Is my baseboard strong enough? (Pt.2)

Just a quick update showing what I've constructed for my baseboard. The final configuration will have the right section sitting lower than the left section to accomodate valleys and the small creek that will run beneath the viaduct. BTW, from the plan on my previous blog, I have decided to do the mirror image of it, which is why if you look closely, the actual baseboard is inverted left to right compared to the original plan.

Here are the pics:

Have you tried Back EMF?

I've successfully installed my hornby decoder into my hornby's Flying Scotsman. Yay! Hurray!

Removing the body turns out to be the most difficult part. After removing 1 screw, you need to carefully pull the body forward and upwards until the body clears the chassis.

Removing the body reveals the 8 pin socket (so my Flying Scots is DCC ready after all).

Next step, put isolating tape around the decoder circuitry, and plug it in - making sure orange wire goes into socket 1. Test loco without body, and ..tada.. all working.

And the back EMF is working amazingly. My loco was stuttering at slow speed, and it couldn't move at ultra low speed at all. After DCC chipping, it is now running very smoothly at ultra low speed.

Can't be happier :)

IMHO, it's worth having DCC, even if you used it for back EMF only :)

DC or DCC?

This is a question that surely is on everyone's mind (especially does that are starting to build a new layout). I was originally going for DC, but in the end decided to go the DCC way.
Main considerations are :
+ Controller: Since I have double main line, I would have needed to buy a 2nd DC controller. With DCC, I can sell my DC controller and get a DCC controller which should be enough to control the double track mainline.
+ Slow speed operation: since I saw a back-EMF demo on you tube, I came to a conclusion that DCC decoder with back EMF should help realistic slow speed operation. (My loco stutters at low speed and hopefully DCC will help)
+ Sound chips: these are getting more widespread and hopefully prices will go down. Better be prepared...

I've gotten a Hornby Select of Ebay on a good deal, so although it is not a great controller, it should do fine for now.
My hornby decoder just arrived by mail last week, it came all the way from the UK.
Now I just need to disect my loco and install the decoder. I am not even sure if my loco is DCC ready. Will keep you posted on how that goes ....

What is in a name?

Finding a name for the station is not easy. Took me a couple of days of quiet brain-storming, and finally the official name of my station is Almston Park. A special website a side from this blog is coming soon to chronicle in detail further development of my layout.

Is my baseboard strong enough?

After all the planning it was time to build an actual baseboard. I had to compromise some aspects because I wanted the baseboard to be at least semi-portable. To keep it light I just used 3 mm MDF on 20 x 40 mm dressed pine. Not the strongest material, I admit, but like I said, this is a compromise.

All set and as long as I don't sit on it, it should be ok. Pics should follow soon.

Update: Here is the plan...

How Many Things Can One Do at One Time?

Ok, I have to admit I am trying to do too many things at the moment. I am still working on the design - btw, i've read that others will do the design stage for weeks/months/even years. So, looks like it is normal that it takes a while before it gets to the actual start building phase.

Anyways, I am doing the track layout design, while also doing a lot of other planning stuffs, such as how many locomotives will I run (and which locos should I get next - always fun this one), what will the station look like, will there be streets/bridges, will there be other buildings, which buildings look right which each other, what will the scenery look like .... this is really filling my head. Hence the title, am I trying to do too many things?

The fact that I am researching from the internet does not help. So many information from so many different websites/forums, and most of the time after I read it, I can't remember where I read it and I can't find it again (duh!).

Solution: I am switching to books, the real ink on paper stuff. A quick trip to Border got me a prototype railway book and the November edition of "Railway Modeler" for around $20. Another trip to the local library got me another 3 books, which I haven't touched yet. These ones I can keep and I can refer back to as long as I have them. Will let everyone know how good the book strategy is in upcoming posts ...