It appears that there may be a new FreeMo-N club in Arizona soon. We are just getting started and would like more people to jump in. Module Benchwork: 50” rail height at setup Endplates are ¾” birch ply Endplates are 6” tall and between 12”-24” wide Section joints are up to the modeler, and each module may include as many sections, and in whatever shapes, the modeler decides. Track: Code 55 22” radius minimum curves on mainline #6 minimum turnouts on mainline At end plates, first 4” of the single mainline is straight and centered Wiring: 12 AWG stranded for main power and control busses 22 AWG stranded for feeders Anderson Power Pole connectors used at module ends, following the “Left Over” rule: Looking at the end plate, whichever power pole and bus is connected to the left rail goes above the right Each section of track has feeders or soldered rail joiners Scenery: First few inches from the module ends are brownish and flat, with no roads or rivers terminating at the end plates. This is to ensure some continuity between modules Scenery is realistic and (preferably) based on a specific prototypical location.
Great!!! Always good to have more FreeMo-N in the West. If you want any resources for hardware or anything else, ask away and I'll share anything I've learned over the last 5 years. For the standards, here's the link: http://free-mon.wesleysteiner.com/FreemoNStandards.pdf Root site: free-mon.net Yahoo group: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Free-moN/info
Ryan, I was also checking out the So-Cal club's site with their benchwork templates. I am seriously thinking about scrapping my switching layout and rebuilding it as a 16x96 module (2 sections). My only concern is that I have a NCE PowerCab and their standard is Digitrax. What is your standard for DCC?
I use NCE. Sacramento and Silicon Valley FreeMo-N groups also use NCE. I think the Inland Pacific and PNW groups use Digitrax. The standard doesn't dictate a particular brand. I think you just need to get the NCE jacks so they work for both systems. My recollection is that the Digitrax jack plates are Digitrax specific. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. One other idea...if your existing switching layout's framework could have legs applied, you could just build a couple modules on each end to be FreeMo-N compliant. They would then need to be used as a set (treated as a single module).
At PNW we use NCE/Tony's UTPs or homemade UTPs, thus we can use either Digitrax or NCE since we have both brands among our members. Most of the time we use a Digitrax District in a Box (DIAB) following N Land Pacific's lead with that setup. Bert http://pnwfreemo-n.org/
I used Tony's UTPs on my modules, too, which allow for universal DCC throttle attach. Ryan is correct, the Digitrax panels don't play well (not at all) with other brand throttles. As long as you wire the track correctly, any DCC command station can be plugged in. If you plan to hang anything off of the auxiliary bus, remember that it can be AC, DC or DCC (per standard). What that really means is always put in a bridge rectifier and voltage regulator board if you plan to have any lighting effects, motors, etc. Don't simply assume that what you do locally works with combining with any group's setup. And, if you plan for heavy switching work on the module, think about a local power district / circuit breaker. Easy to pull the power feed off the main bus into your breaker, then feed all your tracks from its output. For the PowerPole connectors, well worth the investment to get a crimping tool up front.
30 amp Red/Black Anderson Powerpole Connectors: You’ll need 2 pairs of black and 2 pairs of red per module. I purchased from https://powerwerx.com/anderson-powerpole-connectors-30amp-unassembled Crimp tool: https://powerwerx.com/tricrimp-powerpole-connector-crimping-tool
Watch out for NLPs standards, they aren't exactly FreemoN. Find what works for you (and still conforms with Wesley Steiners standards). If you get something going, let me know. I have over 60 feet of modules and there is only one other FreemoN'er in Vegas.
That's an important issue...local conventions vs national standards. My first module, I tried to adhere to the national standards as closely as possible. It talks about the panels for DCC throttles to be plugged in on each module. I believe this is the panel I purchased (works for NCE and Digitrax): NCE #524207 Since I setup with RBrodzinsky and the rest of the Silicon Valley FreeMo-N guys, we don't use wired DCC throttles. We use JMRI's built-in WiThrottle feature and control the trains with our phones (and wireless NCE throttles). We prefer it and we're small enough (and want to get along!) that no one makes a stink about not having throttle jacks hooked up on all the modules. If you plan to connect with NLP or other groups at national meets, you might want to figure out any differences so you're not limited by design.
