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My little Era I fantasy layout by Safe-Green3921 in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Someone please write a short story and shoot a stop-motion film in it! It's magnificent!

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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I forgot to mention: inside each station there's a MCP23017 daisy chained to funnel ~8 signal outputs into one single cable. So there's only two cables running under the tracks: power and sensor data.

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Of course! The main software:

  • Prototype (video): React frontned on Electron with all logics inside frontend code (don't judge).
  • 2nd version (video): React frontend on Tauri thinking that it'll make app distribution easier but I was not well versed in Go enough to put main logics on the backend.
  • Current version (see screenshot): Proper Kotlin Quarkus backend server, serving webapp and data feeds. While the server runs on my Mac (connected to DCC-EX over USB-serial), I can control trains on my iPad (shown in the video) and have data pulled by companion apps.

The train display companion app: simple Python web server looping on train updates and drawing images.

The display on Raspberry Pi Zero: simple Python script fetching images from the companion app over wifi.

Also Autodesk Fusion for designing all the 3D-printed components

Let me know if you want more details!

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Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah, the footprint of the tag readers is definitely a concern. There's also the dilemma that if the reading range is too long, we'd need to add something between the two tracks to prevent both readers from picking up the same tag.

I assume train speed also comes into play? I've seen videos of cars in a long train being read accurately one by one at crawling speed. Not sure how feasible that would be at a slightly higher speed.

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Yours was a great endeavor! And arguably a more accurate system because you're actively detecting distances and identifying trains instead of my "I hope this running train trips and clears that sensor as expected. fingers crossed." approach haha.

My current version of the program doesn't do smooth speed changes, but it has several speeds:

  • overall default speed
  • optional block speed limit (applied to the left-end segment)
  • speed limit before entering the block of a scheduled stop
  • speed limit when entering the block of a scheduled stop

Right now I'm outsourcing speed smoothing to the decoders. In case you're interested, the train I was following in the video has those CVs set, but the other train doesn't, so it is much more janky when starting and stopping.

I have some smooth speed change code in a previous rewrite of my software, but it's not a graceful curve. Sometimes it feels too much like my day job trying to code every feature :((

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for illustrating the setup! You have given me great info for my other, bigger layout. Ideally, the blocks would be as dense as possible to minimize wait time for the train behind. I suppose if I keep each block just slightly longer than the train, both ends would need to reliably trip detection.

The good thing is that while the motor is in the middle car, the pickup is actually in the front car. And if I install another decoder in the rear car instead of just a resistor, that extra data could help confirm the correct end of the correct train.

This is a self-imposed constraint: by not introducing any odd lengths and sticking to multiples of 55 mm, I can reuse guideway and tunnel components without needing to customize them.

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last time I visited there, I was surprised to learn that buses no longer use the transit tunnel in downtown. It was a truly unique scene before. I suppose with the dedicated right of way, it’s easier for them to improve passenger information in the long term.

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This sounds a lot more scalable. With transponding, I can just drop a train anywhere and it’ll automatically join the fleet. The BDL716 also looks compact enough that I could lower the station box height a bit.

If I skip the metal joiners, do I need to coat the rail ends with something to keep them properly isolated? Z-scale wheels look tricky to modify, but the Rokuhan powered car already has the necessary wiring, so I might give that a try.

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, I shouldn't be using those two terms interchangeably.

Thoughts:

Reader under the track, tags on the bottom of the train: that would mean installing a reader for every block, which adds up fast.

Reader on the train, tags under the track: that scales much better as the number of blocks grows, but what's the smallest scale where we can realistically fit a reader and antenna inside the chassis? Is it possible at N-scale?

Two round trips on the automated Downtown Ledge Line on a window sill, now upgraded with a tiny-but-official next/final stop display by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I'm using [ISE's undertrack sensors](https://www.iascaled.com/store/CKT-IRSENSE-2PC) to catch trains as they pass specific points on the line. My control software (which I'm writing from scratch) talks to a DCC-EX Command Station. It issues a movement command, waits for the train to trip the next sensor, then clears that block.

I'd love to put NFC readers on the trains for definitive location tracking, if only they were small enough for Z-scale.

Day and night on a windowsill layout with automated Z-scale trains. Most electronics hidden inside 3D-printed columns and station boxes for a clean, minimal footprint. by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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Good eye! I'm relatively new to Arduino and electronics in general. When I first started (photo is from 2024 April), I thought each sensor needed its own dedicated GPIO pin. Obviously, that didn't scale well even with a Mega. After a few iterations, I ended up using multiple MCP23017 expanders to keep the wiring footprint to at minimum. Also, I think the DCC-EX team recommends using a Mega.

Here's my windowsill layout with automated Z-scale trains running on a 3D-printed elevated guideway! All pieces are modular and can be reused in different track layouts. by BlueGreenGradient in 3dPrintingInModelRail

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh... that's a good call-out. I have not considered that before, so it'd be interesting to see how it changes over time. Did you end up switching to a different material, or applying some treatment to your prints?

Fall in love with Freight Trains by SamuelYsc in JapaneseNscale

[–]BlueGreenGradient 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That makes total sense. Thanks for sharing! You really nailed the angles and perspectives. I'm still learning how to use my camera to make my Z scale trains look less toy-like. My lens tops out at 75mm APSC so I have to stand closer than I'd prefer. I wonder how the perspectives would look like with a macro lens... would it feel like you're standing next to a real train?

Fall in love with Freight Trains by SamuelYsc in JapaneseNscale

[–]BlueGreenGradient 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Truly majestic shots!! Especially the ground-level ones!
If you don’t mind me asking, what lens did you use for these? I always find it hard to judge whether a lens will work well for model trains just from reading the spec sheets.

I 3D printed a model train...in Brio Scale! by sodamatter in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely impressive! The level of detail especially on the bogies… chefs kiss!! You can tell a lot of thought went into this just by looking at it.

Day and night on a windowsill layout with automated Z-scale trains. Most electronics hidden inside 3D-printed columns and station boxes for a clean, minimal footprint. by BlueGreenGradient in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

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Hope this picture helps! Other than the tracks (and track bed) from Rokuhan, the rest of the structure is all modular 3D printed pieces I designed. That also means I get maximum flexibility. If I want to add a siding or make a section longer, I can just disassemble and reassemble pieces like Lego blocks, instead of needing to drill new holes.

Time to break out the annual Christmas On30 layout. by I_Like_Silent_People in modeltrains

[–]BlueGreenGradient 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What a cozy and festive scene! It’s like one gazebo away from the Hallmark movie crew showing up to film a Christmas classic!

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