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• Contact: info [at] trainaidsa [dot] com

Gallery

Adarsh Narayan (USA)

My layout is in Digital Marklin (HO scale) on K track. Initially in 2001, I started with just what I had bought in my first purchase of Marklin items, a starter set and some extra tracks. Then I added to the basic layout and redesigned as I bought additional tracks from local shops which would not have exactly what I needed at all times. FInally I got to a point where I had to stop modifying and finalize it.

The final design was a circuit of parallel tracks for travel in both directions on the basic 16 x 4 layout. However, there are two station stops. One large/main, and one small on the opposite sides. There is a goods diversion in one direction and in the large station, the passenger trains can come to two positions, basically one platform with tracks on both sides. This involved adding some tracks and turnouts to accomodate possibility of another train running a different circuit, with a few common blocks. My approach is to do as much as I can with the 6021 controller that came with the starter set. I am no expert in electronics or electrical work, but some of it lingers in the brain from college days.

I use reed switches and contact tracks etc. to activate devices or just contact track to enable power continuity at another location. One simple trick I use to activate the sound in the Diesel locos is to cover a puko so that it provides a very short power break to the loco. That triggers the sound in the loco. I like all the experimentation which also becomes necessary as I try to achieve what I want, but without computerisation or expensive equipment. Though in some cases, there is a trade-off. There is no locomotive/train positioning/sensing assistance by electronic devices such as S88 or other IR or photo devices, no controls using K83/K84 decoder assisted switching devices. The locos all have Motorola digital decoders but not in the latest MFX format. One has been converted to a LokSound II to give it sound.

The fun lasts longer as I keep modifying my layout or activation techniques and brings challenges in finding solutions without resorting to sophisticated electronics. The approach remains, to maximize what is possible with the basic digital design of the system.

This is the overall view of the layout prior to adding an extension in 2006. Since the layout is based on my childhood memories, attempts have been made to bring in elements that create the illusion of India in the 50's and 60's, without making it an unbeatable challenge.

No specific location or railway segment is depicted by this layout, which was assembled in stages as and when components could be obtained. The layout as is shown and originally constructed, was 16 ft x 4 ft. A 6 ft x 4 ft extension was added in 2006 which is still under construction as is the whole layout. The extension is towards the lower right of this picture. The bridges in the main layout were made beforehand, but the track went nowhere until the extension was made.

Other pictures are refered to using this as the base photograph. That makes it easy. A diagram of the whole layout is planned to be included at the bottom.

How?

Total track run on the original layout was about 140 ft. One main station (roofless/structureless till now) is on the right side. The grey platform is visible.

Its length was based on a full train of 11 passenger cars which used to be normal in intercity fast trains in India. But that looks too big and plans are afoot to modify the design a bit. I might do it during the planned integration of this AC layout with DCC.

A second, smaller station which was created to act as an interesting break to the layout, can be seen at the middle of the left side.

The lower quadrant semaphores are by Hornby that have been modified. They are activated by either a Fulgurex or Veissmann motor depending on what was available at the time and where & how the motor could be installed. During the expansion, this signal has been moved closer to the station.

Lighting Strips in Passenger cars The very short movie on the right, shows the S12 lighting strips installed without any conversion of Marklin AC power to DC or any other adjustments. The power is being provided to these strips directly from the tracks. The positive feed is from the pickup shoe under the tender directly wired through current conducting couplers running through the train.

The ground is picked up via the wheels in each car. In the last car, the strip has been cut into two and installed with wire connectors in between to create a gap. This was a test to see how they will look. The idea being to convey the feeling that only two parts of the car are lighted with dark compartments in between.

Lamp Old and with SMD Installed

Replacing Incandescent Bulbs with SMD's
Here I have removed the bulbs that these street lights come with and used prewired SMD's. Just threaded the wires through and before fixing the SMD inside the top shade. Placed an insulating tape (or it can be coated with an insulating medium). Then pressed the SMD back into the shade and applied a little droplet of cyanoacrylate adhesive. It can also be epoxy or anything to hold it in position. I will now paint the inside of the shade with silver or white paint to cover the black tape. Click image to see an enlarged image.

New SMD Lamp - At Night

Made my own Street Light using prewired SMD's
I took a 3mm dia brass tube and bent it to a shape similar to my other lamp. I then slit one end about 8mm long along to open it in a "butterfly" fashion and filed the edges smooth. Threaded a prewired SMD through it, using the same principle as the lamp post above. Before fixing the SMD to the top shade, I insulated it with a small piece of insulating tape. Then I pressed the SMD back and applied a little droplet of cyanoacrylate adhesive to hold it in position. The inside and outside were painted with gray to see how it all worked. These two were the first try. Click image to see an enlarged view.

Some more views. Click on images to see enlarged views:

New SMD Lamp Side View

New SMD Lamp Top View

. . . More to come . . .

Contact:
I would be happy to reply to questions relating to my work displayed here. Please send messages to:
"model_train_hobby (at) yahoo.com".

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