But Dad what about the Thomas stuff & signal box so far

I made a mistake about the 'no trains' comment in the previous blog. Son Number 2 received some Thomas related wooden train vehicles (Flora, Alfie, Hiro and something else I can't remember!). Just overwhelmed with all the Lego!

I bought my compressor today at Supercheap, along with a dual action airbrush and assorted bits and bobs. "Some minor assembly required" must be the biggest joke the Chinese play on the West! Eventually got it working but ran out of time to actually play with it.

Here is a photo of the inside of the signal box and the LED (with clear orange painted lens) in place prior to the roof being glued into position.

Ho, Ho, Ho and all that palava

Well I didn't get around to updating the blog last night as I was stuffed (both in the meaning that I was full as a goog and dog tired) from the Christmas weekend. Saturday was the In-Laws Christmas which was great. The father in law won second prize in the local Rotary club Christmas raffle, a 6 burner + wok burner BBQ. So I spent the arvo with him putting it together. Lucky bugger!

Sunday and the big red guy arrived with lots of pressies for the boys, but not one train related gift! Lego Star Wars, Fireman Sam, books and a Wii game console, which went over a treat. Personally I got George Dent's "Airbrushing for Railway Modellers" book and the accompanying DVD "The Definitive Airbrush Expert" from Model Rail/Telerail. It was then getting prepared for Christmas BBQ lunch with my Dad and the immediate family so just the five of us. Then it was playing some of the Wii games in the arvo before Dad departed. It was such a pleasant day yesterday, no humidity or rain, just blue skies and a lovely breeze that I went outside later in the arvo and potted around the garden and chilled out in the pagola until it was time to get a light dinner going. I watched the DVD and read the section on Compressors from the book last night for some pointers on compressor selection as I intend to hit the shops today for the Boxing Day specials. Supercheap Auto seem to have a nicely priced unit so I will be up there very soon to check it and the accessories out!

Through the week I did some more work on the signal box. It looks pretty good on the inside (photos to follow in a future post).

This week I am hoping to install the USB, third MRC and third DS64 decoders, as well as wire up some of the street lighting etc, as well as install the signal box. Time will tell.

Tuesday I have a day pass out to Mr Mackie's for a running session, and then Wednesday is Club Day so I might pop down there with the boys for an hour or so and see what is going on and have a chat.

Until next time.

USB interface card arrived

As expected not much happened this week, due to two main reasons. The first reason was during the week the youngest son was coming down with an illness which became tonsilitis, so he wasn't a happy camper. As the missus was not feeling well as a result of him hanging off her most of the time, I was up to bat most evenings looking after everyone else! The second reason was Saturday was my family's Xmas lunch up the Sunshine Coast at my Dad's place. Weather was comfortable and my brothers behaved themselves for a change. By the time we got home in the late afternoon there was no chance to do any shed time. Sunday was spent at the shops in the morning, mowing the grass, and napping with the still unwell Son # 2 in the afternoon to give his mother a rest (any excuse!).

As the title line mentioned, my order for the NCE USB interface card arrived from the States in PK's MB Klein order during the week. I have downloaded the relevant USB PC driver and purchased a USB 2.0 A B cable to connect my laptop to the interface card. Now I just have to do all the installs (USB card, driver, etc) and then give it a whirl. Some how I think this might be a Xmas leave activity.

I also decided upon my NSWGR wagon orders. Two BSVs (Bogie Sheep Vans) packs (six all up) and one BCW (Bogie Cattle Wagon) pack (3 all up). These will complement the rollingstock fleet intended for Narromine when it finally gets underway sometime in the next few years.

I didn't have any opportunity to progress with the signal box this week.

Well Christmas is not far off. Next weekend will be a similar write off. Saturday with the in-laws and Sunday with Dad at our house. I'm looking forward to getting some stuff done on Illavearf and Beaver Springs over the three weeks I'll be on leave, but I also have to do a few things around the house and shed.

Merry Christmas to all my followers.

Amended mini-panel doco

As a result of yesterday's logic correction here are the amended docs.

Damn!

Well my good friend Mr Mackie has kindly pointed out that my usage of the junction feather on KH-1 is incorrect. My (mis)understanding was that the feather indicated the through route, but in fact it indicates the divergent route. Hence it shouldn't be to control the Mainline but rather what will become known as "the sidings loop". I will have to make the station track the mainline.

Not a big problem. I just have to change my documentation to reflect this.

You learn something new everyday!

