tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79905777926143945412024-02-27T04:35:21.374-08:00Gentle Model RailwaysAn ongoing description of the trials and tribulations of building a model railway. I am not one to worry too much about 100% accuracy. If it looks right then it probably is right for me.Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-84893246186284715562024-02-27T04:34:00.000-08:002024-02-27T04:34:24.818-08:00Running In<p> With everything working electrically, it is now time to test out some of the plans that I have for the railway. Initially, I wanted to try out the passenger side as I had bought some quite old Hornby "blood and custard" coaches to run with the Accurascale Manor 4-6-0.</p><p>Ok so first off, there was a problem with the Hornby coaches. They had what the hobby calls "pizza cutter" wheels and wouldn't go through the points so I had to buy a pack of Bachmann replacement wheel pairs. These fixed that problem. Then, I was having difficulty uncoupling the first coach from the loco as the coaches had the old type of coupler - the whole width of the coach - and my hand uncoupler was causing derailments. The answer to this was to replace the couplers with Kadees.</p><p>Brett at the LHS sold me some NEM Kadees and some little NEM sockets that were supplied by Golden Valley. These seemed like a good idea in that you just glue them to the floor of the coach and plug an NEM coupler in. However, they interfered with the bogies and were too high to couple properly to the Manor. The Manor had NEM sockets so it was easy to remove the existing couplers and replace them with Kadees so that was the benchmark height.</p><p>The floor of the coaches was very high so I had to pad out the base to get the couplers to the right height. I used the Golden Valley adapter on one coach but it needed cutting about and padding out so it was a bit of a faff so I dug out some Kadee no. 5s for the other two coaches. Here is how it looks - not nice but it all works. First the Golden Valley NEM set up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO_iuk_hpRNeFc-YQh8PPtA5t_DvW1Y_Lz1kHOCCpTuT7sN14Gq7DiLPGJ4tJ8EYJkj8jz0A49iiJbpN0Ou42WVHQvEYCAe7Z4DS7T_AV195MXYhuZq06bvUQipbrZ693zSCGdwcpiLzm6rp-W03gfu8iJfL2Kp8UoZHyF3Ug1isi-D82sZdyolZMgton/s2756/gv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2756" data-original-width="2689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO_iuk_hpRNeFc-YQh8PPtA5t_DvW1Y_Lz1kHOCCpTuT7sN14Gq7DiLPGJ4tJ8EYJkj8jz0A49iiJbpN0Ou42WVHQvEYCAe7Z4DS7T_AV195MXYhuZq06bvUQipbrZ693zSCGdwcpiLzm6rp-W03gfu8iJfL2Kp8UoZHyF3Ug1isi-D82sZdyolZMgton/s320/gv.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, the No. 5s much neater.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6B67Z0aArBUQ_WqmUzIIdKs2SlL3qkLpzZ_l8WFg2UY9-b3pows2T3fO9ZK9C9Zy8VG9Zf13z6kWahfu3k-O5TAXR2UB7rRabLagdwQrijiFJ-Vy-EWlnb7jYEAwj0XjDfiLA1ifw8BNEI6SODbVEcteaiIfBXHs_SDPZm1HpsaSZmh23t_DkH7yKrTQ/s3024/kadee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2810" data-original-width="3024" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6B67Z0aArBUQ_WqmUzIIdKs2SlL3qkLpzZ_l8WFg2UY9-b3pows2T3fO9ZK9C9Zy8VG9Zf13z6kWahfu3k-O5TAXR2UB7rRabLagdwQrijiFJ-Vy-EWlnb7jYEAwj0XjDfiLA1ifw8BNEI6SODbVEcteaiIfBXHs_SDPZm1HpsaSZmh23t_DkH7yKrTQ/s320/kadee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Once I had the couplers sorted, it was time to run some trains. I have three passenger trains planned for the routine. One will be a 64XX with an auto coach. Then there will be a 64XX with two local passenger coaches. Lastly, there will be the weekly holiday train which will be the Manor 78XX with three Mk 1 coaches - 2 brakes and one full coach. The theory is that these three coaches came off a London to Cornwall train (led by a Castle presumably) and were brought down from the main line by the Manor. Here is what it looks like with two of these in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJ5OrOAI08hziw2WjadhM5cvaQVVFEWN9zkPliVk9LjMS8GuLifAgZ3txGb2YxjKt25e1ZJP-SZmwoE0CY36iCjh08AofOJvzyXdQKBVBEiFxX7d4wQqF2hSn_798YQJZXq8KU0z_mmQ9IR1ipjMO6Z3FDSWU2Wt67Sdx5mBydgDRN7SMHxT9uITdXU_q/s5641/trains.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2409" data-original-width="5641" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJ5OrOAI08hziw2WjadhM5cvaQVVFEWN9zkPliVk9LjMS8GuLifAgZ3txGb2YxjKt25e1ZJP-SZmwoE0CY36iCjh08AofOJvzyXdQKBVBEiFxX7d4wQqF2hSn_798YQJZXq8KU0z_mmQ9IR1ipjMO6Z3FDSWU2Wt67Sdx5mBydgDRN7SMHxT9uITdXU_q/w606-h259/trains.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><br /><p>I did, however, uncover two problems that interfered with the successful running of the trains. First off, there was an issue with the Manor transitioning from the main baseboard onto the fiddle yard board. It seems that there is a rise in the track at the edge of the board that is causing the Manor to slip its wheels. Also, the long Mk.1 coaches don't much like the join either. I need to do some work on the join between the two boards to get rid of this. Secondly, the Digitrax controller isn't acting normally when there is a short. Normally, if I run a point the wrong way round, there is a short which clears itself when the loco is moved to clear the point. This is not happening and I am having to turn the Digitrax box off, wait 5 or so seconds, and turn the box back on. </p><p>(Aside: needless to say, the point of the levers is that I can see how each point is set so that shorts shouldn't happen - as in a real signal box - but I still do it!)</p><p>I put a question up on Model Railroad Hobbyist where the answer seemed to be a fault in the Digitrax controller. However, I thought about this and I think it has more to do with the way that I have wired in the ESP radio receiver for the point levers. I just put the ESP board in between the controller and the power bus which makes it susceptible to the short. I think that I have to put in a separate accessory bus so that the short doesn't get to the ESP board. In any case, I am checking this ideas out with DCC Concepts so we shall see what we see. Here is the current and proposed layouts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eaUuBHCz_DNb-BtQ365lnSUF_bem8L1kBev3HUhmLfkY7ZiukDrYNu9teOyJOE1zylV8KN9MAOlwTqW8C1jJX8qwibZr53rOwA2aegkPAC8cCoxzlgqiAnkTu1M9e6EfyM8C37y31AP6hiE4FqzoEhl8XyIXdfkoV0ccRK2SxImxFWS1DwQ-zGJz8H7e/s458/esp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="408" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eaUuBHCz_DNb-BtQ365lnSUF_bem8L1kBev3HUhmLfkY7ZiukDrYNu9teOyJOE1zylV8KN9MAOlwTqW8C1jJX8qwibZr53rOwA2aegkPAC8cCoxzlgqiAnkTu1M9e6EfyM8C37y31AP6hiE4FqzoEhl8XyIXdfkoV0ccRK2SxImxFWS1DwQ-zGJz8H7e/w381-h428/esp.jpg" width="381" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There will be more on this, I can promise.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-28569278896148559592024-02-22T09:13:00.000-08:002024-02-22T09:13:11.785-08:00Ballasting and a backscene<p> I told myself that I wouldn't put ballast down on this railway as I have always made a mess of the process before ending up with points that were stuck. However, I found myself carrying out the task the other day. I took it nice and slowly making sure that I avoided the switching part of each point. In fact, I actually enjoyed the process, which took about 5 days - so you can see how slowly I took it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBaFpFsjA_Q7gXNsKew78h4xltuVncgRcsEf7PCEVkcNWaN882BPJDayIprXOBLU2tXbn7Ghf22N116FQKqdJ_O_1JuyDjH4Hqej287gOqZFFWn4b2r9XsR2c-9PZIl6OxkZEEygwrzmLJ89Uve_QgjVR62pRNNvTro-QZwlQGETtAP4xFmq0q2H-f1hH/s5712/back%20scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3157" data-original-width="5712" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBaFpFsjA_Q7gXNsKew78h4xltuVncgRcsEf7PCEVkcNWaN882BPJDayIprXOBLU2tXbn7Ghf22N116FQKqdJ_O_1JuyDjH4Hqej287gOqZFFWn4b2r9XsR2c-9PZIl6OxkZEEygwrzmLJ89Uve_QgjVR62pRNNvTro-QZwlQGETtAP4xFmq0q2H-f1hH/w491-h271/back%20scene.jpg" width="491" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQrCG5YiDkAWoYsrzO-8XG6xqdwx9WUrIiOLCExKiIAk2QtMVqVAUs9g5QVzW1mkjM7AizBGYMSP6yNT4yGiGG2RA4TDW0ONJgDprbQ8KTHUWt6GgozuzLiS_IpdXv_jmTB9rTyig0KYVs0qmd6G4fWfmC108ENgP1P-aq-khlJOn1lC6eZejLGuyH3XC/s4685/backscene%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3525" data-original-width="4685" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQrCG5YiDkAWoYsrzO-8XG6xqdwx9WUrIiOLCExKiIAk2QtMVqVAUs9g5QVzW1mkjM7AizBGYMSP6yNT4yGiGG2RA4TDW0ONJgDprbQ8KTHUWt6GgozuzLiS_IpdXv_jmTB9rTyig0KYVs0qmd6G4fWfmC108ENgP1P-aq-khlJOn1lC6eZejLGuyH3XC/w489-h368/backscene%202.jpg" width="489" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Having got all the ballast down, I repainted the rest of the boards in the Hobbycraft brown.</p><p>As you can tell, I have also added a backscene to the boards. This is one of my foamcore processes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHmZn7Ep-MbusbWZR_cXzLukX02e56o4mXpgEUjgcXhZ8DFK0BhcGDAWBpQ0whjLPyAve25CmlxiH4F2lO4UaGfpAB7fY9s2yWN3Gj0_mpFING6S753LIZXZUKwFxX1-VmNnGETUz-TsKpDEJ3l4tyTHSSEfnHLtRxUg8RlhertsabJzV0PmCKhGy14aA/s3710/backscene%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3710" data-original-width="3431" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHmZn7Ep-MbusbWZR_cXzLukX02e56o4mXpgEUjgcXhZ8DFK0BhcGDAWBpQ0whjLPyAve25CmlxiH4F2lO4UaGfpAB7fY9s2yWN3Gj0_mpFING6S753LIZXZUKwFxX1-VmNnGETUz-TsKpDEJ3l4tyTHSSEfnHLtRxUg8RlhertsabJzV0PmCKhGy14aA/s320/backscene%203.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><p>As you can see in this image, I cut a piece of foamcore and create tabs sticking downwards. Once, the whole lot is complete, I hold each panel up against the back of the main baseboard and create some slots for the tabs to slide into. This way, I can remove the backscene when I need to turn the main board over to work on the underside.</p><p>Now, we come to the downside. I bought a backscene from my LHS - Model Scenery Supplies Backscene 206B - which comes as a roll of 3m long and 380mm high. I cut off some of the height. Now we come to the problem (which you can see on the shot of the whole board above). I can't use the normal method of glueing the paper to the board as PVA has lots of water as a component and this would make the foamcore<span> warp - I have been there before. Hence, I use strips of double sided tape - four lines along the length. The problem is that it is very sticky so you get one go at it. As you can see, that one go one the first board along the back resulted in some bumps that couldn't be ironed out. I ended up cutting along the bump and re-sticking it down. It looks </span>dreadful. </p><p>This taught me a lesson so, when I did the next board, I glued about 4" down at a time. This seemed to work quite well and, hence, the last two boards were a success. I have ordered a replacement roll from Orwell's, which should be here on Friday. I have changed the order, under Brett's instruction, to their premium brand, which comes as vinyl rather than paper and is pre-glued. We shall see how we get on. Fortunately, because the backscene is in four pieces, I can replace the bad bits easily.</p><p>I have also bought some 1" Velcro self adhesive front and back. Once I have got the backscene sorted, I will place a 6" length of Velcro across each joint at the top. I will then cut that at the join leaving 3" on each side. Using the other component of the roll, I will cut out a 6" length of that and use it to fix the two boards tightly together.</p><p>Lastly, I tried the track out with some of my locos. First off, the track needed a lot of cleaning - high grade emery loaded with Track Magic eventually got most of the muck left over from ballasting off the top of the rails. Three issues emerged. </p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>One piece of track had lost its connection to the track bus so I had to make a temporary connection using crocodile clips.</li><li>My latest loco - a 94XX from Bachmann - was misbehaving. It is fitted with a Next18 decoder from Accurascale - the one that came with my Manor. It jerks three times on starting and stopping which makes it difficult to use. I will take it to Orwells tomorrow to get Kevin to have a look at it. I expect that I will ask him to put a Zimo decoder in as a replacement.</li><li>The DCC Concepts levers stopped working. I messed about taking the power off and on, etc. but nothing fixed it so finally I took the lid off the lever box and saw that all the pilot lights were out. The battery had run down! It didn't show externally, as there was enough power to keep the LED on the panel working but not enough for the boards.</li></ol><p></p><p>All three issues will be resolved easily. 1 and 3 are already sorted and 2 will be fixed tomorrow.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-21142897890686147012024-01-28T09:42:00.000-08:002024-01-29T08:39:31.565-08:00Trouble with Locos<p> Since changing over to British OO I have purchased 4 locos. 1 45XX small prairie, 1 64XX pannier, 1 15XX pannier and Iford Manor 2-6-0. The 45XX and 64XX were both Bachmann whilst the 15XX was a new release Rapido and the Manor was an Accurascale model. All four are very nice models except the Rapido and the Manor were exceptionally detailed. But...</p><p>The 45XX and 64XX were bought from my local shop - <a href="https://www.orwellmodelrailways.co.uk" target="_blank">Orwell Model Railways.</a></p><p>The 45XX was an indifferent runner and had no traction at all. It seems that, with these prairies the front and rear wheel sets often were badly adjusted and kept the main driving wheels a bit too proud losing traction. Eventually, it barely moved so I have decided to sell it. Rails of Sheffield have offered an indifferent price but they keep their word so it's off to them tomorrow.</p><p>The 15XX was bought from Rails. First off, the front steps fell off - no I didn't break them, they just fell off so I had to glue them back on. Then it stopped running and was returned to Rails. They sent me a new one. On removing the body, the smokebox fell off - same comment as above. The glue area had a solid line of white glue around it so it obviously had never been glued properly. Then the 2nd loco stopped working. On exchanging e-mails with Rails, I sent them a video of the 64XX and the 15XX to show how the track was clean and fit for purpose and how the 15XX didn't work. I told them that I was rejecting the model as I wasn't prepared to have this one returned to Rapido with all the delays that would happen. They accepted this very nicely and I am getting a credit note. I think that I will use it to get a 94XX Bachmann pannier. It is a pity because I had it fitted with an ESU sound chip that I was given at the Warley show.</p><p>The 64XX is a nice little runner and I have been able to use that as a yardstick against the 45XX and the 15XX so not much more to say. The Manor is a lovely piece of kit and seems to work fine on my 8' long station layout. As I now have a Next16 sound chip going spare, I am off to <a href="https://www.coastaldcc.co.uk" target="_blank">Coastal DCC</a> tomorrow to get <a href="https://www.coastaldcc.co.uk" target="_blank">Kevin</a> to set it up for the Manor.