HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jones@pyrite.cs.uiowa.edu (Douglas W. Jones,201H MLH,3193350740,3193382879)
Subject: Re: High voltage pulsing?
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 21:59:41 GMT
Organization: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

From article <17e88sINNmae@darkstar.UCSC.EDU>,
by haynes@cats.ucsc.edu (Jim Haynes):
> 
> I don't keep up with the model railroad literature, so maybe this is a
> dumb question or an old idea; but I was wondering if one could get
> by with less track cleaning by using higher voltage pulsing to run
> the locomotive.

I've thought about this myself, but from a different approach.  Our typical
power packs today tend to run things by controlling the voltage on the
rails, but what really determines motor torque is the current through the
windings.  When it comes to dirt on the rails, maintaining a constant
current can only be done by varying the proportionally to the resistance
of the dirt, and this leads to a simple idea:

Why not make a power supply that is a current source, not a voltage source.
If a bit of dirt gets in the way, the supply should run the voltage up as
high as needed to keep the current constant.  It's not hard to outline a
design for such a supply, but I never got around to building one.

You can clearly augment the proposal by adding pulses for low speed
running, but the pulse amplitude should be current limited, not voltage
limited.

Such a supply could easily electrocute people, so you've got to put a
voltage limit of around 24 volts on it, but if you happen to short the
rails with a screwdriver, it won't blow a fuze.

One problem with such a power pack is that you'd have to tune it for each
engine you run, since the current draw at maximum running speed tends to
vary considerably from engine to engine.  Furthermore, this idea might
not be as good for multiple engine lashups as the conventional voltage
controlled power packs, unless you use MU connectors to bus your engines
together (see the current issue of MR for an article on this).

					Doug Jones
					jones@cs.uiowa.edu
From: muth@a.cs.wvu.wvnet.edu (Wayne A Muth)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: benchwork: a case study
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:48:25 GMT


  Let me add my "case study" also.  Yesterday I decided to drop
  one of my "old style tables" [i.e. NOT L-girder type] by three
  inches -- so then I proceeded to cut 3" off of 3 legs and 4" off
  the fourth.  Instead of the old axiom of "measure twice, cut
  once", I apparently need more than "measure twice" ...

  Well, anyway, the MORAL OF THE STORY -> when one build with
  the L-girder system [as originally prescribed by Linn Wesscott
  in MR magazine and books], one DOES NOT have to build initial
  tablework to any close dimensions -->> all the adjusting, changing,
  screw removal, etc etc CAN TAKE PLACE AT ANY TIME LATER with
  FANTASTIC EASE.  Had my table been L-girder like, I could have
  lowered it much more quickly and had I screwed up I could have
  fixed more quickly.

  I am one heck of a fan of L-girder.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: sw@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (Stuart Warmink)
Subject: Re: High voltage pulsing?
Organization: Interface Systems @ Bell Labs
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 20:25:32 GMT
Summary: RELCO - another request

In article <1992Aug26.164822.3140@nmt.edu>, al@nmt.edu (Al Stavely) writes:
> 
> Does anyone know any details about what [the RELCO unit] does, and what kind
> of circuit is inside?  I'd especially like to know what kinds of throttles is
> can be used with: variable-resistor, transistor, voltage-regulator, etc.  As
> I've written in another article, I like transistor throttles, and I'd like to
> know whether the Relco can be safely and effectively used with one of these.

I bought one many years ago when I lived in England; I seem to remember
that it applied a high frequency, high voltage burst whenever dirt was
detected on the track.  How it detected such dirt I do not know - I saw
a demo on TV that was very convincing though.  However, I used a transistor
throttle at the time and seem to remember reading that it could not be used
with such a unit - or perhaps not without additional external components.
Please correct me if I am wrong though - perhaps it was related to switching
the track voltage instead?

Anyways, I am as interested to find info as Al is - the more so since
I have a RELCO unit but have lost the documentation and hence don't even
know how to wire it into the power supply...
-- 
Stuart Warmink, Whippany, NJ, USA  |  Thi s  s  p    a     c      e
sw@cbnewsl.att.com                 |  e    x     p      a       n       d      s
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: orc@usite-next.uchicago.edu (David Parsons)
Subject: Re: Thomas the Tank Engine Layout
Organization: Ministry of Skritching
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 02:36:38 GMT

In article <a5ms022K20cy01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> czl30@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Chris Lee) writes:
[about Thomas the Tank Engine]

|The British firm Hornby make Thomas sets that will run on HO track. These
|are to OO scale, which is 4mm/ft, where HO is 3.5mm/ft. Mixing them with
|US trains looks a bit silly, because the US prototypes are considerably
|larger than the Thomas prototypes.

