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Model trains are often kept in spaces below grade, which are subject to dampness or worse, flood water! Fortunately, if your locomotives are left damaged from such flooding, it doesn’t necessarily equate to total loss. In this video, David Popp walks through the process of evaluating the damage through the steps required to get your […]
Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy install the wiring power bus and Digital Command Control system on their modular T-TRAK N scale layout. T-TRAK is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes plugged together to build tabletop layouts. In this fourth installment, the trio demonstrates how to build a portable […]
Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy add Kato Unitrack to their modular T-TRAK N scale layout. T-TRAK is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes plugged together to build tabletop layouts. In this third installment, the trio demonstrates how to build, wire, and install the Kato N scale Unitrack to […]
In this all-new series, host David Popp keeps progress on the N scale (1:160) T-Trak modular layout moving forward. Here, he shares various techniques for working within the specified electrical standards and recommended practices to bring power the rails, including the unique bridge sections of track and turnouts (track switches) too! […]
Model Railroader Contributing Editor Larry Puckett hosts our latest Product Review video to talk about the features on the DCCconcepts Aegis system, an upgrade for NCE’s Digital Command Control PowerCab. You can read his review of the system on page 16 of the January 2024 issue of MR. The Aegis system maintains all the functions […]
In model railroading there are times where you may need a power reversing switch. A couple of examples are when you’re installing switch motors or adding a reverse loop to a direct-current layout. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps of wiring a DPDT power reversing switch. What is a DPDT switch? For […]
The NCE PowerCab Digital Command Control (DCC) system is popular for its ease of use, menu-driven prompts, and reliable programming capabilities. However, it does have a few limitations: It only has about 1.8 amps output; it doesn’t have separate programming and main track power connections; and the PowerCab throttle must remain plugged in at all […]
Digital Command Control terms you should know: Those of you new to Digital Command Control (DCC), and even those who have a pretty good grasp on the basics, may benefit from a review of DCC terminology. This month we’ll take a look at some of the commonly used terms and their definitions. I’ve divided the […]
Digital Command Control (DCC) or direct current (DC)? That is the question. If you’re preparing to build a new model railroad or are just starting out in the hobby, you may be pondering the reasons to use DCC instead of an old-fashioned power pack to run your trains. Here are seven reasons to use DCC, […]
Digital Command Control, or DCC, is one of two ways most modelers control their trains. Instead of sending current directly to the rails, and making any train that’s receiving that current move, DCC sends packets of information through the rails and to individual locomotives to tell them what to do. For a DCC system to […]
How do I add lighting to cabooses? Q: I have five modern-era cabooses, four Lionel and one Atlas O, and I would like to add interior lighting to them. How do I do it? A: The first consideration is finding bulbs that glow warmly without getting too hot for the plastic caboose bodies. This shouldn’t […]
What kind of transformer do I need to power 10 accessories? On my layout, I am adding a row of 10 operating accessories: nos. 164 log loader, 175 rocket launcher, 342 culvert loader, 345 culvert unloader, 352 ice depot, 397 coal loader, 445 switch tower, 456 coal ramp, 3356 horse car, and 3472 milk car. […]