</p><p>Lastly, as a replacement for the 45XX, I used some Christmas Amazon vouchers to purchase a Dean Goods 0-6-0 from Oxford Rail. This is a nice little loco but the only one that I could get on Amazon was a War Department version. I need to get all of the markings off and renumber etc. for a 23XX. <a href="https://www.railtec-models.com" target="_blank">Railtec</a> have a nice scheme where they print on demand after asking me lots of questions to which I didn't know the answers. I got there in the end so we shall see how it comes out. When I bought the loco, I also ordered an 8 pin wired decoder to go with. Unfortunately, the space in the tender for the decoder is very small and the decoder that I purchased didn't fit. Fortunately, being Amazon, it is going back and I will, again, take this up with <a href="https://www.coastaldcc.co.uk" target="_blank">Kevin</a> tomorrow as I think that a tiny Zimo will fit.</p><p>So, all this started in September last year and, hopefully, might be over in a few days.</p><p>Two comments - about Rapido and Accurascale. Rapido's 15XX is a nice little loco with wonderful valve gear but manufacturing needs a bit of look at as bits fell of and the mechanisms didn't work at all well. Accurascale make wonderfully detailed models but you do pay for them. The Manor looks to be worth the money but we have to wait and see when I begin to run it regularly. I have also bought one of their Siphon G vans. This was expensive for a van and all I got that seemed to justify the price was some hugely detailed undercarriage. As most of this can't be seen, it seems to me that it could have been made cheaper but then I am not fully into modern demands.</p><p>That's it. Hopefully, in a few days, I will have a full compliment of locos that all work as expected. Let's wait and see.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-87728286087645151422024-01-19T07:54:00.000-08:002024-01-28T09:54:46.365-08:00Signal Box Levers<p> When I was at the Warley show in November I was watching a layout supported by my local model railway/DCC shops - Orwell Model Railways and Coastal DCC. This layout was Long Melford, which was featured in Model Rail magazine recently. The bit that I liked was the bank of levers for the signal box - AKA point and signal control. These levers were a DCC Concepts product and I vowed to get some for my railway. As Christmas was coming, I persuaded the wife to buy me a box of 6. I had already bought a single one to test out. As I only have seven points this was going to be fine. </p><p>However, it was clear that there were going to have to be 21 wires between the levers and the railway and I couldn't think of how I was going to connect these up because there was nowhere on the layout that I could put the lever frame so it would have to be a stand alone box. I had spoken to Richard from DCC Cncepts at Warley about how to make a mimic board and he told me about their <a href="https://www.dccconcepts.com/product-category/the-cobalt-collection/esp-wireless-operation/" target="_blank">ESP transmitters and receivers.</a> At the time, I thought that he was just suggesting these because of their cost but I realised later that they were a sensible way to go. If I used these, I could build a stand along lever frame that didn't need ANY wires between the frame and the layout.</p><p>I decided to find the funds necessary and acquired two ESP sets - one with a transmitter and a receiver and the other one with two transmitters. As each tran emitter handles 3 inputs, this gives me my seven and leaves two more for when I put some signals in. I bought a 12V battery power pack from eBay (rechargeable) and a small crate from my local Hobbycraft and set about making it happen. Here are some photos of the build and the final item.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="text-align: center;">These are the three transmitters in place.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqvl6HccbxIak3Or8KS3bIxuoEXlD_2MeBhCVmeVIuRM13MSoteV-Jhr6vImP0Ft8u7_xrGy85xV-RBVGTo90mErDY2obuF5iVEnVU-oY3YIDyim5bQqPvBf3665h1nBMvEK8-6TsnCDUNbjOudItuKSzViWH54ri7q9fYgzT3nrOE7joGzdZ4iUg768O/s5237/out%20of%20the%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3998" data-original-width="5237" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqvl6HccbxIak3Or8KS3bIxuoEXlD_2MeBhCVmeVIuRM13MSoteV-Jhr6vImP0Ft8u7_xrGy85xV-RBVGTo90mErDY2obuF5iVEnVU-oY3YIDyim5bQqPvBf3665h1nBMvEK8-6TsnCDUNbjOudItuKSzViWH54ri7q9fYgzT3nrOE7joGzdZ4iUg768O/s320/out%20of%20the%20box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and in the crate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNFBxELcP_6AP97IG6BTQafRrEERgBTD-X2Yhb5nO7ftaiqdw5LbtKAbvA24grwspM97WekPZx5JYEDZtGn3fi-q6AippB0Vuggk7DM0olp5ImrnrOFzQr8Am4oJ_Bm9p4USf5JfSZqobEOcebLL3z1TFPVS2ff4D437Lk4a3vqP6q1oSuLv-gPnfxf3t/s5712/innards%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNFBxELcP_6AP97IG6BTQafRrEERgBTD-X2Yhb5nO7ftaiqdw5LbtKAbvA24grwspM97WekPZx5JYEDZtGn3fi-q6AippB0Vuggk7DM0olp5ImrnrOFzQr8Am4oJ_Bm9p4USf5JfSZqobEOcebLL3z1TFPVS2ff4D437Lk4a3vqP6q1oSuLv-gPnfxf3t/s320/innards%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see the Power Bank. This is rechargeable. I am going to add an LED power-on indicator.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cAYvo4Zr_bBhOYj4eeu-K_w-9-xLEHv6SmzhoY_xXsTIGBYNjqQ9WXTrax1qiefFbwPnm20co0rWjh3MUhNVcJQRJuGdhlfAW5vJv2fn18E59E7eNtgj76IEdy4k_SxEwugJ-k1bIwmXeYVMtQj5Yq0lObNRBK73rv0cFkjJgC6sMzHxB_Ub-Ki6RYUY/s5712/battery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cAYvo4Zr_bBhOYj4eeu-K_w-9-xLEHv6SmzhoY_xXsTIGBYNjqQ9WXTrax1qiefFbwPnm20co0rWjh3MUhNVcJQRJuGdhlfAW5vJv2fn18E59E7eNtgj76IEdy4k_SxEwugJ-k1bIwmXeYVMtQj5Yq0lObNRBK73rv0cFkjJgC6sMzHxB_Ub-Ki6RYUY/s320/battery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the receiver on the layout wired into the DCC bus.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xGgIo8wlqwz8LV9ubOMl7bVxG9j8U_UW5lO2TWAov3a1efu7inFJCXk1dZJnu2srPFN6Felzv-47lWv3DmojlVTrhOe2Yx3o6yk4sVGMkJapyuK3U8lAzH6gMwHGe343TmMX8c9v1C18LqR3U8kr6Smqz5xkrMTee6ZC_tBPvQackxA3-oKxfIAKoLd3/s5712/receiver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xGgIo8wlqwz8LV9ubOMl7bVxG9j8U_UW5lO2TWAov3a1efu7inFJCXk1dZJnu2srPFN6Felzv-47lWv3DmojlVTrhOe2Yx3o6yk4sVGMkJapyuK3U8lAzH6gMwHGe343TmMX8c9v1C18LqR3U8kr6Smqz5xkrMTee6ZC_tBPvQackxA3-oKxfIAKoLd3/s320/receiver.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the finished product</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOcWkIiNSZZHDxU9DaDRvPTc6nqIS-ygKW7TgPKQAyqtAumKqHNEcizQUslnHE8Tfq-M4sok0dwAzTTbuW5u9EDoMd8oLJH7YO7ifaE0ooiVjqvnzkbrhI-JFsh0ypJhv4pqUkwv1fEojfKXJQpmWxuJRl95YLSao6AQ8UpY9VoS1vzwbVU-2_MIGxrxp/s4395/front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="4395" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOcWkIiNSZZHDxU9DaDRvPTc6nqIS-ygKW7TgPKQAyqtAumKqHNEcizQUslnHE8Tfq-M4sok0dwAzTTbuW5u9EDoMd8oLJH7YO7ifaE0ooiVjqvnzkbrhI-JFsh0ypJhv4pqUkwv1fEojfKXJQpmWxuJRl95YLSao6AQ8UpY9VoS1vzwbVU-2_MIGxrxp/s320/front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTyJn-VpwQ37zK6k_IPm5PW3uCuHJP8NgpOuBvvQ1ELB98STnpxL8u-noePmI0Xs0QRy8F425ak_aA08BLZX7XfrrnmAnzz13HPzb4AtPwkxm7QeqV7u30IFOKwapJ5n1iYbBcGMmgzbXK9PW-AH-25eomukr7VIIna6G3RYGUjcGBQrfQCE_zxQNmkNi/s5712/side.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4284" data-original-width="5712" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTyJn-VpwQ37zK6k_IPm5PW3uCuHJP8NgpOuBvvQ1ELB98STnpxL8u-noePmI0Xs0QRy8F425ak_aA08BLZX7XfrrnmAnzz13HPzb4AtPwkxm7QeqV7u30IFOKwapJ5n1iYbBcGMmgzbXK9PW-AH-25eomukr7VIIna6G3RYGUjcGBQrfQCE_zxQNmkNi/s320/side.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The action comes from wires 8 and 9 from each lever - one being the common and the other being one of the poles on the switch. The blue tails are the other 7 wires coming from each lever. I was glad that I left these as it turned out that when the levers were pushed away, the points were thrown and I wanted this to indicate a through switch. Hence, I had to swap wires 7 and 8 which meant cutting back one and extending the other. Amazingly, it all worked first time and I am really happy with it. I am still an Arduino junkie at heart so messing around with stuff like this is what model railways are for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next steps are as follows:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>fit a 12v indicator LED</li><li>add a 5V power bank with an LED indicator</li><li>see about fitting a double signal at the exit to the station run around</li><li>fit two new levers in the space left on the bank to operate these two signals.</li></ul><div>The next major project will be to set the layout mimic panel up with two colour LEDs - red and green - to indicate the way each point it set. These bi-color LEDs will be managed from the 4 - 6 wires on each lever's switches. Regarding my comment about being an Arduino junkie I have the following history.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back in 1969/1970 I built a Heathkit valve Hifi amplifier. Following that, I build a TATIII (true action throttle) which was one of the first transistorised throttles providing slow acceleration and braking. This was a built from plans in an article in Model Railroader in March 1969. Additionally, I bought the book and eventually made a couple of them. I have some photos of my N scale layout of that time with the throttle in place. Additionally, I started an Open University degree in 1974 and in 1976 completed a module on Electronics. Give me a pile of components and a soldering iron and I am like a pig in xxxx.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the only two images that I can find of the TATIII throttle.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXMFp6behn6g3qetCam_omyXnQcZxTznBayfmnVC9_sTcoVSEduAl5raMd0uMgem1pFyso3ApbTBTJkommaLL7DruE-UQe5F8qrqAS51szOgdH-UszB0M9ZDl7gyy3j-wcAcHFqLVF3NzMnYjWT1DElk4NiY7XCMDgKRaP52N952zMo_mwVnArvqsG9bZ/s4474/tatlarge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3412" data-original-width="4474" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXMFp6behn6g3qetCam_omyXnQcZxTznBayfmnVC9_sTcoVSEduAl5raMd0uMgem1pFyso3ApbTBTJkommaLL7DruE-UQe5F8qrqAS51szOgdH-UszB0M9ZDl7gyy3j-wcAcHFqLVF3NzMnYjWT1DElk4NiY7XCMDgKRaP52N952zMo_mwVnArvqsG9bZ/s320/tatlarge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuk2xmMZphJL_NqHBteJkLAOtRzeOUZ0pFSxZDXUnR-2TQtAGz7lXA3TVr5WUHNqMJatZv6o64XSioN4BxuOsLtcAjcvxveMB-IdV9cITND9iUzR1JIL8hhFLjOAG7FJxWDqsr3QU9ORe6cS3ILFaMQcy3VwYb1kDR_f9lXHZwwCUEMKnZnQ8znLC5uMrq/s1712/tatside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1712" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuk2xmMZphJL_NqHBteJkLAOtRzeOUZ0pFSxZDXUnR-2TQtAGz7lXA3TVr5WUHNqMJatZv6o64XSioN4BxuOsLtcAjcvxveMB-IdV9cITND9iUzR1JIL8hhFLjOAG7FJxWDqsr3QU9ORe6cS3ILFaMQcy3VwYb1kDR_f9lXHZwwCUEMKnZnQ8znLC5uMrq/s320/tatside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div><p><br /></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-43583074723259438232023-12-14T09:58:00.000-08:002023-12-14T09:58:39.548-08:00Starting the station<p> Now we have the baseboards down and the track spray painted (Railmatch Sleeper Grime) I can get on with building the station. I am using Metcalfe platforms and a laser cut station (can't remember the make). Now that I have the platforms, I have found that the station was too deep to fit so I have had to cut of the back half of the building so that it will sit in half relief against the background (more on that later).</p><p>The station building has now been hacked to fit leaving the back open. And you can see, the lights of the cabinet behind make it look as though it has lights fitted. I started to make that really so yesterday but my 5V power supply wasn't working so I have ordered a 5V "Walwart" - as the Americans call them. I have mocked up some furniture for the inside and will put a 3mm LED in each of the three rooms. I am not really impressed with my attempts at the platforms but it's the best that I can do for now and I want to get something down before I start to lay the ballast. Anyway, here is what I have.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3NU1qEGlrFAxIvo7AVe9WTMEC-uPW6xJw-Lgs17a3BNUcJ0qfUWtSXBxbrvCVbicGxlW_RLangyrW_ZGUbD4wEy8A6Xfa2BXrFo7QetbrhgAE4B4sZy77lk2GmHKaInKC3DjOTmQaKhzFC8KZvgkO8iPB9Zl6nPslJFU2ArBi2Ej-s_S_cZhGihP-Sqb/s5313/station%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3740" data-original-width="5313" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3NU1qEGlrFAxIvo7AVe9WTMEC-uPW6xJw-Lgs17a3BNUcJ0qfUWtSXBxbrvCVbicGxlW_RLangyrW_ZGUbD4wEy8A6Xfa2BXrFo7QetbrhgAE4B4sZy77lk2GmHKaInKC3DjOTmQaKhzFC8KZvgkO8iPB9Zl6nPslJFU2ArBi2Ej-s_S_cZhGihP-Sqb/s320/station%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCn27ElfXW6TnEBAqQpbClgBQ6FDvCru9dxvV2PB4vXAXh7KGhXaXSwA-FdaJxoykUIv6IjUBP5Vj5tY2sH-evECqcY6WxZFeoOScJqX4VmL0hYxHll-j6OFDYloXVdjA8llwr8mYDFSTS9_dSAVUiKCb3DT7Vl0dErEIjJ7o6Lz55aRPLAoRhvRLOpA3/s5712/station%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCn27ElfXW6TnEBAqQpbClgBQ6FDvCru9dxvV2PB4vXAXh7KGhXaXSwA-FdaJxoykUIv6IjUBP5Vj5tY2sH-evECqcY6WxZFeoOScJqX4VmL0hYxHll-j6OFDYloXVdjA8llwr8mYDFSTS9_dSAVUiKCb3DT7Vl0dErEIjJ7o6Lz55aRPLAoRhvRLOpA3/s320/station%202.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OXOvXrVpL85qZMWSan2DSxNHDtVvLn2SOXVxy9llCiKmH0L5i02gP1i2anFgLsc7TPhL5XL4LnOVq3WdaAcX46LRtw5E_zp4hE9j8CqeZTCxaVjTOMJ6bzPeOhKkSxiSfTNhzQIOwamkXdQQQLWCgsx72q6GhE5pKQSOq_hVR6NFbJLpgovQufpuW6dq/s4720/station%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3765" data-original-width="4720" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OXOvXrVpL85qZMWSan2DSxNHDtVvLn2SOXVxy9llCiKmH0L5i02gP1i2anFgLsc7TPhL5XL4LnOVq3WdaAcX46LRtw5E_zp4hE9j8CqeZTCxaVjTOMJ6bzPeOhKkSxiSfTNhzQIOwamkXdQQQLWCgsx72q6GhE5pKQSOq_hVR6NFbJLpgovQufpuW6dq/s320/station%203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The three Hornby boxes contain Mk 1 coaches - 2 x Brake 2nd and a 2nd. They are there to get the platform length right. These will become part of the holiday train that will be pulled by my Accurascale Manor. I got these off eBay for around £16 each so they were bargains. At the Warley show, I bought three sets of coach lighting but I can't get the roofs off so I am going to use the lighting sets on the GWR Collet coaches and the Auto coach instead. It's a pity as I wanted to put passengers into the coaches but hey ho!</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Levers</h3><p>Here is a photo that I took at the Warley show of "Long Melford". Long Melford is owned by Nigel who lives locally. The railway is supported by both Brett from Orwell Model Railways and Kevin from Coastal DCC. What struck me was how good the signal lever panel looked so I decided to see if I could do something similar although I only have 8 points. As good as my Digitrax system is, it is a bit of a faff to switch the points on the hand controller so a set of levers would resolve that problem.