Projects ...
A Talking Caboose ?
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I made this caboose for the kids at train shows. Press a button and it says "Don't forget to tell Santa you want a train for Christmas., and 3 others.
Update: I found a much better and lower cost solution for this project using a BlueTooth speaker, which can simply be placed in a car and then removed for charging. Since my caboose was already setup with the speaker, battery, and charging port, I just removed the Sound Clip Module and receiver, and replaced them with a BlueTooth amplifier. See file below for a standalone $15 solution.
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Paul Hart's Hot Air Balloon Project
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Paul Hart asked for some help with this fun project. We ended up using an Enhanced Critter Control, along with his motor and fish line setup to control the ascent and descent of his large scale hot air balloon.
Read all about it ... 
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Battery Power for your Track !
This project is now turning into a product; Track Pack
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Bachmann Rail Truck gets MyLocoSound
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Mounting Reed Switches with PCB/3D Printed Assembly
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I decided it was time to upgrade my reed switch mounting process ...
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Odometer Car
What to know how long your main line is? Quit guessing and build this Arduino project to measure your track length quickly and accurately.
October 2018, Garden Railways Magazine
"Build a Track Odometer" by Del Tapparo
October 2018, Garden Railways Magazine
"Build a Track Odometer" by Del Tapparo
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Error in schematic: Use digital pin D2 instead of D6. | ||
Anatomy of a Li-Ion Battery PackLi-Ion Battery tear down.
4-Way Traffic LightA working large scale model traffic signal.
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Scrolling Text Message Car
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If you would like to build this project, I have schematics, software, and PCBs available.
Track Cleaning Car
| a_simple_track_cleaner_you_can_build.pdf |
Build a Railroad Crossbuck for your Open House
| how_to_build_a_crossbuck.pdf |
Build an Arduino "Speed Trap"
Want to know how fast your train is really going in scale speed? Want to learn how to program and build Arduino projects?
February 2017, Garden Railways Magazine
"Speed Trap", by Del Tapparo
February 2017, Garden Railways Magazine
"Speed Trap", by Del Tapparo
| gr_article_speed_trap.pdf |
Universal Trailing Car
Don't want the cost of battery powered R/C electronics in all of your locos? This Universal Trail Car configuration will allow you to run all of your locos, any one at a time, from the same set of electronics. All you have to do is isolate the track pickups on the locos that will use this trail car, and provide a 2-wire connection to the motor. A DC Power Source (such as a $20 Meanwell LRS-150-24) can be used for constant track power. The sound board can be a MyLocoSound or Phoenix. And the best part is, the RailBoss 4 Plus can provide all of its unique functions for your locos on either track or battery power.
| universal_trail_car.pdf |
Track pickups for your trailing car can be done using PIKO ball bearing wheel sets with pickups. Or using a 4-wire connector between the locos and the trail car, you could use the locos factory pickups, isolated from the motor, back to the trail car.
MyLocoSound for a Bachmann Climax
Installing MyLocoSound in a stock track powered Climax, the newer ones with removable coal load.
Click here to see how it's done
Click here to see how it's done
LGB Mogul Battery Power and Sound Conversion
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RailBoss 4 Plus and MyLocoSound into an LGB Mogul Tender. Where do you put all this stuff?
Click here to find out |
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Digital Track Volt/Ammeter
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This project was inspired by customer Glenn Sheldon after he asked for some assistance with low cost digital voltmeters to measure track voltage. It is fun to build, and only requires about $25 worth of parts or less, depending on how you package it. Glenn uses the TrackSide R/C for control.
Click here for more Info 
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Use the Magnetic Critter Control for your Track Powered Train Display
Customer Dennis Olsen tells us how he uses the Magnetic Critter Control for his track powered train display.
Notes:
- 12 VDC may not provide enough speed for your locomotives. The Meanwell LRS-150-24 is an excellent low cost power supply for this project. It provides 24V at 6.5A for around $18.
- The Magnetic Critter Control runs in one direction only (no built-in reverse), but can be added externally to the motor output with a DPDT switch if needed.
Track Blower Cars
Matt Iantorno used our Simple Critter Control and a Battery Conversion Module in his custom built track blower cars. The brown one has a Basswood chassis, Kadee coupler & trucks, a Bachmann caboose, a Rule 12v blower fan, and a Lithium Ion battery. The green one has the Simple Critter Control in the roof of the cupola.
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If you would like to submit your project for publication here, please contact us. We love new ideas.