Hi everyone, I'm Chris, a nomadic Kiwi currently living in Switzerland. I've recently come back to the N scale world when I realised that a modular layout would be easier to transport to the various countries we live in. My current semi experimental project is a prefabricated Noch layout (sort of a proof of concept before building a full modular system) that is running a Raspberry Pi with JMRI, Arduino Mega DCC++ Ex and CMRI UNO/NANO nodes. The layout itself I purchased from the Swiss version of Ebay and pretty much had to rebuild it from scratch, not the best track laying I've come across. I've also delved into the world of 3d printing, with an Elegoo Mars 2 pro, which has proved invaluable in creating terminal blocks, Arduino base plates, clamps, brackets - and a couple of small items on the layout itself. It has been a pretty steep learning curve so far, I'm no computer programmer and quite often I come across a problem that there just doesn't seem to be an answer for, so I'm hoping that the good folks on here can help with some of my more difficult situations (JMRI audio using Bluetooth speakers to play ambient layout sounds is my current issue!) with the ultimate goal of having a fully automated layout. Anyway - here's a few photos of the layout in its current state - I am in the process of rewiring the bus system, installing the DCC++ (was using a Fleishmann Z21) and sorting out the HP power supply to provide all round layout power. cheers Chris
Hi Chris, welcome. You're way out of my knowledge, but I'm sure you'll find plenty of help in the DCC & Electronics Forum.