</p><p>I had a quick word with the wife and then popped into Coastal DCC to pick up one of the DCC Concepts Cobalt-S levers. After checking with Kevin that it was easy to set up, I found that just three wires from the lever to one of the Cobalt IP Digital point moters had it going in no time. What was worrying was that I had to remove the "Do Not Use" sticker on the motor warning about plugging the power into that end. I have done this in the past (before they put the stickers on) and the point motors DO NOT LIKE IT!</p><p>Anyway, three wires connected and everything worked with the point changing as required.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuECMw_bJmAvC7F-vTBx0jw2eidzTvhG38X58v6bpqiKCnMQzAJMxjMkC_hIDXEHHPC9IYai9JnaSlqVegD0VacWWUY0xIaJ1Kr0iJObsNk0PbUOM6_a3K772wBqEMEyxaIA8zLQjCAgvpHGcf0N74vEoZPVD1MGZFuxzm1PhpCsFxJYbMFZvVU7gyLJl/s3369/lever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3369" data-original-width="2277" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuECMw_bJmAvC7F-vTBx0jw2eidzTvhG38X58v6bpqiKCnMQzAJMxjMkC_hIDXEHHPC9IYai9JnaSlqVegD0VacWWUY0xIaJ1Kr0iJObsNk0PbUOM6_a3K772wBqEMEyxaIA8zLQjCAgvpHGcf0N74vEoZPVD1MGZFuxzm1PhpCsFxJYbMFZvVU7gyLJl/s320/lever.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p>Further discussions with my wife resulted in me being allocated £106 to buy a box of 6 levers and a pack of the brass numbers to label them up. Coastal and DCC Concepts were both out of stock but I found a shop called House of Hobbies in Ormskirk that said they had stock. Hmmm. 9 days after placing the order I haven't received anything other than the initial confirmation. Also, no answers to 2 e-mails and the phone doesn't get answered. I have put in a report to Paypal so we shall see what happens. I am glad that I used Paypal for this although I tend to when first using a new supplier.</p><p>This hobby is expensive. Not only did the levers cost £106 but I have decided that I should put them in a box and connect using DCC Concepts ESP wireless connections. This comprises transmitter boards in the box and a receiver under the baseboard. Each transmitter has three connections, so I will need three of these. The receiver converts the signals from these transmitters into DCC commands and uses a connection to the railway DCC bus to send the appropriate instructions for the point movements. However, this is another £100 or so pounds. Good fun, what! Mind you, without these, I would have needed 21 wires from the box to the layout with three of these 21 going to each point so using the ESP system is much easier. I had to convince SWMBO though.</p><p>If the levers come in good time for Xmas, I shall get on with that. Otherwise, I will finish off the station, lighting and placing so that I can get on with the ballasting.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-89329531012955931642023-11-09T07:24:00.002-08:002023-11-09T08:18:34.401-08:00Running in and new fiddle yard<p> I bought one of the new Rapid GWR/BR 15XX shunters from Rails of Sheffield. When it arrived it ran but when I set up a circle of track to run it in, it wouldn't go. An exchange of e-mails with Rails and they agreed to take it back. They even sent me a prepaid label. After a week or so, a parcel arrived and I had the loco back in full working order. Hence the next step was to run it in. </p><p>I bought the circle of track from a trader at the Milton Keynes show - at a cost of £40 - because I had hunted high and low for my rolling road but couldn't find it any where. When setting up a drawer unit that my wife gave me to store my railway stuff - lo and behold - there was the rolling road but pushed right to the back of the drawer. I sold the circle of track to Rails in a bunch of stuff that I no longer needed. </p><p>Here is the 15XX on the rolling road being run in. It is a lovely little loco. The Walchaerts valve gear is especially nice. Note the firebox glow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwm63gE4ZyUPu6yPGOREU6zG8Ec_oR0XSLbG4Qd0IH1SUEnEVv1tLVraHynzpvKy6sUXo2HQyuKiNTe02rdVw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>Secondly, I have built the fiddle yard. This is a two track storage yard fed by a single point.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YMToJTqkBjlT-IVWmdzwwQaNF1uVIufOeVXXPHq7tQbhoDCVU0QhK-wEOfHwxO8Epjfupafxi8mSjnbWrPKMp3nAexIN8eQUboTVLUINU4VsNISSSeIOuh-465kN8ud0rKCmBpX3CxKbc6o1ct_45l-B1VJ1OKWUYGXbmDAssIEn9Hz-ZO5l68hUzlha/s3032/20231109_145611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="3032" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YMToJTqkBjlT-IVWmdzwwQaNF1uVIufOeVXXPHq7tQbhoDCVU0QhK-wEOfHwxO8Epjfupafxi8mSjnbWrPKMp3nAexIN8eQUboTVLUINU4VsNISSSeIOuh-465kN8ud0rKCmBpX3CxKbc6o1ct_45l-B1VJ1OKWUYGXbmDAssIEn9Hz-ZO5l68hUzlha/w513-h152/20231109_145611.jpg" width="513" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This sits on my desk and connects to the main board just using Peco rail joiners. At the moment, the power comes in from the joiners. Next plan is to provide a power feed from the DCC bus on the main board. Here is all the wiring and the point motor. Note that I use Wago connectors throughout the layout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAy56FjtZghmqfGlgKyIX3afo0FYeo339mnIhaZBRbjQbvmelQwjZpp0fpoO8JmIJXKPcl2HL3DsVcWsIwzAHuS_8MvHAp6bVzW2GBgU14KFAEpV6AO9T4jjqwZBwHHZqrc1OQ8sbQ6uVfCUhFgpHxoB2KsA9REVEiYTEv6T8TfVvdYBg6P1Vx0ocqPlpm" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="1050" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAy56FjtZghmqfGlgKyIX3afo0FYeo339mnIhaZBRbjQbvmelQwjZpp0fpoO8JmIJXKPcl2HL3DsVcWsIwzAHuS_8MvHAp6bVzW2GBgU14KFAEpV6AO9T4jjqwZBwHHZqrc1OQ8sbQ6uVfCUhFgpHxoB2KsA9REVEiYTEv6T8TfVvdYBg6P1Vx0ocqPlpm=w255-h486" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My next video will cover the unboxing and running in of my new Accurascale GWR/BR Manor 4-6-0 loco. That's going to be a great addition to the fleet.</div><br /><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-65323928518269714582023-11-06T03:25:00.002-08:002023-11-09T06:01:33.132-08:00A new foam core baseboard works<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> So, we have torn down the wooden baseboard as it was totally impractical due to the weight of it all. Even with my wife's help, I couldn't manoeuvre it around with any ease. Now it has gone, I bought a pack of black A1 sheets of 5mm foam core. Black is much stronger than the white. This went together really well and I now have all the track relaid and wired up. Unlike the wooden one, where there were issues with point motors, there are no issues with this version so I can get on and build the fiddle yard.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNEM35FCyLv78PNfFXlH6AdBbtc0dQ8Gbg0IY6KwqQU3SeMn4kOHNkKlrz0DsK60NV_MerGXFiUTZGO_NFJBjU5068kpsglBs_zebFCiDOKRfcN4dK0VDiK7RoT1u4tv41euqBbmPfCfsgQofAhDlOyYlWvi5T2IfMwzCFgPmhQnzjWCRnNW63Wl7NclU/s2556/20231106_110551-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNEM35FCyLv78PNfFXlH6AdBbtc0dQ8Gbg0IY6KwqQU3SeMn4kOHNkKlrz0DsK60NV_MerGXFiUTZGO_NFJBjU5068kpsglBs_zebFCiDOKRfcN4dK0VDiK7RoT1u4tv41euqBbmPfCfsgQofAhDlOyYlWvi5T2IfMwzCFgPmhQnzjWCRnNW63Wl7NclU/s320/20231106_110551-3.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><div>One of the big changes is that I have got rid of the Cobalt Analog motors and some SwitchPilot accessory decoders as there is much more wiring. Now,I have all Cobalt Digital ones which only need two DCC and one frog wire.</div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-81562262560209299842023-10-21T08:02:00.001-07:002023-10-21T08:02:51.741-07:00Moved on a mile<p> I built the layout as described using my usual foam core but - stupidly - I cut a hole in one of the side rails to make space for the Digitrax controller panel. Next thing I knew, the side rail had broken and there was a great dip in the layout surface. </p><p>I was concerned about this and thought that I might make the rails out of wood and thus recover the whole thing. Common sense told me to rebuild and I decided to do it using more common plywood/ 3" x 2" planed pine. I even bought a new chop saw to make sure that I built it nice and straight. Well, first off, it was straight but had a few misfits along the way. You would never believe that I used to make oak furniture for a living!</p><p>I have got to the point where the track is down, everything is wired up and testing is taking place. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuY6O7oGRGUFGmGuXrr0_juXUSBTYFKT4uum7CqruB2O8-IFQKPgI2-U79l7iAmMxfDcnVTgdc7AaMJkJaP_qmuV_GptK69CEWNbVOrkL5Ge4Df_vMqWk_dYHQU2TFEMoDkU0Qh3qHd1MXLLWRZiEBDoEudRJ-3daDzjorkz1nzcwiAVlDGgsWEKrbB9l/s2908/20231020_183131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1846" data-original-width="2908" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuY6O7oGRGUFGmGuXrr0_juXUSBTYFKT4uum7CqruB2O8-IFQKPgI2-U79l7iAmMxfDcnVTgdc7AaMJkJaP_qmuV_GptK69CEWNbVOrkL5Ge4Df_vMqWk_dYHQU2TFEMoDkU0Qh3qHd1MXLLWRZiEBDoEudRJ-3daDzjorkz1nzcwiAVlDGgsWEKrbB9l/w495-h314/20231020_183131.jpg" width="495" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only trouble is that I can't lift the boards up as they are very heavy so testing and fixing wiring problems is very difficult. My wife tries to help but, even between us - we are 76 and 78 -, we have trouble. So... Down it will come again only to be rebuilt once more. This time, I am using black foam core (which is much sturdier than the white) but keeping the wooden outer rails. It is the sheets of plywood that are so heavy so this time it may work. I am also reducing the width a bit from 60cm to 40cm in an effort to make it more manageable.The track plan is being simplified from 11 points down to 7 or 8. I will also buy some more Cobalt Digital motors - which weren't available when I started all this. This will reduce the amount of wiring required.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have spent a good amount of money on locos. I now have the pannier tank and the small prairie but now I have a Rapido 15XX which I am going to use as a local shunter. The problem is that it doesn't work. I am in conversation with Rails of Sheffield, where I bought it, so together we are trying to fix it. I thought that I had lost my rolling road so bought a loop of Hornby track but I have finally found the rolling road so testing should be easier. I have also bought an Accurascale Manor which has just been released. I have also bought a couple of carmine and cream Mk. 1 coaches to go with it and provide a Saturday holiday service. I do need one more coach but I am waiting for the two to arrive so I can get a second Brake 2nd to match the one I have bought.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More to see soon.</div><br /><p></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-64108649627519198892023-05-11T10:07:00.005-07:002023-05-12T07:50:30.791-07:00<p> <span face=""Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-size: 14.7px;">Well, the Kato layout went to Rails of Sheffield as did all my US outline N scale and all of the Marklin/Piko/Roco stuff that I had left. SWMBO agreed to a 1.8m x .35m switching layout which I managed to build a running layout. That was as far as it got because I got fed up with the cost of US outline stuff.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have packed all that away to await my hobby room coming back and some (hopefully) injection of funds down the line. I really like my local hobby shop which comprise <a href="https://www.orwellmodelrailways.co.uk" target="_blank">Orwell Model Railways</a> and <a href="https://www.coastaldcc.co.uk" target="_blank">Coastal DCC</a>. Who can complain when Kevin works 5 minutes away! I decided that I would make everything simple and build a nice little GWR branch terminus using (Oh No not again!) Ashburton as the model. Having moaned about the cost of US stuff, I now had to convince SWMBO that £600 as a budget for a new railway was reasonable! Orwells and Coastal will get as much of my spending as possible.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The board has grown to 1.9x .45m. The track is Peco code 100. All the points are medium radius. The points will be switched using DCC Concepts Cobalt motors. Unfortunately, when I wanted to buy them, the digital motors were unavailable due to chip shortages so I had to buy the Analog ones. I did get one digital so 5 points will be driven by the Cobalt analog motors through Switch Pilots whilst the last one will be driven off the DCC bus, as usual.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have decided on a layout. I have bought a 64XX and a 45XX plus some wagons and an Auto-Trailer. I have some Milk tanks on order so I can service a creamery. This will be fun as these wagons are for Express train use and thus can only be used on fitted freights so they will come in and out on the back of the 64XX and the auto-trailer. Great fun.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I have recovered the base of my board (all built of 5mm foam core). I have extended it to the new size and replaced the surface with new board. The track is down and I am in the process of wiring it up.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(19, 20, 21); color: #131415; font-family: "Open Sans", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14.7px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACPtv15NyLWuK9mGM-mIOsZcP5w2qKR3mDOW3zN5gpmzhSEqqDqA5wM9W6g2FuOorK75HT1gIOByU-Z7FdCu_wTS8aw_qKyB1pMi4cjEVEGpnyCMojJioTgDMCWR64FhZ7QMGnTIKVPln-RxAd6OyGyrR5nPzy8YzNlqhSkSLVhZ1S1Zl-iylBLzwTg/s1203/ash%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="1203" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACPtv15NyLWuK9mGM-mIOsZcP5w2qKR3mDOW3zN5gpmzhSEqqDqA5wM9W6g2FuOorK75HT1gIOByU-Z7FdCu_wTS8aw_qKyB1pMi4cjEVEGpnyCMojJioTgDMCWR64FhZ7QMGnTIKVPln-RxAd6OyGyrR5nPzy8YzNlqhSkSLVhZ1S1Zl-iylBLzwTg/w672-h167/ash%202.jpg" width="672" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-30564769870014780282023-03-17T11:06:00.000-07:002023-03-17T11:06:22.860-07:00We have extra lighting<p> Our living room is 40' x 18' but the ceiling lighting is just 6x5w LED (used to be 50w Halogens). This means that the railroad sitting on one corner doesn't get enough light to be able to work easily. Hence, I decided to install some "under cabinet" LED puck lights. Thinking about how to do this without annoying the other half led me to think that I could use her pile of Jigsaws that sit on top of the glass cabinets which are directly behind the railroad. I thought that, if I could make a strong structure out of my stock of 5mm foam core, then I could hold it up by sliding the back part under the jigsaw boxes.