R/C Trains?

Author
Discussion

Le TVR

Original Poster:

3,097 posts

258 months

Saturday 29th October 2016
quotequote all
Something I inherited from my father was a scratch built royal scot class 0 guage loco he built in the early 50s. As it had sat in the loft for 40 years it was totally seized up. Now after a few weeks work stripping it all everything is working again. Right down to cutting new brushes for the motor. Originally intended for 3 rail operation I was wondering about a garden layout. 3 rail track is mostly 'toy' quality or extremely expensive so I wondered about fitting a 3S LiPo pack and RC receiver and controller. At least that would alleviate issues about keeping the rails super clean outside.
Has anyone done this? What controllers are available FWD/REV 3A would be OK just as long as its small. I have some spare 2.3 GHz receivers that are tiny.


MBBlat

1,835 posts

156 months

Saturday 29th October 2016
quotequote all
RC is fairly common in the garden railway community, so as long as there is space to hide the battery, receiver & speed controller then it should be no problem.

For the speed controller - get one that matches your batteries & motor stall current (ie the current draw with the model held & the wheels just slipping) as that should be the maximum draw. The usual RC car suppliers should be able to supply one that fits, although there are more specialist ones available.

Le TVR

Original Poster:

3,097 posts

258 months

Saturday 29th October 2016
quotequote all
MBBlat said:
The usual RC car suppliers should be able to supply one that fits, although there are more specialist ones available.
I have checked out the RC car suppliers and almost all they have are 25+A controllers for max 8 NiCad nothing for LiPo so far. Stall current is under 5A so nothing that big is required.

MBBlat

1,835 posts

156 months

Sunday 30th October 2016
quotequote all
Strange - Lipo compatibility is almost a given nowadays

Something like this:
http://www.modelsport.co.uk/hobbywing-quicrun-1625...

For a dedicated Loco ESC see here
http://www.mtroniks.net/prod/Locomotive-Speed-Cont...

The main difference between the two, apart from price, will be behaviour if the signal is lost - the car one will stop, the loco one will keep going at constant speed.

Le TVR

Original Poster:

3,097 posts

258 months

Monday 31st October 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for that!

EIther of those would be perfect, think I'll order the car one for the failsafe tho'.