Thanks Craig

Mini-panel success and other things

This week has been one of a number of small success stories. After waiting over a week for a reply directly from NCE I posted the same question to the NCE-DCC yahoo forum and over night received three replies. Thanks to Mark Gurries, Rex Beistle and Graeme Brown for their answers which explained and cleared up some uncertainty around the use of the TERMINATOR, NOP and LINK commands. Following hot on their heals (strangely enough) was a reply from NCE. Thanks to Matt for providing additional information. Subsequent to these answers, I revisited my mini-panel programming during the week. Still had problems. Hmmmm. Come Sunday I thought lets go back to programming basics. I would clear out all commands currently in the mini-panel by going through each input and programming a TERMINATE into each memory slot per input. Didn't take too long once you got the hang of it! Using my Operating rules I developed through the week, I started with what I wanted to do at system startup and entered the appropriate commands. Tested these and worked OK. Next the "GOD INPUT" - the one that "makes the mainline active". Tested OK. Then moved on from Input 1 programming each input, testing, and then moving onto the next LINKed input's programming, testing, etc. Then I programmed the alternate Inputs. Once all this was done, it was time for the BIG TEST. A real POWER OFF and ON (power cycle). Did this and it kind of worked. Some of the initial commands didn't work. Maybe at power on Input 31 issued the commands but the other decoders hadn't completed their start up cycle. Let's inject a DELAY command at the start of Input 31 to allow the other DCC systems to get ready to accept commands. Not knowing how long this could be I started with 20 seconds. Another power cycle. After waiting what seemed to be an eternity but really only 20 seconds everything came up as it should. HOORAH!! Time to work on that DELAY command and see what the minimum wait could be, so I reprogrammed it a number of times (16 -> 12 -> 8 ->4). As it all worked OK for 4 seconds I left it at that. I couldn't be bothered checking further in 1/4 sec increments!

So I have included pictures of my Operating Rules and Mini-panel configurations below for reference.

I have also got a link to a movie of the signals in action. This has been speeded up x4 to get through the sequencing it as short a time as possible.

What else happened? Well my order from Kernow Models in the UK arrived on Friday, so on Saturday night I was able to progress a little further with my signal cabin as I had a figure I could use as the signalman. A bit more painting inside so that the light will not escape through the plastic once installed. Now I just have to rig up the LED and somehow install the roof so that it is removable but semi-fixed in place.

Saturday morning I was able to catch up with the father of two (twins) friends of Son # 1 at their house at their birthday party. He has a freelance layout which is currently a work in progress (aren't they all!) but he showed me some of his locos, one of which was a US steamer with smoke. A couple of smartphone videos below (sorry for quality).

The Club Xmas do and modelling competition on Saturday was also well attended but not many actual models went in for the competition. I was unable to put anything in this year as I ran out of time, and have been concentrating on Illavearf's electrics this year. Hopefully next year as we are intending to do different categories. Photos of the winners below (sorry for the smartphone camera quality, it was the only thing I had at the time!).

HOn2.5 (I think) backwoods manual gantry crane

N scale craftsman kit 'backwoods' water tank

 

N scale logging pile driver scratchbuilt



Well that's it for another week.

Mini-panel deliberations and progress with the signal box kit

As previously mentioned I am trying to sort out the interlocking logic between the signals and the points inputs from the mimic panel to the mini-panel. I did inject the DELAY command and that works as it should but I am a bit hesitant at this point in time to say that this is the solution. I am still thinking the commands as issued without the DELAY command are OK, it is the fundamental logic of the interlocking scheme that needs to be sorted out. The Mini-panel is probably not the right device to do in depth signal programming, which may be more the focus of JMRI Panel Pro when I get the USB interface connected and start playing around with it from my laptop.

In the meantime, I was thinking about this on Friday night. Having imbibed a few glasses of shiraz earlier in the evening, I was amazed at the clarity (not claret!) I had of thought when I came up with the idea that perhaps to get around the mini-panel's shortfalls I need to impose layout operational rules and these would feedback into the low level signalling required. Basically a set of assumptions that guide the basic signal programming. It was about at this point that my eureka moment started to pass and I started to nod off on the couch. I never got a chance over the weekend to progress this thought and document the programming required. A job for this week.

Saturday night I spent some more time on the signal box kit. I painted the levers black with silver handles. Black for points only. No interlocking required for lever signals as these have been 'replaced' with the new fandangle electric signals. (Layout operating assumption!). Then I painted the floor and door inside surface a wood colour as the white of the styrene was not right! I thought I had a signalman figure to install but alas no. I little spot was left unpainted so that when he does get installed a clear surface is available. Hopefully something close enough will come in the Kernow models shipment in the next couple of weeks. So now the decision has been made not to enter this kit into the club modelling competition as it will definitely not be finished by the end of this week.

I received the George Dent "Airbrushing for railway modellers" book I had purchased from Amazon a couple of weeks ago over the weekend. Before it was covered up with Xmas wrapping paper as my gift from the boys to me, I had a quick flick through and it looks like it will be a good read. I succumbed also to ordering the accompanying DVD from Telerail through the week.

Now I also have to decide on the number of packs of Eureka Models NSWGR BSV (bogie sheep van) and BCW (bogie cattle wagon) models coming out next year so that I can take advantage of the pre 2012 pricing. I intend to use these on the NSW layout (Narromine) I intend to build sometime in the future, once Illavearf has been completed. As these types of rollingstock are not continually produced, you have to take advantage of buying them when they come on to the market.

Until next week, happy modelling.