</p><p>The foam core was cut with channels from my 'v' shaped cutter. This enables me to fold the foam core easily. The result looks like this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6sLaVL-Q6W9l99Vv8TKkrMsskDw4Nc6WqflDmSHflcsdzCgj5w4tqoIs-WljEwbNX-eTvNhSE2_fUB2r7SybrEmxhzcbXKZLRWorPLNKz-L0nNaLa7ln6bct0JHxLcd-USgTVlel7OR0KO8skt6zANySh6Gj0voeFbBqL7WhJ9P84zY1mPQbTK2beA/s2691/20230317_175515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="2691" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6sLaVL-Q6W9l99Vv8TKkrMsskDw4Nc6WqflDmSHflcsdzCgj5w4tqoIs-WljEwbNX-eTvNhSE2_fUB2r7SybrEmxhzcbXKZLRWorPLNKz-L0nNaLa7ln6bct0JHxLcd-USgTVlel7OR0KO8skt6zANySh6Gj0voeFbBqL7WhJ9P84zY1mPQbTK2beA/s320/20230317_175515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The puck lights look like this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkO6-aXicF6xXWTLIP-p9VWDEw5WVCe4iULncPM4NaJM5nXCQcRUEAQAYZsPVRK4432JcbcIyHvjiFguk1mIK7d3qO2qXvQVBPDj2CXYXMH6ttXmo4E_Z-Y_IYqc5HsC7YfIa68VKkfA4lcO7YS5M8PrRjTKSitv6yx02_t3I2oLn9xD20DBJmfyFzg/s2212/20230317_175524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2212" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkO6-aXicF6xXWTLIP-p9VWDEw5WVCe4iULncPM4NaJM5nXCQcRUEAQAYZsPVRK4432JcbcIyHvjiFguk1mIK7d3qO2qXvQVBPDj2CXYXMH6ttXmo4E_Z-Y_IYqc5HsC7YfIa68VKkfA4lcO7YS5M8PrRjTKSitv6yx02_t3I2oLn9xD20DBJmfyFzg/s320/20230317_175524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The lighting set came with four lights. The finished article looks like this. (Sorry about the Captain Kirk photo at an angle. My wife told me off for that - she is the Star Trek fan.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeSmrossmEnOKi4akth_MKIM24sDlraE1CYjWWABRvHGlaUoz5_FBkTiTlujq-s5wBGqElSFRFGnJ7-bSOeH9gU34rATYpNc-H2t_KCNLuT3w5MgPigr6f0fcrp6R7iOo29hDM_fQgKsluGobyiaPTN6FpIQqBnJEpLwAP2sg7roa5d1kkAVdL211MA/s2033/20230317_173301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="1930" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeSmrossmEnOKi4akth_MKIM24sDlraE1CYjWWABRvHGlaUoz5_FBkTiTlujq-s5wBGqElSFRFGnJ7-bSOeH9gU34rATYpNc-H2t_KCNLuT3w5MgPigr6f0fcrp6R7iOo29hDM_fQgKsluGobyiaPTN6FpIQqBnJEpLwAP2sg7roa5d1kkAVdL211MA/s320/20230317_173301.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br /><p>It's not perfect but it is the best that I can do, given that we rent. At least, I now have consistent lighting across the board which is brilliant.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-10604716694285927312023-03-01T04:08:00.002-08:002023-03-01T04:08:36.672-08:00Uncoupling Saga<p> </p><p>I have great difficulty using a skewer to uncouple cars so I decided to try out the Kadee under track uncoupler. Stupidly, I bought the 5 that I thought that I would need before testing them out. Well, I have installed one of them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNtDcqXu0ylVBBIdkEtkohCo7Xxw2lu0MxjQ3MF4EQgePBFzCbYdO1x2-1XunUY_pTlZV0AyUzlsufLUPssh5gPv5xxFp8Y3WFjYVWP-J1BvTLesIPaRLphoJQuC3IVR0XRIKv8zFeasgNQvKv8j3i2PKF5LSSuTbK0NWv18087kjX-JRN8qKu_QKCw/s1995/20230301_114122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="1995" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNtDcqXu0ylVBBIdkEtkohCo7Xxw2lu0MxjQ3MF4EQgePBFzCbYdO1x2-1XunUY_pTlZV0AyUzlsufLUPssh5gPv5xxFp8Y3WFjYVWP-J1BvTLesIPaRLphoJQuC3IVR0XRIKv8zFeasgNQvKv8j3i2PKF5LSSuTbK0NWv18087kjX-JRN8qKu_QKCw/s320/20230301_114122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>As I have laid all of my track, I had to cut away from the underside. The magnet is then stuck to the bottom of the track; the hole below is filled with a square of foam core and then a piece of 2mm cardboard that is larger all round is glued over that to keep it in place. Sorted, I thought and happily went on to the testing stage.</p><p>Well (as my youngest daughter would say) that didn't go too well. It seems that all couplers are not created equal. They may look like Kadees but Kadee they are most definitely not. I tested some of my cars and only the real Kadees worked. I had a long exchange on <a href="https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/kadee-coupler-question-12571051?pid=1334593866" target="_blank">Model Railroad Hobbyist</a> about the issue and came to the conclusion that I must convert all of the non-Kadees to the real thing. £62 later and I have now received a pack containing 25 pairs of 148 whisker couplers. I have also ordered some "Grease-em" which is a small tube of graphite dust to blow into the coupler boxes.</p><p>Last week one of my favourite Youtube channels - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChadwickModelRailway" target="_blank">Chadwick Model Railway</a> - had a video on installing Kadee electric uncouplers which made me wonder. So (again as my daughter would say) I have ordered one set of his recommendations to try out. The complete set comprises a Kadee electric uncoupler, a relay/timer board and a momentary push button as described by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI9UrYhZTlA" target="_blank">Charlie</a>. Here is the eBay order.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh58-wY2edMRxOHmDiBRc7ULl4kXxmQubDOk97h7YHk_JsfJeu2VNb4_Py44AdHwvL-Pxd6IHPgqxxRApkUKut-caEa0Wz7VbgM8KMtl40dHiCWJWP0hFbFGubW6azdqqMjalW-m-6ylC1hdRPdHOt5BO1HKzUj8mNm_Ds_GkzCIK8uwNt4zWMoE-Fg/s714/ebay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="624" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh58-wY2edMRxOHmDiBRc7ULl4kXxmQubDOk97h7YHk_JsfJeu2VNb4_Py44AdHwvL-Pxd6IHPgqxxRApkUKut-caEa0Wz7VbgM8KMtl40dHiCWJWP0hFbFGubW6azdqqMjalW-m-6ylC1hdRPdHOt5BO1HKzUj8mNm_Ds_GkzCIK8uwNt4zWMoE-Fg/w413-h472/ebay.jpg" width="413" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have just received today's post and included in that was the pack of 25 pairs of couplers so I can at least test out the current under track magnet. More on this to come.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-59829135509969100782023-02-22T06:27:00.001-08:002023-10-30T10:42:28.159-07:00The baseboard and track are painted<p> Finally, the baseboard is all wired up and sockets fitted for plugging in the ECoS and the 5V DC supply. The staging track has been built and can now be attached to the main board.</p><p>First off, the track has been sprayed with "Ammo by MIG" Railway Fast Method paint set. I can't see me using all the colours but the rust worked very well.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuwSOK48VuGsajHu6aNj0b8dFTG7Z-gqZnjCT1W6eVubVX_3TFRuwDNDAnmVsROTjoyYmT9NrBcaASkDRiAm5t_j8P2n6h5geL7nS3tP5hJzIKjUK6qCY8XfBDBEWy815NgJ_oMoGvEh5sEqvbK7RTA-BL28hAKf6fMoweNferExVi3l7BmY2RR6q2w/s4714/paint%20set.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2513" data-original-width="4714" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuwSOK48VuGsajHu6aNj0b8dFTG7Z-gqZnjCT1W6eVubVX_3TFRuwDNDAnmVsROTjoyYmT9NrBcaASkDRiAm5t_j8P2n6h5geL7nS3tP5hJzIKjUK6qCY8XfBDBEWy815NgJ_oMoGvEh5sEqvbK7RTA-BL28hAKf6fMoweNferExVi3l7BmY2RR6q2w/s320/paint%20set.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RSzUUKb8mzAjm7MLj9dQQTMBw45KAu5rLt_2vWMoaYrzxBLzqZlUlnKWh746wSUG5vc5b8CRFt9525x3Df1vQoPmiLOJRVQurL2pN4PmNB_1FmQ7FmnhRI8Hc0ZYffbEuLcXUJDcN6CcdUCR5lxiF_Y_hz_zTQ64VuvEbxvahQ9Qq4hGZO_8qbtkPw/s4310/painted%20rail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2681" data-original-width="4310" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RSzUUKb8mzAjm7MLj9dQQTMBw45KAu5rLt_2vWMoaYrzxBLzqZlUlnKWh746wSUG5vc5b8CRFt9525x3Df1vQoPmiLOJRVQurL2pN4PmNB_1FmQ7FmnhRI8Hc0ZYffbEuLcXUJDcN6CcdUCR5lxiF_Y_hz_zTQ64VuvEbxvahQ9Qq4hGZO_8qbtkPw/s320/painted%20rail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I then painted their whole of the baseboard and the staging with some Hobbycraft brown acrylic paint. This has given everything a nice overall colour ready for ballasting.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy1sMEu9j_u7STDm2NVTPeazJrem90A0gwKUzgL-Gt_2aXb2JIqcWQNghiRdGBrTgxIE9UOJmsZvVk4apnlrg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div>The staging is attached using a couple of 50mm x10mm magnets. One is set into the staging board and one on the main board. They are strong enough to keep the staging in place but not too strong to affect removal. They also snap into place quite well but I also have a couple of rail joiners to make the final connection.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13sNkPxotLXm_1q4rJ57MZSRWUBa_9AV-cRspNMMt4-2gaxh7AvJzqSIF-Ji0VjI2CSCTEdCDP2nCa6fLa3DRgwNga6Af-SGjpvkF0BitNpIDkQp8b4XTbMVsICkmbG8xJgG0R4QNKnEFPfc-SC-_0-VoJPyN3zzyoZGIGEGFhVD62bMha1dqcLQqdA/s4006/magnets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2285" data-original-width="4006" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13sNkPxotLXm_1q4rJ57MZSRWUBa_9AV-cRspNMMt4-2gaxh7AvJzqSIF-Ji0VjI2CSCTEdCDP2nCa6fLa3DRgwNga6Af-SGjpvkF0BitNpIDkQp8b4XTbMVsICkmbG8xJgG0R4QNKnEFPfc-SC-_0-VoJPyN3zzyoZGIGEGFhVD62bMha1dqcLQqdA/s320/magnets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The site from the staging track connects though a small barrel plug and socket but it isn't really required because the rail joiners make an electrical connection as well.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyHqWizGxEUmKsUhcmyraNwwJ_QWzA9ERFgocIq5vfBbf3j0am-ef5hDIJWc2Ho92wnaDr0A03-qaBv7litiWHJct-49ej6WuMQdytfdIwujWD4LuohavmMRKlS6OXCnYlYWVI_TvjgrHOfpZEyhszHJiIBwExCunV5-FYUb3RByQmISXw16ytxOfvQ/s4577/board%20end.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="4577" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyHqWizGxEUmKsUhcmyraNwwJ_QWzA9ERFgocIq5vfBbf3j0am-ef5hDIJWc2Ho92wnaDr0A03-qaBv7litiWHJct-49ej6WuMQdytfdIwujWD4LuohavmMRKlS6OXCnYlYWVI_TvjgrHOfpZEyhszHJiIBwExCunV5-FYUb3RByQmISXw16ytxOfvQ/w505-h224/board%20end.jpg" width="505" /></a></div><br /><div>Lastly, I have built a box to hold all of my current locos and cars. This is made out of the black foam core so is very sturdy. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTDalqJNOsArD8m2CFahx0AfOIy3tdZdnL_iJb74-TShxrIrzalQZBoCmSU2iL4w3h6DyJSNmE6clMTazh-h6wUlz21H5CT92FGSKbcEd4i8W3RYWge7vB4bDb2_6H78gTMp8YQKUm4IIDPk-_NRxTdFN6BNEZiqZ3HsXOyI49_KXauIBNpfrghjLSQ/s5184/tray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTDalqJNOsArD8m2CFahx0AfOIy3tdZdnL_iJb74-TShxrIrzalQZBoCmSU2iL4w3h6DyJSNmE6clMTazh-h6wUlz21H5CT92FGSKbcEd4i8W3RYWge7vB4bDb2_6H78gTMp8YQKUm4IIDPk-_NRxTdFN6BNEZiqZ3HsXOyI49_KXauIBNpfrghjLSQ/s320/tray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Each car has its own compartment. The scruffy bits of foam are made up from an offcut that I bought at the local "foam" shop. These stop the cars from rattling around when I pick up the tray or move it.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is a photo of each car in the bottom of each compartment so that they can go back where they came from.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspcSxWkbBtFGw0Arf3_k7IYPlEXh9oLA8t5-0JnpukNHN0LsoPjINC4xOffKN5geCQEIuD7vvTnrVycIsjUgPwTqz8T32P17535yPMwwUgvOvu-iHVTluc2CCn83xD_3TXFym_ATuIPRRp-x2eMrRx48_wLdK44vFScNYYayrm_aTbkIjwneWsh0JPA/s4815/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2325" data-original-width="4815" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspcSxWkbBtFGw0Arf3_k7IYPlEXh9oLA8t5-0JnpukNHN0LsoPjINC4xOffKN5geCQEIuD7vvTnrVycIsjUgPwTqz8T32P17535yPMwwUgvOvu-iHVTluc2CCn83xD_3TXFym_ATuIPRRp-x2eMrRx48_wLdK44vFScNYYayrm_aTbkIjwneWsh0JPA/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Finale</h3><p>Well that is the current state of play. The track has been cleaned and tested and all of it works as expected. The two locos run freely and both have sound so they are great fun. I am busy writing some Car Card software. I have decided not to use the software that I wrote for my degree as that was way too complicated for my little switching layout so I am writing some code that mimics the Micromark car cards. I will have more on that once it is capable of operating at its full design capability.</p></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-90832533608958918162023-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:002023-02-10T08:11:00.471-08:00Wiring is all in place<p> Having put in a DCC bus and a 5V bus, I now needed to connect up all of the track before I start putting the point motors in. The idea was that I would use some clever suitcase connectors that I got from Amazon that have a socket for a plug that lets a new connection to the bus. However, the suitcases needed squeezing shut and the plugs needed a compression on the wire. Both needed a good set of pliers, which I don't have so I muddled through with a pair of adjustable pliers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrBrNaBruYbyOOwkFyoVDO2krZNPvPJhDJNsSzUnCuKUrjQhl8YYI9veQrsZuQsbRr_rOztDfeed2izEr7tbkvmLtMPA8c4QO_iKeVhhX7tlPa2PBrbEvlNkTtb8BuQW-gS9ypEErI3OXTpYT4Qnxy2moaX-fpPqUStaXrHr_pEHC4T7ytC09k1ZlGw/s5184/P1310032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrBrNaBruYbyOOwkFyoVDO2krZNPvPJhDJNsSzUnCuKUrjQhl8YYI9veQrsZuQsbRr_rOztDfeed2izEr7tbkvmLtMPA8c4QO_iKeVhhX7tlPa2PBrbEvlNkTtb8BuQW-gS9ypEErI3OXTpYT4Qnxy2moaX-fpPqUStaXrHr_pEHC4T7ytC09k1ZlGw/s320/P1310032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I carried on and connected all of the track droppers BUT - they didn't work! It seems that I couldn't cramp them tight enough. A combination of the wrong tool and arthritic hands. So, it was a case of going back to the old methods. I have a large collection of some connectors similar to Waco except that they are grey with orange levers (you can see the pass through ones in the image above). I have these as a 2 wire pass through or single channel 3 up to 5 way connectors. They are a bit messier than the suitcase ones but, at least, I know that they work. After connecting all the track using these, I checked it out to find that a) I had missed a couple of places and b) in two places the wires were reversed! How can you get "black to the back" wrong?<div><p>Once I had sorted that out, it was time to go for the point motors. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Fitting the motors</h3><p>I have had trouble in the past getting the motors securely fastened to the foam core. Basically, the covering of the foam core is just a sheet of paper either side of the foam interior so there isn't a lot of shear strength in it. I cut out some 2mm plastic card to the footprint of the motor and used UHU glue to attach these at each point location. I had previously drilled pilot holes in the card to match the screw locations on the point motors. Once the glue was fully hardened I located each point through the holes in the board that I had made when laying the points. The screws held the points nice and securely so that all worked.</p><p>Now, I have never used the Cobalt Analog motors so I made a bit of a mistake in wiring them up. I assumed that the track voltage feed was all that was necessary along with the frog so I wired the track to 1 and 2 with the frog on 3. Wrong! The track goes to 1 and 2. Then you wire the track to 4 and 5 with the frog in 6. If the loco causes a short when passing over the frog, you reverse 4 and 5. That sorted I had a railway that was wired.</p><p>I bought a couple of Frog Juicers as I was having trouble getting some of the points sorted but eventually the juicers weren't required. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Adding the Accessory decoders</h3><p>I use ESU SwitchPilot decoders to run any points that aren't DCC aware. These have to be adapted to operate Cobalt Analog motors as these motors, like Kato points, only require 2 wires and are switched when the plus and negative are reversed. So, we have to add some natty little DCC Concepts gizmos that take the three wire output of the SwitchPilot and convert it to a two wire feed.</p><p>As there are 6 points - well 7 actually but two are in a crossover so have the same DCC address - I needed two SwitchPilots. One of these worked and the other didn't. I spent over a day trying to sort this out. I asked questions on the ESU forum and, typically, got no answers. I tried two different SwitchPilots and even replaced them with s TrainTech device and nothing worked.</p><p>Finally, I applied a bit of logic and compared the two to see that 1) The lights were on one and not the other and 2) the switch that determines the protocol was on User and not K84. I always thought that User was the right setting but I switched it to the other and all the lights came on.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Finale</h3><p>Everything worked except one frog feed needed reversing. I have a running layout. Next step is to build a tray to hold all of the cars and locos so that I can put trains together easily on the staging track.</p></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-74988813825421262032023-01-25T06:12:00.004-08:002023-01-25T06:12:49.907-08:00First run of Amtrak 737<p> While I am waiting to receive the switches for the railroad I thought that I would check out the loco that my friend Dan, in Connecticut, sent me for Christmas a few years ago. I have had it fitted with a sound decoder so it is really a nice piece of kit. Also, I bought a few freight cars on eBay which have now arrived. They were an absolute bargain as the cheapest I can find a car on US web sites is around $19.99 and I paid £15 for these four! I have laid out two yards of track and coupled up the freight cars and of it went.</p>
