For the model railroader who has everything: The Laser Chopstick!
Mark Dash said:
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
The former “Train-Li-USA” was based on http://www.train.li (Stefan Flück, producer of the railbender etc.).
“Train-Line-USA” is more along the line of http://www.train-line45.de (producers of the track and rolling stock).
This is really kool, from the Trian-Li page
Uncoupling?
I use a popsicle stick or a thrown-away plastic knife.
Cheap, and if I lose it, I can always get another one.
Technology it ain’t. Nor does it need aiming or using batteries…
tac
‘LaserTrain’ Total novelty for G Scale trains!
Uncoupling anywhere on your layout! Works with DC, DCC, Train Engineer or any other system.’
The uncoupler.
The receiver.
The servo with the uncoupling mechanism.’
There y’are.
tac
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Tim Brien said:
…
Laser uncoupling, amazing.
It is, but one needs to align the beam accurately enough AND if you can’t see the trigger point e.g. in a yard with several tracks … it’s a no-go if the cars in front are in the way.
OTOH no such problem with DCC activated servos (Massoth or Kadee).
…or with my RCS Digital Proportional control in a loco using el cheapo servos and controlled directly from my TX hand pieces.
An ultra small RX/Servo driver will be available soon for rolling stock when we can nut out how to select individual cars.
Will the concept of remote uncopupling be popular? I doubt it for the mass market.
Just what we all need another electronic toy! What will we do with out it? Oh and by the way - no thank you! Paul
Paul,
Our layout is point to point, the double-ended electrics run around the train at the end points to head back where they came from. Uncoupling is a must, using servo-op Kadee couplers with DCC will be fun. 
Just another gadget to waste money on. The hand work’s good for me and a heck of a lot cheaper. I’d rather spend the money on more locs,cars or track. If you really need an uncouple use a LGB one. Works with most couplers. Later RJD
Train-Li’s Laser uncoupler is most likely intended for the European market. Operating practices on MRRs differ between NA and EU, just as they do on the proto.
OTOH there must be a NA LS market; I’m sure Kadee did market research before they launched their servo operated #1 and G couplers.
I’m just waiting for a report from someone with a 50 car train; all cars equipped with these gadgets. I want to watch a video showing the train being switched out into a large freight yard…
…oh, I guess I’ll never see it…It has been suggested that the gadget is aimed at the roundy-roundy market…just to uncouple a loco out in the garden, by the operator sitting in his/her/its air conditioned Florida room, while watching the operation on a closed circuit twit vision set…probably with a 8x10 foot flat screen…
…this is suggested by some to be the new and better vision of the hobby of Model Railroading…!!
Fred Mills, BSc, BS, SD said:
I’m just waiting for a report from someone with a 50 car train; all cars equipped with these gadgets. I want to watch a video showing the train being switched out into a large freight yard…
…oh, I guess I’ll never see it…It has been suggested that the gadget is aimed at the roundy-roundy market…just to uncouple a loco out in the garden, by the operator sitting in his/her/its air conditioned Florida room, while watching the operation on a closed circuit twit vision set…probably with a 8x10 foot flat screen…
…this is suggested by some to be the new and better vision of the hobby of Model Railroading…!!
Well Padre,
As with anything in life: the right tool in the right place for the right purpose.
My friend Art (NA importer of ZIMO) has this nice, very compact little demo layout on which three engines are shuffled around; couple, uncouple, back and forth between different tracks, fully auto all day long.
Fred Mills, BSc, BS, SD said:
,It has been suggested that the gadget is aimed at the roundy-roundy market…just to uncouple a loco out in the garden, by the operator sitting in his/her/its air conditioned Florida room, while watching the operation on a closed circuit twit vision set…probably with a 8x10 foot flat screen…
…this is suggested by some to be the new and better vision of the hobby of Model Railroading…!!
Not my style but whatever floats their boat. I honestly don’t mind if somebody wants to do that provided they keep spending lots of money on large scale, in turn keeping manufacturers in business and volumes high enough to encourage prices downward. Then I’ll be happy in what I do and can, and will, continue to allow everybody else to go to heck in their own way
Be interesting to see if/how it works outdoors. I forget what the product was specifically, but I reviewed a laser-activated control a few years ago. Worked great indoors where you can see the laser. Outdoors in the sun, not so easily done. At issue, aiming the laser at the target. If you can’t see where the beam is hitting, you have no way of knowing where you’re pointing it to adjust it to hit the target.
Later,
K
I have an…um…red laser…pointing device, yes a pointing device that works as Kevin states…Brilliant indoors and out at night, but no so well outdoors during the day…
Lazer lights seem to be the future unlike 1/24 and hook and loops.
Seems like the hobby goes forward, and some of the past cant/or dont want to keep up.
Nick S. said:
Lazer(sic) lights seem to be the future unlike 1/24 and hook and loops.
Seems like the hobby goes forward, and some of the past cant/or dont want to keep up.
So, Nicky, your laser controllers work well in bright sunlight? Do tell…
Steve , Seem to work well as long as there’s no direct sunlight on pointer but other wise
we use them a lot on the indoors layout. Got to be in it to win it…
Speaking of Lasers not working too well outdoors in daylight, I wonder how the use of I Phones to control Large Scale trains out doors in bright sunlight is progressing?
Tony Walsham said:
Speaking of Lasers not working too well outdoors in daylight, I wonder how the use of I Phones to control Large Scale trains out doors in bright sunlight is progressing?
Way over my head, Try to keep as simple as possible, While still having fun…
Tony Walsham said:
Speaking of Lasers not working too well outdoors in daylight, I wonder how the use of I Phones to control Large Scale trains out doors in bright sunlight is progressing?
According to the EU clans that reported it works just fine.