I’m looking for a used mrc dc walk around power pack . If anyone has one for sale or don’t want let me know. Thanks
As far as I’m aware, the MRC walk-around power pack was the ControlMaster 20, and the hand held walk-around throttle was part of it.
I bought one for my layout, but wasn’t overly impressed with the throttle, so wired-up some other ones which I had from earlier power packs, some purchased and others donated by friends.
While they all worked reasonably well, they all had various limitations.
I liked this one (of two) a lot, and planned to put neck straps on them so that I could easily work both the throttle and brake.
It was easy to simply set the throttle to the desired speed, then control it using only the brake. Very smooth operation for both low and high speed control.
This is the one which came with the ControlMaster 20…
I could never get the momentum to work properly.
This one worked well for small trains requiring only one locomotive…
…as did this one, from the same manufacturer…
…but neither had enough through-put to run multiple locos on longer or heavier trains.
This one turned out to be the best of the lot…
…very precise speed control, continued running qualities when the cable was unplugged to move on to the next plug-in point, and the ability
Train Engineer was the best control system.
Just curious Wayne does ken still make these throttles I have just come back to my model railroad after not working on it for close to 5 years now. Layout is a little dusty but not too bad. I live not too far from him and would like to buy one.
thanks
jeremy
Yup, Ken’s still making those throttles, and perhaps some other ones, too. The link, a couple of posts up, will take you to his website.
His location is near the canal in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Wayne
Thanks Wayne for getting back to me so quick. I just have a small switching layout and am using a older mrc tech 4 dc pack ( I don’t see me going the dcc route ) this throttle would work with it right
I love my Aristo Train Engineer throttles, great control, easy to use, no wires.
This company still sells something similar:
https://www.revoelectronics.com/product/revolution.html
Sheldon
For the Controlmaster 20, be aware there are two different factory throttles that work with it. Do not mix them as they are incompatible with each other. Also, there are connection length limits (40’ IIRC) to using the throttles, so plan your plug-in ports accordingly if you have a layout on the larger side.
I have six plug-in points on my layout…more than is needed with a 30’ cable on my Stapleton throttle.
Wayne
Wayne,
For non-factory throttles, the length limits may be different. In fact, gaining that extra length may have been one of the motivating factors in developing them. I have no experience with anything except the two different flavors of factory throttles.
I have a wired version of that one. (Birthday present from Mom a couple years ago.) I ended up having him put some extra wire on it so that my my layout it became a “walk around”. Very good throttle. Still haven’t figured out a good way to contain the extra wire but that’s a completely different topic.
sent Ken a email last night about a throttle. Hope to hear back soon
These DC wireless controls, ARISTO CRAFT or CREST, were what I used before going to 100% DCC. Still have them in storage.
I would strongly recommend the Star-Tec Hogger over the MRC Controlmaster XX. They are similar in appearance and operation, but the Hoggers have been much more reliable for my friends that use them.
-Kevin
I bought a Star-Tec Hogger back in the late 80’s and still have it and used it for testing the layout which is under construction, although I plan to use DCC to run the layout. It’s a decent DC power pack with a coiled cord going to the controller.
I already had the “springy” 6’ cord which came with the ControlMaster 20. I got the 30’-er at Canadian Tire, along with the 6 'phone jacks that I installed on the layout’s fascia.
Wayne
Since this has morphed into a discussion about DC walk around alternatives, I’ll throw in the Kato “Smart Device Controller” (wow, what an original name[:D]). It’s a PWM throttle that you control from your smartphone or tablet through a Bluetooth connection (no, I’m not talking about the Sound Box pictured with it, but the throttle itself). I’m seriously considering getting one to use on my DC test layout.
Anyone know these even existed? I didnt until i was looking to replace a well used Tech II and came across one. I tried it out, works just like the ‘desktop’ version. Albeit, derives its power from one anyways.
PMR
I was working in a hobby shop selling trains when those came on the market…
Sheldon
Where can I find one ?