Programming the mini-panel and the signal box started

The small amount of time I had this week was spent dicking around with the NCE Mini-panel's programming. I had programmed the point activation but it was time to add the signalling features in now. One night through the week I went and did this based on a signalling interlocking matrix I had developed. Seemed to work some of the time and at other times some of the required features did unexpected things. Maybe the logic was wrong. Further thought required. A couple of days later I was revisiting the logic and found a few missing things. To put in the required features I would need to do some Linking. I developed another set of commands and had some time Saturday afternoon to program these in. Not all the Linked commands were working as expected. Hmmmm. More thought needed this week.

Friday night I started to put together the Wills Ground Signal Box kit. I have to add some things like a LED before the floor is glued in to place, as well as pait the signal levers inside the box, so some delays completing this kit while I attend to these modifications. Whether I submit the end result to the Club Xmas modelling competition will depend on when I can finish it.

Today was a write-off modelling-wise as we are now into the silly season with pre-Xmas catchups, and this evenings school Christmas Carols.

So this week will be spent thinking more about the mini-panel programming and the kit.

Kensington Hill signalled up

This week I was able to wire up KH-2 (two aspect on goods yard siding) to the MRC decoder. Then on Saturday I was able to wire up KH-1 (two aspect with feather at station turnout) to the MRC. I then tested them. KH-2 started to flash alternately, which was the immediate sign that I must have programmed the decoder output some time ago to do this, so I was then able to program on the Main the appropriate CV to change it to latching mode. This worked but then whole decoder board then reset/power cycled and then all connections turned off. Odd. Not sure if this is how it is supposed to be or not, but nothing that I can't live with for the moment.

On the lighting side of things, I still have to wire up the station and street lights. Then once I have made the signal box, I will put a LED in it as well. The goods yard lights will then follow.

I had an email last night from MB Klein (www.modeltrainstuff.com) to write a review of the MRC 4 output decoder. As I am now in full swing using these little beauties, I thought why not. So you can see this at http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/MRC-HO-1628-DCC-Accessory-Decoder-4-Outputs-p/mrc-1628.htm

Nothing happened on Sunday as it was spent at a playgroup Christmas Party which went on for most of the day.

This week I am hoping that I can wire up the station and street lights. If not these, maybe start building the signal box. I might even think of entering this in the club Christmas Modelling Competition if I think it is worthy (cue Wayne's World 'We're not worthy' skit!).

I also ordered from Amazon a book "Airbrushing for Railway Modellers" by George Dent as I am interested in learning more about this side of the hobby and I think George does some fine work from what I have seen. If you are interested, a sampler can be found at http://www.crowood.com/details.asp?isbn=9781847972651&t=Airbrushing-for-Railway-Modellers but a better price was found at Amazon.

Let's see what happens this week modelling-wise. I might be able to take a small video of the signals if I get a chance and upload next weekend.

Modelling all round!

During the week I was able to paint the 'concrete' around Lachlan's shop.

Saturday morning came and the missus wanted to go a do a bit of shopping but I was lucky to be able to stay at home and look after the boys. Lucky because I could go to the shed and supervise them mucking about in the yard while I mucked about with Illavearf. All I have to do is put up one of the tilt-a-doors of the shed to let the breeze in and I can see most of the back yard.

So I was able to wire in the signal KH-4 which is two aspect with a junction feather. So two MRC sub-decoders required, one for the aspects and one for the feather. Worked perfectly and looks good. So I took the opportunity to install the other two signals, KH-1 (two aspect junction feather) and KH-2 (two aspect only), but I didn't get to wire them in.

Saturday arvo was club monthly meeting which I chaired as VP as the President had to go to a wedding. This was sprung on me as I arrived. Nice!

When I got home, Lachlan wanted to do some work on his layout so I gave him a few choices and he chose to do some grassing around where the shop was going. We did this and let it dry overnight.

Sunday was equally good. The missus wanted to go off on her bike, and Lachlan went with her. That left me to entertain Matthew. He started with his duplo blocks (big lego), but after five minutes got up and said "shed'. That's my boy! So off we went to the shed to vacuum up the spillover from yesterday's grassing. By then the bike riders had returned. I had to go off to do some chores by then. After a arvo nap I got up and Lachlan was the only one up so we went off to the shed to do more on his layout. We did some gravel work around one of the sidings. That is where we left it for the day.

So maybe this week I can get out to the shed one night to wire up the other signals and the 12V bulb street lamps, and station LED? Let's not get to ahead of ourselves!

Xmas is rapidly approaching so might have to start looking around for gift ideas or buy things for others to give me as gifts!

Signal KH-3 operational

This weekend I focused my spare time in getting one of the installed signals operational. I decided to do the simpler of the two KH-3. So using the same setup as my test LEDs I soldered extension leads from the signal wires to the MRC 4-way accessory decoder Acc # 16. I then turned on the system and activated Acc 16 to ON which should have turned the Green aspect on. No go. Huh? Select 16 and turn OFF which should turn on the Red aspect. No go. Double huh! A bit of head scratching then happened. It was then time to go inside, so that was it for Saturday.

