My WP units showed up today too! I just opened one up to take a peek, and see the same easy 6 wire decoder scheme. Just get the small decoder of your choice, and follow the normal AZL Wiring convention. Pull the 2 copper wipers off the sides of the board, and solder wires from your decoder : Red is Pin 3 Orange is Pin 1 Yellow is Pin 6 White is Pin 5 Grey is Pin 2 Black is Pin 4 Blue wire is not used, cut it off.
I was experimenting with We-Honest people. Cut the torso off at elbow height and they sit the right height in the windows, but the windows are tinted. Going to put window shades on the inside to hide the center where the DCC board is, and torso the rest of the windows and LED light the inside.
Ok, two more... My briefcase layout uses 140mm radius curves. Marklins minimum radius is 145mm. The RDCs have no problem making it around these curves which is pretty amazing for a car this long. Any cars I have over 60" will derail, so I'm somewhat amazed at this. But it looks awkward, and it can't do it coupled to anything.
LOL! I haven't tested them on 145s, but I am glad to hear they will run on 140s! If running in tandem, the broader the curve the better. These do have body mount couplers which will prevent running double headed through tighter radius curves. One note on the couplers. We have found a little flashing in them which can make the couplers a bit stiff. If you move them back and forth briskly a few times, this will knock down the flashing loosen them up a bit. Curn, great photos! I love the shot with WP GP9 in the background. Rob
Robert, I will wait for your play by play conversion. With the RDC, I dont know wheres the front or the back.
I need some clarification here. Am I to understand that these RDC's are equiped for DCC only and not for regular layouts? If so, I can't use them on mine.
This from a DC guy who recently converted to DCC. Don't be afraid of DCC of as most factory installed decoders are ready to go on either DC or DCC right out of the box, but if you install a decoder it has to be programmed to be dual mode. The term DCC Ready just means that there are provisions in the DC version of the model which enable one to install a decoder with minimum work. DCC plug and play just means the units is ready for DC operation and can be changed to DCC operation by unplugging a jumper plug and plugging in the appropriate decoder. If you get away from Z today you will find that a lot of factory new engines are coming with dual mode as standard and some of these come with an infrared remote so all the functions of DCC are there for you to use on DC. I am convinced we are not too far away from seeing this in Z. It is now almost standard in HOn30 and HO and we have seen it in N also. don't be afraid of it, it is coming, this from old fart who, finally succumbed to the beast and love it now. But still run DC too. cheerz Garth
Oh WOW! Great pictures! I tested the RDC on 145mm just for the heck of it - they do run, but we decided not to advertise the 145mm ability because of the overhang (your pictures are a fantastic illustration!) You also are correct on the coupler issue. In fact, they were only tested coupled to another RDC on 195mm and 220mm curves. I noted on the pre-production samples that I needed to carefully run the coupler back an forth a few times to lose them up. The factory was alerted for the production run, but you might want to try to gently move the coupler through its full travel, back and forth, if you encounter any operating problems. Cheers! -Rob(A) AZL
Rob, Since you are hanging around here instead of slaving away at the factory...) can you give us an update on progress on the steam locos to come and anything else in the pipeline? We Z scalers would rather read about new Z releases and product development than any Enquirer or Globe gossip.....yup
I guess the most important thing is that the RDC is running to all sorts of curves well and how many people are actually going to run the RDC in multiple units? Not too many I guess and if they want to they have to have some big radius. Hopefully I get mine before the weekend....
Well now, how can I resist a request like that? Why not! New Thread Started: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=128913 Cheers, -Rob(A) AZL
I got one of these just to play with (possible kitbash fodder), but I have to say, right out of the box, this is one of the best running locs that I have seen. Dan S.
Thanks Garth. I have taken a serious look at DCC and have determined that, at least on my layout, the cost if prohibitive. If I understand your response, these RDC's can accommodate DC layouts. That's good. Thanks
new to scale; If you are interested in DCC then talk to someone in Z with DCC as it quite possible to get into DCC for less than 200.00 if you are in Z. Your local hobby supplier only knows about DCC in HO, N and maybe and larger scales and you do not need that sort of a starter set go get going in Z. cause I was put off by what my local hobby pusher wanted to sell me and after taking to Z scalers on the west coast found out a much cheaper and less technical entry point which worked for me. I have even found an even cheaper way in if you have a small layout with one or two engines. But DC is fine and if you are familiar with that stick with it and your RDC will run fine on your system right out od the box.
This reminds me of a trip on BC rail. One was named the Buddwiser to take the little remote residents to school. On the return trip, the car could be coupled to the daily train. The car was versatile enough to go onto almost any sidetrack to let the heavy freight go by. Some had galleys installed to provide nice meals to the passengers. The cars were great for the trip from Prince George into Vancouver.
You must not be running any engines, then. You can get into DCC for hardly more than the cost of a single engine. Additional DCC engines are in the order of $25 to $35 ~~ and of course more if you have some real special requirements. ...don