   I'd agree they look somewhat silly, but not in the obvious way;
I have been accumulating OO rolling stock on my various trips to the UK
and set them up on display mixed with some of the US-prototype HO stuff I
own.  In real life, UK equipment is fairly small compared with US stuff,
but the difference between HO and OO is significant enough so that the OO
rolling stock looks quite large.  I've a rake of 4-wheel gondolas with
a GE 70 tonner assisting a 37, and the 70 tonner is very small compared
to the rest.  (In case you're wondering, the 37 is in Britrail Blue
and the 70-tonner is in Espee colors...)
                __
  david parsons \/ orc@pell.chi.il.us
From: wbrown@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Bill Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: HO Scale Pantographs
Date: 1 Sep 1992 14:30:59 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, California
NNTP-Posting-Host: 131.243.192.17

In article <1992Aug31.200758.21731@CS.ORST.EDU> larsons@xanth.CS.ORST.EDU (Larson Shawn Michael) writes:
>The question on model catenary reminded me to ask this question:
>
>Where can you order pantographs in HO scale?

> [ a reference to Walthers etc deleted. ]

Precision Scale used to import a set, but I don't think they still carry them.
The problem with them was that they lacked the linkage necessary to prevent
them from "leaning" - not very useful!  I discovered this shortcomming after
I bought a pair.

I this point I don't know of anyone who sells them.  One option is to buy a
GG-1 imported from eastern Europe (not the AHM version - the name of the
mfg escapes me at the moment) and salvage the pan's.  The ones I saw looked
quite good.

The other option seems to be to scratch-build them.  There have been articles
in _MR_ over the years - one by Hegge and another one by an author whose name
I can't recall.  If anyone has some pointers or ideas speak up!  This is a
project that's bubbling to the top of my list - gonna start as soon as I
get the wrinkels out of my scheme for fabing line poles.

Disclaimer:  These opinions are my own and have	    |
    nothing to do with the official policy or the   |  -bill
    management of L.B.L, who probably couldn't      |   wlbrown@lbl.gov
    care less about employees who play with trains. |
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: al@nmt.edu (Al Stavely)
Subject: Re: High voltage pulsing?
Organization: New Mexico Tech, USA
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 20:37:03 GMT

In article <25810@dog.ee.lbl.gov> wbrown@bevsun.bev.lbl.gov (Bill Brown) writes:
>
>>But for this particular application, a voltage regulator regulates the wrong
>>thing.
>
>I disagree with your conclusions.  In conjunction with permanent magnet DC
>motors (about the only type still used in MR work), a stiff voltage source
>provides essentially a constant- speed drive.  Regulating current yields
>essentially a constant torque drive which, given the mechanical realities 
>of the drives in models, generally is not considered to be a "good thing."

In the context of the original discussion, which was how to compensate for
dirt on the rails, I still say that constant current is better than constant
voltage.  If the resistance between the throttle and the motor is low and
constant, then what you say may be right.  But when the loco hits a bad patch
of dirt, most of the voltage drop is across the dirt, and the voltage that the
motor sees goes way down if the voltage at the throttle is held constant.

Perhaps our circumstances are different.  I run N scale diesels, sometimes
single-headed, and then the difficulties I have with dirt far outweigh any
of the effects you are talking about.

-- 

	- Allan Stavely, New Mexico Tech, USA
From: kolassa@bio1.bst.rochester.edu (John Kolassa)
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
Subject: Re: HO Scale Pantographs
Date: 1 Sep 92 21:02:43 GMT
Reply-To: kolassa@bio1.bst.rochester.edu (John Kolassa)
Organization: University of Rochester, Rochester NY

In article <1992Sep1.163748.2728@news.uiowa.edu>, jones@pyrite.cs.uiowa.edu (Douglas W. Jones,201H MLH,3193350740,3193382879) writes:
> 
> It is prototypical to run pantographs on trolley wire (as opposed
> to catenary).  If you look, for example, at the CSS&SB system, you
> find catenary on main line trackage, but single strand (or trolley
> wire) on most sidings.  I've seen the same pattern in many european
> railroads, and on many Swiss mountain railroads (where low speed
> running is the rule), they use simple wire throughout.
> 
> 				Doug Jones
> 				jones@cs.uiowa.edu

Won't the frogs be different?

