Sunday after the big Exhibition (AMRA)
Well
yesterday morning I awoke 5 minutes before the alarm went off at 3.00am
and got dressed and grabbed a coffee and departed for Melbourne. All my
plans for accommodation the night before failed to eventuate and I
decided to go early. Parked the car at Kilmore East and went on to
Caulfield on the first up, arriving at 8.20am just behind Big Watto :)
Some enjoyable banter filled in the wait before the doors opened at 9.00
however a pest kept butting in as I tried to talk with Zec. who was
there a few minutes after me.
Struggled home about midnight with a bag of goodies which I must go outside and check out now :)
More later
Cheers
Rod Young
2014/08/24
2014/08/22
2014_08_22
2014_08_22
As to my Railway, I guess I will never reach this stage, but then neither could this Russian, without his money :)
Cheers
Rod
2014_08_21
2014_08_21 The warmer days have arrived, but the nights are still coll, too cool for the shed.
Well again it was time to step back from current frustrations. So I found I had 58 unfinished projects on a temporary work bench. Actually the front of the Coal siding yards. I decided to start on these projects and take a break from points and track laying, particularly point motors :)
Projects were mostly sound units not completed (remember the FA G Class (not going there yet though) I found a BLI track mobile that had stopped, and fixed that.
I restarted other projects, only to find I did not know where the parts I bought were stored, so I
went through the place and located most of my supplies, and eventually was able to get 6 models on to the tracks in service.
Yesterday 10 BP tanks arrived from Southern Models, and I am pleased with them. Unfortunately I am suffering a lot of derailments, and they are random vehicles at random places. The gauge appears ok, and they are code 100 so I cant blame code 88, can I?
I don't know that a better camera will help me, I think my eyes are failing faster than I thought :(
Cheers
Rod
Well again it was time to step back from current frustrations. So I found I had 58 unfinished projects on a temporary work bench. Actually the front of the Coal siding yards. I decided to start on these projects and take a break from points and track laying, particularly point motors :)
Projects were mostly sound units not completed (remember the FA G Class (not going there yet though) I found a BLI track mobile that had stopped, and fixed that.
I restarted other projects, only to find I did not know where the parts I bought were stored, so I
went through the place and located most of my supplies, and eventually was able to get 6 models on to the tracks in service.
Yesterday 10 BP tanks arrived from Southern Models, and I am pleased with them. Unfortunately I am suffering a lot of derailments, and they are random vehicles at random places. The gauge appears ok, and they are code 100 so I cant blame code 88, can I?
I don't know that a better camera will help me, I think my eyes are failing faster than I thought :(
Cheers
Rod
2014/08/14
2014_08_13 PL Cars
2014_08_13 The drought (no models) has broken.
With Southern Models taking money for the VR Tanks, and a parcel from Austrains, and also notification that my 81's and final G's are to be sent today, my poor bank account is in trouble once again.
In this video T326 brings up 6 PL cars freshly out shopped for use on the Branch line.
Unfortunately T326 suffered sound decoder failure after I stored it on JMRI so I could use the WIFI Controller on my I-phone. Fortunately I have an ESU programmer and mike will send me the project to reload and fix the problem. The sound here is not representative of the DCC sounds I originally purchased.
All four body styles :)
Cheers
Rod
With Southern Models taking money for the VR Tanks, and a parcel from Austrains, and also notification that my 81's and final G's are to be sent today, my poor bank account is in trouble once again.
In this video T326 brings up 6 PL cars freshly out shopped for use on the Branch line.
Unfortunately T326 suffered sound decoder failure after I stored it on JMRI so I could use the WIFI Controller on my I-phone. Fortunately I have an ESU programmer and mike will send me the project to reload and fix the problem. The sound here is not representative of the DCC sounds I originally purchased.
All four body styles :)
Cheers
Rod
2014/08/06
2014_08_06 G Class?
2014_08_06
Just been tinkering around. Just too damn cold to settle into a job worth doing on the layout. Catching up on videos an TV. But did some work on these today, just because people were talking on FaceAche about them. Cant believe I wasted the whole day on a computer (again :( )
When you come to think about it, the much criticized Powerline upgrade with a new all wheel modern mech might be popular if the price is kept low. This 25 year old body stands pretty well even with flush glaze and a bit of added brass.