Further thinking during the evening came up with possible problems like "had I inadvertently reprogrammed the MRC decoder?", "had I buggered up the LEDs?", "is there an issue with the supplied LEDs in the Eckon kit (1000ohm) versus the supplied resistors with the MRC decoder (300ohm)?", "was it a soldering problem?", etc. Too much thinking over a few glasses of red in the evening meant no answers were forthcoming!

Sunday morning arrived and with some spare time after breakfast and before waking the neighbours up with the whipper snipper and mower, I went the shed to see if I could answer some of the above. I progressed through the list and ruled out most. What was going on? I reread the Eckon wiring instructions and the MRC manual. Nothing was obvious. I put my test LEDs on to the decoder outputs and they tested OK. Hummmm. Time to think a bit more while taming the lawn.

I had intended to go to the RMCQ (my club) Buy and Sell but a small family emergency entailed after the yard work and just before lunch. Son number One had misplaced a Lego Man he was going to use in a class project. This character was in a powerpoint presentation and thus couldn't easily be replaced. We searched all over the house for nearly an hour. Everywhere was given at least two searches by myself and the missus on separate occasions in case one of us missed it. We were on the verge of conceding defeat when Son number Two all of a sudden whilst in Son number One's bedroom found the lego man. What! So an indepth chat with a 2.5 year old entailed as to where did he find it. He finally pointed out a lego liferaft model with one of its sides down and it was apparently in there. We thanked young Matt with curious looks. Lachlan was adamant he hadn't placed it in there. I strongly suspect Matt had put it in there earlier this morning. So by the time we had done this, had lunch, and tried putting Matt down for a nap (and succeeding in putting myself to snoozeland as well!), I had missed the opportunity in getting down to the club. By all accounts it went quite well.

However the nap must have reinvigorated the brain cells as I quickly commandeered the laptop the missus was pottering around on to check something on LEDs on Wikipedia. Mainly the electronic symbol and usual orientation of the positive and negative terminals. Making a note of this, and following a coffee, I went to the shed again to check the documentation. EUREKA! I thought something was wrong. The MRC's common is positive whereas as per the Eckon wiring instructions I had the common as negative and resisted. The polarity on the Eckon LEDs was reversed and thus potentially not working. So I rewired to how MRC likes them presented, turned on the system, selected Acc 16 ON and bingo, Green came on.

Oh wow, what a lesson to note. Lord knows why the Eckon LEDs are wired like this. But now that I know, I can wire the remaining signals the same way.

Here is a small video of KH-3.

Not sure what this week will bring. I know I have to paint Lachlan's shop pavement before we can place it on his layout. Maybe the other signal which has a junction feather. Let's see.

SB3a finally arrives, but no USB ;-(

The week was sans modelling. Busy with other stuff. I called Austral on Friday arvo for the weekly check on the SB3a's arrival and was pleasantly surprised when Ray said it had arrived but the USB card was still on back order. Hoorah!
So when planning Saturday's activities I was able to splice in a trip to the southside to pick up the SB3a. I will have to sort the USB out when it arrives.
Sunday was also very busy but I was able to get to the shed just after 4pm to connect up the SB3a. No problems, strange that the Cab number initially shown on power up was '09' when it only allows 02 to 05?? I changed it to '05' as '03' is reserved for the mini-panel, and I have reserved the USB to use '02'. This leaves '04' spare.
Lachlan wanted to do some more work on his layout so we decided where the shop was going and I showed him how to scrape the grass flock away ready for positioning. I will have to paint the pavement gray sometime this week.
Matthew was running Toby on Lachlan's layout while we were busy with the above.

Unfortunately I missed the Ipswich model train show at The Workshops this weekend.

Hopefully some opportunities this week at night to do some work.

The running day photos as promised

Craig (at the back) sporting his headset as North Coast Control (the Bearded Controller!), Darryl and PK (at the front)

The Bearded Controller though the decks



View through Kyogle heading towards Fairy Hill (CPH railmotor in the siding)



Darryl sporting his 'radio' headset

When you gotta go, you gotta go!

Maintenance crew hard at it

I don't know why PK is sniffing his iPhone though? Must be one of those 'iSmell' apps ;-)
(Pardon the time stamp on the video, it should be 23/10/11 but obviously the date file is wrong!)

Trip to the southside for a running day on Cassino

The day I have been waiting for all week while I have been on leave finally arrived. Today. After a busy morning attending to a vet's appointment for the dog, I got in the car and drove the 50 minutes or so south to Mr Mackie's humble abode for the much anticipated running day (afternoon!) on his layout, Cassino (link in blog's on the right).

A good crew turned up and plenty of laughs eventuated due to the timetable going out the window and a best effort run occurring. The headsets for communicating with Control operated fairly well apart from a few hiccups easily fixed. After a few hours I had to leave the others to head back home and spend some time with the boys. I get home and the missus says "I wasn't expecting to see you until 5:30". Damn! I could have spent another 45 minutes at Craig's!

