(jeb@oscalemag.com). - O Scale Trains Magazine Online

Product News & ReviewsModel Rectifier Corporation, 80 Newfield Ave, Edison NJ 08837732-225-2100 • www.modelrectifier.comBase System MRC Prodigy Advance MSRP $3302 Add’l Handhelds MRC Prodigy Express MSRP $903 Boosters MRC Powerstation 8 MSRP $180Fascia Sockets MRC #0001501 MSRP $34Sound Decoders MRC Sound Decoders on websiteSpecifications (Prodigy Advance Base System):2- and 4-digit Addressing, 14-28-128 Speed StepsPrograms “on Main” or using a separate program track.,Programs all NMRA CV’s, Fast Clock, 20 Acc’y FunctionsAdvanced or Universal Consisting (Use for multiple-unit locomotives.)3.5 Amp Cap’y, Reads 99 Throttles (Plug-n-Play)Power Station 8 Booster:8-Amp Cap’y, Adjustable Max Voltage OutputNorth Coast Engineering, 899 Ridge Road, Webster NY 14580585-671-0370 • www.ncedcc.comNorth Coast D408 series MSRP $80Specifications (NCE D408 Series Decoder):4-Amp Continuous Rating, 12-Amp Peak Rating, 8-Function(Headlights and the like). D408-E is a Back EMF Decoder(Constant Speed over Variable Grades and Loads)Soundtraxx, 210 Rock Point Drive, Durango CO 81301970-259-0690 • www.soundtraxx.comSound decoders Soundtraxx DSX series MSRP $85Dallee Electronics, 246 West Main Street, Leola PA 17540717-661-7041 • www.dallee.comSpeakers MSRP $1348 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr ’07What About Older Power?I bring this up because of one of the issues I encounteredthe first time around with DCC. This is something that also hasbearing for many of you folks, so I’ll revisit it here. When I wastroubleshooting the first system with an old HP oscilloscope,I discovered that my US Hobbies-vintage steam, scratchbuiltstuff, and lit passenger cars created some very high-amplitudeshort-duration amperage spikes that spelled eventual doom forthe then-current crop of decoders. The problem was in thepickup paths. Every little arc over oiled journals, truck bolsters,and iron wheels would cause one of these spikes.I’m still not convinced (yet) that the newer crop of decodershas addressed this robustness issue, or if they ever can.There is salvation for me, however, in two approaches. Sincemy mainline is wired and blocked for conventional cabcontrol, I simply wired them to be switchable between theoriginal Controlmaster 20 conventional throttles and DCC.Each set of track leads is dropped to the center taps of apretty beefy double-pole rotary switch. Then, the track leadsfrom the Power Station 8 booster are wired into the first pairof contacts (label that position “DCC”). The track leads fromthe conventional throttles are wired into the second set ofcontacts (label that position “CAB”). Pay very close attentionto matching polarity as you wire each rotary. I used rotaryswitches because I still have to test products equipped withsome of the proprietary control systems, each wired intosubsequent pairs of contacts. For your purposes, though,a healthy double-pole double-throw toggle switch will getyou there if you’re sticking with the two options. After finishingthis little exercise, I could run one of mymyriad old sleds (and I have a lot of ‘em!) withimpunity on conventional cab-control on onemainline track, a pair of DCC-equipped P&D F2s on the other,and switch the industrial areas with our boxcab. Manipulatea few switches, and any combination is possible. If you pullthis stunt, though, make sure that the gaps between sectionsof railroad are mechanically re-enforced with insulated joiners,epoxy fill, or styrene to avoid that expensive acrid odor resultingfrom crossed systems.The second approach, of course, is to do the work on thosepieces of rolling stock and motive power to minimize the numberof mechanical connections (especially oily ones) in theelectrical path, such as adding phosphor-bronze pickups toend-run the through-the-journals/ through-the kingpins path ofconventional practice. Anything earmarked for DCC operationwill eventually cross the workbench for this treatment at thesame time the decoders go in.Some Conclusions, and the Future:It is nice to see that MRC has done quite a bit of work in adirection that benefits folks like me. Rather than give the geeksamong us new nifty features, MRC is making what is probablythe current top-end norm in capabilities much more friendlyfor the rest of us to use and enjoy.By the way, I’m not saying that this is the only system outthere. Check them all out as you design your system for yourtastes. I will say that Frank and MRC were the first to have the,uh… confidence (…yeah, “confidence” is the word I’m lookingfor here) to take on Scace the Ludite with their product line,and the price point is worth paying attention to. As anotherthing I consider, I’ll also mention that MRC has always supportedmy gear over the years. I’ve had to send in a coupleControlmasters that I roached (not a warranty issue, but myown stupidity), for example, and they cheerfully fixed me upwith a very quick turn-around time. They’ve been aroundfor many years, and their support of their product line, in myexperiences, has always been excellent.With the Prodigy system, I have to appreciate the effort incatching “user-friendly” up to the technology. They got megood, and so did Peterson.Send $2 forPrice Info andCatalogR•BISHOPP.O. Box 4153 • Burlington, VT 05406 • (802) 651-4005CUSTOM DESIGNED • HANDCRAFTED • SIGNED • COPYRIGHTEDU.S. US Army 155mm M10 Tank “Long Destroyer Tom” 42' && Flat Flat Car Car • All • All 1/48 1/48 scalewww.modelcrafters.comSince 1985modelcraftersU.S. Army 155 mm M1 “Long Tom” towed field gun with tarp covered muzzle andbreech. All mounted on a 42' flat car with chocks, blocks and tie-downs.Flat car has real wood plank deck & die-cast sprung trucks with Kadee couplers.Load and flat car are battle weathered and each piece has unique numbering. Mod.No. AR1(OS)-OSFC3.2USA O-Scale-2 Rail Mail Order: $350.+S & Ins.commemorating the united states military railway servicee-mail: modelcrafters@yahoo.com