-- 
Thanks, John Kolassa, kolassa@bio1.bst.rochester.edu
From: kingdom@hpfcdc.fc.hp.com (Mike Kingdom)
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 19:22:48 GMT
Subject: Re: High voltage pulsing?
Organization: HP Fort Collins, Co.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad

>I don't keep up with the model railroad literature, so maybe this is a
>dumb question or an old idea; but I was wondering if one could get
>by with less track cleaning by using higher voltage pulsing to run
>the locomotive.  I remember from some treatise on electrical contacts

I think there is a trade off to consider when using higher voltage pulses
to punch through track grime: track and wheel damage.

Often when you run a locomotive on dirty track you see small sparks as
current starts flowing again after "punching through" a dirty spot on
the track. Each time you get a spark, that spark leaves a tiny pit in
the rail and/or locomotive wheel or contact. That pit is now more likely
to build up dirt and oxidation, making dirt problem worse.

The higher voltage the pulse is, the greater the ability of the current
to arc to the locomotive.

Just something to consider...

-- Mike Kingdom
   kingdom@fc.hp.com
   Hewlett-Packard
   Unix Development Lab
   Ft. Collins, CO.
Newsgroups: rec.models.railroad
From: bwmohle@pbsdts.sdcrc.pacbell.com (Bruce W. Mohler)
Subject: [benchwork]: What kind of wood?
Originator: bwmohle@pbsdts.sdcrc.pacbell.com
Organization: Pacific Bell, San Diego, CA
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 20:29:16 GMT

Just curious (as we're about to begin building our first layout):

	1.   What kind of benchwork do you build (built-in,
	     free-standing, modular)?

	2.   What kind of wood do you use?

	3.   Why did you choose that kind of wood?

My focus is on the benchwork framing, rather than what goes on
top (plywood, homasote, etc.).  Any references to books/magazines
that you use/used to the style of framing you use would also be 
appreciated.

Thanks, in advance!

Bruce

-- 
Bruce W. Mohler  ><>                 | voice: 619-586-2218
System Administrator / COSMOS/March  | email: bwmohle@pbsdts.sdcrc.pacbell.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Always leave things in better shape than you found them.
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
From: felixc@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (felix.cabral)
Subject: Re: Nuclear Day in the Gorge 8/21/92
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 14:24:18 GMT

In article <19701@drutx.ATT.COM>, tmr@faceplnt.dr.att.com (54626-RebmanTM(DR1867)000) writes:
> 
> I just returned from my first sailing adventure in the Gorge, and agree
> *somewhat* with your assesment of people at Dougs.  I landed a jump pretty
> poorly (not even a very high jump or anything) and I ended up breaking my
> ankle in the middle of the river at Dougs (Tuesday 8/4 -- a great day!... 
> at least
> 
> -- Tom Rebman  (tmr@drutx.att.com)

Hi Tom. Since you left the eastcoast its been cranking here at least 5 days
a week :-) I wish! I tried sending you email but it bounced back saying 
something like unknown uucp host. So I decide to post it.

Sorry about your ankle. Hope you can get back to sailing real soon.
As far as recovery is concerned it took me at least 8 months before I
could sail after tearing an ankle ligament. I think your break will take
much less time to heal. Good luck.


-- 
Felix Cabral         {felixc@mtgzfs3.att.com}      "Give me nukin winds,
AT&T Bell Labs       {  att!mtgzfs3!felixc  }       a rad board, rad waves,
Middletown,NJ        {     (908)957-5081    }       and a company sickday!"
From: kirk@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Lindstrom)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 14:44:53 GMT
Subject: Re: Swimming back with your gear
Organization: Shredding the water of SF Bay, HP-OCD
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing

We talked on the phone about this yesterday, but I'm posting for others:
I put the boom all the way down in the mast sleeve opening and then
balance the boom on the tail of my board KEEPING THE SAIL OUT OF THE
WATER.  I grip the boom on either side of the tail and kick in using
a frog kick.  If there is a gust, it is an easy move to get into the
waterstart position and get up to ride the gust as long as it lasts.

Kirk out
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
From: EPLUS17@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Richard Engelbrecht-Wiggans)
Subject: Re: larger sails
Organization: C.C.S.O.
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 01:52:51 GMT

In article <2SEP92.10255876@wums.wustl.edu>
hortin_lab@wums.wustl.edu writes:
 
