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In lugnet.trains, Brian Davis wrote:
> In lugnet.trains, Christopher Masi wrote:
>
> > 6. The IR unit is built into a 30-stud long base plate.
>
> Note that for the strong of heart, this might still allow smaller trolleys...
> with some ABS shavings. But hacking the motor to allow RP and IR controlability
> seems a likely direction in any event.
Also, for locomotices, the IR plate could be used on rolling stock pulled by a
shorter loco (this is how most of the old 4.5v trains worked). Doesn't wor for
trolleys though :(
> > So, the new BPIR system isn't all wine an roses, but what can
> > metal-railers get out of the new system?
> > 1. Since the plastic wheels insulate the train motor from the track and
> > each engine carries its own power supply, using BPIR trains is an easy
> > way to get a second, third or fourth train on the same loop as an RP
> > train. I think this is cool because I could get a trolley running on a
> > layout without interfering with the train, well… as long as I am paying
> > attention.
>
> Or even when you aren't. The biggest news to me at BrickFest on this was IR
> control - the RCX can transmit IR, and we've already got it running things like
> Manas (that may use a very similar protocol). So multiple, RCX-controled (but
> not powered) trains become a possibility, with the RCX inputs and outputs
> dedicated to just controling layout features (points, animation, train sensing).
> And this requires no modification whatsoever, just careful coding of the RCX for
> IR control.
> One RCX, controling multiple trains, switching tracks, and loading &
> unloading stations. If the train folks don't enjoy this, I assure you there's
> some mindstorms types that are chomping at the bit.
Except the RCX will be obsolete in 6 months, and the NXT doesn't have IR. Maybe
all the mindstorms fans can pay for their NXT by selling their RCXs to train
builders???? :)
ROSCO
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In lugnet.trains, Ross Crawford wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Brian Davis wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Christopher Masi wrote:
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6. The IR unit is built into a 30-stud long base plate.
|
Note that for the strong of heart, this might still allow smaller
trolleys...
with some ABS shavings. But hacking the motor to allow RP and IR
controlability
seems a likely direction in any event.
|
Also, for locomotices, the IR plate could be used on rolling stock pulled by
a
shorter loco (this is how most of the old 4.5v trains worked). Doesn’t wor
for
trolleys though :(
|
It’d be a nice nostalgic moment to see a battery tender version of the IR
system, based on a short wheelbase. If you take a hacksaw to this one, your
wheelbase is still going to be a minimum of 14 studs long, if you have the
wheels right at the end. At that size you’d really want three axles to make it
look good.
I understand the IR base has a large 4-wide lump in the middle of the top which
actually houses the electrics (only the batteries hang below), so maybe a taller
version could have batteries on top, but still be narrow enough to build up the
sides of a tender. I’d have to practice my in-line SNOT though...
;-)
Jason Railton
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In lugnet.trains, Ross Crawford wrote:
> > One RCX, controling multiple trains, switching tracks, and loading &
> > unloading stations. If the train folks don't enjoy this, I assure you there's
> > some mindstorms types that are chomping at the bit.
>
> Except the RCX will be obsolete in 6 months, and the NXT doesn't have
> IR. Maybe all the mindstorms fans can pay for their NXT by selling their
> RCXs to train builders???? :)
I'm saving up to buy an NXT - at Developer's Special, or full retail, I'll
likely get one the first chance I get. But I'm not remotely thinking the RCX
will be "obsolete" in 6 months. One, the NXT doesn't have IR... yet. It wouldn't
surprise me at all that somebody makes a 3rd party "IR code box" to allow theNXT
to send IR data. Second, there's a lot that an RCX can do, so I see no reason to
abandon it.
Heck, were Manas created so that RCX hackers could control them? I suspect
this was not a major motivating factor, but yet another "interface" an AFOL came
up with... because they could.
--
Brian Davis
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Ross Crawford wrote:
[...]
>
> Except the RCX will be obsolete in 6 months, and the NXT doesn't have IR. Maybe
> all the mindstorms fans can pay for their NXT by selling their RCXs to train
> builders???? :)
>
> ROSCO
RCX Obsolete in 6 months? I program my RCX 1.0 with a 7 year old Mac.
Write now I am typing on a 5 year old Mac. Obsolescence is just a point
of view :)*
Chris
*You are correct, I cannot use LEGO Factory on either of these dinosuars :(
--
http://users.rcn.com/cjmasi/lego/
Learn about brittle bone disease
http://www.oif.org/
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In lugnet.trains, Christopher Masi wrote:
> Ross Crawford wrote:
> [...]
> >
> > Except the RCX will be obsolete in 6 months, and the NXT doesn't have IR. Maybe
> > all the mindstorms fans can pay for their NXT by selling their RCXs to train
> > builders???? :)
> >
> > ROSCO
>
> RCX Obsolete in 6 months? I program my RCX 1.0 with a 7 year old Mac.
> Write now I am typing on a 5 year old Mac. Obsolescence is just a point
> of view :)*
Who makes people believe that old stuff is obsolete as soon as a successor
becomes available? To stay ontopic in this .trains area, I'm still using
blue tracks and motors and remote controled points (yes blue points!).
Still working beautifully.
The best change Lego ever made, making the old stuff obsolete is the change
from CA to ABS. Although I have built a house with CA bricks that doesn't
collapse when I breath or a fly lands on it :-)
Niels
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In lugnet.trains, Niels Karsdorp wrote:
> Who makes people believe that old stuff is obsolete as soon as a successor
> becomes available? To stay ontopic in this .trains area, I'm still using
> blue tracks and motors and remote controled points (yes blue points!).
> Still working beautifully.
A lot of people are still building their collection, and don't want supplies to
dwindle and the price of their hobby to go any higher than it already is.
That is to say, I don't want my mains trains to be obsolete, but you Mindstorms
lot can lump it, 'cos I like the look of the new ones! ;-) It would be nice if
they'd made the three motor limit obsolete though...
Jason Railton
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