New FCS/DC Car cars and test track video

Hi all,

A little 'just before new year’s eve effort to show off the most important modeling direction of 2010:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aF2jpXCI

2011 is likely taking me into more cars like those on the video and dismantling the existing layout in favor to building modular layout with more real estate for streets, avoiding some of the beginner’s mistakes with track I made on my first layout and so I can take it to an exhibition in the Fall of 2011. Yes, that’s right - model trains are picking up in Latvia and there will be the second exhibition taking place with a couple of enthusiasts exhibiting along with the museum’s permanent layout.

Good modeling and plenty of steam to all in 2011!

/Edmunds

Edmunds How do you control the FCS cars? Do you use DC_Car? What is the minimum radius you use? Best Regards, Dave Mt Pleasant, Utah, USA

Dave,

Yes, it is DC Car. The system comes from Germany and the guys making it once told me, they do not sell to US, because the shipping is very expensive and they have not figured out a way to provide warranty at reasonable costs. They would deliver to an enthusiast for private use, I believe, though. Especially if you come to one of the workshops they do in Germany and make friends with them :).

As for the minimum radius - you can pretty much turn the cars at the minimum their steering axle will allow on condition that you can control the speed. This is one of the big reasons along with distance control and all the lights, why FCS without DC Car is kind of useless. With the standard speed of the car, you can only do motorway modeling :). For the roundabout on the video, the radius for the guide wire is 88mm, which is about the minimums you can do at full speed for my vehicles (3/4 of the original FCS speeds, maybe) if you need a full circle. This works well even for big trucks as long as you don’t mind the rear wheels killing the roadside lawn - the steering axle will not run away from the wire. I have used the same radius for 90 degree turns, but I believe you could use even sharper by further reducing the speed with respective IR control LEDs and making some sections from magnetic strip, rather than Faller guide wire.

You can learn more about dc-car stuff by Google Translating http://dc-car.de/ or this http://www.midlandred.info/index.shtml discontinued, but still available online page.

Hope this helps. Regards,

/Edmunds

Interesting.

Are the cars in HO? They could certainly add action to a mrr layout.

Glad to hear model railroading is gaining interest. It is very enjoyable to many folks.

Back in the mid 50’s went to school with two girls that had come from Latvia. My grandson got to go there on a student trip he took.

Have fun,