New Engines and DCS 4.3

Based on my experiences with DCS 4.30, your issues don't sound like DCS issues. They may be either quirks in the two engine's sound/chain files, or an issue regarding the smoke units or how they're being filled.

Casey, try turning off the smoke switch.

FWIW, I also experience forgotten settings with PS3.

I run into many of the newer engines that do not have enough wicking in them from the factory.  The guys are correct and it is not a DCS issue, it is what I outlined.  I get to see many of these engines.  When someone has your complaint I open the smoke unit up and install the newer MTH smoke wicking.  Life is good then.

I can verify that done properly, the MTH smoke units will smoke like this.

I will try playing with the wick.

This still doesn't explain why the Rail King diesel starts up when I power up the system.  I have not hit the start-up button.  The turning on automatically seems to confuse the engine somewhat even when I shut it down and start it up again through the DCS Remote.

 My older MTH engines will do that.  Seems to be the PS3 engines where I have issues

Starting up without a startup command is a whole different kettle of fish, it has nothing to do with smoke volume.  Typically, that's because that channel was already powered and the engine received no watchdog signal.  It'll happen if you have a switched siding and you just power up the siding.

The TIU only sends the watchdog signal with it's power is turned on.

It's possible that one or both of your engines has the new feature where there is little smoke at startup but increases as the engine throttles up.  My Premier N&W SD45 from last year does that.  Initially, you can see very little smoke and I was also concerned because I could only see smoke at startup when turned on high.  As I played around with the engine, I noticed that as the engine starts moving and the engine revs higher, the smoke output gets thicker.  MTH just started listing this as a feature in the most recent catalog at "Operating Proto-Smoke Unit with 8 Intensity Levels."

Hi Marty:

Is the wick material that MTH installs in their engines any different than the material used in Tiki torch style yard torches?

The wick that comes from the factory looks a lot like the Tiki torch wick.  The braided wick doesn't come stock from the factory, at least not as of a couple years ago in the ones I've worked on.  I've had several "new" smoke units that just needed better wicks than the factory supplied, the braided stuff really made a difference.

I haven't opened up a new one as there has been no need.  The ones I've worked on have all been PS/2 models, so they'd be three-four years old at least.  Some of them had a pretty small wick that wasn't all that effective.

If my Lionel Hudson would smoke like the video, I would seriously consider allowing smoke on the layout. I like the looks and effect, very realistic.

As you can see, it can be made to smoke like that.

I think I solved my problem with the smoke.  It has been mentioned for the new PS3 engines that there are 8 steps to the smoke and to rev up the engine to go the different steps.  I tried it and I am getting more smoke out, not as much as my PS2 in the MU but close enough that it not as noticeable.

Now if I can figure out why my one engine comes on by itself.  It appears that it does it anywhere in the system so I don't think it is a voltage problem.  Maybe the new PS3s are more susceptible to noise in the system and mistakes it for an actual signal or it thinks it should be in conventional mode.

I may try changing out the wick at some time in the future.  Can you get the wicks at a full service MTH shop or do you have to order them directly?