My adventures in H.O. scale model railroading. I have been interested in H.O. scale model railroading since I was a kid watching my grandfather work on his basement layout back in the 1970s. Best days of my life! I had small sets as a kid and always dreamed of having a large scale layout of my own, but due to space constraints I just never did. Recently I decided it was now or never and sacrificed my garage parking space to finally build my dream. I'm using this channel to document the progress of my first large layout. I am not an expert. I've only been in the hobby since May of 2022. But I am learning by getting my hands dirty and jumping right in. I make mistakes and I expect viewers to call me out on it in the comments. That said, sometimes I do things intentionally different because it's how I like to do it :)
Hey Bill just found your channel as I was searching for how to set up the IO Expander for DCC-EX. Your video was very clear and easy to follow. I get your point about using the PCA9685 for controlling LEDs. I was planning to go down the same route but also plug in a fast clock from DCC-EX to control LEDs with timed sequences. Hopefully it won't be too long before you produce the PCA9685 video... Where I see the DCC-EX EX-IOExpander coming into play would be for a control panel. I was looking at the idea of hooking up push buttons to it to drive switching of track routes on my planned layout. You could potentially use some PINS on the EX-IOEXpander for the buttons and others (or a PCA9685) to control LEDs on the control panel to feedback which route is set. If the layout is a decent size, it might even be possible to use multiple EX0IOExpanders configured identically (with different I2C addresses of course) to have several identical control panels located at different points around the layout for the use of multiple operators. Or indeed break down the control of the panels more locally on the layout as a form of signal box. It's really interesting technology. Best wishes from Sydney Australia, Jon
Why do you link the Megas together on the +5V lines, when they each have their own power supply? Why don't you link the Megas together on the GND lines to define a common ground plane?
I'm not set up to test that theory at present time, but I followed a diagram that was provided by the pros on the DCC-EX Facebook page at the time. Go ahead and try it that way and see what happens.
I have used a similar idea but ended up putting only one wire (insulated) thru the copper (or brass) tubing and soldered the other wire from the LED to the tube. The bottom of the tube then became the negative on all my lights and the wire that went to UNDERNEATH the layout came thru from the LED as positive, The LED had somewhat stiff 'legs' so it was useful to have the look of a metal bracket with the shade coming UNDDER the wire brackets...The copper tube would have wire soldered into it and now I have both positive and negative under the layout ready to be wired into either series or parallel for access to power...
Hi Bill, I just found your video and it was most interesting, I am using MCP23017 devices to sense for Block Detection and I may have up to 8 of these devices on the I2C bus to the DCCEX Command Station, but as yet not at the stage of configuring, If you are Familiar with these devices I would be great if you could do a video ... the sense comes from a design of Diode voltage drop i.e the track is fed via 2 x 1N5819 diodes back to back and the voltage across the diodes goes through a LM339 comparator and is fed to an MCP23017 pin after a bit more logic ...Regards John
I do the leveling a little differently. After I get the base as flat as I can I will lay the cork roadbed. Then I will lay the track on the bed (like you did) but here is the difference. I will take a ruler (4 foot like yours) and check the flat. Where I have a gap Like you have at the 17:10 time line, I will shim the track up flat with whatever I have handy. Then I will use cheap child's sand. The sand will fill the gap, form the needed edges, and then I hold it in place just as if it was ballast. Wet it and then use the glue 50-50 and the next day it will be hard as concrete. I have not seen any sound problems at all. In this way I can have dead flat track all over the layout. I'm not so concerned about the cork coming together at the switches as the sand can fill in there too...My road bed sanding block is about 8 inches long as this will give me a great flat end product and will show the gaps before I lay the track.
Hi. Seems like you did not post your creative videos for quite some time. Anyways please make a detailed video along with the laying of the tracks etc and let your rolling stocks free on the run for all your viewers to enjoy. I am very sure and thrilled to see the end results will be amazing. All the best dude. ❤
A valid point was made that using plaster on your roadbed would increase the noise of the cars on the track. Now I can't seem to find the comment. But I just want to say that it may, depending on what kind of surface your tables are. If you have your roadbed sitting right on plywood it can. If you have your roadbed sitting on foam like I do, a skim coat of plaster won't really add anymore noise than ballasting does.
Howdy Bill! Glad to hear you are feeling better! I like your method of plastering the roadbed... might explore that when the time comes. Nicely done and thanks for sharing 🤠
Hi Bill! I’m just starting out at this scale of paint and distress on models. First time viewer of your channel and now subscribed. Thank you for such fascinating content!
I can't link to it because he doesn't respond when I ask if it's OK to do. Plus I don't think he could handle the influx of orders. But just search for HO scale Model-T on Etsy. A little searching on there and you'll find some good stuff.
Howdy Bill! Wow, really turned out great! If there is one thing I need to improve on it is being a little more creative. This is a perfect example of getting creative with what you have to work with. Thanks for sharing 🤠
About the difference in widths between the two pieces. I'll bet your coffee sticks are not all exactly the same width -- 'cuz mine aren't! (I also use them in lots of different places on the railroad. And they're not always the same thickness.)
Yeah, they very, so no real point in trying to find the center. At least I can get consistency with one half and I'm sure I'll find a use for the other half.
Howdy Bill! Gotta be honest... at first I wasn't sure where you were going with it. And then suddenly - I saw it. Tremendous job repurposing one of your grandfather's cars. Can't wait to see it on the layout! Well done and thanks for sharing 🤠
The thumbscrews that they put on it are a pain. If they had larger knobs I could loosen and tighten them faster. I might look for better knobs. That would make it faster. But still only a one at a time setup.
When mixing sculptamold, blends in latex paint to precolor. I use a dirt color. It's more uniform, and if you cut some away later, you won't need to match the color. It also toughens the sculptamold, and reduces shrinkage, too.
Howdy Bill! Yeah... looks intimidating as hell... lol. But your tutorials help quite a bit. I'd like to use DCC-EX on my shelf layout - it will be themed for 'last mile' switching. Well done and thanks for sharing 🤠
@@BillMastersMRR I'm hoping to! I'm still at the 'figuring out what my track plan will be based on the space I have to work with' stage. I think I need to quit screwing around and at least build the base (it will be free standing) so I can lay out some ideas. I kinda need to see it to understand it better. If that makes sense.
Lots of progress!! If you haven't already, checkout useful EX-Toolbox which runs on your smart phone and connects to EX-CommandStation. All the best ...
Howdy Bill! Yeah I'm kinda in the same boat. I have bought a bunch of basic Arduino stuff as well to play around with and learn how to build up the equipment, program, etc. Since I don't actually have a layout built yet I have the luxury of having time to mess with it and figure out if it is something I want on the layout. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Thanks for sharing 🤠
I've picked up the DCC-EX hardware as well. But I think I'll move over to one of the Bluetooth versions instead. DCC-EX still requires feeders around the layout for consistant operation. Please let me know your ideas about Bluetooth hardware, when you have time.
I'm aware of it but won't be going that route anytime soon. I tend to like to stick to old tech and wait for the new tech to be tried and tested. You'll get to be one of the pioneers :)
@@mikep95133 I guess I really don't know enough about it to give an educated opinion on it though. I have thoughts but they're based on assumptions. I would be interested in learning more about it. My main thought would be on powering accessories, for which I'll have to run a bus anyway. I feel like the wiring is unavoidable.