>with all of the talk about mail orders blowing about i am still forced to use
>them do to location.
>I have been thinking about getting a larger sail (7.5-8.5M) for my fanatic viper
>i live in the midwest where wind is less than good during most of the days where the temp is above 50 degrees.  i do a lot of lake sailing and have
>only one board w/ 16.5' mast & 1.5' extension, 8'boom (both fanatic production stuff)
>currently use a raf 6.4M
>
>yesterday i recieved the catalog form sailboard warehouse for there end of the year sales.  i noticed that the only larger sails they had were the
>mistral slalom mylar (7.6 & 8.5M). These were at the reasonalbe price of 99$.  I am
>wondering if these sails are white elephants?   it appears that they require
>a 17' mast and a 8' boom (both of which i could accomidate) but in comparison to the other sails (ie neil pryde, art, etc) it seems as though these
>sails are
>very wide at the bottom?
>
>does any one have any experience or info on these sails?
>
>my ability is is currently stalled at the waterstarting stage (hopefully will
>over come by the end of the season) so could these be up hauled on my board?
>
>tag
>
>thanks for any info e-mail or post is okay
>
I have used the 8.5 on occasions (here in the midwest) during the last two
years.  It has its uses, and at $99, I would buy one if I didn't already
have one.  But it also seems to have its limits; if the wind picks up just
a little, it suddenly starts getting backwinded in the luff area and starts
flapping like mad.  Rigging it with more downhaul on a moderately stiff
mast (DIN7.4) seems to help some...maybe someone else has better ideas how
to rig it.  (Earlier this spring, my least favorite mailorder firm sold me
an 8.0 OBrien Warp Speed...5 batten, three camber mylar sail made by NP
for $99.  This fills in the gap between the 8.5 and my 7.4.)
From: felixc@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (felix.cabral)
Subject: Re: Sailing Right-Of-Way
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 13:55:18 GMT

In article <price.715354708@helios> price@helios.unl.edu (Chad  Price) writes:
>kramer@olympus.ics.uci.edu (David Kramer) writes:
>
>>What you failed to mention is that the sailor on starboard tack has to
>>yell "starboard tack", the sailor on port tack has to yell "hold your
>>course." The starboard-tack sailor is then expected to hold his course.
>>In this way, both know what their respective rights are, and the mirror
>>problem doesn't occur.
>
>Sorry, but the rules do not REQUIRE anyone to yell anything - yelling of
>"starboard" is an optional courtesy, not a requirement. Lack of yelling does
>NOT alter the rights of the starboard sailor.
>
>We are all expected (legally) to have read and understood the rules of the
>"road".
>
>--
>chad

Sorry Chad but you and David are both correct. In racing you are REQUIRED to
yell your right of way. If a collision occurs and you don't yell you
most likely will loose the protest.

However, in real life yelling is NOT required but its recommended in case
the other sailor does'nt see you or does'nt know what the heck is going on.


-- 
Felix Cabral         {felixc@mtgzfs3.att.com}      "Give me nukin winds,
AT&T Bell Labs       {  att!mtgzfs3!felixc  }       a rad board, rad waves,
Middletown,NJ        {     (908)957-5081    }       and a company sickday!"
From: DGP0@bunny.gte.com (Dennis Pratt)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: Windsufring FAQ -- WaterStarts
Date: 1 Sep 92 18:49:42 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: GTE Labs

A month ago, there was an interesting discussion on waterstarts.  I tried 
a number of the suggestions, however, I'm still not up.

Has anyone put these suggestions into a FAQ, or have them collected in 
some other fashion.

I'd like to see if there is something else I could try...

*** Dennis Pratt, New Business Design, GTE Lab
      DGP0@bunny.gte.com,     (617) 466-2910
"New product development (requires) an effective managerial strategy that 
is likely to achieve success, but at the same time minimize risk."
        -- Urban & Hauser
"He rides head first into a hurricane, and disappears into a point" -- 
Bruce
From: fabian@sun.uakom.cs (Karol Fabian)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: Wanted: Advice on Philadelphia
Date: 31 Aug 92 10:55:35 GMT
X-Unparsable-Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 12:54:32 MET DST

Hi sailors,
I am in Philadelphia from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3. I will have
some time to enjoy life. Are there some possibilities
for windsurfing ? What about the equipment ? Can it be hired ?
Thanks/ Karol
-------------------------------------------------------------
Karol Fabian, Distributed Systems Group
Institute of Automation and Communication /UAKOM/
Slovak Academy of Sciences , Severna 5
974 01 Banska Bystrica  Czechoslovakia
Tel.: +42-88-53207      internet: Karol.Fabian@uakom.cs
Fax : +42-88-52364      bitnet  : FABIAN@CSBBYS51.bitnet
-------------------------------------------------------------
From: westes@netcom.com (Will Estes)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: Re: Lifejackets while windsurfing
Date: 30 Aug 92 06:35:53 GMT
Organization: Mail Group

cbh@windsurf.scd.ucar.edu (Cris Hannu) writes:

>In article <hadnk+l.westes@netcom.com>, westes@netcom.com (Will Estes) writes:
>> come close to hitting my head very hard.  In 4.0 conditions or smaller,
>> you are simply a moron to not wear a helmet (IMHO).
>> 
>  Should we pass this along to Robby Naish and company ? >:]

I guess I should confine my comments to mere mortals.  

