Search results

I don't know of any website that does independent reviews of equipment. You can look at trains.com which is Kalmbach Publishing's website. They are advertiser supported so don't look for much critical editorial content. But, with some reading between the lines, they can help. However the website...

I have code 83 rail for my Christmas layout. I find it aggrevating to put the loco and cars on. But, once they are railed, it works just fine and looks very nice. I use code 100 on my main layout in the basement. It works well too, but doesn't look quite as good.

Alpine has a couple of different mine types. They are western prototypes, but you will find underground mines in the east. Walthers has several mines, including a flood loader.

DCC it's easy. Just select the address of the loco you want to run and then give it a command. On DC, it involves block wiring.

Glass would model a dead calm moment. How many of those do you see, especially in a harbor?

Philip, I'm fond of the Lenz systems. A Set 100 retails at $350 and a couple of extra boosters are probably $150 each. The handhelds retail for $100 each or you can get XPAs and let everyone bring their own cordless phone for about $50. The Set 100 has the capability with an XPA to run using...

You're welcome. You have been told correctly, the Prodigy Advance will only support decoder equipped engines. I would love to have been privy to the negotiations that lead MRC to accept that. But, the best any DCC system can do is control one analog locomotive. I don't really view the Prodigy...

For that very reason, I personally prefer the Lenz LH90 for train control. But, I don't have any of my turnouts decoded as yet. The LH90 is great, street price is around $80, no hand throttle is cheaper with four digits. It feels nice in my hand and it's well made. Lenz builds the MRC Prodigy...

Phil, Go to http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/mrc-prodigya-review.htm for a review. Grapevine says it's a good system, but a little under-powered for the price. It's definitely better than a Digitrax Zephyr, but not a Lenz Set 90, in my opinion. Alan

Build legs for your benches. They don't need to be real sturdy, unless you are going to stand or lean on it. I used 2x2s, but 2x4s will work. You build it like a work bench. You can anchor to the available walls if you really think you need to solidify things. Backdrops are nice. They can be...

If you have room for a 4x8 you have at least an 8' x 10' space. This is perfect for an around the walls type. See http://www.wwvrailway.com/ You can build in two foot wide sections that vary from two to four feet in length. These are easy to move and store.

Larry, I too am concerned by the concentration of manufacturing in the hands of distributors. It looks like a vertical combination. Those things have a habit of causing prices to rise. It's not like we haven't seen model railroad prices out pace inflation already. Each combination usually...

Larry, Bowser has a good management team of English family members who are interested in the company. It will be a long time before they are ready to sell. Bowser is one of the few companies in the business that has a good succession plan in place. Atlas is the other one. Walthers is on its...

The Prodigy Advance is built by Lenz. Thus, it should be compatible with all NMRA compatible decoders. MRC builds a steam decoder, it's relatively cheap. But, you do get what you pay for. Soundtraxx builds a steam decoder as well. The Soundtraxx unit is expensive, but has much, much, much...

IHC heavyweight passenger cars a a knock off of the Rivarossi cars. They run well when weighted. They are cheap. The factory is selling them for about $8.00 each. They do have talgo trucks, just as the Rivarossi cars do. But, in running them for a several years, they do work. Just bring them up...

Bob, I like the Lenz LE1014. They come in three versions, wires, JST plug and NMRA plug. The NMRA plug version has the extra wire hanging loose for the fourth output. They are cheap, discounters will sell five packs for about $80. Individual decoders discounted run from $16-$20. The warranty...

If you've never soldered before, get some wire and practice before doing it with a decoder. For your first decoder, definitely use a Lenz. A soldering iron is cheap, $8 +/- at Radio Shack. You can find a book at your public library. They teach this in 8th grade shop, so it's really not a too...

You're welcome. They aren't hard to replace. Away from the locomotive, I prepare the LED for a resistor. If you are using a 12 volt incandescent, there is no preparation at all. For a LED, you will need the proper resistor. Solder it to the LED. Then put heat shrink tubing over the appropriate...

Go to www.digitrax.com they will explain all the differences. For DCC on your P2k, you will need to either replace the bulbs with 12 volt bulbs, put in a resistor or replace the bulbs with LEDs and a resistor. For replacing the bulbs follow the Lifelike instructions. My personal preference is...

You don't say what scale. Didn't know that Kato made a GP30. The HO Kato GP35 takes a Digitrax DH163KO or NCE DA-SR. HTH Alan Bradley