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N Scale Ballast Quantity

Steve asks:

“When purchasing fine ballast for N scale track, how much track can be completed with a ballast package. Or, how much should I expect to use per 3’ section of track?”

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Power and Rail Length Limitations

Bob asks:

“Greetings, I am looking to return to model railroading after many years. Due to space limitations indoors, I am looking to build outdoor layout. Cost factors have me looking at nickle track HO. If I read correctly the newer DCC presents options. I am looking to see how many feet or meters of track can be supplied per power source? Any other support information is gladly welcomed.”

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Converting Märklin Stock to Run on DC Platform

Ed asks:

“I have a number of HO Märklin cars that I would like to convert wheels and couplers to be usable with my DC engines and cars. Can anyone advise me how best to make these conversions – suggest the couplers to use and how to change out the wheels, including what wheels to buy? Thanks a lot.”

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Locomotive Goes in One Direction Only?

Roger W posted this question:

“My Athearn DCC loco I picked up at a swap meet has issues, and I’m not sure of the cause. It has been sitting in a cupboard since I got it so perhaps I got a dud. It goes fine in reverse but won’t move very well going forward. I turned the power right up to 28 and it hardly moved before coming to a halt. The unit hums but nothing. I gave it a bit of a push and the motor tried to turn but it still hardly moved. I tried different decoders and even reset the factory values on one, but to no avail. I had a look under the shell and at the trucks, but could see any foreign objects getting in the way. What am I missing? Help appreciated please. Thanks in advance guys.”

If you can assist Roger please add a comment.

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Helix Calculations For Double Track

Joe came across the free helix calculator and is interested to hear from anyone who has constructed a double track helix layout:

“Can a helix calculator be used for a double track layout?  What modification, if any, would need to be made?”

Add your comments if you have any advice for Joe with the construction of his double track helix.

A link to use a free helix calculator is available for readers under the Railroad Resources tab in the top Navigation Bar at https://www.modelbuildings.org

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A Issue With Drooping Couplers or is Couple Height The Problem?

Warren asks readers:

“I have observed that some of my HO Kadee couplers are sagging a bit low on two locos. I notice one coupler shank seems a bit loose in the coupler box and at times angles down towards the rail. Is there a way to fix this? How high should my couplers be? Advice please someone.”

Add you comments below.

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Hand-Laying Track

Dale asks readers:

“Hand-laying HO track is fairly easy; simply spike the rails to the ties (sleepers). Does anyone have experience hand-laying N scale, code 80, track? Are the spikes going to be strong enough, or is it better to glue the rails down?”

Add your comment below.

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ANZAC TRIBUTE

April 25th Tribute. Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign which led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Sadly, due to COVID 19 the normal dawn services held across both New Zealand and Australia on April 25 cannot be held. This year hundreds of thousands of Kiwis and Aussies are likely to stand together at driveways on Anzac Day to commemorate the fallen and those who served their nations.

Below is a photo of an old New Zealand railcar that came into service between 1954 and 1958.

N Z railcar 1954

Below is a 1970’s commuter train that operated in Sydney, Australia.

Sydney Commuter train 1970's Australia

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Pontefract Model Railway Exhibition Remembered

Ian took this photo, but he’s not sure what year it was, of the Pontefract Model Railway Exhibition in the UK. If some can place the scene and time, maybe they can share a comment.

Pontefract Model Railway Exhibition

Thanks for sharing.

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Remembering The Cardiff Model Railway Show

Cory shares this photo he snapped at the Cardiff Model Railway Show in the UK that he attended some time back. The 34th Cardiff Model Railway Exhibition is scheduled for 17th & 18th October 2020 all going well.

Cardiff Model Railway Show

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Cane Train In Queensland Australia

Roy sent in this photo to share of a sugar cane train on display a few years ago at the Castle Hill Model Railway Exhibition held in New South Wales, Australia. The cane trains still run in Queensland.

sugar cane train queensland australia

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Sadly Most Train Shows Are Cancelled

Unfortunately this dreadful COVID 19 virus has forced the cancellation of model train shows worldwide, and it has forced most of us (depending which country you are) to stay indoors.

Don’t let that stop us…

Unlike so many others, we model railroading enthusiasts, have a wonderful pastime to keep us busy and entertained during these testing times. With that in mind; I’m sure other readers would love to hear what you have been up to, and the progress you have made on your layout. Hopefully this will help inspire others in the model railroading community, and help keep us all positive (and sane) at this time.

Just use the ASK A QUESTION link below to send a summary of what project you have been working on (it doesn’t need to be a question). Even better if you can supply a supporting photo that can be shared on the blog.

If you have a photo, we can advise you how to send it to us for uploading on the blog. The first step is to send in a brief summary of your project, and at the same time if you have a photo just let us know. We will then reply to you by email. I’m sure others would like to see what you are up to.

Steam Loco Southwold Model Railway Exhibition

This photo was sent by a reader who visited the Southwold Model Railway Exhibition organised by Waveney Valley Model Railway Club a couple of years ago. Feel free to send in a photo you snapped at a train show in recent years. Let us know the details using the ASK A QUESTION link, and we will be in touch telling you how to email us your photo.

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Using Non-Macklin Equipment on Noch Layout?

David models HO and writes:

“I am looking to buy a used Noch layout from 1972. Can I run standard HO scale equipment which is not Marklin on this layout, and will the Marklin transformers power them? Thanks.”

Submit your question for publication.

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Program Track

Steve asks:

“I’m new to DCC (running NEC). What’s the difference between programing on the main and programing track? I run a 8X4 HO layout.”

Add your answer below.

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3 Way Turnout Problem

Christopher writes:

“I have an HO DCC layout and a 3 way turnout using it as a reverse loop but it shorts out coming out of the return route. Will a hex frog juicer solve this problem? If so how would I hook it up?”

Add your comment.

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Connecting Power Pack Leads To DCC Wired Layout… How? Where?

Rowan asks:

“Hi all, I know my layout I got from my late Poppa is wired for DCC, but he gave away his DCC locomotives a year or so ago to a good friend he had. That’s why I don’t have a DCC equipped locomotive. If I want to test things, how would I hook up an old DC power pack, I have one, on the layout to test the operation of a non DCC equipped loco? I had a go at connecting the two DCC leads to the DC hookups on the old power pack but that didn’t work. How and where should I connect the two power leads from my 12v power pack to my DCC wired layout so I can operate a DC locomotive, as I have a couple? I don’t have a DCC control of any kind connected. I know my question might sound stupid to you guys who know all this stuff, but I am a bit challenged on this to say the least. Do I need a volt meter thingy too?”

If you can assist Rowan, or want to watch the answers as they come in, just click on the COMMENTS link below.

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Cheap To Make Cleverly Designed Extendable Buildings

Here’s a way to extend the background scene on a model train layout without blowing the budget. There are several plans to download that are designed to be easily joined together extending the background display. The first two warehouses pictured in this video are good examples. There are several other plans for extendable background buildings available from our blog sponsor https://www.modelbuildings.org

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Hendrik Shares Video Of His Layout

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