Hey, Can anyone give me a few links or explain how they have made their control panels? I would prefer a website with pictures but if you could at least explain that would be helpful. Thanks Matt
Matt, If you go through past topics on "The Inspection Pit" forum I'm sure there are a few topics about control panels. i also have pics of my control panel on my website
Matt, here is a photo of the control panel on my old layout that is out in my model shop. (I haven't started to make the one for the new layout yet.) There is an illustrated manual with move-by-move instructions I made up that will take a total stranger from the engine house out onto the turntable, and run him all over the entire layout. Then it tells how to change from the MRC control that runs the whole layout from the single throttle, to one of the four selenium rectified control throttles that enable you or four people to operate four trains separately but all at the same time. It has pulse for coupling speed, or you can use the rectified control and coast as the current decays. All switches (turnouts) are lighted red or green, as are the blocks. Even the reversing loops (2) are lighted. The town, engine facilities, oil storage tank street lights and station are all lighted so the layout can be operated in total darkness when lighted only by the layout lights. This layout is also made to be moved, by tilting up on edge to enable it to roll through a common house room doorway on its own set of heavy duty casters. I had piano movers move it from one house to where we are now, and from the erection bay of my model shop, into a room built on the side for this layout. The whole thing only cost about $6,000.00 to build because of all the shortcuts, and salvaged materials. One day I'll probably sell it when the new layout is up and running. Right now, I test run engines on this one, and sometimes just "play", but that delays my working on the new one, so I have to restrict myself from having fun, to having fun building the new one. My wife says I'm having too much fun for my age. OH I HOPE SO!!! [ 24. November 2002, 06:12: Message edited by: watash ]
Here are a couple of pics of my control panel The first is the front of the panel which has an outline of the track. The second pic is the wiring of the control panel For more information click on this link Control Panel [ 24. November 2002, 09:26: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Very tidy wiring, Paul. Anyone would thing you were a signalling engineer or something I am just about to start wiring my new panel, I will try to keep it as tidy as yours
Hi Matt, This link will take you to how I made mine for the Badger Creek Lumber Co. http://www.trainboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=8;t=000693 Paul
Here is a pic of the new panel for the rebuilt Andersley yard. About to satrt on the wiring. The front is hinged, and swings out for access to the wiring. The panel is mounted on the wall above the yard, at a slight angle.
Very nice looking panel Alan. The red block switches and yellow turnout switches, that I understand, but how about the four black knobs? Is it from four different power units?
Helge, the yellow switches are for turnout control, the red ones are isolating switches to divide up track sections, especially in the locomotive area, and the black ones are rotary feed controls, feeding the four sections of trackage from two seperate controllers. They are set for three positions, one for each controller and a center position which is "off".