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<div><br /></div><div>I think that, considering it has been sitting there for around 3 years, it went very well.</div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-90208638153248211072023-01-24T03:32:00.003-08:002023-01-24T03:32:49.811-08:00Putting in the Wiring Buses<p> I am awaiting my LHS (local hobby shop) to get my Peco code 83 switches into stock. They are promised for tomorrow. In the meantime, I have been carrying out a few tasks that can be done without the track.</p><p>First off, I have been putting in some wiring for the two busses that I need along the length of the baseboard. These are the DCC bus and a 5V bus for lighting and Arduino use. The DCC bus is laid with 16awg stranded wire whilst the 5V one is 22awg as little power will be going down that. The DCC bus is also twisted. To connect wires together, I use what are called "Lever nut wire connectors" which I get from Amazon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzSPJX-MmaKCUpHBOE2_rx5TU2JJboSwYRhl4YRWL1dYwkmcIdCEDhfqJarOYDFy1ExYywhV_uOjglDzVYTJG1WbUmDA8HpD9qXixTmd0bUhlwnqmNsLcy9caGYHQB5SMOHbwuf03-EajPhRykG4wFpct9YEa7z34xHIMqdcosHfTXTyuJ8OqIp8jjA/s388/lever%20nut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="388" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzSPJX-MmaKCUpHBOE2_rx5TU2JJboSwYRhl4YRWL1dYwkmcIdCEDhfqJarOYDFy1ExYywhV_uOjglDzVYTJG1WbUmDA8HpD9qXixTmd0bUhlwnqmNsLcy9caGYHQB5SMOHbwuf03-EajPhRykG4wFpct9YEa7z34xHIMqdcosHfTXTyuJ8OqIp8jjA/s320/lever%20nut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have these as shown which are through connectors. I also have a large collection of these for single wire distribution - I have them with 3, 4 and 5 connections. These are convenient for distributing wires around a larger layout. As it is, I use these through connectors as terminations for the two busses. as can be seen in this close up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zDl8R0qxFINvf4YE4krYWO5S1MCrzX6EeGHfnB2yQajTFoSC7Irc8XBPGrdcqHUSbs1AwX4mzjrTxCFUxtNVK5NGsI5ZIMtHfRvpBl8DS5EehTlsxhDhieyaDsF-HkPzvybyS4KAOQkET0wqg0hOvp5eY6vZTOE6E_H05JETENnwusegDKJ3njrItQ/s5184/bus%20ends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zDl8R0qxFINvf4YE4krYWO5S1MCrzX6EeGHfnB2yQajTFoSC7Irc8XBPGrdcqHUSbs1AwX4mzjrTxCFUxtNVK5NGsI5ZIMtHfRvpBl8DS5EehTlsxhDhieyaDsF-HkPzvybyS4KAOQkET0wqg0hOvp5eY6vZTOE6E_H05JETENnwusegDKJ3njrItQ/s320/bus%20ends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>The whole underside of the board looks like this now.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK3mOB4EOXleU2uw7Fzb6zd_u2ceH5xHaM3Q4bJS2dbM_eacDuFFUmve0pPYJmwgl2sb6IGx41FqZvvx0drChg_9U9fubxJsMCnUN9ct3TOZmOTxfZtNsCnlTL-JIL40XQTSzcSpq_XNgzEHjfqB1wytjD4C2tdtwS5gNNd3Cb-TnDtR6NqP_8yv8IA/s4128/bus%20lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNK3mOB4EOXleU2uw7Fzb6zd_u2ceH5xHaM3Q4bJS2dbM_eacDuFFUmve0pPYJmwgl2sb6IGx41FqZvvx0drChg_9U9fubxJsMCnUN9ct3TOZmOTxfZtNsCnlTL-JIL40XQTSzcSpq_XNgzEHjfqB1wytjD4C2tdtwS5gNNd3Cb-TnDtR6NqP_8yv8IA/s320/bus%20lines.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div>The red and black are for the DCC and the white and green are the 5V DC. Once installed, I run them both out to 5mm jack sockets on the side of the layout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bSXLSnx_BlkTwMXv1B-jR9CFE4rr0gt7zlgduKl7SrXGbkXf-LFjyAyRlPZ7ePLfUoH-VykAB4GFVTX2RFQrQVZXZk_gV6PxKY5IYiP-E2LLbnWiAvzrkze4hN3-2ij73AJUDlW34v4MGmjMBRM7rFheYwTSelothIT6OLm773CRYOgah4BaemmNfA/s4592/sockets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2879" data-original-width="4592" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bSXLSnx_BlkTwMXv1B-jR9CFE4rr0gt7zlgduKl7SrXGbkXf-LFjyAyRlPZ7ePLfUoH-VykAB4GFVTX2RFQrQVZXZk_gV6PxKY5IYiP-E2LLbnWiAvzrkze4hN3-2ij73AJUDlW34v4MGmjMBRM7rFheYwTSelothIT6OLm773CRYOgah4BaemmNfA/s320/sockets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>ECoS is my DCC controller. Lastly, I have been laying down some DCC Concepts foam roadbed. I am not sure if this is a mistake laying it before I get the switches but I am laying it down using Copydex, which is rubber based UK carpet glue which should be relatively easy to lift if I need to.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUk-ZFyYOjxX3YWB9EDVXFBFXHCwQ5GCUKX3R-yOEG1X6uhAbwYwrd7xSDYsbOZSAroKZm6kwNZwhraygNHvx1vLp5puURJqv1AbQqYvO2nzuah2rUAx8PgMt99JMfmeInv0_NuWN_oCK07C9MtyiRA_pNIzRu8P6cnhsFlMP43D5m8wBmAvbr-0xdQ/s4534/P1240011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1923" data-original-width="4534" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUk-ZFyYOjxX3YWB9EDVXFBFXHCwQ5GCUKX3R-yOEG1X6uhAbwYwrd7xSDYsbOZSAroKZm6kwNZwhraygNHvx1vLp5puURJqv1AbQqYvO2nzuah2rUAx8PgMt99JMfmeInv0_NuWN_oCK07C9MtyiRA_pNIzRu8P6cnhsFlMP43D5m8wBmAvbr-0xdQ/w577-h245/P1240011.JPG" width="577" /></a></div><br /><div>The white extension is the staging yard - off scenic. It is a u-shaped construction out of foam core. I have installed some Neodymium magnets in the end of the staging and the side of the main board and the staging now jumps onto position making it easy for connecting the track between them. As you can see, the staging encroaches onto my computer desk so it has to be moveable.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I mentioned, I have been promised the switches by Wednesday (tomorrow) but if they don't come, I will have to think about buying over the internet, which I am reluctant to do. What is happening on the internet is my selling of all my N Scale and unwanted Märkin/Roco/Piko European stock. I have been given some good prices by Rails of Sheffield. So far I have gathered over £250. Although, it doesn't seem like much for each item, eBay was producing worse prices and I need the capital to invest (!!) in some HO stuff. I need a collection of freight cars, at least one more loco (see below) and some structure kits.</div><div><br /></div><div>The loco that I have is a circa 1942 EMD SW1 ex-NYC that is still in use by Amtrak in Sacramento. There are two arguments against using this. Firstly, I don't really want to model the present day as all the cars would be longer and I don't want to repaint the SW1 as it was a present - although I have fitted it out with a decoder and sound - and a limited edition Walthers item!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LmcZBxmIODXDiOnHSCgK_1DVi_0ncmPiP8w8burmJiJuTcTUfzSCz3JdvIPjahP-MPflI1K474UJ0Jaqh7wjBG8VZGXaOVPCJsrtBtl_fjlaSUhhIoGQj3SBpAlbY4x4jqrl4zleC28-EbIwuRAe0h65Z3epVGJsPvy5mpSiIHT0FzBeg4An5sK13A/s3970/737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="3970" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LmcZBxmIODXDiOnHSCgK_1DVi_0ncmPiP8w8burmJiJuTcTUfzSCz3JdvIPjahP-MPflI1K474UJ0Jaqh7wjBG8VZGXaOVPCJsrtBtl_fjlaSUhhIoGQj3SBpAlbY4x4jqrl4zleC28-EbIwuRAe0h65Z3epVGJsPvy5mpSiIHT0FzBeg4An5sK13A/w446-h264/737.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-65665840269169648242023-01-20T09:04:00.001-08:002023-01-20T09:39:55.417-08:00We build baseboards<p> I have mentioned on many occasions that I make my baseboards out of 5mm foam core. Well, this time is no different, except that I videoed the whole process. I got my usual four sheets of white A1 foam core from Hobbycraft for £10. I then went to my local art gallery/art supplies shop to get a couple of sheets of black foam core. I like this for the basics of the boards as it is much denser than the white and is very much tougher. The only issue is that the art gallery wanted £12.50 per sheet! I did ask how much their white was and the answer was £8.50 - a sheet! I will continue to go to Hobbycraft where their service is great and they know me by name.</p><p>OK, so I had all the board that I needed. Then I had to make sure that I had a plentiful supply of hot glue sticks and 2" double sided tape. To outline the process, I cut the white into 3" strips along with a few black one. The top of the boards and the outside of the supporting bars will be black and the rest will be white. When laminated using three sheets and the double sided tape, the resulting girders are very strong. Anyway, I have created a stop frame video of the process. I am sorry that the beginning is dark but I was still getting to understand the process. My nice Olympus mirrorless camera takes up to 999 frames at your choice of delay and when finished melds them all together into a video - very clever.</p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JB9jTbpO-wE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div>Here is the baseboard in position. I have used the legs from the previous layout.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL_kHyMajqb8zNOzzTDSWzEnV52vZvpao0nq4PP1C1qQjiEnKgykqSnU_dl5iWC8U4_qV4LUUpn9m7Ic057jrqblSVqUucSCy2_cvdPSbS9r6LKbkkALeGy5jxiTLhvEtQDn6xvN8y-kGYyqyZUK-dmXZlZ_Ix6y5jmi5bWlM3XL_JcH1EJD_KpULMg/s5184/P1170692.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpL_kHyMajqb8zNOzzTDSWzEnV52vZvpao0nq4PP1C1qQjiEnKgykqSnU_dl5iWC8U4_qV4LUUpn9m7Ic057jrqblSVqUucSCy2_cvdPSbS9r6LKbkkALeGy5jxiTLhvEtQDn6xvN8y-kGYyqyZUK-dmXZlZ_Ix6y5jmi5bWlM3XL_JcH1EJD_KpULMg/w392-h294/P1170692.JPG" width="392" /></a></div><br /><div>Here is the view from the left hand side where you can see the white extension for the staging.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituewzZ6vi8l5x7g5tC9MgeahulPU6ep1-hTFZ_Kbf62WaRpA-px9ccloIRTAs4CsxhBuKjgCK8lftLebX-TVwCjcpizhhrqwazrfSTIJnMetfC4bakQyEE0F3AcnZEqy8EGtSzahGTqmKEtAoIHfnDPYxjYi4RJuSE7K09E3EHm4twy8LTZqoeHzRog/s5184/P1170691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituewzZ6vi8l5x7g5tC9MgeahulPU6ep1-hTFZ_Kbf62WaRpA-px9ccloIRTAs4CsxhBuKjgCK8lftLebX-TVwCjcpizhhrqwazrfSTIJnMetfC4bakQyEE0F3AcnZEqy8EGtSzahGTqmKEtAoIHfnDPYxjYi4RJuSE7K09E3EHm4twy8LTZqoeHzRog/w408-h306/P1170691.JPG" width="408" /></a></div><br /><div>I have printed out the Anyrail layout in full size and run along the centre of all of the rails with a pounce wheel. Following that I am outlining them using a white marker. Here are the pounce wheel and the marker.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRas8bTc7MNzcRsbgWXQShmTTw3Gb_k2YfsDEe9B3_NhyCuf2uPQkEocslqwO2sx1uYdaqLAdUw1eMf-kvTeCMo8O21Y7Chc94KTvJckTyjQb1dDElbQutGeJUuWju8w_2GTsHJFgNQtOkSn5tdDG4naQWvsFpYhq7Kio7CxxMZgCpPGEj6PmeQlGsIA/s3382/pounce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="3382" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRas8bTc7MNzcRsbgWXQShmTTw3Gb_k2YfsDEe9B3_NhyCuf2uPQkEocslqwO2sx1uYdaqLAdUw1eMf-kvTeCMo8O21Y7Chc94KTvJckTyjQb1dDElbQutGeJUuWju8w_2GTsHJFgNQtOkSn5tdDG4naQWvsFpYhq7Kio7CxxMZgCpPGEj6PmeQlGsIA/s320/pounce.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>and here is the board with some of the track centres highlighted.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx8kq9DpNpeud6zYSl2tHikKuqu8OVIhTVEd7dzMKMOcUFJkan_nU5teY3k00iqWR5Y12hk8xi06UAtKc9zmh1alll8UnppD8SRIqiR2xodQa0iXsFYGLeB3OQA7q3FGARX-TeCujkDz4fMmufmUeNf8pG9lKPxSzcnPyxiRrJ-PPHdfMq-dINmyr1g/s2799/board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2799" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx8kq9DpNpeud6zYSl2tHikKuqu8OVIhTVEd7dzMKMOcUFJkan_nU5teY3k00iqWR5Y12hk8xi06UAtKc9zmh1alll8UnppD8SRIqiR2xodQa0iXsFYGLeB3OQA7q3FGARX-TeCujkDz4fMmufmUeNf8pG9lKPxSzcnPyxiRrJ-PPHdfMq-dINmyr1g/s320/board.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up, I have some DCC Concepts trackbed to go down and, then, when the LHS gets their act together and gets some switches in stock, I will lay the track. As I am waiting for the switches, I will probably put the DCC bus and a 5v bus (for structure lighting) under the board ready.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-29522543356608306862023-01-12T09:03:00.002-08:002023-01-12T09:05:25.263-08:00Oh dear, here we go again!<p> Yet again, I have destroyed what I have and have moved on to something different.</p><p>I was contemplating opening up a Youtube channel and describe how I would make a small 6 x 1' switching layout in HO. Then I tried ballasting the N Scale layout. I managed to glue up 4 out of the 10 points and couldn't fix them. As they were now ballasted, they were stuck firm so I couldn't get them out to try and free them up. So... I decided that the idea of an HO switching layout sounded good - especially as I have a nice little SW2 switcher complete with DCC and sound that I had left from my previous HO layout that got taken down on the arrival of my mother-in-law. In fact, the loco was a Christmas present from my friend in Connecticut so I would be glad to be using it again.