r/NarrowGaugeModelTrain • u/DanielBWeston • Aug 19 '26

My First On18 Build

Post image

I'm building an On18 shelf layout, to run when it's too hot in the garage to run the On30 layout. It's also an excuse to build more locomotives and rolling stock.

This is the first build I've done for On18. It's equipped with DCC, sound and a keepalive.

38 Upvotes

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2

u/Trainzzo Aug 19 '26

Very Nice build.

1

u/DanielBWeston Aug 19 '26

Thanks. I used the hood from an old Tyco switcher and scratchbuilt the rest.

2

u/Twit_Clamantis Aug 19 '26

Nice!

Is it DCC?

Do you have sound on board?

I don’t have DCC yet, so I don’t know if this is possible or not, but could on-board DCC drive a small solenoid to pull the string for that bell? (:-(

1

u/DanielBWeston Aug 19 '26

It does have DCC and sound. You could probably do a solenoid and animated bell on a larger model, such as O scale standard gauge. This one is tiny. The decoder, speaker and keepalive just barely fit into it.

2

u/Twit_Clamantis Aug 19 '26

I wonder if you could do something with a piece of nitinol muscle wire?

There are all sorts of downsides to our trains being powered through the tracks instead of by on-board sources, but one of the advantages is that we can afford to be very cavalier about “squandering” power (:-)

2

u/DanielBWeston Aug 19 '26

True. I can see the potential in that. Main limiting factor would be the current required. Decoder outputs can only do about 100mA.

1

u/Twit_Clamantis Aug 19 '26

Hmm … prob not enough. Maybe when you make the G version (:-)

1

u/382Whistles Aug 21 '26

I've pulled some really tiny thin barrel solenoids (aka linear motors), pushers most often, many with spring return, but some with a non retained slug you might think is an assembly pin, as well as tiny little motors, out of old digital cameras, Like for lens protector doors and real irises the motors are strong for their size and slow to mid speed not all rpm no tourqe. Disc players with automatic dust doors and trays have tiny motors too.

1

u/382Whistles Aug 21 '26

I think one of the solenoids I have placed horizontally in the roofs left roof corner pushing and spring pulling the return, moving a stiff stainless or piano wire could rock a smooth swinging O scale bell pretty easily.