I have some photos of the afternoon that I have to convert to a lower resolution and hopefully a video off the spycam, but I will have to check these tomorrow and upload if OK.

Lachlan wanted me to do something on his layout, so off to the shed we went. I glued a lady figurine down onto the church footpath, coming out of the gate. I also cut down some styrene to glue the village shop onto so that it had some pavement out front. Then it was time to play with the boys in the yard for half an hour or so.

So thanks Craig for an entertaining afternoon, sans children!

Kensington Hills receives its first signals

Tuesday evening I was able to find some spare time in the shed. What to do, what to do? Signals!

So I started installing the Eckon signals I made back in July and August. First one in was KH4, the feathered two aspect signal at the ramp end of Kensington Hill station just before the tunnel mouth. The second one for the night was KH3 which is the two aspect signal guarding the point out of the engine stable siding. I initially installed it to close to the point curve and when I did a test run through with a couple of wagons, it bumped into them. So I had to position it further down the siding straight (about 5 cm). All good now. I didn't have a chance to wire up the extension cables to the MRC 4-way accessory decoder/s so this will be a job for another time. Two signals yet to be installed (KH1 and KH2).

I also took the opportunity in gluing down the red phone box and the street light near it.

The weekly phone call to Austral on Saturday morning came up empty. They are hoping for some stock to arrive through the week but couldn't say what would be in the delivery.

Saturday afternoon about 4pm a clanger of a hail storm came racing through. Golf ball sized stones were crashing into everything like gunfire! I can't remember when I last saw hail that size. The boys thought it was great. Mum and myself were worried about windows being broken though. It lasted about 5-10 minutes and no damage to either the house or the Shed (as far as I could tell). Nothing happened today as I was busy with yard chores.

Nothing going to happen through the week this week but maybe something special on Sunday. Stay tuned!

Some new photos and what happened this week

This week was fairly void of modelling on Illavearf. Saturday morning I was told to look after the boys as I wasn't going to be around in the arvo. So off to Hobbyrama we went. It was a quick visit but Matthew enjoyed it. He could name all the Thomas engines in the display case. As he has a fixation for Toby (for whatever reason) I decided to buy the one in the display case as his engine to run on the layouts. After the Club Monthly Meeting on Saturday, I raced home as the youngest was missing Dad and was inconsolable by his Mum. I spent some time with both boys, firstly running Toby around for Matthew on Lachlan's layout with a borrowed Annie in tow. Then I was also able to put the fence up around the church on Beaver Springs. Go on over to that blog to see some photos.

Sunday was busy with some Spring Cleaning about the house, namely carpet shampooing which is always a fun thing in my books! So no free time to do anything on Illavearf. I was able though last night to take some photos of the recent work (red phone booth, street light, and path fencing), so here they be. Excuse the mess I haven't had a chance to clean up.

Illavearf finally gets some attention

Saturday arvo was spent watching the AFL GF (go The Cats!) so no shed-time that afternoon. Late Sunday morning though found me in the shed contemplating which layout to work on, Beaver Springs or Illavearf. The latter was chosen. I spent the time wiring in the second MRC decoder to the bus and Point 5 to the second DS64, whilst 'supervising' the boys in the yard. I was surprised at my soldering skills on this occasion as it all went like clockwork! Fortunately the boys behaved themselves and spent more time in the shed looking at what I was doing than running around like blue-arsed flies in the yard. With Point 5 wired in, the Kensington Hill side is now completed. I tested the mimic board and some weird things were happening. Time for lunch!

After a post lunch nap, I ventured again into the shed on my lonesome to do some troubleshooting. The mimic board issue was a result of two issues. I hadn't programmed the mini-panel for Point 5's inputs (thought I had done this when I had done Point 4!) and the feedback LED power leads were reversed. Both easily fixed. While I had the controller connected into the mini-panel, I did some reprogramming of Point 4's commands as well, as both Point 4 and Point 5 need to be interlocked else derailments would occur. As for the feedback signal, a simple wire reversal was needed at the point mini-switch block.

As no children had yet come out to divert my attention elsewhere, I took the opportunity to fix the footpath fencing for the station in place. I then tried various locations for the red telephone booth and settled on one close to the road, station car park and the end of the footpath fencing. I scrapped away the grass and positioned it in place. I then found one of my street lights, drilled a 3mm hole close to the telephone booth and positioned it in place. Yet to glue both in though as I will give it a day or so and see if it still looks OK.

So finally some movement on Illavearf's modelling!

A couple of hours Shed-Time this week

Sunday morning just gone found me and the youngest Crew member home alone as the missus took the older Crew member to the flicks. In between keeping my little helper (hinderer?) out of mischief in the yard I was able to do some more work on Lachlan's layout. Didn't account for all the time in the shed but little bits here and there all add up! So the church was glued into place, the grass between the front steps and the road scrapped away and a gravel path made. I also cut the fencing off its sprue to get a feel for what needs to be done there. I also filled in the 'junk yard' behind the service station with the same reddish gravel.

Nothing done on Illavearf unfortunately. Maybe one night this week I might be able to get out to the shed and start wiring up the points to the second DS64.

I phoned Austral Modelcraft on Saturday morning to see if the NCE shipment from MRRC had arrived. Still coming in from the States. So I had Ray put one SB3a and a USB interface away for me when they arrive.

That's all folks!

Payment at last! Now to spend it ;-)

This week I finally received the payment from Peco Publications for the Continental Modeller article I wrote which appeared in the August edition of this magazine. By the time the various banks between the UK and Australia took their cut of the international funds transfer I was only slightly in front of the UK payment once converted into Aus dollars. Now I had the last piece in the finances to procure the NCE SB3a booster system. My esteemed mate and fellow club member PK was also going to fossick around for the USB interface he had somewhere at home. This would allow me to connect a laptop to the layout to use Decoder Pro, etc as well as try my new Android smartphone's Engine Driver app which allows the smartphone to function as a wireless hand controller when it uses the laptop's wi-fi capabilities.

Friday evening came and didn't look pretty. Both boys had come down with some sort of nasty virus. The younger son had reached 39 degrees plus, which was a concern. I had grave doubts as to having a reasonable sleep this night! As Saturday came, the previous night hadn't been too bad, could have been a lot worse! However I spent the morning looking after the boys and taking the youngest to the doctor as his fevers where still quite high. Throat infection. Just lovely, there goes Saturday! I was hoping to get to Austral Modelcraft to buy said SB3a but it wasn't looking good. After a snooze with the youngest son, I thought I might have a chance to duck across town. Time was possibly an issue, so I made a phone call. Closing time was rapidly approaching and I probably was just going to miss it unless they waited for me. It didn't matter as they had sold the last SB3a in the store Friday afternoon. A week or two before new stock arrives from down south.

Sunday was very busy out and about in the morning, then spraying the weeds in the arvo, as well as playing with the boys (kids just don't want to stay in bed when they are sick!!) in the yard. I did manage to get to the shed and do some quick work on Illavearf's electrics. I wired up the second MRC to the programming track, programmed its board ID which then set all the accessory decoders outputs automatically, and did some LED tests. All worked first go. I then mounted the board under the layout but didn't get to install the power to it from the track. Maybe throught the week.

Tonight I received an email from PK advising he couldn't find the USB interface and he vaguely remembers selling it.

So in the end I will have to wait a couple of weeks before I get a chance to make the trip to the other side of town to pick up a new SB3a AND USB interface. No rush as I am still sorting out the wiring under the layout when I get a chance. Now that the evening temperatures are getting warmer I might be able to spend time in the shed at night. Winter was very cold (as Brisbane winters go!) this year and the shed isn't heated!

Also this week I joined the social networking set and joined Twitter. A link (of sorts) is on my website but you can directly find me on @GBsShed. I have already sent three tweets into the Twitterverse, mainly to some guys in the UK involved with Model Rail Live.

British Telecom Red Phone Booth on the layout

As mentioned in the previous blog, my time this week was spent on a training course. By the end of the week and after the exam I was mentally exhausted. Friday night was spent getting acquainted with a couple of beers and whiskeys. Seemed to do the trick!

The only modelling I got to do was late Saturday afternoon on my return from the club AGM. I took the British Telecom Red Phone Booth that I received last weekend out of its wrapping and placed it on the layout. I didn't actually fix it into place but just moved it around the vicinity of the station to see what would work. On the subject of the club AGM, I had competition on the VP position which subsequently went to a vote by the members. The outcome was that I am honoured to announce that I am the new VP for RMCQ for this year. Hopefully I will meet the expectations of those who voted me in as well as convince those that didn't vote for me this time round that I am a suitable candidate for next year.

Hopefully this week I can get to the shed and do some more work on my layout.

Some useful gifts from Fathers' Day

Today I received some nice gifts from the boys for Fathers' Day. A book on Hornby related stuff and a nice OO scale British Telecom Red Phone Booth which I will place near the Kensington Hill station illuminated by a street light.

Earlier in the week was the marriage anniversary. The missus gave me Tim Fisher's latest book on railways around the world. Something to read on the train.

Modelling related was limited this week due to other things getting in the way of an evening. This afternoon I got about an hour in the shed on my layout. I was able to wire in the second DS64 and set the accessory numbers, hopefully, as I have yet to wire the point motors to it!

This week I am on training at work, so the evenings will be spent studying for the exam at the end of the week, so no modelling for me. Saturday is the club's AGM and I have put myself up for nomination as Vice President. I will let you all know how that went next Sunday.

Varied work accomplished this week

This week's modelling was a mixed bag. The week started with me finishing off the signals with their respective identifying numbers KH1 to KH4. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to do this, but after doing it they do look more realistic. Now I just have to install them. To do this I need to install the second MRC 4-way decoder. Today I found some time to mount this decoder and the second DS64 decoder to their perspex mounting boards. Now just have to wire them in, program their IDs and test.

I also had the opportunity of making the last kit, a 'supermarket', for Lachlan's layout one night as well. Now just have to finish this off with a footpath out front.

I ordered some more supplies from MB Klein from my friendly middle man PK last night. Some fencing is in the order and this will be placed around the church and if any left over the farm house.

Unsure what this week will bring. If the night time weather is mild and not too cold, I might get the opportunity to go to the shed to wire up some of the signals, lighting or point motors.

Chat with Ron Everingham

In last night's post I forgot to mention that I had a very interesting chat with Ron Everingham at the Show on Saturday concerning a style of UK coupling specific to shunting operations on small branchlines. No bulky and non-prototypical Kadees here please, or the equally bulky tension lock uncoupling devices. He uses a very thin wire arrangement known as a Alex Jackson coupling, which similarly to the aforementioned couplers, uses electromagnets to do the uncoupling.

Detail can be located at the Manchester Model Railway Society at this page http://www.mmrs.org.uk/technical/ajcoupling.htm. I think I will be doing some reading about this style of operation possibly for use with Pocklington as I am leaning towards it being a small shunting exhibition layout.

Ron suggested some minor changes to the design of the AJ coupler. He uses stainless steel fishing trace wire (11 thou) instead of piano or guitar wire. He also uses a wire loop arrangement around each axle (non bogie types) instead of the stated fixture anchor point. I should have taken a photo of the arrangement but completely forgot about it. I will just have to remember to do that when next I see Ron exhibiting his Broxburn Sidings layout.

I also failed to mention that I did my annual big spend with Horizon Hobbies at the show. I bought a $14.95 Silvermaz NSWGR S truck kit to have a go at. It will join the RU hopper bought last year in the kits drawer, waiting for an opportunity to be made.

What a week!

During the week that was we had a public holiday for the annual Brisbane Exhibition (Ekka) on Wednesday. I made the most of this day off by starting with going to the club early (~0700) to get stuck into finishing the signal kits that I wanted to make for the Kensington Hill side of Illavearf. I did this and they came up very well. Just the identification numbers to add and then I can install them. Later on the morning I spent some time with Lachlan on his layout doing more grass work.

Saturday was the annual RMCQ model train and hobbies show. I took Lachlan down to have a look and help out if needed. Some very nice layouts, some new and some revisiting, were there. I particularly liked Moelfryn which is a superb OO9 scale layout of a Welsh narrow gauge railway.

PK took a video which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghzApmw0rFQ

Also there was Princetown, a OO scale GWR line.

Finally of particular note was Splitters Swamp Creek. A layout under construction by Geoff, a friend of Mr Mackie's, who is modelling a NSWGR based branchline. Geoff impressed me greatly with the fine hand made track. I look forward to seeing more of the layout as it progresses.

The club had a great show, with patron numbers up from last year. All involved, especially John Kennedy and Janelle Dilger should be congratulated on organising a great show and canteen again for 2011.

Finally on Sunday afternoon after returning from a day trip up to the Sunshine Coast I found some time to continue with Lachlan's layout and added some static grass.

If I get a chance through the week to go and take some photos I will upload to Beaver Springs.

Phew, what a week!

Yeah! Some modelling accomplished this week

The week started with me starting one of the Eckon two aspect with junction feather kits I got for my birthday. I got most of it done in about an hour and a half, but didn't quite get to finishing it. So this week finish off placing the feather on the signal head and then do the small amount of painting required on the phone box and phone indicator.

This weekend I also got to the shed to finish off some more grassing of Lachlan's layout and pull out the turnout that wasn't working (Lachlan would say "destroyed". He tends to exaggerate a tad!) After pulling it out and testing it it looked fine. Lord knows? I will reinstall it and retest. I also had Lachlan redo some ground work to a darker brown paint so that we can start looking at placing the church in its location sometime in the next few weeks after doing the grass and paving.

Wednesday is a public holiday in Brisbane for the Ekka Show so I might have the opportunity of ducking down to the club for a few hours in the morning. If that doesn't pan out, maybe some shed time. The weekend coming up is the club's annual show so I might not have much time to do anything at home modelling-wise over the weekend but we will see. I will only be able to get out probably Saturday arvo to give a hand.

I also received my complimentary copy of the August edition of Continental Modeller with my article in it. It came up pretty good.

GB's Shed paraphernalia

Nothing on the modelling front this week, too busy with other things unfortunately. However during the week some paraphernalia I ordered online under a special introductory offer from Vistaprint (www.vistaprint.com.au) arrived.  For a bit of fun between myself and my sons I ordered three caps with printing on the front to make them feel that they are part of my crew. These went down a treat on Wednesday night and they can't stop wearing them. The smiles on their faces were more than the $7 per hat in price. Actually a 'priceless' moment. I also had some 'business' cards printed which I think came up a treat.

Hopefully some modelling this week, even if it is just one of the signals I got for my birthday way back in July!



So close yet so far away!

