Hello everyone,
After 40 years, I am getting back into model railways (and Marklin). (This is my second attempt at a second childhood :-))!
My first Marklin in childhood was the starter set containing the beautiful little 3069. And like Steventrain, I also have, among other analogue locos - a 3073 Warship class loco, but alas, not in mint condition. Assorted - truly - carriages and wagons. And an eclectic collection of hard used M track in various conditions from good downwards.
The truly amazing thing, to me, is that despite not being used at all from 1973 to 2005 - except for cleaning a couple of times - everything still works! (well not 3029, a capacitor or diode or something - keeps coming off).
In 2005, on a trip abroad (I live in India), I bought a Delta set (29625) with the hope of getting back into the hobby. The first few runs of this were delightful, but one run set up on a table top ended in disaster, with the loco falling off the table. I think I have fixed it, but let’s see. In 2010, I acquired some more C track, another loco, the most basic digital one and some wagons, none of which have ever actually run.
This year, I can finally (and hopefully) devote the time and energy needed to do something.
I now have five analogue locos (3029, Warship, BR103 plus a 60760 kit, a Lima Rc3 (SJ) and an SNCF shunter), a delta loco and the basic shunter. A fair number of wagons and carriages and a combination of M and C track, with connecting rails. I have also bought the MS2 with 60113 and the PSU.
Naturally, I have a laundry list of questions and I am going to impose on all of you to answer them. Please assume total ignorance, some dimwittedness and a more than average clumsiness when you reply, thanks.
1. Assuming my Delta loco is mechanically sound, I assume I can run it using a Mobile Station 2 along with the FX loco. Am I right?
2. How fiddly is it to convert the 103 with a DCM using the 60760?
3. Would you suggest I convert the others to digital? I know the 3029 is hard, but the Warship should be easier.
4. What is better the conversions, given the age of the locos - using the decoder (I forget the nam) that doesn't require a magnet), a ESU magnet plus decoder or changing the motor altogether and then adding a decoder? The reason I ask is that for every 100 euro I spend on parts, I’ll have to spend at least 50 on shipping. And the Indian rupee is quite weak at the moment!
5. I have added a pickup slider to the Lima, but is it worth converting at all? I think it is a 12V DC loco.
For the foreseeable future, I’ll have to run a bed-top, temporary layout (layout in the guest bedroom), so my next set of questions will come after I set up my first few trials. They’ll concern signals, point motors etc. And the set after that will be about temporary scenery. (Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
)
Thank you for any and all responses. And it is great to be a part of this forum, where I have already spent a lot of time lurking!
Ashok
