Wire it, Solder it, To AC or DC it! What Decoders? Gus err George err Bob ahh You There, Gosh and I know you, mental blank. Must be old timers... half heimers. Power for switches: Unless you are using the DCC decoders for your switches you can use the DC Constant side of your MRC transformer to power up your switches. *Caution*: Although some have used the AC side of their transformers to power up the Atlas switches and will learn in time, why it's better not to. I would recommend strictly the DC Constant side as it provides... as pure a DC, as you can get and doesn't give you the pulsing you'll get from the AC side. As a bonus, make sure the electrical switches you use are momentary on. You don't want constant current going out to the solenoids as it will burn out the windings. AC will contribute to an eventual, early burn out of the windings in the solenoid. Painting track: I will have to do a search here. Bob/PowerSteamGuy1790 has come up with some interesting ways to paint the track. I would not recommend spray paint and sanding it off. I've done that and it ruins the finish they put on the track and it tends to get dirty and hold dirt, requiring more sanding. And the cleaning cycle just gets repetitively worse. Control Panel: Yep, and I think you and MtnTrainman/George came up with a good idea. cute:
Thanks Rick, the name is Tri by the way. I'll wait on Powersteamguy, to see if he can help with the track painting. I was just about to head to the hobby store for some acrylic paint and airbrush it on the track.
Search the forums for the word "Neolube" for weathering / painting rails. A good thread is this one in the Inspection Pit. Bob/PSG has also started using Neolube - see is JJJ&E Benchwork thread. I just got two bottles. On my first track, did ok, but made a bit of a mess on the second track (but, it looks like an oil spill on the road bed, so not too bad). Will clean up with IPA and scrubbing if I want to remove it (this is on Unitrack).
tri: I first brush on the side of the rails, Neolube # 2. After the Neolube # 2 dries I brush on a wash of Polly Scale Grimy Black. When that dries I brush on a wash of Polly Scale red oxide. When you brush on the Neolube, you don't need a brush dripping with Neolube. Just use small amounts. You can always add a seond coat of Neolube. Try to keep the Neolube off thw tops of the rails. It's a conductive agent so getting it on top of the rails isn't detrimental. It will just blacken the rail tops if you accidentallly get some on top of the rails.
Micro-mark is the only vendor that sells Neolube #2. The cost is MSRP $14.55/bottle.It's now on sale for $12.45/two ounce bottle. It has to be shipped UPS as it is alcohol based. Here is their website. http://www.micromark.com/NEOLUBE-2-FL-OZ,8383.html You can also use the Neolube # 2 to blacken the side rods and drivers of steam loco's. It will blacken any metal surface.
Bob, How much do you dilute the "Grimey Black" and "red oxide" to make your washes? Assume you are diluting with IPA? You can also purchase Neolube 2 from P-B-L.
Rick: I dilute the Grimy black and Red Oxide slightly. I use Blue Windshield wiper solution to make the washes. 85% grimy black and 15% blue windshield wiper solution. It's the same ratio for the red oxide. I also use the blue windshield wiper solution for weathering locomotives and freight cars. In those washes, I use 50% paint and 50% blue windshield wiper solution. These washes work great.
Tri, Looks like you got your problem resolved. The rest of us got a bonus as well. Great bunch of guys here to communicate with. Do stop in sometime and that goes for all my friends in TrainBoard land. Enjoy your new layout
Yes, great guys here including yourself. I owe you guys some updated pics sometime tomorrow! I will take you up on your offer very soon. I think before I start dig into my foam to create a pond and streams.
I just joined this group. I have been in n-scale off and on for many years, but I am pretty impressed with some of the tips I have read here. I hope I can contribute in the future.
Learn What You Can and Share What You Learn Welcome to TrainBoard. It's like everything else in the learning curve. You learn what you can, while experience becomes the teacher and you share what you learn. Have fun!cool:
