Self propelled lighting tower
A long, hard day in the workshop saw us get the prototype drive system for this self propelled lighting tower up and running.
It’s got 2 x 48v 2.2kW Leeson motors which we’re driving using 2 of our Pro-150 controllers. These were configured for push button operation with variable speed.
It turned out to be a real beast – hugely torqey and easily capable of a brisk jogging speed. Our customer is targetting this at railway, highway, and runway maintenance operations.

[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
Controller test board
For a while now we’ve been pondering how best to help customers diagnose problems with their controller installations. Our troubleshooting page and checklists have proved popular and effective but we still felt that something was missing. It’s a fact that well over half of all controllers that are sent back to us have nothing wrong with them. So to help track down wiring issues we’ve created this multi-purpose controller test board. It works by temporarily taking the place of the normal control wiring, and helps to identify and isolate problems.

It works with the 4QD, Porter, DNO, and Pro ranges.
It will be appearing in the accessories pages soon. We’ll be making one available free of charge to all model loco clubs [club reps please request yours by email].
Gun carriage
We seem to be having something of a military theme at the moment.
This gun carriage is used by a college cadet force for hauling equipment around rifle ranges.

This one just happens to be using an old Uni 8 model, but it could easily use a Porter instead.
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
Programmable Battery Meter
Here’s a pre-production prototype of our new programmable battery meter.
It’s very clever version of our old favourite 5 LED battery condition meter, only this one:
- is much more accurate [+/- 0.1V]
- has temperature compensation
- has a low battery cut off function [can interface to most of our controllers to save those valuable LiPos]
- can be programmed [by us] for almost any battery chemistry between 11V and 30V
- will fit existing 5 LED BCM installations

Range Robot
We know that our controllers go into some hostile environments, but this range robot must be well up the list.
It’s a radio controlled target drone for a shooting range, it’s using 2 x 4QD-300X controllers and a DMR-203 radio interface.

Wonder if the dummy has a name?
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
Scarlett’s Garage Porsche 911 RSR
We’re big fans of Scarletts Garage. Here’s a clip of their latest creation which actually raced in the “Little Lemans” race. Pushing one of our DNO-10s to the max!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpT5x7tsSOs
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
One instinctively knows when something is right
With a sense of style reminiscent of a Patek Philippe watch advert a customer sent us this picture of the two cars he built.

Each is fitted with one of our Pro-150 controllers.
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
Train Mountain 2018 Triennial.
4QD were delighted to attend this years Train Mountain Triennial in Oregon. For those who haven’t heard of it, the scale of this model loco event is simply staggering, 37 miles of 7″ track with around 400 models from 8 countries. All hosted by the most amazingly friendly volunteers. Here is just a small selection of the many, many pictures we took…
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
Greenpower “no push” start
Here’s a short video of the Greenpower grid setting off under the new “no push” rules. The acceleration of some of the cars was really impressive.
Lots of our Porters being used.
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]
Winning Greenpower F24 kit car
We like this overhead shot of 3 teams from the recent Greenpower Goodwood event. We’re particularly proud of the Team Chicken car from Bromsgrove School at the bottom of the frame, these guys kindly ran one of our prototype Porter 10XXX units, I’ll let them take up the story of how it went……

“Firstly, we were able to complete approximately another lap further than the xx. And this then leads me onto the best factor we had from the xxx. The tail off seemed to be much, much, much slower. Before we would go strong, slow a little and then very slow for the last lap or so. The xxx allowed us to keep pushing at a far faster pace with only losing a few seconds per lap (over a 2.4 mile Goodwood lap) during the last few laps. This then allowed us to gear up and get the Kitcar to an average 26.5MPH over a race. Your controller did not heat up at all. The only cooling we had on it was a computer heatsink with thermal paste. We came first Kitcar by several laps, and 8th/11th overall out of 100 teams (43 Kitcars). It was so impressive that we are looking at gearing right up next season if tests continue to be successful.”
[wp_social_sharing social_options=’facebook,twitter,googleplus,linkedin’ twitter_username=” facebook_text=’Share on Facebook’ twitter_text=’Share on Twitter’ googleplus_text=’Share on Google+’ linkedin_text=’Share on Linkedin’ icon_order=’f,t,g,l’ show_icons=’0′ before_button_text=” text_position=” social_image=”]