</p><p>Then, I proved one of the laws of entropy. It takes you weeks to build the basic structure of the layout, lay track and fix all the wiring BUT it takes 2 1/2 hours to rip it all up! The foam core went down to the apartment block bin room, the wiring went into a bag for later use (that includes the SwitchPilots etc.) and the track went into a box ready to be cleaned up and sold on eBay. </p><p>After cleaning the Kato track, I put it all back in its display cards ready to be sold. Then I realised what a huge task it would be to actually ship all of the Kato packs that I had. I might have achieved £100 for the lot but I can live without that. I came to the same conclusion about selling 25 freight cars. Hence, I now have both of these packed away in our storage unit for later use (??).</p><p>I have dug out all of my Märklin, Roco and Pike stuff which I will try and sell as there is a lot of money there and I will also try and sell the four N Scale locos, all of which have nice decoders installed.</p><p>I have bought a couple of lengths of Peco code 83 track and 2 #5 points plus a couple of DCC Concepts Cobalt IP point motors. The idea behind that was to test the plan for the 6' x 1' layout but that has been overtaken now. It seems that DCC Concepts IP motors as unavailable so I will go with their analog motors which I can drive with my Switch Pilots. My LHS is getting some more code 83 so, hopefully, in a few days I will be able to buy the rest of the track. Now, the problem.</p><p>I would like to try the idea of a Youtube channel as my use of foam core is quite unusual and might get some interest. However, I am hesitant about doing it for a few reasons. Like a lot of people, I hate the sound of my own voice when I hear a recoding. Secondly, I have to get the flat quiet which is currently an issue as my wife has a bad chest cough! I do have a nice Olympus mirrorless camera which can take first class video and can also take stop frames so, once going, I can do some good stuff when building the baseboards, for instance. Also, I am quite adept at iMovie and have a copy of Adobe Premiere so am well set up technically.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">The New Layout</h4><p>Here is the current thinking regarding the new layout. It will be about 7'x 1' 4" with a 2' 6" extension as a "fiddle yard" or staging as the US calls it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLCg9PTIn_owZIIj4nDi9RNa8qw4wdi4Sj9QU5rrvosrDLvYZhROSho7-uFzw8AsVnB3WoKhXGJ_298ZbpD6axeDIulKmWuOSkZUPHyrf2cTlWNaxQBvyUUwm_dT_drmYUZjj0S1Sl4isp04P9xsQDTCZOWabShAYTcXdthDzd0KHNL-5fYI06E7SCQ/s1215/SE%20HO%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="1215" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLCg9PTIn_owZIIj4nDi9RNa8qw4wdi4Sj9QU5rrvosrDLvYZhROSho7-uFzw8AsVnB3WoKhXGJ_298ZbpD6axeDIulKmWuOSkZUPHyrf2cTlWNaxQBvyUUwm_dT_drmYUZjj0S1Sl4isp04P9xsQDTCZOWabShAYTcXdthDzd0KHNL-5fYI06E7SCQ/w607-h149/SE%20HO%204.jpg" width="607" /></a></div><br /><p>More to come on this when my thinking is straighter.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-24965523997928809292022-12-01T11:13:00.001-08:002022-12-01T11:13:58.318-08:00Backscene and Signalling (1)<p> Big news today - we have a back scene. This is important because, once I have buildings, etc. on the layout, I won't be able to turn it upside down to install any more electrics/electronics. The back scene means that I can balance the layout on it and have clear, supported, access to the underneath.</p><p>The back scene is made from my usual 5mm foam core. Unfortunately, it does warp a bit when exposed to acrylic paints but it will be securely stuck using hot glue. There are three boards. I used school acrylic paints in blue, white and black. I mixed the the white and blue with little blue and put that on at the lowest level. I then increased the blue for another two stages to get an idea of the normal sky. I have to say that I didn't put enough blue in the first layer but it's too late now. Once all this was dry, I painted some white clouds on using a stipple brush. This was followed with a white/black mix to get the normal grey underside of the clouds. I think that it does the job, especially as I am not an artist. (You can right click and see a bigger version of any image).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfdCdRHMu9KOUHbyE1GZM1wm18j-1Fk8qQUvX2P5LchOlu3O6eZyCnLNgYTykiPluiMn0alvLaDFlCJPZ8MBaRV-CQV0jX4egx1ie6_dBUXqBCxyqVl9lomyotSsHpNobiv_nQPA9EZ7CXBzSIWx1-83I4gWn9fbSeoO37It8ICs-V1ACQd8HSqj60A/s5184/back%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2094" data-original-width="5184" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfdCdRHMu9KOUHbyE1GZM1wm18j-1Fk8qQUvX2P5LchOlu3O6eZyCnLNgYTykiPluiMn0alvLaDFlCJPZ8MBaRV-CQV0jX4egx1ie6_dBUXqBCxyqVl9lomyotSsHpNobiv_nQPA9EZ7CXBzSIWx1-83I4gWn9fbSeoO37It8ICs-V1ACQd8HSqj60A/w662-h267/back%201.jpg" width="662" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfnAIA-P78KtEONBP20sxABt9OS9j08xRkL3cZQXDuxuY0jiwZKuBep9dj1nJJ1235CpQVOzdzZuObxJwbMBt1g9EYxFhrZDtYw36N_TAsWDJbR4c0taDqE42Y1nPU3pzA0R3GXH1ygjSq2huKHtdWJrcLb6xihF1fVXLfAKSfgEmngYaNpry_0eXFA/s4909/back%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="4909" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfnAIA-P78KtEONBP20sxABt9OS9j08xRkL3cZQXDuxuY0jiwZKuBep9dj1nJJ1235CpQVOzdzZuObxJwbMBt1g9EYxFhrZDtYw36N_TAsWDJbR4c0taDqE42Y1nPU3pzA0R3GXH1ygjSq2huKHtdWJrcLb6xihF1fVXLfAKSfgEmngYaNpry_0eXFA/w659-h158/back%202.jpg" width="659" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZdqmDr9tlY7QpGLNljyDDtAVDTStNZdcTZkG-WwbW9CIY87YBYDux-tkdgtUa5jSxSsCT-Cr-LozNJTI0BvsG_xzhlur_LhxS3NgO9cWzbS34KTjAq43cTTuC4E8x89pR3lhAtR7FRjNxLHtemZSXreizGpMevz2JkDHiWAsCp_gEro7KV1hEax9IQ/s5184/middle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2903" data-original-width="5184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZdqmDr9tlY7QpGLNljyDDtAVDTStNZdcTZkG-WwbW9CIY87YBYDux-tkdgtUa5jSxSsCT-Cr-LozNJTI0BvsG_xzhlur_LhxS3NgO9cWzbS34KTjAq43cTTuC4E8x89pR3lhAtR7FRjNxLHtemZSXreizGpMevz2JkDHiWAsCp_gEro7KV1hEax9IQ/w572-h320/middle.jpg" width="572" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">OK, so now down to some interesting electronics. This is still being built so you won't see it working yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am arranging to put a protective signal on the exit road to the staging. When at the Warley show over the weekend I bought a Berko two aspect signal. Silly really as it is a UK style signal. I should have waited and bought an Atlas one but there we are. Maybe I will replace it. The idea is that when a train gets to the end of the staging it will trip the signal feed to go from green to red. This will happen when the loco moves into the last element of the staging road so about 8" from the end. At the same time, the track power to the whole line will be removed so, should any loco pass the red, it will stop. When the loco and train are removed, the power will come on and the signal will revert to green.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The stuff that makes this happen is as follows:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An Arduino Uno (eventually, a Nano)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A light sensitive diode</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A 5V Relay interface for Arduino</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A signal - this time it is a two colour light - red and green.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The idea is that the track is isolated at that 8" distance from the end. The track at that point is fed from the relay. The Arduino sketch (program) loops around continuously and checks the output of the light sensitive diode. Anything under 1000 as seen by the Arduino indicates that the light above the diode is being blocked. If that happens, the track current is stopped and the signal set to red. Over 1000, the power is restored and the signal turns green.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sketch looks like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: #1f272a; color: #dae3e3; font-family: Menlo, Monaco, "Courier New", monospace; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; white-space: pre;"><div><span style="color: #7f8c8d;">// Project Control Staging Track and Signal</span></div><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">int</span> LED = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">13</span>;<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> //define LED digital pin 13</span></div><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">int</span> relay = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">11</span>;<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> //define relay digital pin 11</span></div><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">int</span> val = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">0</span>;<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> //define the voltage value of photo diode in digital pin 0</span></div><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">int</span> state = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">1</span>;<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> //state of light sent. diode 1 = ON 1 = OFF</span></div><div> </div><br /><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">void</span> <span style="color: #f39c12;">setup</span>(){</div><div><span style="color: #f39c12;">pinMode</span>(LED,OUTPUT);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // Configure LED as output mode</span></div><div><span style="color: #f39c12;">pinMode</span>(relay,OUTPUT);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // Configure relay as output mode</span></div><div><span style="color: #f39c12;">Serial</span>.<span style="color: #f39c12;">begin</span>(<span style="color: #7fcbcd;">9600</span>);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> //Configure baud rate 9600</span></div><div>}</div><br /><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">void</span> <span style="color: #f39c12;">turnOff</span>()<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // power off to track and signal to red</span></div><div>{</div><div> <span style="color: #c586c0;">if</span>( state = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">1</span> ) {<span style="color: #f39c12;">digitalWrite</span>(relay,LOW);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // turn relay off</span></div><div> state = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">0</span>;<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // note state as off</span></div><div> }</div><div>}</div><br /><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">void</span> <span style="color: #f39c12;">turnOn</span>()<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // power on to track and signal to green</span></div><div>{</div><div> <span style="color: #c586c0;">if</span>( state = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">0</span>) {<span style="color: #f39c12;">digitalWrite</span>(relay,HIGH);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // turn relay on</span></div><div> state = <span style="color: #7fcbcd;">1</span>;<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // note state as on</span></div><div> }</div><div>}</div><br /><br /><div><span style="color: #0ca1a6;">void</span> <span style="color: #f39c12;">loop</span>(){</div><div>val = <span style="color: #f39c12;">analogRead</span>(<span style="color: #7fcbcd;">0</span>);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // Read voltage value ranging from 0 -1023</span></div><div><span style="color: #f39c12;">Serial</span>.<span style="color: #f39c12;">println</span>(val);<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // read voltage value from serial monitor</span></div><div><span style="color: #c586c0;">if</span>(val<<span style="color: #7fcbcd;">1000</span>){<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // If lower than 1000, turn off LED</span></div><div> <span style="color: #f39c12;">turnOff</span>();</div><div> }<span style="color: #c586c0;">else</span>{<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // Otherwise turn on LED</span></div><div> <span style="color: #f39c12;">turnOn</span>();</div><div> }<span style="color: #7f8c8d;"> // delay for 10ms</span></div><div>}</div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I think that if you start at the loop and follow that even a non-programmer can follow what is going on.<div><br /></div><div>I am waiting for the last little bits to build the actual setup so that will be the content of the next blog entry.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-57674219181249783542022-11-24T09:27:00.000-08:002022-11-24T09:27:03.386-08:00Software news<p> I am busy resurrecting my "Car Cards" software that I used on my previous Kato round-roundy. I am making some changes to it to get a mobile phone view that is reminiscent of the development I did for the final project unit of my Open University course. This look like so (right click for a bigger version):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKmOAQF3Oz0DhXbV4gYinJykQBMHA1cuS3Ud0abQ36G3OqDU-bhPKz_RIkr4_r8kg2rPV9uTPF8im90lAGPRaPvkmpwqpvwa8rABkcsv_yMmtiMtKZAyEC7nDhsRuhsfzJu4qKocEu78BkM4VC5-aj1W0gYSfi_0l9Z2jcNy0A2bJwHENtjN-I30Ocw/s1004/SNE3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="626" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKmOAQF3Oz0DhXbV4gYinJykQBMHA1cuS3Ud0abQ36G3OqDU-bhPKz_RIkr4_r8kg2rPV9uTPF8im90lAGPRaPvkmpwqpvwa8rABkcsv_yMmtiMtKZAyEC7nDhsRuhsfzJu4qKocEu78BkM4VC5-aj1W0gYSfi_0l9Z2jcNy0A2bJwHENtjN-I30Ocw/s320/SNE3.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't have the software to make a true mobile phone app like the one shown so it will be a simple web page. There is also a back up web package that provides views of all of the relevant data.</p><p>This is how it goes.</p><p>Data is stored for the variety of information needed to decide on car routing. This includes trains, cars, locos and industries. Each loco is listed with its road name, running number, loco type (passenger, road or switcher) and DCC id. Cars are listed by their road, car type, AAR designation and an image address. Industries are listed by name, town, car type and allowed time on site. An industry entry is required for each car type at any specific industry so an industry might be listed multiple times. The intention is that this process should be fairly similar to the MicroMark car card package.</p><p>There is a single display which is the current train being processed. This lists all the relevant data for the train and all the cars as in this example.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEp4SF7MyRBagCowQfqpJvaTthvVce8pZ6zJMFh45_mUx1FUr7C1iIHmD0F9bKK0bS-ioWoAm1FJ_w2rjslJCca0jN8GuVMzKdyEMyHj5V_kL3MmG7X8iw3PoDCSoXaEO0MhDQ2oE-kkevtEftJTnHM15ztrqPNtS19usBhVZ7BScLDOTzmmCXraxVA/s1076/Screenshot_20221124-170357_Chrome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="708" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEp4SF7MyRBagCowQfqpJvaTthvVce8pZ6zJMFh45_mUx1FUr7C1iIHmD0F9bKK0bS-ioWoAm1FJ_w2rjslJCca0jN8GuVMzKdyEMyHj5V_kL3MmG7X8iw3PoDCSoXaEO0MhDQ2oE-kkevtEftJTnHM15ztrqPNtS19usBhVZ7BScLDOTzmmCXraxVA/w300-h454/Screenshot_20221124-170357_Chrome.