Hello All, Like many, I have thoroughly enjoyed many of the threads covering the construction of Free-Mo-N modules. There are some really amazing modelers on this forum who have been doing amazing stuff in this area, so I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread where specific questions could be asked. Anything is fair game, I'm excited to see where this thread might wander! So I'll start! I'm about to begin work on several modules to be setup in a loop for my home layout. My first question is for you guys who are using pink foam for your scenery base. How are you mounting turnout controls to the pink foam? My second question is complicated! I'm a part of an Ntrak club, and would like to build an interchange module so that my home loop layout can be setup as a branch line connected to the large Ntrak layout at shows. The track planning is probably the simple part. How in the world would you wire the darn thing? Digitrax is the Ntrak standard, but I had planned on using my NCE system on the Free-Mo-N modules, would it be possible to transition from one DCC system to another? Would I have to wire my modules to use both systems? Is that possible? Thanks!
Good questions! Mounting turnouts to foam -- I gorilla glued 1/8" ply to the bottom of the foam where the turnouts needed to be mounted. You can also simply put a full layer of ply down, and then glue your foam to that. The key is to keep the weight to a minimum. Use the NCE UTP RJ-12 fascia panels (vs Digitrax UP-5s) and they will support either NCE or Digitrax. While operating, it will be one or the other system, but there will be nothing tying you to one. (The Digitrax panels will not work with NCE cabs, but the NCE panels will support LocoNet).
I use a layer of 1/8" birch plywood under the entire piece of foam, it works very well for me. It also helps keep the modules squared up in rough transit. Good point on the NCE panels Rick, I will probably use those going forward.
Very helpful all ready! My next question is about the legs. How are they attached to the module? I haven't found very much information about this on the interwebs. Is there a standard design for the tops of the legs? Thanks!!
You want to make the legs "slip on" for ease of set up and take down. There is no standard, and it really depends on the module. Some of the short 45 degree connecting modules we have only have a single leg, which sits in a pocket. If you look in my construction thread, you can see photos of how the legs go onto my modules. Those are 16 inches across, with slots for the legs to slip onto bolts with wing nuts to secure. The bolts are in the cross members of the frame.
Our group. MNFreemoN mostly uses 1/2" conduit for legs. We pound a 3/8" nut in the bottom for the adjustable feet. At the top there is a small pocket made from plywood (one piece at a 45 degree angle with a 1/4" t-nut. A single thumbscrew holds the leg in place. The whole thing costs maybe $2.50 a leg.
For legs I use paint roller extension poles: http://nscaleintermodal.com/Free-moN/AdjustableLegs.html The main reason I went with these poles is that the Free-moN standard allows modules at any nominal height between 50" and 62" in increments of 3/4". The paint extension poles alow me to do any height in between the min and max without bringing any kind of blocking. ( unlike other standards, the Free-mo standards allow modules to have grades... And endplates that are not level with one another.) BTW, since you mentioned the NCE UTPs, I also use those on my Free-moN modules. In my case, I use a Lenz system. I tried digitrax panels at one point and found that just plugging in the panels causes a short on the XPressNet. Both XPressNet and NCE's cab bus are electrically compatible. ( It is theoretically possible to build a throttle that will work on both systems. Both use RS485 based communication busses, but they run at different speeds and talk different protocols on top of RS485 ). Paul
This is a great idea Paul! I'm going to look into this! No problems with stability due to the lack of a cross brace?
