No model trains, but model cars: Automated vehicle system by Faller or DC Car

Published on June 18, 2021

The audience of Pilentum Television loves watching trains operating on a model railway, but sometimes it is nice to see a bit more happening on the model railway layout to add realism, for example, the everyday movement of vehicles on roads. Basically, there are two systems competing on the market: One is the famous Faller Car System, which is based on a control system with ultrasonic sensors in its latest version, and the other is the DC Car System, which is based on a control system with infrared sensors.

In this video we see a layout constructed with the DC Car System, which by the way is compatible with N scale (N gauge), HO scale (H0 gauge) and OO scale (00 gauge). To make this video even more entertaining, Pilentum Television dubbed the voices of the visitors and the disturbing background noises with real engine sounds.

Those car systems are working roadway systems that look great and they are easy to operate. These systems use a metal contact wire embedded underneath the road as a guide for the battery powered vehicles. This wire is flexible enough to be used on straights, curves and hills. Accordingly, the vehicles are fitted with a motorised chassis and rechargeable battery which pushes the vehicle forwards via a small motor and gear arrangement, following the guide wire. Therefore, the front axle is fitted with a guide stem and magnet that follows the guide wire. Finally, the vehicle then drives around the streets of the railway layout following the wire through junctions, roundabouts, carriageways and any other traffic arrangement.

In the meantime, there are lots vehicles to add to a road way including cars, tractors, lorries and buses. In addition to vehicles, there are lots of accessory modules to create life on the roads, for example, bus stops, traffic lights, etc. Especially, the bus stop module allows a bus to pull in off the main roadway, park, wait and pull away again without you having to press any buttons. Also the various traffic lights can be installed on the main roadway, so that vehicles will stop automatically if the traffic lights are showing red. Once it changes to green the vehicles will start up and drive off again. This level of automation always looks impressive on any model railway layout. Using the Faller Car System, magnet offset to one side on the chassis is what activates the various additional modules. Using the DC Car System, small infrared LEDs hidden on the layout activate those various traffic modules.

The most important component is the wire. This metal wire can be installed in one of two ways. The first way is using the special groove cutting tool available from Faller. This tool allows cutting the perfect depth groove to insert the wire into the layout’s baseboard. The wire can be glued down and then be covered over with filler to hide the wire from view. The alternative is not cutting a groove, but using laser-cut lengths of roadway. These ready-made plates are available as straights, curves, bus stop sections, etc. The plates already have the groove cut in them for the wire to be inserted. The plates are road sections that allow the construction of individual traffic routes, but you still have to lay and cover over the wire.

In the very simplest form, the vehicles drive on the hidden guide wire. Computer control is then not necessary at all. But as soon as junctions or special traffic situations are to be constructed, points must be installed into the layout’s baseboard, which are activated via reed contacts and magnetic switches.

Video Without Ads

model trains   model cars   vehicle system   Faller   DC Car   Pilentum   trains   model railway   model railway layout   rail transport modeling   realism   vehicles   roads   Faller Car System   ultrasonic   infrared   N scale   N gauge   HO scale   H0 gauge   OO scale   00 gauge   roadway   streets   railway layout   junctions   traffic   cars   tractors   lorries   buses   trucks   bus stop   traffic lights   metal wire   groove cutting tool   plates   reed contacts   magnetic switches   railway modelling   model railroading  

If you would like to support the artistic work of Pilentum Television, please use this link www.amazon.com (United States) or www.amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom) for every purchase at Amazon. This is an affiliate link. This means that if you click on this link and purchase items, Pilentum Television receives an affiliate commission. The price of the items is the same. By using the Amazon affiliate link, you are helping to support Pilentum Television’s film and video production.

The ultimate shopping guide for model railroads and accessories in the United States

Do you already know the offers for model railroads and model trains on eBay’s website for the United States? There are many offers for freight cars, locomotives, passenger cars, track, starter sets, parts and accessories, rare railroads and trains, power and control, storage and display, books and guides, and even mixed lots.

If you are looking exclusively for new products, then you should look at the website’s section called “Best Selling Products”. In this section, you can find out which scale models and model rail accessories are extremely popular with model railroaders.

1) Best Seller: Model Railroads and Trains
2) Best Seller: Model Railroad Freight Cars
3) Best Seller: Model Railroad Locomotives
4) Best Seller: Model Railroad Passenger Cars
5) Best Seller: Model Railroad Train Tracks
6) Best Seller: Model Railroad Starter Sets and Packs
7) Best Seller: Model Railroad Parts and Accessories
8) Best Seller: Other Model Railroads and Trains

If you are a so called bargain hunter, then you should look at the following links regularly. Pilentum Television has filtered all the offers that have received the most number of bids with these links. This is an important quality feature of the offers on eBay. You may be able to expand your collection of locomotives and railroad cars inexpensively.

1) Most Wanted: Model Railroads and Trains
2) Most Wanted: Model Railroad Freight Cars
3) Most Wanted: Model Railroad Locomotives
4) Most Wanted: Model Railroad Passenger Cars
5) Most Wanted: Model Railroad Train Tracks
6) Most Wanted: Model Railroad Starter Sets and Packs
7) Most Wanted: Model Railroad Parts and Accessories
8) Most Wanted: Other Model Railroads and Trains

The ultimate shopping guide for model railways and accessories in Great Britain

Have you already seen the deals on model trains and model railways on eBay’s website for Great Britain? There are many listings for coaches, locomotives, track, starter sets, wagons, parts and accessories, other railways and trains, power and control, storage and display, books and guides as well as mixed lots.

If you are looking for new products exclusively, you should take a look at the section named “Best Selling Products” on the website. Here you can find out which scale models and which model railway accessories are particularly popular with model railway enthusiasts.

Best Seller: Model Railways and Trains
Best Seller: Model Railway Locomotives
Best Seller: Model Railway Train Track
Best Seller: Model Railway Coaches
Best Seller: Model Railway Wagons
Best Seller: Model Railway Starter Sets and Packs
Best Seller: Model Railway Parts and Accessories
Best Seller: Other Model Railways and Trains

Are you looking for bargains? Then you should check out the following links regularly. With these links, Pilentum Television has filtered all the listings that have received the most bids. This is an important quality feature of the listings on eBay. Perhaps you can expand your collection of locomotives and wagons at a reasonable price.

Most Wanted: Model Railways and Trains
Most Wanted: Model Railway Locomotives
Most Wanted: Model Railway Train Track
Most Wanted: Model Railway Coaches
Most Wanted: Model Railway Wagons
Most Wanted: Model Railway Starter Sets and Packs
Most Wanted: Model Railway Parts and Accessories
Most Wanted: Other Model Railways and Trains