The new Cement Company industry

Walther’s built-up Sunrise Feed

And BLMA’s Port-a-Potty next to the gas station

Working is still moving along on the North Island Refinery kit. Today I also got my Walther’s Double Truss bridge kit I’ll start work on soon.

Shaun Previous Layout

And if you wanna make wiring even easier, there’s the hare too!

It’ll cost more, but you’re paying for simplier install, and fewer wires to deal with.

for 16 turnouts.

Wabbit:

1 – 12 Pack Combo (6 Wabbit-FB, 12 Tort Conn, 12 Tortoise) – $348.88
2 2-pack Combos (1 Wabbit-FB, 2 Tort Conn, 2 Tortoise) – $132.00

Total – $475.88

Hare:

1 12 Pack Combo – $489.95
4Â 1 pack combos – $179.80

Total – 669.75

So a difference of $179.80 for an easier install. Worth it to you? I’m still deciding!

Shaun Previous Layout

Just doing more research about turnout controls. Here’s a breakdown between using CTI’s hardware vs. Wabbits for controlling 16 turnouts.

CTI:

1 Starter Set – $84.95
1 Yardmaster – $67.95
2 Switch Power Supplies – $30
1 Tortoise 12 pack – $159.95
4 Tortoise – $63.80

Total – $406.65

Wabbit:

1 – 12 Pack Combo (6 Wabbit-FB, 12 Tort Conn, 12 Tortoise) – $348.88
2 2-pack Combos (1 Wabbit-FB, 2 Tort Conn, 2 Tortoise) – $132.00

Total – $475.88

And then some pros and cons. The Wabbit it obviously easier to setup, requiring only two wires from th DCC bus for the basic operation and address programing. Addition features include easy push button/toggle intergration, Panel LED indicators, ability to report feedback back to Digitrax, and auto throw.

The CTI setup, while almost $70 cheaper, requires a lot of hardware, a lot of wire running, a dedicated PC, and a lot of source code programming. Push button toggles aren’t easy to intergrate. It requires a to act as a “sensor” and programmed into the software. Panel LED’s could probably be run from the tortoise too. No feedback to DCC and no auto-throw.

So yeah, I know I was all gung-ho again for using CTI for it’s extensive programming control (ie: tying Signals to turnouts), but the same can be accomplished with JMRI if I stick with using live signals. But the other day, after working on the layout a little bit, I started second guessing myself on the whole PC control aspect of the layout. I think I really want to have some sort of local control right there at the layout side for controlling turnouts, and going the way of the Wabbit will give me that *AND* digital control from my handheld DCC throttle and/or a PC interface (with signal logic). And not having to fire up a pc and software in order to throw a turnout would be nice too.

So call me Mr. Can’t-Make-Up-His-Mind, but I think I’m back on using DCC for controlling turnouts via Wabbits. In the end, it’ll cost more, but I think I’ll be happier with the features.

Shaun Previous Layout

I ordered a Pro-Tech single head signal last week and it arrived today in the mail. I was thinking about using these “Static” signals for the crossover tracks and branch line on the top level.

I must say I’m pretty impressed with the quality. It’s my first signal on the layout (on any of my layouts actually), and it just adds a whole other level of realism even without the rest of the scenery.

I even started considering ditching the whole expensive signals/lots-o-wires/expensive logic boards/programming headaches “signal system” for these low cost nice looking signals.

Here’s some pics:

Shaun Previous Layout