Experiments in 1:220 and smaller

martink Oct 23, 2021

  1. martink

    martink TrainBoard Member

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    I have been doing a few experimental builds, thinking ahead to next year's layout, and have made a quick video of the results. There is quite a mix of prototypes and scales, although the cars are converted commercial models, not 3D printed.

     
  2. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Pretty amazing. Are you using off-the-shelf products for this magic (specifically the linear motors) or are you custom making these "tracks?" I'd love to learn more about the process. I assume it's not terribly easy else everyone would have trucks and cars running up and down the streets of their layouts, but I don't want to assume.. :D

    Cheers -Mike
     
  3. martink

    martink TrainBoard Member

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    It is all custom, from the tracks and trains to the electronics and software. There is a commercial product that it evolved from, but it has too many limitations to be useful for what I want to do.

    The track is just a lot of small printed circuit boards with 3 strings of coils printed on them, soldered together into a complete layout, in other ways much like any sectional track system. I am at the point where I have a program that generates the basic designs of these pieces for me: I specify parameters such as the length and curve radius, then hand-combine several pieces and joiners into a single PCB design (much like a fret or sprue in a plastic kit) which gets manufactured by an electronic supplier. Sounds simple, but there are several years of lessons, mistakes and generally improving results behind it.
     
    SLSF Freak and gmorider like this.
  4. CNE1899

    CNE1899 TrainBoard Member

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    Martink,
    Very nice! I like all the different types and scales. Like the soundtrack as well.

    Scott
     

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