weekendrailroader
Guy with the Green Hat
Most of all model railroads have moving trains, but not as many have animated highways/ roads. I'd like to have moving cars on my layout's roads.
I've recently ended up with a good deal of HO slot car track...
Disclaimer: Okay, I know that "HO" slot cars" are not HO scale. However, I'm the kind of guy who runs Tyco equipment right alongside my Athearn Bluebox units on my brass and steel track. DCC, Genesis units, and even plastic handrails are nowhere to be found. Out-of-scale cars don't really bother me
Okay, with that said, I'm thinking of installing a loop of slotcar track on the layout. It will be used to model a two-lane highway. I plan to power the track with two AA batteries (3 volts as opposed to the usual 12 - 24 volts). The power will be routed through an Atlas reverser (built to handle DC voltage). That way, the two batteries will power two cars, and will allow them to move in different directions. There will be no speed control, only on/off, which is all I need. Since there's so little power going to the track, the cars will drive at more realistic speeds (and won't fly off the track and into my trains).
The track would be painted and lined so as to better model a highway, rather than a racetrack.
Do you think it'll work? Is there something I'm missing? Has anyone else done something similar? Is there an easier (and cheaper) solution?
Remember, this is my basement layout, not Miniature Wunderland.
Thanks.
I've recently ended up with a good deal of HO slot car track...
Disclaimer: Okay, I know that "HO" slot cars" are not HO scale. However, I'm the kind of guy who runs Tyco equipment right alongside my Athearn Bluebox units on my brass and steel track. DCC, Genesis units, and even plastic handrails are nowhere to be found. Out-of-scale cars don't really bother me
Okay, with that said, I'm thinking of installing a loop of slotcar track on the layout. It will be used to model a two-lane highway. I plan to power the track with two AA batteries (3 volts as opposed to the usual 12 - 24 volts). The power will be routed through an Atlas reverser (built to handle DC voltage). That way, the two batteries will power two cars, and will allow them to move in different directions. There will be no speed control, only on/off, which is all I need. Since there's so little power going to the track, the cars will drive at more realistic speeds (and won't fly off the track and into my trains).
The track would be painted and lined so as to better model a highway, rather than a racetrack.
Do you think it'll work? Is there something I'm missing? Has anyone else done something similar? Is there an easier (and cheaper) solution?
Remember, this is my basement layout, not Miniature Wunderland.
Thanks.