Subject:
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Re: All plastic track
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains
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Date:
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Wed, 17 Aug 2005 21:50:10 GMT
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Viewed:
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2207 times
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In lugnet.trains, Brian Davis wrote:
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In lugnet.trains, Jake McKee wrote:
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How do I know? Because I’m on the project
team that’s working on the Hobby Train.
I’m open for questions...
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OK, here’s two I was *dying* to ask at BrickFest, but didn’t want to take
time away from the more “serious” questioners (i.e. - I’m not first & formost
a train type).
(1) What is the battery life goal?
(2) Is the IR system potential compatable with the RCX? I’m already
drooling at the idea of an RCX-controled train and stations, *without* having
to fit the RCX into the train (and to all the folks about to suggest LDCC,
current versions gut the firmware too much - it seems to be a RC system, not
a computer driving a train system).
(3) How many addressible features could such a train have (Fwd/Rev
certainly, but throttle? Lights? Horns?)
OK, that’s three. I can programm, but I can’t count. Personally, I also
came away from BrickFest with a positive view of where the 9V system is
headed, not negative. Pure and simple, more kids “gatewayed” into L-gauge
means more potential customers for “adult” L-gauge setups.
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I’d like to add a few of my own detail questions.
A) How many channels will there be? There obviously needs to be at least as many
as there are simultaneous running loco’s on tracks else locos on sidings will
keep waking up (since the switches won’t turn them off anymore).
B) Is the R/C trainbase and motor a single entity, like 6x28 studs or something?
Or can the motor bogies be moved? Are they connected by 9v type wires? (If you
are limited to a trainbase type scheme, it eliminates cute little trams or steam
train models which rely on hiding the motor under the tender.)
C) What is the battery voltage?
D) Are the motorized bogies likely to be the same wheel spacing as the current
9v motor unit?
E) What is the likely battery lifetime if the train is left switched on but not
actually running? Will the On/Off state automatically time out and turn off?
After how long? Will a running train also timeout after a while?
F) Does the remote control switch the motor state between on and off or does the
remote have to have a button pressed continually? Is there a way of controlling
the speed? Button pushed for a while til the train reaches the desired speed?
Stays at that speed til a button pushes adjusts it to another speed? Including
slowing down and going the other way?
I know the final details may yet to be worked out. Advance information is very
welcome and permits people to plan and work towards what may be coming.
I, for one, am really looking forward to this new scheme for two reasons. I can
imagine either using an RCX directly or building a simple IR gizmo to allow the
RCX or a PC to control trains. I also see a simple option via which existing 9v
train motors could operate from onboard 9v battery boxes with a simple
controller (built by us fans) to be compatible with the new IR comms standard.
Or an enhanced version of it with extra goodie funtionality. I’ll get to work as
soon as there is real information.
Thanks for the heads up Jake!!! and TLG!!!
JB
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: All plastic track
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| (...) I'll second every thing John said above. I've already built a couple of small RC train projects. And I can't wait to hack the new system as well. I also apluad the idea of cheaper train sets (plastic track), as I already have a ton of curved (...) (19 years ago, 18-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: All plastic track
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| (...) OK, here's two I was *dying* to ask at BrickFest, but didn't want to take time away from the more "serious" questioners (i.e. - I'm not first & formost a train type). (1) What is the battery life goal? (2) Is the IR system potential compatable (...) (19 years ago, 16-Aug-05, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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