Raildriver Realism?

[surfliner44]

I don't know if this same question was posted or not but I'm going to just ask it anyway. Is there anyway and I mean ANYWAY to make my Raildriver a little more realistic? Theres really nothing I can do about the undersized levers.

[sniper297]

Probably void the warranty by doing this, but my Raildrivers are seven years old anyway. I went to the hardware store and bought a couple of file handles, used a razor saw to cut the handles just under the heads, threaded the plastic with a 1/4-20 tool die and screwed the file handles on the throttle and train brake levers. Wood glue on a 1x4 and glued to the bottom with a couple inches sticking out one end, then screwed that to a 2x4 which in turn is screwed to the side of the desk so I could mount it vertically like a road switcher. I don't really look at it much when I'm driving since I'm looking at the monitor, but it feels pretty realistic and I can find everything by touch.

[surfliner44]

Hmm I see how bout anything like throttle clicking?

[sniper297]

That would be more difficult, would require some fine machinist skills. If you look at the way the real thing does that, it uses what are called "detents". Either a spring loaded ball in the side of the lever that pops in and out of corresponding notches (ratchet and pawl) or a fixed projection that bumps over a flexible guide with notches. That would be the easiest way to do it with the RD, glue a piece of lightweight springy corrugated metal or plastic to the quadrant, and a corresponding "bump" or pawl of some sort to the side of the lever. Probably require a lot of tinkering to get it adjusted, so maybe small jewelers screws would be better than glue.

[surfliner44]

Hmm I have no idea what any of those items are LOL!

[Komachi]

Clicking notches would be nice, but there'd ALSO be a problem with it. You got say the 3DTrains F59 ya use...tHat's a different notch setting than say, the 3Dtrains F7A for Feather River, or the default D9, or anything else.

[Train-a-Mania]

Clicking notches would be nice, but there'd ALSO be a problem with it. You got say the 3DTrains F59 ya use...tHat's a different notch setting than say, the 3Dtrains F7A for Feather River, or the default D9, or anything else.

Exactly. Once you create notches, you are limited to driving engines with those exact notch settings.

I like the handles, Jim. You have a nice set-up, there.