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Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Bargain Alert - Marklin C Track Planning Game (02409) at US$ 7.25

Sometimes we find an unusual item in an unexpected place. This time I find an interesting item, the Marklin C Track Planning Game, product number 02409. 

It is an old fashion item when we have all sophisticated layout design software around, but it is always the joy of mix and match the tracks. The Planning Game (02409) was discontinued in the early 2000's, not all tracks geometry are presented. 

The seller - Supreme Hobbies is listing the item on Amazon.com, ask for US$7.25 each with free shipping for US buyers. Link: http://amzn.com/B0002HY42Q


Tips: 
Superme Hobbies charges high on international order, international buyers may consider an alternative option on eBay. Link:  http://r.ebay.com/Ce6lKs


Review:
Here is my copy of Marklin 02409 (bought from other hobby shop), the colored tracks are 1:5 scale. The 24188 track is placed for the size comparison. 


Sunday, July 12, 2015

Bargain Alert - Marklin Starter Set 2015, Lok at 67 Euro only

The Bargain Alert is a new series to disseminate bargains found on the web. 

The BWBAHN.COM from Germany reduced the price of items from Marklin Starter Set . The Starter Sets are always the bargain to expand the Loks and tracks collection, the BWBAHN is now marking the price tag lower and let you buy the specific items only, instead of getting the whole set. Offer valid till 23 July 2015. 


Here are the bargain found:

Marklin 29478 - BR 146.2 Lok                  67.19 €   (VAT off) 
Marklin 29478 - Double Deck Wagon       21.81 €   (VAT off) 
Marklin 29040 - E40 Lok                         117.61 €  (VAT off) 
Marklin 29484 - SBB Ae 610 Lok             151.22 €  (VAT off) 
Marklin 29841 - BR 185.1 Lok                  67.19 €    (VAT off) 

Link: http://bwbahn.com/en_GB  ("Special Offer" category on the left)


Review:
BWBAHN is one of my favorite, friendly checkout interface for VAT deduction. Cheap postage <10 Euro for small items and Flat 42 Euro for large parcel, packed with care. Recommend !


Tips:
The BWBHAN.COM offers VAT off for shipping outside EU. 

How to get VAT off: 
Register an account with shipping address outside EU on BWBAHN.COM, the VAT would be deduced at checkout. 



Saturday, July 4, 2015

Marklin MHI 25th Anniversary Special Wagon for 39374 BR 101

In the latest Marklin TV Episode 71, the MHI 25th Anniversary Special Wagon is revealed. The special wagon is limited for the owner of the Marklin 39374, BR 101 071-9 MHI anniversary locomotive. The lucky owner would find the order form attached with the 39374. Only 499 units are available, return the form with 59.95 EUR to your MHI store.



enjoy the Marklin TV Episode 71 here:
http://www.maerklin.de/de/service/veroeffentlichungen/maerklin-tv.html


Marklin Decoder m84 (60841) Programming and Setting

The Marklin m84 (Item no 60841) was introduced in 2014 and starting to deliver from 2015. However, the product instruction from Marklin was very confusing in the early stage. I hope this post could help us to explore the unit in detail. 


Basic Function

- Digital format
This unit provides continuous current on and off control for various digital system: Motorola, mfx and DCC. 

- Power source
Unlike the k84, the m84 allows user to have individual power source / voltage for each output pair, e.g. 16V AC for lighting on Output pair 1;  22V digital track current for stopping area on Output pair 3. Also, the 60822 power supply unit was suggested by Marklin to reduce the demand of digital track power. But given the pricing of 60822 and the availability, it would be better to keep the old and reliable practice: separate transformer for accessories and booster for track. 

- Output
The function logic is different from the k84 (6084 and 60840), all the output relays are off when there is a short circuit or power off. The relays would go through "self checking" process when power on or power resumes, you could hear a few seconds of "click" sound. There are 8 relays on the m84, you may switch on Output 1 Green and Output 1 Red simultaneously by advance programming, but there is a limitation to control individual output switching (more details on advance programming). 



Advance Programming:

IMPORTANT NOTE: 
1. Disconnect all power from m84 when working on DIP setting
2. DCC mode must ON for CV programming, set DIP switch 10 at ON
3. Connect a light bulb on Output Pair 1 for reliable CV programming (Not needed for DIP setting)
4. Turn OFF the track power after CV programming, then turn ON again to apply setting


- Hobbylight
  • Slide the RED switch to the RIGHT (located on the top right corner)
  • CV 38 - brightness setting for Hobbylight
    • Value 0 - 10 :
    • 0   -  Default value, not lighted 
    • 10 -  Full brightness



- MM Address setting (Motorola, mfx)
  • Set DIP switches 1 to 9 accordingly
  • Set DIP switch 10 at OFF
  • Group Address  = Sum of binary value of DIP switches 1 to 9
    • e.g. DIP1 to 4 = ON, DIP5 to 9 = OFF
    • Group Address  = [1 x 1 ] + [1 x 2 ] + [1 x 4 ] + [1 x 8 ] + [0 x 16] + [0 x 32] + .... = 15
    • Addressees under Group 15 are 57, 58, 59, 60



- DCC Address setting
  • Set DIP switches 1 to 9 at OFF
  • Set DIP switch 10 at ON
  • Group Address = CV1 + (CV9 x 64) 
    • CV1 - lower part of address group 
    • Value 0 - 63  
    • CV9 - lower part of address group
    • Value 0 - 7
    • e.g. CV1 = 10, CV9 = 2
    • Group Address  = 10 + (2 x 64) = 138
    • Addressees under Group 138 are 549, 550, 551, 552 

- Reset Setting
  • CV 8 -  reset the setting on m84
    • Value 8 :
    • 8  -  RESET


- Output Configuration
I will cover this section in detail which may take more time to edit. But I would like to mention a very important setting first, the temporal scale of Timer setting on m84 is 1.0 second but 0.05 second on m83. 

for example:
CV 112 @ value 16
CV 114 @ value 10 
m84 explanation:  Switch on Output 1 Red at maximum switching time of 10 seconds
m83 explanation:  Switch on Output 1 Red at maximum switching time of 0.5 second


Function Pulse Width Period (Timer)
Output 1Red 112 113 114
Output 1Green 115 116 117
Output 2Red 118 119 120
Output 2Green 121 122 123
Output 3Red 124 125 126
Output 3Green 127 128 129
Output 4Red 130 131 132
Output 4Green 133 134 135

NOTE: CV114, 117, 120, 123, 126, 129, 132, 135 are the timer setting.