Good show. When I started my new layout 2 years ago I also chose the Smail. I wasn’t sure I would ever use the decoder, but I liked the option of being able to use the throttle to operate the turnout. As it turns out, it was the best choice I ever made. I’m now using JMRI and touchscreen iPads with track diagrams to operate the turnouts! I plan to make a video showing how this is done, but haven’t gotten there yet. I do have a video on how to install the Smail or Tortoise in a way that simplifies the procedure! Your layout is coming along nicely!
From one Michigander to another (well now your in Tennessee), great job indeed. Built in decoders, another great idea from Circuitron. It would sure save a lot of work installing decoders for 52 turnouts. I'm a ground control type modeler, I like to part of the railroad, my layout will have 20 or so turnouts tops. I can also see why this big of a layout, it makes sense to have switch machines.
Thank you for including oversights! Too many are editing these situations out to compensate for human error (which is inevitable). Your experience is only as good as your focus at the time. We all make mistakes...
Yes, I agree. The person why never made a mistake never did anything. They say that the difference between a beginner and an expert is the ease with which they can fix their mistakes.
that is a lot of switch machines. I was hopping you were going to show you installing one. how to get the wire in the right spot and securing it to the layout properly. I always thought it would be a 2 man job getting everything all lined up.
@@keithshields9557 The best way to contact me is to send a message via my website www.superiormodelrailroads.com/ or just use my direct email mpeterll64@gmail.com
So Peter, do you just use a longer piano wire to hook up the switch motor with the one inch foam . I couldn't find a video that showed you mounting it but was wondering if you could possibly do one with one and two inch foam. Be Well .
Both the tortoise machines I was using then and the switchwights that I use now come with wires that are plenty long enough to go through the foam, although the tortoise wires are too flimsy so you'll need to replace them with thicker wire. 0.032" works for most applications with 1" foam and 0.037" with 2" although occasionally you may need something thicker.
A question off topic.how do you run multiple engines on the train say like a 3 lead bnsf with 1 dpu?that are all powered units.when I was younger,if you put two engines on the track at one time, it would just stop working until you took one off.
If you are still running with an old DC system, all locomotives in a powered section of track should respond at the same time when you turn up the voltage. With a DCC system, the track always has full voltage and each locomotive has an on-board computer chip, called a decoder, which tells it when to respond. Locomotives can each have unique IDs so that only one will respond to the throttle, or they can be consisted together so that they all act as a single high-powered unit. This is a gross simplification, but I hope it answers your question.
So that's what roadbed is for. To act as a stop when bracing something 🙄 Myself I think I'm more attracted to some type of manual throw on the fascia in general. Something like the FastTracks. But that's just me. In this case that's what's specified
I am self-employed. My company name is "Superior Model Railroads" ( superiormodelrailroads.com ). I do a lot of sub-contract work for another company though, as is the case with this project. Why do you ask?
@@mpetersen6 Yes, that's right. I was living on the coast of Lake Superior when I started the company. I will let others decide for themselves if they think my work is "superior", as that can be a very subjective thing.
@@mpeterll I asked because I watched a lot of your videos and noticed you have multiple clients throughout the US. Your work is superior and your get it right attitude is fun to watch. Im up in Canada and building railroads, etc, is my dream job. Good for you for exploiting your talents! Keep up the videos sir, great content.
i will never really understand why people buy those expense Switch machines when you can simply use Servos for a tenth of the price but allow you to have the exact same function. well each his own.
Don't you have to have a way to drive the servo and how do you change the polarity on the track with a servo? You have to get an arduino control circuit board then something to drive those. The tortoise does all that and can be programmed to DCC straight out the box. That's why probably. I'm not an expert and may be wrong but that is how I understand the situation. Please tell me if I'm wrong and maybe I can learn something I don't know or misunderstood. 👍
@@williambryant5946 you do need something extra yes. i personally use the ESU Servo control decoders. for the polarity. you can simply choose to leave it without a contact and make the area as small as possible or use a switch that is tapped by the servo to change polarity. it might be a bit more complex to set but when you can have 12 servos for 15 bucks and the Esu costs me 30 thats 105 to be able to control 12 switches. i think this outplays pretty much anything since you can also use the serve decoders for many other things like doors of a shed. for me it easily outplays anything else and nearly everything that you can mechanically control on your layout is uniform and can be easily replaced with cheap servos. this is also looking long term. stuff is bound to break down and like this. it is way cheaper to fix ^^. But to each his own everyone should do as he pleases. thats why we are model railroaders.^^
@@mpeterll I'd hate to think what the billable hours would be if the customer specified 100% hand laid track and turnouts. But it's his money. Soon to be parted 🚾🤑🤑
Hi Peter Really enjoy your expertise and how You serve your clients and help them Realize there railroad dream. Now exactly what it takes and dedication and inspiration that goes into building layouts . Keep up great work may God always bless you in your Projects. Dan Vargas www.imagesrr.com Make sure to work on your layout To also make yourself happy to balance life and not get burnout
Mr. Peter You Are My Hero For Showing Me Those Switch Machines and the Piano Wire 👍
Good show. When I started my new layout 2 years ago I also chose the Smail. I wasn’t sure I would ever use the decoder, but I liked the option of being able to use the throttle to operate the turnout. As it turns out, it was the best choice I ever made. I’m now using JMRI and touchscreen iPads with track diagrams to operate the turnouts! I plan to make a video showing how this is done, but haven’t gotten there yet. I do have a video on how to install the Smail or Tortoise in a way that simplifies the procedure! Your layout is coming along nicely!
Multiple videos this week. Awesome. keep up the great work
Yes, a triple this week. I was feeling generous and two of them were parts of what was supposed to be one longer video.