I tend to prefer national rules that would allow us to join in with other clubs. The UTP's are under $20, I actually have most of a 4x8 of 3/4" furniture grade that I plan to use as my ends and Isides. As for the legs, 2x2's are simple, just need to be adjustable. I just need to meet up with the others that are interested to set the rules. I figure that I am going to use my PowerCab to start with while we don't have too many modules...it might be a good idea to have a UTP every 8-12' on each side
In regards to the Aux bus, I use a Tam Valley booster and full wave rectifiers installed on modules to power Tortoises. I also have a DPDT toggle with a jack to allow a 9 vdc wall wart as an alternate source as a backup. I regards to the Power Pole crimping tool - spend the money at Powerwerx.com. The tool is great. They have all the Andersons we need and ship quickly. In regards to N Land Pacific and their standards: At the National Train Show in Portland in 2015 we had 70+ modules from 4 different groups and all worked as expected. In addition to N Land there was Minnesota, Pacific Northwest, and Silicon Valley. Sure we had some of the usual problems as is normal from hauling the modules around, but I don't recall anything to do with non-standard issues. I had a turnout rail break loose and had to solder in a new piece. Perhaps Rick Brodzinsky might remember something different than I do, since he was there also with Silicon Valley. I see no problems with their standards, remember the standards are all about the endplates, wiring, and track for the most part... Not many years ago Wesley was dead set against using the butt joints for the endplate rails. He finally changed his standard after everyone else told him the groups actually building modules had stopped using joiner rails. At PNW we use mostly 18" wide endplates but some differ in width. The uneven edges do bother some folks but not all. Bert http://www.pnwfreemo-n.org/
I didn't say PNL standards caused any operational problems. The FreemoN standard is a single main line centered on the module end. If someone builds modules to PNL's double track standard, they are responsible to provide a transition module that does comply. There was a great discussion about the standard last year and the standard will remain as it is written. Bremner, something else I would recommend... having been part of the MN FreemoN and having run with the Silicon Valley group, keep the club informal. FreemoN doesn't need a formal club, dues or assessments. Keep it fun. I wish I could remember the descriptive term Steve Williams uses to convey what FreemoN is... Ryan do you remember? I would also steer you away from 2x2 legs. Dimensional lumber has many inherent downfalls. You can get a stiffer and straighter leg making a 2"x2" L out of cabinet grade plywood. It will be far more resistant to warping and twisting than dimensional lumber. With the long legs needed for FreemoN modules, it makes a big difference.
Yeah, no issues with interchanging with any of the four club's modules, was the coolest layout I have ever run on. We all suffered a bit from transit induced problems, but nothing that got in the way. NPL does prefer to standardize the size of the end plate (24"), which makes for a more uniform set up and is stricter than the national, along with allowing the double track, but it doesn't truly break any rules, if a double to single interface is available. For SVFMN, the saying is "We aren't a club, just an anarchistic society of like minded individuals." If anyone watched us setting up for the Sacramento show earlier this month, they would understand fully.
I've been struggling to do this here in Medford...the home of MTL with no luck at all. We have plenty of N scalers here but none of them so far seem interested in doing anything. Lots of home layouts, I've only been invited to see two. Not that working for MTL should grant me special access, but when I run into someone with a layout they seem reluctant to share their work. Pushing on, I have been working with some HO guys to do Freemo in that scale and have a couple of bases for N scale finished and hoping to take them to the annual show in November and see if I can scare up some interest. The local hobby shop sells a lot of N scale so I know they are out there. LOL I may just form my own club and call it FreemoJoe or FreeJoe or Joemo LOL Joe
Joe: I know Portland is a long ways from you, but you are more than welcome to attend any of the PNW Free-moN setups when we have one there. Our current most southerly member is in Aurora. Two of us drive down from the Seattle area and two more from the coast. We will be at Puyallup this coming weekend. Consider building a basic module, which doesn't take much effort, money, or time and joining us sometime. In the future we hope to hook up with the Sacramento group for one of their shows - car pooling with us would be an option. Bert www.http://pnwfreemo-n.org/
Maybe some of us could come up, and some of you come down, and we set up in Medford, to show the folks there what can be done with FreeMoN (not to hijack John's Arizona thread, too much)
I have often thought about that also and would love to do it on a regular basis, once a year. Just need to find a venue and then a time of year when not so busy with tourists and snow! And to keep this on topic how about all of us going to the Tehachapi area to have a setup and visit the Loop and Cajon Pass with the Arizona folks? I was there last year. Good German style deli in Tehachapi and a railroad museum too. Bert www.http://pnwfreemo-n.org/
There are three shows I have on my wishlist: 1) Dunsmuir Railroad Days (Annual event in mid-June). Small railroad town conveniently located on Interstate 5. 65 miles south of the Oregon border and 250 miles north of San Francisco. 2) Medford Train show (weekend after Thanksgiving). Nice venue with many other layouts. 35 miles north of the CA-OR border. 3) Portola Railroad Days (Annual event usually the 3rd weekend in August). Space to setup inside the former Western Pacific shops. Located in the small town about 60 miles north of Truckee, CA. It's a 2.5 hour drive from Sacramento. I should probably start a new thread Thanks John for getting the ideas flowing...we need more FreeMo ;-)