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once you have moved all the cars as described, you click on the "Process Train" button. The database is updated with all the new locations and the next train is built and displayed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Using a web browser will result in more information being available so you can not only create and process trains but you can also list each data list - trains, cars, locations, etc. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, I forgot to mention that it will also create unit trains - that is a train with one type of car - coal hoppers, container flats and so on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is a simple system as it only deals with a single yard fed from staging which is all I need at the moment. My original Open University project was for a much more sophisticated program that allowed for multiple databases and much for flexible layout design - end to end with three towns or something similar. However, this requires more work before it can be offered even for testing. The Open University project just required me to develop an outline program that produced some test results. I expect to offer that system - Old Bill's Switch List - sometime next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I am happy with the existing Car Cards system, I will offer it up for others to test but I need to make it multi-user first. Expect that sometime after Xmas as I would like to run some trains myself first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-8736207939238450842022-11-13T09:54:00.005-08:002022-11-13T09:54:35.229-08:00The board and staging are complete<p> Well, the board is complete and I have finished the wiring so far - all of the DCC bus is in place plus all of the points are connected to ESU Switch Pilot accessory decoder boxes.</p><p>Here is the underneath showing the wiring before I fitted the point connections.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTtXJPnSCYxi8dMWqq7vxVv7YPd_2xVfcpiSa5EzJJLl2bTxQrRf9sUcOr7VxbLcrroQERoXS0ZQ02evjPzs6K9qnCSIoqhney13hM10USa0IjrSfy93i7spzJNzny0ctQUZpkdsr4qAM9rw3eRgEiCARkos4FiE9dZ5NRHruMnPv0KyWZAXuAuxvcQ/s3839/wiring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3839" data-original-width="1624" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTtXJPnSCYxi8dMWqq7vxVv7YPd_2xVfcpiSa5EzJJLl2bTxQrRf9sUcOr7VxbLcrroQERoXS0ZQ02evjPzs6K9qnCSIoqhney13hM10USa0IjrSfy93i7spzJNzny0ctQUZpkdsr4qAM9rw3eRgEiCARkos4FiE9dZ5NRHruMnPv0KyWZAXuAuxvcQ/w216-h512/wiring.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see the square supporting boxes and the attendant legs . Each box is fitted around the specific leg. You can see the area around the base of each leg. These were designed as flexible boxes that can be adjusted to get the height right for each leg position. Once they are right, I run hot glue around the tops and fix them in place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, there are lots of little connectors. I have a wide range of these from a simple two channel through up to a 5 way single channel. Here is a three channel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBVLUpIDY0cDTj1gfxHdaB9jGK5hSWnTEANqun2jYDGIXP1iO_3VqSNtmpefNOelcUJ8uytgymO8aOMuKx0MG7n2Wx5b2DAJQc7VFoeYDMUxxuw0xobagWgTIF-ep68fPw9F-zV_EUwJ9Yi3MArARIqepcVtZ-cWWQwJDOFZTKcV5qRUH604To5fXQA/s2148/cable%20clip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2148" data-original-width="1825" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBVLUpIDY0cDTj1gfxHdaB9jGK5hSWnTEANqun2jYDGIXP1iO_3VqSNtmpefNOelcUJ8uytgymO8aOMuKx0MG7n2Wx5b2DAJQc7VFoeYDMUxxuw0xobagWgTIF-ep68fPw9F-zV_EUwJ9Yi3MArARIqepcVtZ-cWWQwJDOFZTKcV5qRUH604To5fXQA/s320/cable%20clip.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From there, I have fitted three ESU Switch Pilots to control the points. The Switch Pilots output three wires - a common and a left and right. However the Kato Unitrack points require two wires so some conversion has to take place. I use DCC Concepts DCD-SDC6 which make the conversions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEa7ujYm4N3P-E8hRZi-LJH8Hed1zWcBRx_WYe5S8xX_xTCJCoZ_g8TjansmEEDZ6piMSD5aI-tNo93CtR1JeGkvyVOPseFQZ1ZDLGhJU6Y9FEJGNgqNiDdt-50jk8iMCCWfwQBJB9xRinI249FwUFUeM-QfTTqvEX0fWClr83sisWHE-ABalFI9nWQ/s5184/switch%20pilot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEa7ujYm4N3P-E8hRZi-LJH8Hed1zWcBRx_WYe5S8xX_xTCJCoZ_g8TjansmEEDZ6piMSD5aI-tNo93CtR1JeGkvyVOPseFQZ1ZDLGhJU6Y9FEJGNgqNiDdt-50jk8iMCCWfwQBJB9xRinI249FwUFUeM-QfTTqvEX0fWClr83sisWHE-ABalFI9nWQ/s320/switch%20pilot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have had a few problems from the testing. In trying to sort out one point where I had missed getting into the rail joiner I managed to break a rail away so that £30 for a new point. Then I had some trouble sorting out the double crossover. I set it up on the <a href="https://www.esu.eu/en/products/digital-control/ecos-50210-dcc-system/what-ecos-can-do/" target="_blank">ECoS controller</a> along with two points to make a single crossover but every time I tried either one, the two way would work. I haven't really sorted this out and it is looking like the four way crossover (which is a single Unitrack unit that costs £50!) has failed but we have some way to go to get to the bottom of it. Also, in my usual stupidity, I opened up a point to see what was inside and it all sprang apart. I thought that I had sorted it but it turns out that I hadn't so that is another point that I have had to buy. It gets better because when the new point arrived, it was faulty. Not only does it not work through the ECoS but also doesn't work manually. Tony at <a href="https://www.nscaleamericantrains.co.uk/en/" target="_blank">N Scale American Trains</a> rapidly agreed to put a new one in the post without waiting for me to return the faulty one. That is good service!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of these issues will be easy to correct once the replacement arrives so I have set the railway up in its chosen place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvozUfb2tnfbvHwLb1QGq9LRyAAD428hD05OKibGfnaHLF0A-HSY-aXuosHZBcW7M4PrQ3E5hNXwCeTPTpJvq5qySsR4mCy6oAYTQ2jpDPLpvSSwFCmN-mxAkoFj5sQDLC4HnVlW_ebF4jtYh4FxGuuHc5WPPSaGsuOf2ndh6hSWh3VdZfOb5jGvTiXQ/s4000/overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1768" data-original-width="4000" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvozUfb2tnfbvHwLb1QGq9LRyAAD428hD05OKibGfnaHLF0A-HSY-aXuosHZBcW7M4PrQ3E5hNXwCeTPTpJvq5qySsR4mCy6oAYTQ2jpDPLpvSSwFCmN-mxAkoFj5sQDLC4HnVlW_ebF4jtYh4FxGuuHc5WPPSaGsuOf2ndh6hSWh3VdZfOb5jGvTiXQ/w597-h264/overview.jpg" width="597" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It turned out that I hadn't got the legs long enough so, currently, I have put some foam core sheets underneath each pair to get the top level. I have also built the staging extension which is detachable from the main layout. This is a box with legs to get it level. Here is a shot of the staging.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0_crjrpCrAAzn6urb7qpHi6ZG86UF1kfMEtxQvpFcu0n4G5SXiwV5ufJ_2twQz_VeIdQUHRBbG4o77AMnpeWGy9oSBd4IsOPaWzILUMC61COj4Lh0DbgiArLalDOI8JvGGKbyVg9DVlJ5ECgGjvxWQLQOTgGZSL7fMRV0w-uGjoOldwnyFR83vG3bQ/s3767/staging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="3767" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0_crjrpCrAAzn6urb7qpHi6ZG86UF1kfMEtxQvpFcu0n4G5SXiwV5ufJ_2twQz_VeIdQUHRBbG4o77AMnpeWGy9oSBd4IsOPaWzILUMC61COj4Lh0DbgiArLalDOI8JvGGKbyVg9DVlJ5ECgGjvxWQLQOTgGZSL7fMRV0w-uGjoOldwnyFR83vG3bQ/w619-h155/staging.jpg" width="619" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can now see the two storage points for the connecting tracks. I have ordered some barrel plugs and sockets. Needless to say, I have to buy 10 when I only need a couple. One of these will be used to move power from the main layout to the staging. The other will be involved in powering an Arduino based light detector on the staging that will control a color light signal on the route off the main board. That's for the future though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am awaiting the replacement point and then, maybe, I can run some trains.</div><p><br /></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-73906206701448940472022-11-03T08:52:00.001-07:002022-11-03T08:52:27.447-07:00We have legs<p> We now have legs on the baseboard. These are made, like the board, out of 5mm foam core. I have some special cutting tools to use with foam core. One of them has two blades set in a v shape that are custom designed to cut a -V- into the board leaving the outer paper layer intact. This is what it looks like.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishJUpMo7uAzJntmoXKoo07NTgW9CdmzaZ_P8wLxkaVPA32d4RV7lZK0AtlAOVUgvxi2cnfAeQ_PkvFFHCTtUleEPIgdC-AgiZ7A_6hIxqMvLCH6CWfZutzVTKncyBi02-HZIta3IhfeUWUS_oBCaOUMHjZYzzI7dhuGgc5RLnyMNqs8_yTHTrV61Cvw/s2910/20221101_150108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="2250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishJUpMo7uAzJntmoXKoo07NTgW9CdmzaZ_P8wLxkaVPA32d4RV7lZK0AtlAOVUgvxi2cnfAeQ_PkvFFHCTtUleEPIgdC-AgiZ7A_6hIxqMvLCH6CWfZutzVTKncyBi02-HZIta3IhfeUWUS_oBCaOUMHjZYzzI7dhuGgc5RLnyMNqs8_yTHTrV61Cvw/s320/20221101_150108.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><p>I also have a tool that takes 5mm of the end of a board, again leaving the final paper layer intact. This gives me a channel that gets UHU paper adhesive applied and makes the final edge of the box. With a careful bit of calculation, this can be folded up to make a leg that is 3" square and is very strong.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCt6lkmcAtoolSNAOh27kR7mq7G3b5qtue8u1oKCBO0lJiLJbDG6mdb6rMr2xANBRQwlg455TxFfsnpsZBKwRFNkfotBhdoupt2NMwiRhB8X3v2HsnNbP9AcMcZSoh-4yKWFqHYM8VDbBYPRdkPzv7MD7ibQ__NzDx4j1JNPEOJLrNPijHXnePjfUEw/s2441/20221101_150121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2441" data-original-width="1913" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCt6lkmcAtoolSNAOh27kR7mq7G3b5qtue8u1oKCBO0lJiLJbDG6mdb6rMr2xANBRQwlg455TxFfsnpsZBKwRFNkfotBhdoupt2NMwiRhB8X3v2HsnNbP9AcMcZSoh-4yKWFqHYM8VDbBYPRdkPzv7MD7ibQ__NzDx4j1JNPEOJLrNPijHXnePjfUEw/s320/20221101_150121.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><p>I then create a box for each leg to go into on the underside of the baseboard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkh4ZQPGJy40klUhykex5u3haIfX5ii-_R0OqIVuRhFy3OngiIJejpGYptIcFqdR81UVxeObtb7yWhyru06o4tiHxh5r97pjbocsfGr9QoaVX7faNhbDQtVP2woaSZzJ-QzGEErjzg1AyF9-4YJbPoDz2ewN2-yK6-xy7sYjREFxjw_EIO2nLnLL6yA/s3078/20221103_152342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3078" data-original-width="2258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkh4ZQPGJy40klUhykex5u3haIfX5ii-_R0OqIVuRhFy3OngiIJejpGYptIcFqdR81UVxeObtb7yWhyru06o4tiHxh5r97pjbocsfGr9QoaVX7faNhbDQtVP2woaSZzJ-QzGEErjzg1AyF9-4YJbPoDz2ewN2-yK6-xy7sYjREFxjw_EIO2nLnLL6yA/s320/20221103_152342.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>We end up like this. (BTW, it looks as though it is sagging in the middle but this is an optical illusion. The board is flat and checked with spirit level plus rolling stock stay stationary where put!).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEgo4FHRsnlpmddgV_yoyO6pVp83lVg4yfRXu7LbpeUW8n7Pv3T4niMt4z2XCeyqiSqZ-Hft8KC1JviqlEyz9SDrqb4iHd4OtE7w4Ep7wO7LDm8hoPuGsf_2AQ919IqOFxDwUz5Gps_OrijeVx4qCQ6O3UD1mPEADxsQ20fPZmLgxP-S2mLeFSyKaqw/s3406/20221103_152306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2068" data-original-width="3406" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEgo4FHRsnlpmddgV_yoyO6pVp83lVg4yfRXu7LbpeUW8n7Pv3T4niMt4z2XCeyqiSqZ-Hft8KC1JviqlEyz9SDrqb4iHd4OtE7w4Ep7wO7LDm8hoPuGsf_2AQ919IqOFxDwUz5Gps_OrijeVx4qCQ6O3UD1mPEADxsQ20fPZmLgxP-S2mLeFSyKaqw/s320/20221103_152306.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>As you can see, each leg has a collar around the base and a flat plate. The collar is made to be just big enough to be an interference fit around the leg. The legs are then put in place and the board levelled using these collars. Once in place, they are hot glued into position. It isn't too stable front to back but it is close up to the cabinets so that shouldn't matter. </p><p>As you can see, the board is longer than the gap and thus rests on the end of the desk. The desk has an electric height adjustment so it can be set to support the board exactly. Why would I do this instead of using wood as everyone else does? Well, I have a lot of arthritis and if I have to walk more than about 30 years I resort to an electric wheelchair. I have extreme difficulty in getting onto the floor and even more difficulty getting up so I need this to be as light as it can be so that I can pick it up, turn it over and work on the underside whilst it is on the dining table. </p><p>Well, that's it for now. I am charging uop my wireless Dremel so that I can start wiring up for DCC. That's for next time.</p><p>Thanks for watching.</p><p>David</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-75219618776138893402022-10-31T11:23:00.002-07:002022-10-31T11:23:51.376-07:00Track has gone down on the new S&NE<p> Some negotiation has taken place with the Estate Manager (SWMBO) about how the new layout was going to work. I built it so that it would sit on the desk when in place and would split into two when not in use. The layout turned out to be a bit bigger for some reason. It was supposed to be 1600 x 350mm but , somehow , it ended up 1700x350mm. This didn't matter but I can't work out how it happened as it was all designed in Anyrail so I must have made a stupid mistake there.</p><p>OK, so SWMBO decided that I would never use it if I had to put it up and take it down. Good thinking. One of my other hobbies is making patchwork but I never get to do any as the sewing machine is stored in a cupboard in the bedroom so it never comes out. Her plan was very good. Next to my desk are two glass cabinets that contain my scale models plus my <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camberwick_Green" target="_blank">Camberwick Green</a> collection. Currently, there is nothing in front of them. She suggested that I make it permanent by siting along in front of these cabinets. I can easily make legs for the board. I have a special cutter for foam core that cuts a V in a line so that the board can fold into a 90 degree bend. This makes a very strong leg. </p><p>So what does it look like now that it has track and has been fixed into one unit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAkEbz66twInAQxmN874j8bH7n5Tltst6SoyuHdxsmHM8C1aqnzTM8J9Zfwdi9QH2-KhIgR7AcqVkZta_2-NM5W9PgtgBIJ9xMfLMUPitO9LJdK3Feb2LCx27IXFTvVGy8dR3bxOI4OOqwDTn6hGAx7QVQbuAF6O9EW57X-yHE7SltktZM_TY6m7hMA/s3815/layout%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3815" data-original-width="1658" height="670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAkEbz66twInAQxmN874j8bH7n5Tltst6SoyuHdxsmHM8C1aqnzTM8J9Zfwdi9QH2-KhIgR7AcqVkZta_2-NM5W9PgtgBIJ9xMfLMUPitO9LJdK3Feb2LCx27IXFTvVGy8dR3bxOI4OOqwDTn6hGAx7QVQbuAF6O9EW57X-yHE7SltktZM_TY6m7hMA/w291-h670/layout%201.