[SPROGman]

QUOTE (Phil Leigh @ 28 Oct 2007, 18:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>1) can I use the new Hornby above-board point motors with Peco turnouts or is this a non-starter? If not, what point motors make sense. The scenic modules will have tortoise or fulgarex slow-motion ont he main lines etc, but for the fiddle yard I need economy (but reliable operation with DCC).
I have a potential solution to the economy question. Am I allowed to post, with a commercial hat on, details of a new product in direct response to a question? I'm not sure, even after reading the forum guidelines.

Andrew

 

[SPROGman]

QUOTE (Phil Leigh @ 28 Oct 2007, 17:58) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>1) can I use the new Hornby above-board point motors with Peco turnouts or is this a non-starter? If not, what point motors make sense. The scenic modules will have tortoise or fulgarex slow-motion ont he main lines etc, but for the fiddle yard I need economy (but reliable operation with DCC).
SPROG DCC will soon be releasing a new range of DCC accessory decoder to drive servo motors as used in R/C planes, boats, etc. Servos can give quiet, slow motion operation, without hammering the points, and can be a *lot* cheaper than tortoise and the like, e.g. 4 for £15 from Howes, even cheaper on Ebay (they can also be *very* much more expensive!).

The first will be 6 channel (i.e. controls 6 points) with local panel switch inputs. Centre-off toggle switches are used for local control with the centre-off position returning control to DCC. The switches can be individually disabled through a CV so a "signalman" could use ops mode programming to hand over control to a local operator.

Servos can be used for other layout animation such as level crossing gates, water cranes, and the like, that move through about 90 degrees.

The first prototypes are built but I'm still tweaking the firmware. Price isn't fixed yet but will be competitive with, and probably cheaper than, alternative solutions. Please keep an eye on the website, which will be updated soon.

Andrew
http://www.sprog-dcc.co.uk