u/BatteryAlmostEmpty

Since my last post I learned that track doesn’t have to be expensive and picked up flex track the next day. But I still want to pursue my dead track idea.

I am new to the train hobby but come from diy and electronics. So I’m making the control logic myself. I will be posting this. I will have nfc/rfid tags under the track so I can have the train recognize what section it is in. This gets sent back to the controller. When a train is waiting at a station another controller turns on the power. Allowing the train to charge. But in my control logic I will convert this to fuel. So they fuel up and use this virtual fuel during operation.

Is this the best way to do it or the cheapest? no, but the track is cheap. I got about 1 meter of flex track for €7-8 while the same length in printed track costs only €1-2.

I’m happy with the current result but still working on it. Want to also make some tools to make it easier to lay out and glue. It can also plug into the original pico track like my last pieces. Ballast also works for the flattrack.

I will be publishing the files once I’m happy with them. Need to fix some things. Plus if you use fusion 360, it’s parameterized, so you just enter the length in amount of sleepers and it generates that.

That was my yap for now

enjoy the rest of your moment

I just bought my first model train today. It’s a Piko RH2016 Hercules, but analog. H0 scale. I honestly was just the cheapest set and I’m completely new to this, but not to printing and electronics.

I find track to be really expensive but got some in the starter set. I’ll connect this system to an ESP32 and electronics to have my own control system/logic and and battery power, charging from the rail.

I 3D printed the rails to work with the piko system I got with the train. I expected it to work but couldn’t have wished for a better fit. Still waiting on other filament colors to come in.

The model is completely parameterized so I can just change the sleeper count to change the length. Yet to make turns, which is nice cause I have complete freedom.

I want to use powered metal rail at the stations and will convert battery level to fuel. So they fuel up at the stations. Use the charge controller light signal to enable engine noise in the future maybe?

That was it for now, wish me luck!

This is my microsoft surface go, running debian 13. I use it to monitor my servers and terrariums. It has audio and telegram warnings and alarm.

Not sure what else to share without rambling on and on about my home server and terrarium automation.
But if you have any questions, feel free to ask!