A standard fascia mounted panel is also available to allow the user to control a switch and confirm the position of the switch. This project describes an interface which connects a model railroad control panel like the erbert. The loco buffer is a locobufferii revf rs232 serial to loconet interface by rrcirkits that i rewired to fit the panel front. Most advanced of its type, locofi is the future of model railway in the age of iot.
With traincontroller, we offer worldclass software for model railroad computer control. Model railroad software building your model railroad. It presents the layout as a computer screen panel inspired by digicon. Best model train control using locofi wifi sound decoders. An electrically continuous rail that connects both power packs to complete the common electrical circuit. Cti electronics of baltimore, md is a developer of model train computer control software not free and associated interface hardware that will permit your dcc model train layout to run your trains and associated model railroad accessories using an ibm compatible personal computer pc. I am curious as to what software or computer program everyone uses to create the track diagrams for their control panels. How to make a model railroad control panel from acrylic sheet and a printed track diagram.
Using an additional software package, or features in your board design package, you can also duplicate your design multiple times onto a single pcb panel. Walthers layout control system railroad model craftsman. Run your trains on dc or dcc track power or even battery. These notes attempt to describe custom hardware and software designed and built by geoff green and other members of the psry used to control the railroad. We design and manufacture control panels for the model railway hobby. The jmri libraries contain the panelpro application for creating panels to control or follow your virtual model railroad. Acrylic sheet available at your local hardware store or home. Control panel design suggestions model railroader magazine. Another method is to use either material and mount a computer printed template over the supporting panel. With the jmri panel editor, you can make a control panel look and operate any way you want. My railroad construction plans are all hand drawn on graph paper. Basically with the cti scheme your present manually. Model railroader is the worlds largest magazine on model trains and model railroad layouts. How to build a control panel for your model railroad.
Designing with anyrail is like having the run of the ultimate model railway shop. Feb 7, 2016 control panel wiring with leds how to model railroads. I first read about the process used to make the control panels 20 or so years ago in the model railroader series published in book form as building the burlington northern rr in n scale. Control panels can be very plain or ornate, depending on the wants and desires of the person who is building the panel. All this using existing infrastructure found in every home or club setting. One of the easier model railroad software programs to master that doesnt cost much its free, is the track planning software available for download from the website as freeware and works fairly well for simple layout designs. Many model railway enthusiasts enjoy the manual input of switching turnouts or having the ability to detect the presence of a train on hidden areas of the layout particularly fiddle yards.
A standard fascia mounted panel is also available to allow the user to control a switch and confirm the position of the. The panel has vgrooves so you simply snap apart the individual boards. This is an extremely basic model railway control panel, but it still allows your railroad to operate seamlessly. Trainplayer offers thousands of great layouts you can run, simple but precise tools so you can design and build your own, and an integrated system. Then, he distinguishes a fast clock from a regular clock and determines its purpose in model railroading. I am at the point where i need to design and build a control panel for my yard and other turnouts on my railroad.
As you may have already discovered, controlling a model train is a rather simple matter. Just download the setup package, install it and start editing your first track plan. Panelpro provides four separate ways to create panels. Mar 23, 2020 a program to control your digital model railroad. Flexible tape for model railroad control panelsflexible 18 inch tape follows curves, loops and other complex shapes with ease, so its perfect for rendering your model railroad track plan on your control panel. How to use model railway software to make operation of your dcc. Simply transfer a scale drawing of your track plan to the panel, then apply the tape over the lines to create a clear, professionallooking layout diagram. Using the train brain modules from cti electronics to achieve stateoftheart. A control system for a model railroad includes a wireless transceiver circuit, associated with a model railroad device, and control software, operable upon a general purpose wireless smart device, comprising programming code for bidirectional wireless communication with the wireless transceiver circuit. This panel will usually include your main transformer s, or controls to your transformers, for turning the power to your layout on or off. Using ctis flexible family of control modules, you create a control system thats perfect for your model railroad. Digital command control resources for model railroaders.
This software allows you to create and customize your very own layout, view it as a 3d model and then generate a shopping list to make your dream layout a reality. The pacific southern model railway psry has over 600 feet of mainline on a two and a half time around basement layout. I use the panel control system from mgp here in sweden, a very competent system with its own programming app and uses loconet for communication. Rocrail is free software for controlling model trains for linux, apple.
