. It was an estate sale (which is always sad news) but a bargain price that meant I could buy it, even though it didn't belong with anything that I have because I like the colour and its looks. Can one ever have too many locos ?
Discovered that the Zillertal (chipped but no sound) also has working smoke generator. The house is beginning to reek a bit of citronella oil.... :-) (Thanks must go to Paul who shared his recipe of 50% BBQ lighter fluid and 50% Citronella oil, which is way cheaper than official LGB smoke fluid).
And the big (if unexciting news) - I changed the ID of a decoder inside a loco from Factory Finish no 2 to no 8... And it still works... Until my MTS 3 magic box arrives and I can hopefully use my Massoth to change then I am stuck with ID's from 1-15 (rather than 1-22) but its a big step. I can start work on sorting out the (far too big fleet) locos I currently have.
Last week I bought four second hand motors and a Decoder box which I collected on Friday and played around with today (Sunday). Bought some dual core speaker wire from Maplins and I'd got a power pick up from the analogue train set I bought. Doing this today I'm really glad that I bought a wire stripper some time ago (rather than having to rely upon craft knives).
Very simple to wire up and it worked first time... it may not be the most exciting video to watch (and i turned the loco sound off) but it's evidence of another small step for Chris. It's not had its day as a video star yet, but combine digital remote control points with the digital remote uncoupler/coupler shunter, and the shunting yard become much more fun.
Here's a close up of the 'magic' box, wiring etc.. The wire is far too long but it's so I can play around with it. The power for this is drawn from the track: there is not a seperate wiring circuit.
Results were so successful and so easy that I've just asked for the rest of the stuff that the guy had on sale.
The last entry on the locos provoked a comment about sound wagons. I've actually got two of these although only one is DCC but pictures of both will serve to illustrate the principles.
First up is an official LGB product. In pre DCC days they obviously made a number of factory converted "sound wagons" so those with smaller engines could enjoy sounds. I'd have to read the instruction book to see if track magnets would trigger additional sounds, but on DC it makes a steam train sound. The wires out the front left connect to the power supply socket on the rear of the (DC) loco and as the track power is increased (thus meaning more speed), the chuff increases. The speaker is floor mounted. I bought the coach because I wanted the style of 4 door coach and the price was right (excluding sound) on German ebay.
The 9v battery will serve to provide power in the event of track failure, such as going across points or an isolation track.
Next up is what somebody lovingly crafted and I bought with the Spreewald. A standard LGB DCC sound module has been fitted inside a (resprayed) goods wagon. This has a digital decoder fitted and thus has its own ID - currently set to number 1 (it should be possible to change this). When placed behind a loco with the same ID, then the sounds increase as the loco increases speed and the other sound functions (bell, whistle etc) are also available (in reality the same message is being sent to two decoders with the same ID number).
With its own DCC ID then it is possible to have this wagon sitting on its own making noises as if it was a loco: so it really needs to stay permanently behind the loco. One of the problems with sound - in all scales I suspect - is finding place and a suitable mounting for the loudspeaker. Recent technology has produced a range of thin, almost flat loudspeakers which are idea for mounting in the cab roof of a loco which seems to be a favoured place. Power pick up is via the track (see wires to take power off the wheels, but again some sort of buffer (Capacitors?) have been fitted so that in the event of isolation (e..g point frog etc) the sounds will continue to play.