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><br /><p>All of the track on the main board is now in place. The line in the middle - the short one with a white dash below it - is where the turntable is to go. I was wondering how I was going to get a stepper motor on to the turntable when there was only 2" clearance, Now that the layout is to be on legs, it won't matter as there will be clear air under it.</p><p>The next steps with the layout itself are to wire it up both for DCC and for the point motors. For the point meters, I use ESU SwitchPilots (four outputs on each). The outputs all have one DCCConcepts DCD-SDC6 which converts the three way output of a SwitchPilot into a two way suitable for Kato point motors. I have ordered some 22gauge solid wire for the track feeds. That should be here tomorrow. However, my first job is to make the legs for the board. More on that next time.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-20816853139408932622022-10-25T08:46:00.003-07:002022-10-25T08:46:32.147-07:00I am back with foam core and Kato<p> So I am back in harness and buzzing with ideas. I have been down to <a href="https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/stores/ipswich" target="_blank">Hobbycraft</a> to pick up four sheets of 5mm foam core - they always have a deal 4 sheets for £10 - which I use for making lightweight railway boards. I also dashed down to our storage room (at <a href="https://www.storage-mart.com/en-gb/suffolk/ipswich?gclid=CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCCERbP79fWpOpfaqEhcsGUfiZgn8BeI-_6W76DCGKRGsaWSyBGJdvxoCwV8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">StorageMart</a> - bit of a dig as my son-in-law-manages the local branch). I retrieved all my track and my ECos DCC controller.</p><p>I have spent a couple of days working on a layout design. I have hovered between keeping the Kato track or going to Peco. Financially, there isn't much in it so long as I don't go the route I have always done in the past and used the DCC Concepts point motors. Finally, I decided that I would stay with Kato Unitrack.</p><p>First step was to make the boards. The tops are firstly supported by a double layer of foam core making it 10mm. Of course, the lengthwise strength of the boards is much greater than they are side ways.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXWGFhMFfJ6fXVidXNaxZ3UhdRLzByImqqH33jJZDRpMWc3Tr0Rwtg_d3gQRsgkveIIeYJiMdLqjJBjewEHzfpF6U85vmsVk5O1TJDO_lFBRmkYL03e4mrFy3OMxdg5dmJq9CO52xqFetQuuFEZjEmS7kGCvTao5A-xhkddj5QnDQU-CMRbD9B0MbGzw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3458" data-original-width="3083" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjXWGFhMFfJ6fXVidXNaxZ3UhdRLzByImqqH33jJZDRpMWc3Tr0Rwtg_d3gQRsgkveIIeYJiMdLqjJBjewEHzfpF6U85vmsVk5O1TJDO_lFBRmkYL03e4mrFy3OMxdg5dmJq9CO52xqFetQuuFEZjEmS7kGCvTao5A-xhkddj5QnDQU-CMRbD9B0MbGzw" width="214" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2awi0-FpjZJSo_96wMZtJPeGtYwypafAl8QoYa1JPeSH1eJ6wjSwxpi_r_dENG3GttvMWfS5BFwy_61y9531k5NPC6A1CybifoBbdg0vSAMjlHFdiF5c9zA2lMhG3oLS6TZW6SvkieOZAa8WkmEClbxsxMW9KLkiOekEzUhhy9FGGfbhgYS457KWbjg/s5184/braces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3888" data-original-width="5184" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2awi0-FpjZJSo_96wMZtJPeGtYwypafAl8QoYa1JPeSH1eJ6wjSwxpi_r_dENG3GttvMWfS5BFwy_61y9531k5NPC6A1CybifoBbdg0vSAMjlHFdiF5c9zA2lMhG3oLS6TZW6SvkieOZAa8WkmEClbxsxMW9KLkiOekEzUhhy9FGGfbhgYS457KWbjg/s320/braces.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I have built the base in two halves so the railway can be leant against the bookcase next to my desk when not in use. The two halves, when put together, are held by a couple of clips made, yet again, out of 5mm foam core.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HkXirt9_ziSPCTxvqKhF7f7JmFdAv8cO-kV89HfHgM__MbY48X8BENArOSogx42_LHOKudZcv75ZvluYcfKwRXfNO-emlSYS3WKMg56d7raeLXDCztxnkI8b3fsgFsjnjBIkohHiUJKI8bjk2_Mq8MSOMnOy6DeRnAJQ3OAAUJvkNttUrjn_elxa-Q/s2965/clip%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2335" data-original-width="2965" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HkXirt9_ziSPCTxvqKhF7f7JmFdAv8cO-kV89HfHgM__MbY48X8BENArOSogx42_LHOKudZcv75ZvluYcfKwRXfNO-emlSYS3WKMg56d7raeLXDCztxnkI8b3fsgFsjnjBIkohHiUJKI8bjk2_Mq8MSOMnOy6DeRnAJQ3OAAUJvkNttUrjn_elxa-Q/s320/clip%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5e1fdSDYsjVa78CGaynb9HZr2X1aXEI0sv1BOr8KdPyaGxCFMw5H5PtqZ7J7eNoidrcHqy7OLYzURLhPCmMsvPdxLedmnlefsfppmMNm3rd-WU8wUHjzEDfkXDbWcDGt2rQpoELykWEhYtLhWaeWfs2btPP3LysGdWSSWWfQuAUqX8ouPg-m1Ttx9g/s2483/clip%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2143" data-original-width="2483" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5e1fdSDYsjVa78CGaynb9HZr2X1aXEI0sv1BOr8KdPyaGxCFMw5H5PtqZ7J7eNoidrcHqy7OLYzURLhPCmMsvPdxLedmnlefsfppmMNm3rd-WU8wUHjzEDfkXDbWcDGt2rQpoELykWEhYtLhWaeWfs2btPP3LysGdWSSWWfQuAUqX8ouPg-m1Ttx9g/s320/clip%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, with the board built, it sits nicely on the dining room table. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSDbQ0H-nQ2QZ8WH17ezNElcgV1OXocMnF5H5DPk3-hvn_GgcKQVHXQx3gAjAjoiCf5tsSE0cswTlVkowsgYRKAq8bC1jMu1xzS0llfCSgH8BLvZUBsZhLwGgKpBEH8rL52bJetK4k7qe6h0BJy6l21OCm_qXPWnx-GHWQVACa3YqS1mclt6-SSYIDg/s5184/on%20table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2778" data-original-width="5184" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSDbQ0H-nQ2QZ8WH17ezNElcgV1OXocMnF5H5DPk3-hvn_GgcKQVHXQx3gAjAjoiCf5tsSE0cswTlVkowsgYRKAq8bC1jMu1xzS0llfCSgH8BLvZUBsZhLwGgKpBEH8rL52bJetK4k7qe6h0BJy6l21OCm_qXPWnx-GHWQVACa3YqS1mclt6-SSYIDg/w473-h253/on%20table.jpg" width="473" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This won't be its normal home. I am expecting to clear the front of my desk as this will support the boards completely. Next job is to lay some track. I have just placed an order with <a href="https://www.nscaleamericantrains.co.uk/en/" target="_blank">N Scale American Trains</a> for the track that I don't have. Hopefully, that will come in the next couple of days and then I can get on with building the layout properly. Once I have the basic track laid, I will be able to build the storage road board. This will be 1000mm long and about 110mm wide and have a couple of yards of Peco track on it. Mixing Peco with Kato is not difficult. The reason for this is that I have about 4 yards of Peco already so that will save some of the expense.<div><br /></div><div>This is the first plan. However, you know what Generals say about a battle plan? No battle plan ever get survives first contact with the enemy. Hence, I don't expect the following plan to end up the final version.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnxtCcUbrFuEut2dn9yi6nB00EZ5zajZQKiaIyrzBPDr19ayCLPPm8c6pTgjlvplXB-DUkm15Z_PFF71eL0QFKTsOWYYLdggbE17KRU9jlFaIt6kecIIgR0DePS74fj80FbX97O7YkUggoUqOZITPnpEjhcU6F3nKjFSkiZwLOCQ4hU-9WqBPreiiDA/s1156/sne%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="1156" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnxtCcUbrFuEut2dn9yi6nB00EZ5zajZQKiaIyrzBPDr19ayCLPPm8c6pTgjlvplXB-DUkm15Z_PFF71eL0QFKTsOWYYLdggbE17KRU9jlFaIt6kecIIgR0DePS74fj80FbX97O7YkUggoUqOZITPnpEjhcU6F3nKjFSkiZwLOCQ4hU-9WqBPreiiDA/w629-h195/sne%203.jpg" width="629" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-18944596303758083962022-10-20T11:40:00.002-07:002022-10-20T11:40:47.042-07:00Am I back or am I dreaming?<p> Well, its nearly two years since I last posted and all my model railroad stuff has been in our storage unit all that time. I have had a lot of fun building scale plastic models see <a href="http://www.gsmblog.co.uk" target="_blank">Gentle Scale Models</a>. I have also taught myself to play the Tin Whistle and am now struggling with a soprano saxophone! One thing we don't have under ordinary circumstances is a television. We are one of those strange couples who can live without one. We did succumb almost at the same time as the railroad went. We even took out a subscription to Sky satellite feed - for 18 months. Well, the 18 months was up about a month ago and guess what, we don't have a TV again!</p><p>Our evenings are nice and quiet or we are listening to our superb <a href="https://www.naimaudio.com/product/uniti-atom" target="_blank">Naim Uniti-Atom hi-fi</a>. Being old fashioned, I love paying vinyl records of the jazz I grew up with. However, reading from 7 pm to 10pm can get a bit boring and, at 77 years old, I get tired in the evenings. I get too tired to make scale models and no-one wants me playing a sax in the evenings. I got to thinking and realised that, if I had a model railroad, I could spend some evenings running trains. So, we are off again.</p><p>Here is my desk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a_osUYTeNFuUKwhk_MEVgKChaNfrVHTCToj0NdlkQSHXxAgF8X0PFryMxjIAbgtKWFyYxfs-_Zy5Dx8NttVMITBunOotuIbAA4p_D4g7Qb2Fsu7K18jtBuKfIkCTd_c2Xlcwas7vtvBBoOHgzXtIPBl2gOSUi2qIxq4fE88_d-w0BQO6V1yP9lMILQ/s4000/20221020_183335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="4000" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8a_osUYTeNFuUKwhk_MEVgKChaNfrVHTCToj0NdlkQSHXxAgF8X0PFryMxjIAbgtKWFyYxfs-_Zy5Dx8NttVMITBunOotuIbAA4p_D4g7Qb2Fsu7K18jtBuKfIkCTd_c2Xlcwas7vtvBBoOHgzXtIPBl2gOSUi2qIxq4fE88_d-w0BQO6V1yP9lMILQ/w487-h274/20221020_183335.jpg" width="487" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You might wonder how I can get a railroad on here. Well, you see, it just has to sit here when I am using it. I make my railroad benchwork from 5mm foam core, which, when properly structured, is plenty strong for an N scale pike (to use an old expression). The plan is to build a base that is 1600mm long and 350mm wide. When not it use, it will stand vertically next to the desk - when we move the bookcase that is just 400mm across. Fortunately, there is sufficient space. This will be the main board. In addition there will be a dismountable storage yard of about 800mm x 80mm coming off to provide a destination. This is the first pass.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGymVZZwR67urmZWm_NpRPM30SM3t7c6lC0XtaaGObhK48RRFuMlWEhZP7431d_jFP4U-mnelnille6hKnuCerm-MqPtCvPYJdBkQsEw_DuUNez_ENs8-g3i5e84Lfhb0yIZzwvsGw5SKEersP7LgIzEAPkWKS_lms_lu9Uzg7ECNWSpgt98nIGdu_Q/s1070/anyrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="1070" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGymVZZwR67urmZWm_NpRPM30SM3t7c6lC0XtaaGObhK48RRFuMlWEhZP7431d_jFP4U-mnelnille6hKnuCerm-MqPtCvPYJdBkQsEw_DuUNez_ENs8-g3i5e84Lfhb0yIZzwvsGw5SKEersP7LgIzEAPkWKS_lms_lu9Uzg7ECNWSpgt98nIGdu_Q/w591-h142/anyrail.jpg" width="591" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The plan is supposed to represent a branch line terminus with a small freight yard and an engine facility. I have a whole pile of Kato Unitrack left over from my previous desktop layout so that is what this is using. I like Unitrack because I don't have to ballast the track (OK maybe I should but...). Also, I like the way that the points (switches) are all set up with motors and only require a two wire connection to work with my <a href="https://www.esu.eu/en/products/digital-control/ecos-50210-dcc-system/what-ecos-can-do/" target="_blank">ECoS 50210 DCC controller</a>. It is a bit of a fiddle getting all the track lengths correct so that it goes together properly. I have to admit that there are a couple of tiny gaps that will probably be OK with little bit of fettling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to the layout. Well, there is a lot wrong with this. Firstly, a small terminus in the USA wouldn't require double track. It is there because I have a Unitrack double crossover which I would like to use. I did think of making it a through station but then a small engine terminal wouldn't look right. I would like a turntable as I dislike having low hood locos running in "reverse". I know that they do but... As it happens, the turntable is very expensive - circa £270 - so I may have to forego that and put a bit more yard and industry track work in. We shall see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The river is there because, from my last layout, I have both a single and a double track girder bridge and it seems silly not to use them. This is as far as I have got. I am hoping that a regular annual payment from the USA will be agreed in December - I do some programming work for them and this is an annual retainer. If that is agreed, the turntable will not be an issue but we are waiting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7990577792614394541.post-58812248295687025382021-12-12T09:35:00.002-08:002021-12-12T09:35:51.225-08:00My Model Railroad - reality<p> When mother-in-law came to live with us, I traded my hobby room for some space at the end of our bedroom. Our flat has some really decent sized rooms. That's when I shifted to Maerklin 3-rail and had a ball. One day she says to me (she being my wife and known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Who_Must_Be_Obeyed" target="_blank">SWMBO</a>) "Can I have my bedroom back?" Up came the railroad and the bedroom got tidied up. SWMBO offered me some space in the living room so that is when the desk was put in place. First up, I built a little N scale switching layout but replaced that with a Kato Uni-track round-roundy which was coming along nicely. Then SWMBO says to me "Can I have my living room back?". </p><p>Well, as SWMBO wanted her bedroom back and her living room back, I wasn't left with much space to move so all of the railroad stuff got packed away and the desk was put down the end of the bedroom. This took up much less space than the original railroad so SWMBO seemed to be happy. At least I had somewhere where I could do some modelling even though the railroad was out.</p><p>Guess what happened next? "Can I have my bedroom back?" So, we sorted out the living room and brought the desk back into the same space as it left. However, this time it is purely the modelling desk from the bedroom so I am busy making lots of scale plastic models - See my "<a href="http://www.gsmblog.co.uk">Gentle Scale Models</a>" blog.</p><p>There is a future where I get my model room back but we don't discuss that for fairly obvious reasons. Even so, when I get it back, SWMBO wants some space for her Jigsaw puzzle activity so my railroad may be a bit constrained. I am trying to give a small amount of thought to it but it is difficult to get serious when I don't know when and I don't know how much room.</p><p>That's it for now. Keep checking Gentle Scale Models to keep up with that. I am shortly to start a new photography blog as I have recovered that hobby by obtaining a really nice Canon 90D DSLR. More later.</p>Long Haired Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13056459184775829222noreply@blogger.com0