How to build a model railroad control panel youtube. Unlike a motor, which runs continuously until power is removed or it is stalled, a servo moves to a commanded position and stops. How to build a control panel for your model railroad model. Trainplayer software brings model railroading out of the basement and onto your screen. Dec 02, 2014 building a control panel there isnt any one particular way to build a control panel nor is there any one particular material to build one out of. Jan 19, 2019 i just finished my mini control panel for the turnouts on my layout. Signalogic systems provides solutions for modellers to control switches on their model railroad layout utilizing a standard control and feedback configuration. With the help of these tips from allen keller, you will be equipped with the knowledge to create your very own model railway control panel. I put 21 copies of the same circuit onto a single panel. Ive seen the usual use of masonite, plexiglass, and some sheet metal, but im looking for other ideas. We offer open source hardware and software to help you operate your railroad as prototypically as you like. The control panel is usually the most used feature of a model railway. We want it to be usable to as many people as possible, so were building it in java to run anywhere, and were trying to make it independent of specific hardware systems.
Scarm means simple computer aided railway modeller software for easy and precise design of model train layouts and railroad track plans. Tangled wires and overcrowded control panels are a thing of the past. You can build control panels and control your layout using panelpro to set up signaling. All holes and mounts would be made right through the entire panel. Thats it, you now have a control panel for your model railroad. Control panels can have a great impact on the overall success of any model railroad.
Using touch toggles in a large model railroad panel. Hobby enthusiasts use our custom made physical control panels, an ipad app, or both, to control the turnouts, track power and uncouplers on their layout. Traincontroller is characterized by particularly simple and effective use as well as secure operation. The turnouts are controlled by mini momentary button switches that are connected to the digitrax input pins. Powerful software features the key to userfriendly computer control. We feature beginner and advanced help on all model railroading scales.
Physical control panel mounted on layout with optional mounting bracket. Weve included every train set component we can find, so you can draw on all the major manufacturers to create the perfect railroad layout. Expand your options of fun home activities with the largest online selection at. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Rodney blacks cats application is another tool for creating modernstyle control panels. Model railroad control panel interface arduino based interface to connect a control panel to the pc. You can dispatch trains, configure routes, and assign blocks, all with a single click of the mouse. Apart from the increased cost of the dcc control unit and having to put a decoder into each locomotive, one drawback is the number of buttons you need to press. Anyrail the easiest model railroad design software. Gadgetronicx electronics projects diy model train controller project. If your control board is angled or vertical in orientation, you may have to set up the transformer on a small shelf separate from. The july 2019 issue of model railroader magazine features a buyers guide for digital command control dcc starter systems.
Building a control panel there isnt any one particular way to build a control panel nor is there any one particular material to build one out of. Beginners guide to command control and dcc national. Evan designs model train diorama software, led lights. Well designed control panels will ultimately improve the operators experiences, while poor ones will increase their frustrations. To learn more about dcc, check out this dcc resources page. Atlas track planning software atlas model railroad. Locofi wifi model train control wifi sound decoders. This page introduces the application, and how to use it. Here is a description of a relatively easy control panel to build and some techniques to follow in building it. Layout control for windows, macos and linux introduction. And the decoder tester is a rewired to fit panel unit from loys toys, picture below. Control panel design and materials model railroad hobbyist.
Nov 18, 2019 radio control modelers have used servos for years to control aircraft, vehicles and boats. This is a very big difference from the usual model of building electronics on the layout, since you are building a distributed control system. Model railroad manager endorses the use of and contributes to the jmri open software initiative. The other rail is called the control rail in which. Use panelpro to run locomotives, throw turnouts, control signals, and even create control panels. Various types of model railroad software are available which may be helpful for developing actual or virtual layouts. You can manage your locomotive rosters and easily program your decoders using decoderpro. Replacing a traditional control panel with touch toggles gives better access and readability. The following is a picture of bobs control panel showing, from left to right the. You can dispatch trains, configure routes, and assign blocks, all. Their locations can determine where people will tend to congregate and how well traffic will move throughout the layout room. Control panel designs model railway control panels custom.
