INSTALL A DOT MATRIX DISPLAY

Model Rail’s two Chris’ join forces to install Train-tech’s Smart Screen on ‘Polwyddelan’.

As Model Rail’s youngest team member by a number of years, and as somebody who doesn’t remember anything pre-privatisation, my curiosity is always piqued whenever anything particularly modern-image arrives in the office. What really grabbed my attention this month was Train-tech’s new Smart Screen. It’s a programmable dot matrix display that is capable of showing up to ten messages saying whatever you want and it scrolls just like the real thing. Each one costs £50, so they aren’t cheap, but they really bring a touch of outstanding realism to any platform or footbridge – or even a train interior.

We thought it would make a great touch on the platform of Chris Leigh’s ‘Polwyddelan’. The plan was hatched, Chris would do the soldering and the installation on his layout (he’s spent two years building it – there was no way I was going near it with a drill!) and I would do the programming. This led to a Wednesday afternoon with the two of us in Chris’ work room clearing a space among the mound of bits and pieces for future Model Rail projects so he could solder the Smart Screen. A couple of pieces of advice: before you start, read through the instructions carefully as you need to do different things depending on how you want the Smart Screen to operate. Secondly, take your time. Since you can’t connect the screen to a keyboard the only way to program it is to go through the alphabet for each letter until you get to the one you want. It took me a bit of time to get used to how the programming works, although that may have been down to never having used Chris’ controller before.

Your messages have to be programmed using a DCC controller, and since it involves a lot of button pressing it is recommended that you use one on which you can apply functions without having to press the function button first each time – a Gaugemaster handheld model for example. Once the messages have been programmed, however, you can use either DCC or DC to operate the Smart Screen. You’ll also need a suitable housing. Three types are available: right post, left post or hanging mount, all at £10 each. The hanging screen mounts are suitable for in-train

screens or Underground stations with ceiling-mounted displays. Again, it is worth knowing where you are going to put your screen before you buy to ensure you get the mounting that’s right for you. This really is a superb piece of technology for model railways and was very easy to install. From start to finish we completed it in an afternoon, but that included clearing space and travelling from the office to Chris’ house. Depending on the length of your messages (the bottom row can hold 137 characters), you could get a screen completed in an hour.