Model Railways - Digital

[tyke71]

Is anybody into model railways? Reason i am an asking i have a layout a bought for the kids when they get older i could do with getting it out of the bedroom. It's all set-up with basic controllers but could strip the track off and replace it and set the layout to digital as it's only got 2points for sidings to the station,so shouldn't be hard to do. Anybody know do you go about it?

[BlueRover]

Clarify what exactly you mean by digital ? Do you mean converting the line to AC with individual DC converters for each train ?

[harkins77]

Converting over to dcc from the standard controllers is pretty easy. If you are coming to the Teesside meet tomorrow I'll be able to explain it as I've done the same as you are planning to the modular layout I started but have put away for a while.

[harkins77]

Is it OO or N gauge you have bought? The reason I ask is depending on which gauge you've picked depends on how easy or fiddly wiring the decoders into each loco. Some are just plug in but some will need soldering into place.

[tyke71]

It's oo guage and want to convert it to dcc, so i can buy my oldest son a loco fitted with sound for his birthday later in the year. Love to plan a massive layout for them in the loft with a scalextric set as well.
But need to get the loft boarded out. Useless with fixing cars, but great at planning.

[stefaclese]

Used to have a few friends who were majorly in to it, all you need to do is remove the old wiring and just make everything live so all the rails have a constant feed, then fit digital chips to everything. Tuning Rovers is much cheaper tbh!

[beef]

reading this makes me want to get my set i have been thinking about going digtal on my new layout when i get around to start building it

[tyke71]

called into the model shop today and going dcc with young kids will be to hard with the commands. So just going to go dc. What advantage can you get from dc?

[harkins77]

Which model shop said that?

[harkins77]

Darren for a cheap dcc controller try this one.

It's very basic but it can be bought even 2nd hand cheap enough that you can try it out without spending a fortune.

http://www.bachmann.co.uk/image_box.php ... height=430

Honestly the decoders start at a tenner for the basic dcc loco decoders and go up from there.

It's worth the small outlay and it's easy for the kids to use.

Gimme a ring if you want and I can talk ya through it.

[Pinkie15]

DCC, what's that ??, I was running on Zero 1 (Hornby's original dcc system, but about 10 - 15 yrs too early), until last year when I had to dismantle the layout as the model room became our master bedroom in the extension/house mods work.


Going digital will be real easy, and the kids shouldn't have issues using it. Our eldest managed to call up/demote locos and switch points/signals at the age of 4. How "complex" you want to make it depends how much you've got to spend. One of the guys at work has started exhibiting at shows, he runs Bachman dcc.

[tyke71]

That's ok then if your 4yr old can operate it. Mine are 6 and 3 so dcc looks the way to go. Just cost a fortune to set up but worth it. Bought them a second hand class 117 £30 for xmas to play with and well happy. I really need to set up in dcc to practise my wiring and codes and master it for a future layout in the loft.

[harkins77]

Honestly Darren best way to work it is by getting that controller as a starter controller. I have a dcc book you can have and it explains it all. I just have to dig it out and I'll bring it with me tomorrow assuming no spanners are thrown into the works.

[Stealth213S]

I was running on Zero 1 (Hornby's original dcc system, but about 10 - 15 yrs too early),

We had that. Dad refuses to go digital now because of all his old style Hornby locos which he was told are impossible to convert. Makes a problem for me as whenever I visit I have to do all his wiring for him - 9 different isolated sections in his diesel depot all switchable from the control area.