Our cpnode system is an updated, completely open, layout control system based on the popular and proven cmri system introduced by dr. Us20140360399a1 wireless model railroad control system. Mrcs is your home for open source electronics for model railroad operations. Model railroad yard design, tips, and understanding the basics of real railroad yards. Signalogic systems model railroad switch control systems. Here is a design for an ir detector circuit i did a while back. The control panel software, which leads to a dispatchers control panel, was able to directly transfer all the data from the layout. Tips to designing a model railway control panel model. You can have multiple layout panels, but you have to tell the software how to. Scarm the leading design software for model railroad layouts. Locofi allows simplified multi train multi user wireless model train control using intuitive smartphone app designed for pros and newbies alike. A panel is one or more background pictures, on which are drawn icons to represent turnouts, sensors and signals on the layout. I f you design, build, or operate a model railroad or you ever thought about doing so or you just like to run trains then youre in the right place. Cats uses jmri for accessing the layout hardware and provides the logic for tying the hardware pieces together.
Signalogic systems offers model railroad switch turnout control throw solutions. Building control panels model railroad hobbyist magazine. A model railroad control panel is a central place where all or most of the electrical control of your layout occurs. Another name for a directcurrent power pack with speed and direction controls to operate a train. Mrrm interfaces to jmri include realtime commanding of turnouts and signals, realtime feedback of turnouts, signals, sensors, and digitrax transponders, loco and roster xml file exchanges with decoder pro, generation of jmri automation scripts. The next generation of model railroad computer control the cti system is a new approach to model railroading that makes controlling your layout fast, easy, and most of all, fun. You can build control panels and control your layout using. Model railroad computer control with traincontroller. At evan designs, were dedicated to supplying hobbyists from all over with regular and small led lights for a variety of fun and interesting projects. Cats computer automated traffic system is an integrated suite of open source programs that provide signal logic and operations support on a model railroad. Our interactive control panel puts you in charge at a centralized traffic control center.
First, he illustrates how to create a magnetic board with a track plan graphic. It is possible to combine an analogue style control panel with dcc digital. Introduction layout control for windows, macos and linux. The jmri project is building tools for model railroad computer control. Whether youre searching for tiny led lights for diecast police cars, diorama lighting or model train lights, our selection of bright bulbs and accessories will breathe life into your craft. The cti system is a modular approach to model railroad control, youll buy only as much control capability as you need. Another section discusses how to construct a model railroad control panel with led lights that denote turnout control.
Other software, allows for train control and acts like a cab throttle. It is an easy and straightforward alternative to using a ctc board. The materials and software were different, but the basic idea is still the same. Panels can be manufactured to most shapes and sizes and can include rack mounted systems for private and commercial installations as shown below featuring cnc drilling with screen printed panels and draws to contain control apparatus. With cti, you can interface your entire model railroad to any windows compatible computer. Signal, block detection, turnout control, and dispatch panel. Xtrackcad is a cad program for designing model railroad layouts. Arduino based interface to connect a control panel to the pc. This solution allows you to perform most of the control algorithms locally, which greatly simplifies and speeds. Tortoise and twincoil switch machines are currently supported.
Dcc combined with computer control model train advisors. I am about to start construction on my control panels for my layout. A method of wiring a model railroad using two or more power packs and track electrical blocks to allow independent operation of two or more trains. Control software cti model railroad computer control. Because of its broad range of features traincontroller is perfectly suited for beginners and professional model railroaders. Control panel designs model railway control panels. Feb 5, 20 how to build a control panel for your model railroad. The turnout positions are indicated by bicolor 3mm leds. Printed circuit boards for model railroaders model. The jmri panel pro freeware was used as a starting point and all the sensor identification, signal logic, etc. Track diagram software model railroader magazine model. I will show you how i build control panels on the albuquerque carnuel and tijeras rr. Ctis powerful, userfriendly software makes it easy to control every aspect of your model railroad from your pc.
So its unplug wire to the power, unplug wire to layout bus and a wire to loco net system. Modelers can use tortoise motors or solenoid snap motors to drive switches. Allen keller explains the four main components of the dispatcher control panel. Control panel lighting the following figure depicts a model railroad control panel whereupon red and green leds are used to show model train turnout position.
Until recently, servos were avoided in model railroads because of the control complexity and mounting difficulty. Track diagram software model railroader magazine trains. Atrack for windows atrack is a powerful free extension to complement the facilities of your nce corporation power cab or power pro digital command control system and to assist you in running your roster of locomotives on your model railroad atrack allows you to store full details of all of your locomotives and accessory turnout decoders, with all of their dcc configuration. Panelpro, an application for making control panels jmri. Download model railroad control panel interface for free. Another section discusses how to construct a model railroad control panel with led lights that denote turnout control and position.