Small Improvements and Building the Kyogle Station Building

On Tuesday this week 7 guys came over for our Tuesday Nighter's get together.  They all had a bit of a wander around the layout and Garry asked that I run a train.  So I picked up the fruit train currently sitting in Grafton Yard track 2, and ran it all the way to track 3 at Clapham Yard.  While I was running someone else was doing the safeworking - take a staff and returning it at the next crossing loop and taking the next one and so on. At Clapham Yard, the track further north was blocked so that train could not go any further.  During the run I found out that a track joiner in Cassino Meatworks on the main was not conducting.  So that was a job added to the weekend’s list.  The loco on the fruit train also found a high track nail in track 3 at Clapham Yard.  That was also identified for remediation.  I also had concerns that the loco was not starting at a low speed step.

So on Friday I went down to the shed and identified the bad joiner in Cassino Meatworks and then hit it with some solder.  I ran a loco through that area, and it worked well.  I also pushed the track nail at Clapham Yard further in.  That problem was also solved.  I then took the fruit train and then backed it up from Clapham Yard track 3 to Acacia Ridge Yard track 1.  Here I ran the locos around the train via track 2 and then continued back to Grafton Yard.  At Grafton Yard I ran the locos around the train again, so that train is ready to for the next Operations Session. 

However on the run back, I identified that there was an issue between one loco and first wagon.  They kept uncoupling.  I have a feeling when I was mucking around with the locos I placed the rear one on the track in the opposite direction (and then set up a consist).  The first wagon on the train had a scale coupling on it, so I replaced it with a standard size coupling head.  The loco needs an underset coupling.  I had a look through all my KD types, and I don’t have a spare packet.  So I need to spend stupid amounts of money on a packet from a local hobby shop.

Earlier on Friday I picked up a couple of storage boxes from K-Mart.  These have been placed above the pelmet as you enter the door into the shed.  One has all by KD height gauges and test tracks in it.

On Saturday I had a plan to visit a local hobby shop.  But an item I needed to take there could not be found.  It must have taken me close to an hour before I found what I was looking for.  That was in a steaming shed.  I was sweating like a pig.  Anyway I went there and dropped off what I needed to do.  When I came home, I started doing some more Clothes lines.  I completed 5 N scale and 8 HO scale ones.  Later in the day I gave them a dose of paint. 

Today I finally got around to the Kyogle Station Building.  I found the plans and detail photos I was working off.  This has been sitting half built for close to 2 years.  So today I installed 5 doors.  I think I need to also install one more window on the rear wall.  Not that anyone will ever see that it is not there, but I still will.  Next weekend I will add some internal walls and some internal detail.  I will then start on the roof and any internal lighting.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Well it really wasn’t that hot, as it was only in the low 30’s for the most of this last week, but OMG it was so humid.  Up in the 80-90% for most of the week.  I spent the week up in Caloundra overlooking the water.  I could not get any closer to the water across the road.  There was consistent rain, but there was plenty of sunshine.  But boy was it humid.  I just sat down and watched TV, went to the beach, jumped into the pool, checking email and read a magazine and that was it.  I took no modelling projects with me at all.  I was amazed by the continual flow and variety of ships into and out of the Port of Brisbane.

When we got home on Saturday morning, my wife picked up my eBay delivery from earlier in the week, from her sister’s place, and by mid-afternoon, the electrical components had been spliced into the circuit.  A bit of testing and Voila!  I now have a working level crossing signal sitting in my pergola.  I need to protect the electric parts and give the structure another coat of paint, then I might move it to outside the shed.  I spent some time yesterday trying to find the jiffy box I had set aside to protect the electricals.  I eventually found it.  I moved it for safe keeping.

Today I did not do much apart from cleaning up a bit in the shed.  This is in preparation for Tuesday.  The Tuesday Nighters meeting this week will be at my place.  So I will show off my level crossing light, and some new shelving.  the other thing I did catch up on today was all the Internet groups emails.  I'm now up to date.

I also completed the presentation on my Bulk Rain and Bulk Pain Wagons that I am planning on giving at an upcoming NMRA meeting.

Distracted

This week I was a little distracted.  It started with a great meeting at Geoff’s place on Tuesday night for our regular fortnightly get together.  There were a few items changing hands.  PK returned my Auscision rail paybus that he fixed up.  I also picked up a magazine from PK to read.  Wednesday and Friday I could not get motivated to get online with some online groups.  However, I did get online to Discord and had a great natter with Tyler on Thursday. 

Saturday morning I got to the shed and started working on some more remediation activities from my ops session.  The first task was to shave back the road way over the Lismore level crossing.  I used a Dremel tool with a sanding disk.  I ran the rail paybus over the level crossing and it now runs without stalling over this location.

That was the extent of my activities.  I’ve been doing some family things yesterday and today.  I also finished reading the magazine that PK gave me on Tuesday.  I was hoping for a delivery from eBay this week, but it looks like this coming week it will rock up.  That means next Saturday I should be able to wire up a home made set of 1:1 level crossing flashers.  More on that next Sunday.

New Shelving and Then Some New Projects

New Year’s Day started rather early.  I was the first in the house up, as the son had a rather early start at work today.  I painted up some 42 x 19mm pine to fill in some gaps in the pelmet as this will support the shelf at the left hand end of the shed.  After the rest of the family went shopping I went to Bunnings and purchased some more pine.  I came home and cut it up and during the day I installed the bracing for the first two shelves.  The first is about 1.4m long, and the second is about 1.6m long. 

I have also installed some bracing under the hangers for the pelmet in that area.  While the glue dried, I braced the pelmet so it had no load on it.

I have identified some initial very light items that will go on these shelves.

Tuesday’s job is to add more shelving above the main layout Blob as you enter the shed.  This is where I will store my light box which the boss gave me for Christmas.  I’m sure I can find lots of other items that need to be placed on shelves and is also generally light.

Wednesday I watched the cricket, so I did not shed activity.

On Friday afternoon, I went back to Bunnings for some more items.  This time for a sample pot of paint.  When I got home I painted up some more pine, my fascia colour – Midnight Sky.

Yesterday I sat down at the computer and wrote the very simple code to flash my level crossing lights via a relay controlled by an Arduino.  On my test rig it works perfectly.  Originally it did not, as the pin outs on my Arduino relay were different to one I found online.  Once I had a closer look around, I adjusted some pins from the Arduino and Voila – a working level crossing flasher.  I am waiting for a delivery on eBay for some connectors, which will allow me to wire up my Arduino to my lights and its power supply.  But I am at the mercy of the eBay postman.  If I’m lucky, next Friday I might have the level crossing lights working.

After the Ops session and a Tuesday night get together online, there was some feedback that certain Shunt Lists were not in their standard location next to the timetable cards.  A quick look today showed that one of the shunt lists sworn black and blue that it was not there – was actually there when I checked. 

I have also started planning the assembly for the roof over the front of my shed.  That is a longer term project, maybe by the end of the February.  I am trying to find an old biscuit tin filled with drill bits that belonged to my father.  I just need to methodically search for it.