Model hobbyists have gone at times to some great lengths to make a realistic throttle to control their model trains, one MR article (or was it RMC) someone took 1-1/2 inch model stuff and make a throttle/brake etc to run his model railroad. An MR article had a realistic brake to tie into your momentum DC throttle. I personally started work on this and made a working hand held style, at least to simulate the control actions, you could control your train to the realistic handling of the real one, pull throttle, slowly starts, back it off and coast, then bring the brake on, to apply and lap, or emergency. That was cool. I keep looking at DCC throttles, and so far I don’t see exactly exact what I did in the DC world, tho technically you should be able to.
I didnt want to just push a button and accellerate, I want to grab that throttle handle, johnson bar and brake and make it work for real.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~raicho/model/control/cab.htm
Found this page that leads you on to some good attempts at realistic DCC throttles.
I remember those old throttle articles, and I looked at the ‘link’ you provided. The problem for me is that these are basically ‘sit and run’ types of thottles. They are not well suited to the ‘walk-around’ style layouts we are now building(at least my layout is a ‘walk-around’). Of all the DCC throttles I have used, I at first really liked the NCE ‘Hammerhead’ throttles. I eventually bought a Digitrax system, and currently use DT400R throttles. I do not like the ‘push button’ type throttles, and feel more comfortable with a ‘knob’ type of throttle.
Jim
A friend gave me a couple of these throttles:
This is the only throttle that I’ve used that has a momentum feature that actually gives the operator feedback in the throttle response - every other one makes me feel like the train is out-of-control. You move the throttle to the position that you want, and the loco will eventually reach that speed. To slow, the “Lap” position on the brake lever is basically a coasting mode, with positions 1, 2, and 3 being progressively greater brake applications. “Emergency” is self-explanatory, although it is somewhat more like a prototypical emergency brake application, with the train slowing rapidly, and eventually stopping. For a true modeller’s “emergency”, the “Panic” switch kills the power and the train stops immediately. With a little practice, you can set the throttle to maintain the speed limit, then slow or stop the train as required by using the brake only. When the brake is released, the train will slowly begin to move, until it is back at the set speed. These units run off the AC terminals of your powerpack, and while they appear to be meant for installation in a control panel, I have them plugged into a 25’ electrical tether. I plan on modifying them slightly with a neckstrap, so they can be carried like the remote control units used for some switchers. I find these very enjoyable to use for mainline running, although switching chores could be annoying, especially without the neckstrap. [swg]
Wayne
Im exploring setting up the DT400 to 8 notches for the desiels which are using QSI. It is a project that will take time and learning.
When I get it set up, I’ll return with the details.
Analog throttles never really did it for me, I get a hold of one and it’s just aint right.
One of my hobby shop owner set up a special speed chart on his engine that was just about flat dead on for a Desiel engine. I cannot use words to express it, but you open the knob and by the time you have the desired speed on the DT400, the engine is working through the weight of the train to get there.
There is a small DCC maker in the UK called ZTC that makes this.
https://secure.ztccontrols.co.uk/core/ShowImage.asp?id=50
They exhibited at the NMRA show a couple of years ago as well.
yeh thats in the links above, they dont have the same features in their walkaround controller, its like any other current throttle.
I wanted to post this up and if any of you DCC makers are out there, get crakin!
I am in the debate phase of deciding a DCC system for my pike, if I were able to take some standard throttle and customize it to some design, I’ll be happy.