Everytime I go to the kitchen sink I cast my eyes towards The Shed. Yesterday was spent looking after crook kids and a crook missus, along with getting the weeds mown (the frost has burnt the grass off but got to keep the weeds at bay before they take over the place!). This morning was looking particular promising. The kids and missus were looking and feeling better, so I mentioned over breakfast to the missus I might be able to get some time in the shed today. She said maybe but as the weather was great and she wanted to get out of the house we were going walking down at Sandgate. OK that won't take long, or so I thought. By the time we got home it was lunch time. My youngest hadn't slept particular well last night and as he was in our bed most of the night, he provided me with a disturbed night as well. That and the eldest son having nightmares. Brilliant! So by the time it was nap time for my youngest I said to the missus I'll try putting him down. So I started reading to him and I was able to send both of us off to sleep. An hour and a half later we woke up. Well that buggered up the arvo didn't it. After finishing off a couple of chores I did get to The Shed but it was just to position Lachlan's church onto his layout.

The Shed - so close yet so far away!

I have been thinking about the issue of upgrading to a SB3a to provide greater power to the layout. It is quite an expensive exercise and I was wondering last night whether I should just split the accessories off onto a separate power bus / circuit. The Digitrax DS64 needs a 12-14VDC supply but the MRC 4-output decoders need 12VAC supply if powered separately to the track input. I could look at providing two transformers at the different supply voltages but is that the way to go? DCC Concepts provide a dual supply type 5A transformer (http://www.dccconcepts.com.au/index_files/DCCpowersupply.htm) for $129 ex P&P which would power both types. Another thought could be using DCC Concepts 2.5A 12VDC transformer ($29.95) to supply power to the DS64s and have the NCE Powercab supply the power to the MRCs?

I am just in a quandary at the moment. I can't justify a Powerpro 5 or 10A system as I can't see myself modelling a sizeable layout for a long time (unless I move home and build a shed specifically for modelling. The current Shed is multi-purpose). As for the SB3a sure the 5A would be good but powering locos and accessories from the same supply would limit the locos to 1-3 at the most depending on the current draw of the loco decoders. It also probably helps with all the additional features but would I use all these if I am only modelling small layout/s ? At $230 it seems not to be the best use of a limited budget at the moment.

Hopefully some of my more knowledgeable modelling friends can provide some guidance on the best options to do with respect to accessories power supplies (maybe something from Jaycar?) versus DCC system power supplies.

One thing I forgot to mention in last week's blog was that Continental Modeller has published an article of mine in their August edition so look out for that if you feel like a read.

Little Chuffers and "Onya Cadel"

The only modelling this week was that I was able to finish off Lachlan's church so that is behind me.

Sunday we went across to the Bracken Ridge Lions Club (http://brackenridge.qld.lions.org.au/news) which sponsors a monthly 5" gauge minature train day across an outside track at McPherson Park. I haven't been since Lachlan was about two so it was Matthew's turn to be introduced to them. It is always popular. Price is very reasonable $2 a ride or 10 for $10. The latter can be used within twelve months so very good value. You might be lucky to get two laps of the circuit but if the queue is 50 or so people only one lap is the go. Yesterday was such a day with the brilliant weather we had. However there are a lot of trains so the queue gets through very quickly.

Here are some videos that I took from my spycam. Very good resolution I reckon!

Here are some close ups of one of the "iron horses" that pulled us around.

Apart from that no modelling as the weekend was devoted to other things like gardening and cleaning out the garage. Now that the Tour de France is over for another year my evenings might get back to some modelling opportunities.

BTW "You little beauty Cadel. You finally got there!"

New Link of Interest - My Web Page

I have just set up a web page courtesy of Google Sites to store my articles from a previous site as well as provide additional content that Blogger cannot do. Go and have a look.

AMRA Brisbane visit on Saturday

Bugger all happened this week on the modelling front. However looking for something to take my boys to late Saturday morning I was contemplating visiting my younger brother and maybe head past Hobbyrama when the missus said "Isn't there an open day at the Zillmere mob?" I'll check I said, and sure enough there was an Open Day / Buy and Sell at AMRA Brisbane located at Zillmere. I've never been to AMRA so thought why not. I can phone my brother instead!

On the way over I stopped off at my club, RMCQ, to see if anyone was interested in coming over. The members there said a group had already gone over. So off we went. As we entered the club grounds of AMRA, eagle eyed Lachlan pointed out PK, Bruce, Peter and Rob discussing their purchases. We went and said hello just before they headed off back to RMCQ. I took the boys first to the garden railway as the weather was looking suss. Very interesting with the live steam happening in the bigger scales. Matthew freaked out for some reason at a railmotor and didn't want to be anywhere near it. Lord knows why. Maybe because it looked out of place to him. But it was funny!

I then cruised through the Buy and Sell stalls, picking up a BR OO gauge brake van for $5 and a private oil merchant's tank wagon for $10. I couldn't see anything of value for HO NSWGR.

We then paid the 'gold coin donation' entry fee to have a gander in the club room and at the layout. It was okay but nothing that I would say as being flash. Hopefully RMCQ's will be better.

Nothing else happened over the weekend. Unsure what this week will bring. Let's hope some modelling!