From one Michigander to another (well now your in Tennessee), great job indeed. Built in decoders, another great idea from Circuitron. It would sure save a lot of work installing decoders for 52 turnouts. I'm a ground control type modeler, I like to part of the railroad, my layout will have 20 or so turnouts tops. I can also see why this big of a layout, it makes sense to have switch machines.
OOPS 51 not 52 turnouts
Peter it's nice to see just how they work, but could you show your process of installing them to....thanks for sharing Jack 🙂
Thank you for including oversights!
Too many are editing these situations out to compensate for human error (which is inevitable).
Your experience is only as good as your focus at the time. We all make mistakes...
Yes, I agree. The person why never made a mistake never did anything. They say that the difference between a beginner and an expert is the ease with which they can fix their mistakes.
Good idea lifting the top to install the smail's.
that is a lot of switch machines. I was hopping you were going to show you installing one. how to get the wire in the right spot and securing it to the layout properly. I always thought it would be a 2 man job getting everything all lined up.
I was also curious if these work with JMRI. I use the NCE switch8 as a decoder for my motors. Wondering if the smail is a cheaper option?
Hi Peter so much easier than the old way ,😃
Who else is checking the channel daily for updates to this build 🙋🏻♂️
You'll have to wait until next week when I get back to my regular release schedule. I was feeling generous this week.
mpeterll how do I reach out about a layout build?
@@keithshields9557 The best way to contact me is to send a message via my website www.superiormodelrailroads.com/
or just use my direct email mpeterll64@gmail.com
So Peter, do you just use a longer piano wire to hook up the switch motor with the one inch foam . I couldn't find a video that showed you mounting it but was wondering if you could possibly do one with one and two inch foam. Be Well
.
Both the tortoise machines I was using then and the switchwights that I use now come with wires that are plenty long enough to go through the foam, although the tortoise wires are too flimsy so you'll need to replace them with thicker wire. 0.032" works for most applications with 1" foam and 0.037" with 2" although occasionally you may need something thicker.
@@mpeterll Thank you . Your work is Amazing .
Very nice! So do the rest of the contacts work the same as a regular tortise or what?
A question off topic.how do you run multiple engines on the train say like a 3 lead bnsf with 1 dpu?that are all powered units.when I was younger,if you put two engines on the track at one time, it would just stop working until you took one off.
If you are still running with an old DC system, all locomotives in a powered section of track should respond at the same time when you turn up the voltage. With a DCC system, the track always has full voltage and each locomotive has an on-board computer chip, called a decoder, which tells it when to respond. Locomotives can each have unique IDs so that only one will respond to the throttle, or they can be consisted together so that they all act as a single high-powered unit. This is a gross simplification, but I hope it answers your question.
mpeterll yes,yes it does. Thank you very much.
So that's what roadbed is for. To act as a stop when bracing something 🙄
Myself I think I'm more attracted to some type of manual throw on the fascia in general. Something like the FastTracks. But that's just me. In this case that's what's specified
Peter, what company do you work for? thx
He works for himself I think. Not sure of the name of his company.
I am self-employed. My company name is "Superior Model Railroads" ( superiormodelrailroads.com ). I do a lot of sub-contract work for another company though, as is the case with this project. Why do you ask?
@@mpeterll
I think I know where the Superior comes from. A little play on words. Not that your work isn't. Superior I mean
@@mpetersen6 Yes, that's right. I was living on the coast of Lake Superior when I started the company. I will let others decide for themselves if they think my work is "superior", as that can be a very subjective thing.
@@mpeterll I asked because I watched a lot of your videos and noticed you have multiple clients throughout the US. Your work is superior and your get it right attitude is fun to watch. Im up in Canada and building railroads, etc, is my dream job. Good for you for exploiting your talents! Keep up the videos sir, great content.
Very interesting project. Please feel free to return the favour
i will never really understand why people buy those expense Switch machines when you can simply use Servos for a tenth of the price but allow you to have the exact same function. well each his own.
Don't you have to have a way to drive the servo and how do you change the polarity on the track with a servo? You have to get an arduino control circuit board then something to drive those. The tortoise does all that and can be programmed to DCC straight out the box. That's why probably. I'm not an expert and may be wrong but that is how I understand the situation. Please tell me if I'm wrong and maybe I can learn something I don't know or misunderstood. 👍
@@williambryant5946 you do need something extra yes. i personally use the ESU Servo control decoders. for the polarity. you can simply choose to leave it without a contact and make the area as small as possible or use a switch that is tapped by the servo to change polarity. it might be a bit more complex to set but when you can have 12 servos for 15 bucks and the Esu costs me 30 thats 105 to be able to control 12 switches. i think this outplays pretty much anything since you can also use the serve decoders for many other things like doors of a shed. for me it easily outplays anything else and nearly everything that you can mechanically control on your layout is uniform and can be easily replaced with cheap servos. this is also looking long term. stuff is bound to break down and like this. it is way cheaper to fix ^^. But to each his own everyone should do as he pleases. thats why we are model railroaders.^^
@@Madhuntr I guess I should look into it further. Thanks. 👍
I am sub-contracting for another builder on this project, so I don't get to make the product choices.
@@mpeterll
I'd hate to think what the billable hours would be if the customer specified 100% hand laid track and turnouts. But it's his money. Soon to be parted 🚾🤑🤑
Hi Peter
Really enjoy your expertise and how
You serve your clients and help them
Realize there railroad dream.
Now exactly what it takes and dedication and inspiration that goes into building layouts .
Keep up great work may
God always bless you in your
Projects.
Dan Vargas
www.imagesrr.com
Make sure to work on your layout
To also make yourself happy to balance life and not get burnout
Thanks, you too.