Thanks,
Will Estes		Internet: westes@netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
From: gboates@admin.acadiau.ca (GARY BOATES)
Subject: Re: lifejacket
Organization: Acadia University
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 12:02:52 GMT


>In article <1992Sep1.155455.26838@bnlux1.bnl.gov>
>moc@bnl.gov (Mike O'Connor) writes:
> 
>>	Does anybody know of a windsurfing helmet that will fit over a wetsuit
>>hood?  I've tried Xtra Large Protec helmets but they are not large enough
>>to fit over a hood.  Since most of my 4.0 sailing requires a hood, I've been
>>reluctant to buy a helmet.  
First thing in the am good ideas are difficult to come by but how about 
this - buy a Protec, pref. one with the open celled foam that soaks up the 
water.  point this defficiency out to the salesPERSON and make a low offer 
to take it out of their otherwise quality store.  Gut the foam and just use 
the HIP shell (high-impact plastic) over your hood.  Please send $1 to...
From: colas@capa.inria.fr (Colas Nahaboo)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: Re: F2 Comet Slalom Question
Date: 4 Sep 92 12:39:45 GMT
Organization: Koala Project, Bull Research France

In article <1992Sep2.140510.24275@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu>,
whoward@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu (Will Howard) writes:
|> In the market for a new board, I'm looking at some of the "transitional"
|> boards
|> such as the F2 Comet Slalom, the Bic Rumba, the Mistral New Malibu (still
|> made?). I've tried the New Malibu and was very impressed, treid the Rumba
|> and
|> wasn't so impressed,  haven't tried the Comet Slalom. Any experience out
|> there
|> with the Comet Slalom?

I have looked a lot at these boards, since I advise a lot of people getting
into the sport. All tests I have ever seen praise the fanatic Bat and the F2
comet slalom as being the BEST boards, well above the others, for
funboard beginners. The mistral is good, but requires more wind, and thus as
less wind range than the two others, although it is said to have a faster
top-end.

I'd say go for it. I never heard anybody dissatisfied with either the F2 or
fanatic. people have been able to learn "sinker" abilities on them very fast,
and they have good resell value.

PS: Try also the new 3-meter boards (F2 vega). They have VERY good reviews in
tests (ease of use, speed, and jibe handling)

-- 
Colas Nahaboo, colas@sa.inria.fr, Bull Research Koala proj. Wool&Gwm Architect
Pho:(33) 93.65.77.70(.66 Fax), INRIA, B.P.93 - 06902 Sophia Antipolis, FRANCE.
From: wiltonh@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Wilton G Hart)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: Gorge Preformance Swap Meet
Date: 2 Sep 92 19:57:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: tekig7.6833
Distribution: or

On Sept 11 from 7PM unitl everyone gets tired there will be a swap meet
at Gorge Preformance which is located at 7400 S.W. Macadam in Portland OR.  
If you have further questions give them a call at 503-246-6646.

          Bob`s comment about the evening "Ultronz Unplugged".

This was posted with a distribution of Oregon.
From: whoward@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu (Will Howard)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: F2 Comet Slalom Question
Date: 2 Sep 92 14:05:10 GMT
Organization: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory

In the market for a new board, I'm looking at some of the "transitional" boards
such as the F2 Comet Slalom, the Bic Rumba, the Mistral New Malibu (still
made?). I've tried the New Malibu and was very impressed, treid the Rumba and
wasn't so impressed,  haven't tried the Comet Slalom. Any experience out there
with the Comet Slalom?
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
From: wba@netcom.Netcom.COM (William Ayer)
Subject: Discount on Northwave Sails...
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 19:10:41 GMT
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Service
Distribution: rec.windsurfing


Folks,

    The Gorge sailmaker Northwave is offering discounts of up to 25%
on orders of 4 or more custom sails.  I'm wondering if there are other
folks out there who would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
Email me at wba@netcom.com if you might be interested in teaming up
with me to get some sails.  I'll mail out more information on the
lines of sails that Northwave produces, and the prices etc.  (I have
no connection with Northwave, I just *really* like their sails.)

   If you don't know much about Northwaves, ask a friend who sails at
the Gorge. 

						William

Northwave
---------
 - custom (they build your sails in the colors you choose)
 - great power and handling
 - built in the USA with the best materials
 - incredible durability
 - lifetime guarantee on materials and workmanship