NMRA Div 1 Clinics Weekend

This last week just gone was my last full week at home before going back to work for a short term.  Basically, I did not do much modelling at all at home last week.  I did go out on a scouting mission for some pictures driving around the area and taking plenty of photos of the area covering a potentially new layout that I might build in the next few years.  Still plenty of planning still to do.

I did however, do some reviews and practices of my presentations that I presented this weekend at the NMRA Division 1 Clinics Weekend.  I was scheduled to present 2 and a half sessions on Saturday and 2 and a half sessions on Sunday.  The half was shared with my partner of modelling crime PK.  Apparently there was about 50 paid attendees registered for the weekend.  They could attend Saturday and/or Sunday, with a different fee depending upon what sessions they attended.  One stream allowed the attendee to build a small completely sceniced module with track, scenery, static grass, and I think a tree and some rocks.  There was considerable interest for this stream.  The rest of the attendees could do things like modelling in water, building trees, scenery techniques, Intro to DCC, Controlling your layout with ESP/MQTT, JMRI (various topics and sessions), building a detailed structure – 2 parts, Layout Planning, Intro to Model Railway Operations, Painting Backdrops, Modelling Tarpaulins, Applying Decals, and Weathering and a few more.  So each of these sessions were repeated on Saturday and Sunday.

Well what a weekend!  Great enthusiasm, great presentations, enthusiastic attendees, raffles, great catering, quite a few laughs.  It was only 14 minutes from home, so I was spoilt.

There was a considerable number of non NMRA members attending, and we even had some already joining our Division.  I think there will be more joining us soon as well.

Sure there might have been some things that might have gone better over the weekend, and they will be addressed, but that is really only nit picking.  It was a top weekend.  Quite a few of us even went to dinner on the Saturday evening.  The organising committee deserve a pat on the back.  I might need to find some time this week to sit back this week and process what I learnt at the few sessions I attended.

This week is Tuesday Nighters and it is at my place.  So I need to clean the tables and chairs this week, along with the coffee cups. 

I still have a few tasks on my to do list this week to complete - well actually truck loads.  Maybe I will actually make some progress given that the Clinics weekend is now out of the way.

Signal Box Progression and Great Day at Buy and Sell

On last Sunday evening I created a bit of a to-do task list for this week's modelling activities.  So on Monday morning I started down that road.  I cut up some styrene to form a fence that can be taken to the Club for installation on the top deck.  It is about 35cm long.  It was painted silver to look like galvanised iron and then some fine mesh wrapping was used to simulate the wire of the fence.  Some black electrical tape was stuck onto the fine mesh to simulate the metal sheet that is installed at the top of the fence to stop animals like koalas climbing over it.  It was then all glued together.  We will see how well it comes up.  PK, took the fence from me on Tuesday evening as he usually attends the Club on Wednesday.  However, when I got to the Club today, I forgot to look for or even ask anyone if the fence has been delivered, let along installed.  Doh!

On Monday evening, I started making the 15 levers for the interlocking frame for Kyogle signal box.  Tuesday morning these were cut to a reasonable length and then painted black.  I had planned to I pick out the levers various colours to simulate their correct colour in the signal box for signals, point locks, point control and spare levers.  However, I never got around to that task.

Tuesday evening was our get together at Shelton's place.  I hadn't seen his since last year.  A very good informative meeting.  Shelton had installed a reversing loop on his layout.  I think he needs to install a second to swap back direction again.

Later in the week, I did however paint the floor of my Kyogle signal box.  I also painted the walls.  I then added some shelves and started down the path of populating the signal box.  I made a fridge and installed that.  I already had two tables and two chairs already made, for this exact type of project.  So they were glued down inside the signal box.  I added two shelves to the wall.  I also drew up a bit of a track plan to go above one of the shelves, so the signaller could throw the correct levers in the correct order.  I also installed two staff machines that I had around already painted up.  I also had some filing cabinets laying around.  So I added one of those to the corner of the room as well.  I also made up an esky with a metal handle.  That has also been installed.  The door and windows have just been press fitted.  The windows need a paint and the door, a second coat of paint.  I had an OO scale railway worker that I purchased last year in Newcastle.  But this giant of a man is taller than the HO door.  Bugger!

Looking towards the platform side of the signal box.  Two red staff machines.  fridge on the right.  Table and chair on the left.

Looking from the platform side.  The signal diagram on the rear wall.  Filing cabinet on the right.  Esky next that.  Another table and chair on the left.

I then had a few photos of inside a NSW signal box come into my facebook feed, and I needed to install a few other items.  Like a sink, some phones on the wall and also a wall clock, calendar, jug, coffee cup, train register book, staff hoops, pen and paper and so on.  I might also try a fan and a heater, but I think these might to hard to make out of styrene.  I would also like to install a jacket over the back of a chair, but don't know what to make it out of.  Any suggestions?

Saturday we went to the local NMRA meeting at Garry’s business.  What an absolute cracker of a day.  Great presentations, great laughs and nice food.  They keep picking on me!  When I got home I had to head off to an engagement party with the wife’s family.  Another great evening.  But no rest for the wicked.  I had to be up early and head over to the Club for our Buy and Sell.  I sold some quantity of items, and then put that revenue to good use.  I picked up a bundle of track and got 6 sets of 12mm points and various lengths of flex track.  I also picked up a Powercab for $100.  I’ve checked it out and it works as a Procab and that is all I need.  Now I just need to install a radio card in it.  Just before I left I picked up a 12mm mobil oil tanker for $10 (no wheels) from the Loves.  I can fix the no wheel issue.  I also picked up a set of level frames to replace my hand made ones I made earlier in the week.  These levers have the release grips on each of the levers, mine do not.  But this frame is too big.  So I will have to cut it down in size.  I made $13 out of the day, so I am ecstatic following my wins.

