Good Afternoon Fellow O scale gurus,
I am newer to O scale. Currently, I am very accustomed to the HO scale mindset and have been running DCC for 80% of my time modeling.
With my newer venture into O scale and my knowledge of HO, I have thoughts of something that may be a bit unique.
My original post that touches base with this topic is in the general forum, but I'd figure it would be benefitial to make a bit more of a detailed post here. Although I am not in a house just yet, I am playing with ideas in my apartment. My house plan will be to have a layout that will hopefully be able to run around the wall of the basement in a shelf layout style. To keep the layout flexable to new ideas and or improvements on the track plan, the track, building, everything on the table will not be permanently attached. I invision a carpet top layout, probably gray.
To keep the cost down a bit and to keep the layout more traditionally sized, I have no intention on running DCS or Legacy/TMCC systems. I prefer a conventional layout with some lionchief/ LC+ locos if I see one that I like.
My question for this forum is what are some good options for creating a block system and a walk around option for conventional control? I know it may be bit of a tall order but i'm still entertaining the idea.
The only way i can create blocks is using this idea. http://www.ogaugehobbyist.com/...strack-block-wiring/ For a small carpet layout, it has worked very nicely. I can see this being implemented on a larger layout. My thought is when having multiple operators on the layout, There will be one train on the mainline at a time as the main will be its own block. Each section where there is a good amount of switching activity and a yard will have its own dedicated power supply to do the work for that area. For run arounds and stations, those will only be a simple on/off block tied to the main. From the main leading into an area controlled with its own transformer will have a buffer/power transfer section. the loco will go into the transition, stop and flip a switch in the track to transfer the power source from main to local transformer. Accessory and signal blocks will be kept to the same standards that Lionel has in place.
Oh, before I forget, in my future modifications for my toggle switch track sections, I will put in an LED and a small full wave bridge rectifier and needed resistor to indicate if the block is active or not.
Any thoughts or ideas? This idea is only in its infancy right now.