So I might need to do a catch up on some of the items from last week’s to-do list, this week.  

 

Weekly Hapenings with Pictures

This week started with a delivery from eBay for some more Arduinos.  My plan was to test a concept I had to gang up the common from two of my level crossing flashers to install an Arduino single Relay.  So I tested this on a some code that flashed two outputs, and wouldn’t you know it.  It worked!  So the alternating flashes, will hold the common ‘on’ so it can control a relay to lower the level crossing gates at a level crossing.  So that enhancement will be added to my level crossing circuit for future level crossing systems I sell.

On Friday I went over to Aurora Hobbies for a browse.  While there I ran into Gary Lamb from Western Australia.  We used to chat online while Wuiske had his whereby site operating.  With Yeerongpilly station out of action for its rebuild I gave Gary a lift to Yeronga Station so he could get to his next place on his travel itinerary for the day.

I went to the Club on Saturday and had a chat with a few people, as you do while at the Club.  I cooked the snags on the BBQ while someone cooked the onions.  The meeting was uneventful, but enlightening allowing members to understand what is going on inside the Club.  That is why we pay the executive the big bucks (haha) to run everything. 

I did see some really nice VJM wagons (I think) sitting in 12mm staging sidings at the Club.  One set was extremely well weathered by Mitch.  Another set was decaled, but not yet weathered.  They also looked very micky mouse.  Another item that took my interest was an area of scenery that has had a backdrop added.  It fits in very well.  I offered a couple of suggestions to really bring it up to spectacular.  I will work on a section of fencing that I will take to the Club next Sunday and see if I can splice it into the scene.

The 3D printed wagons all weathered up.

Once you blow this scene up, you see the koala fence in the background.

Adding a scratchbuilt fence to this scenery will look fantastic.

On my way home from the Club I stopped off at PK’s place.  You would not believe it, but his clothesline is real.  I had to take a picture to prove it.

The non-fictitious clothesline.

PK even exists as well.

This arvo I started to make a signal level frame for my Kyogle Signal Box.  I have cut about 16 lever slots in a section of curved styrene and I will add the levers tomorrow.  I found two staff machines that I have previously painted, so I just need to make a couple of chairs and table for also installing into the signal box.  The box still needs painting and the door and windows need to be fitted.

I have also just glued all my 3D printed people to a piece of balsa wood so I can undercoat them, and then paint them over the course of this week. 

Sydney Trip

Well, this week I ventured down to Sydney to attend the Rosehill Model Railway Exhibition.  I was joined by 4 fellas from Toowoomba and Tyler from Launceston.  On Thursday afternoon we all met up and travelled to Campbelltown.  We stayed in a nice little motel.  Pretty basic but it was about a 1km walk to the RSL for dinner.  On Friday morning we jumped in our hire car and we went south.  We got some coffee and something for breakfast.  First stop after that was Alan’s place followed by a trip to Gary’s place and then a trip back to Peter’s place.  Fantastic hospitality and great layouts to see.  It was about 6 years since I visited all three layouts.  That was when we attended the Modelling the Railways on NSW convention, and the day's events were organised by Marcus.

We got back to West Ryde about 7:15pm and checked into the motel for the next 2 nights.  Saturday morning we went and got coffee and something to eat then off to the Train Exhibition, at Rosehill.  This was my first trip to an Epping Model Railway Club Exhibition.  I ran into a couple of Queenslanders.  Jack, Merv and his wife, Scott and then Andrew.  I bit later on I saw Peter and his daughter.  I also caught up with Warren and Kathleen, Rohan and plenty of NSW mates.  I suppose I need to also mention Tyson and Marty were there flying the Queensland Flag.

I was most impressed with the number  of NSW outline layouts and the general quality.  Some parts were ordinary, while some were very, very nice indeed and inspirational.  well done to the organisers for the exhibition.  Food was slightly dearer that normal, but cheaper than some shows that I have attended.

We pulled up stumps early and headed out to see Australian Modeller.  I took the opportunity to trawl up and down all the aisles as well as have a look at the layout in the Australian Modeller.  Well done to Ian, Alan and the third person (sorry I forgot who) who all together built this fantastic display layout.  Loved the scene inside the shed, especially when the train is going over the level crossing.  Boy he has some stamina.  This reminds me of a scene on Bob Hardings layout, but Bob's had sound effects.  Also the scene where Mr Wilks had his chain saw was funny.  Also the body found in the trees – which is very hard to see, was good as well.

Saturday night we visited Marcus’s place.  We had dinner and then a run on the layout.  Two of our crew Tyler and Paul had not been there before.  They were blown away.  We had some brilliant discussions.  It is great therapy attending here and having a chat.  Thank you Marcus.

Sunday we had a bit of a sleep in and then a good breakfast and then went train hunting around Enfield.  I got a couple of photos.  We then went to the airport, returned the car and Tyler left for the Virgin Terminal, while everyone else went to the Qantas terminal.  The 4 Toowoomba guys were on the same plane to Brisbane and I was on one a couple of hours later.  My plane was early backing out and early landing in Brisbane.

I will need lots of time to put together all the 3D printed kits I picked up at Rosehill.  i also might have acquired a seconds RailBus.  I will see how it runs tomorrow.

When I met up with the boys from Toowoomba on Thursday, I got some feedback about they want more pictures on the blog (I know some of them can’t read).  While talking to Marcus on Saturday at the show, (and also talking to the other person of the same name – he spells his name wrong), someone else advised they wanted more photos in the Blog.  Maybe I can do that in the future with my upcoming change to new work hours – Hehehehe.

Thanks to everyone in our travelling posse, for a great weekend.  Lots of laughs, a great learning experience and very good company.

The Crew from Saturday Night.

Everyone trying to run trains.