Cheers
Rod
Just been tinkering around. Just too damn cold to settle into a job worth doing on the layout. Catching up on videos an TV. But did some work on these today, just because people were talking on FaceAche about them. Cant believe I wasted the whole day on a computer (again :( )
Cheers
Rod
2014/07/31
2014_07_30
2014_07_30 its starting to warm up, but its still raining! Hell of a drought ;)
So whats been happening?
Not a lot, apart from trying to sort out the servo motors and rewire the older sections of the railway.
And I have been running a lot of trains...
And I am laying track in Bullarto, hopefully sorting out all the derailments I suffered there since installation. We are tearing out the home made points and the hand laid track, sadly :) But it is just not reliable enough, the rail profile is not available, fish plates don't fit, and its just quicker to put ME code 70 points and track down so I can get trains rolling once more :)
Here are a few pictures
repaired the platform fascia and adjusted the track bed. Unfortunately the join is not perfect left where the modules needed to come apart, but I think I have sorted most of the problems with the new track. Just like real railway practice, I will try to leave some of the original hand laid track in place.
Servo motors are in and singlet control modules in place. Just need to program them in.
Another way of supporting my back working underneath. Its almost impossible to set the motors up in centre and screw them in place sucessfully, But I did get these two installed and working. It just takes time. Because the servo motor needs to be at right angles to the movement of the blades. I tightly screwed one side in and climbed out from under, and realigned the blades to middle (Servo was already centered. Then drilled in another attaching screw. And it worked! Well its two out of two, but about 7 more to install to prove the method, I guess?
This my second attempt at installing these servos. I found Tam Valleys instructions hard to understand. I frigged around so many times that I confused the singlet logic and broke one pair of points. Had to replace the mech in this set with a brass sleeper. But it works just fine.
The servos can be reset, So I reset both of them and they again became operational. Well done Mr. Tam Valley.
Another ME No6 point goes in, and Bullarto is again linked to Trentham.
Cheers
Rod
So whats been happening?
Not a lot, apart from trying to sort out the servo motors and rewire the older sections of the railway.
And I have been running a lot of trains...
And I am laying track in Bullarto, hopefully sorting out all the derailments I suffered there since installation. We are tearing out the home made points and the hand laid track, sadly :) But it is just not reliable enough, the rail profile is not available, fish plates don't fit, and its just quicker to put ME code 70 points and track down so I can get trains rolling once more :)
Here are a few pictures
repaired the platform fascia and adjusted the track bed. Unfortunately the join is not perfect left where the modules needed to come apart, but I think I have sorted most of the problems with the new track. Just like real railway practice, I will try to leave some of the original hand laid track in place.
Servo motors are in and singlet control modules in place. Just need to program them in.
Another way of supporting my back working underneath. Its almost impossible to set the motors up in centre and screw them in place sucessfully, But I did get these two installed and working. It just takes time. Because the servo motor needs to be at right angles to the movement of the blades. I tightly screwed one side in and climbed out from under, and realigned the blades to middle (Servo was already centered. Then drilled in another attaching screw. And it worked! Well its two out of two, but about 7 more to install to prove the method, I guess?
This my second attempt at installing these servos. I found Tam Valleys instructions hard to understand. I frigged around so many times that I confused the singlet logic and broke one pair of points. Had to replace the mech in this set with a brass sleeper. But it works just fine.
The servos can be reset, So I reset both of them and they again became operational. Well done Mr. Tam Valley.
Cheers
Rod
2014/07/22
2014_07_22
2014_07_22
It was so cold yesterday and I kept out of the shed, and today is not going to be any better.
About two hours after Dawn, so I guess it was worse before the melt started. I would think the rails will shrink and pop fishplates, and I will need to be careful, especially on curves and in particular the Helix.
Cheers
Rod
It was so cold yesterday and I kept out of the shed, and today is not going to be any better.
About two hours after Dawn, so I guess it was worse before the melt started. I would think the rails will shrink and pop fishplates, and I will need to be careful, especially on curves and in particular the Helix.
Cheers
Rod
2014/07/20
2014 July 20 It did snow but....
2014_07_20
The poor old winter Doona almost let me down last night. Under the clearest night sky we have seen for more than a month, I turned in and wrapt the Doona all round and slept peacefuuly till 10.00 am :D
Apparently the whole place was covered in a thick white frost with some "snow" on the hills?
Missed it all, but this was what was left :(
About -0.7C under the verandah on the leeward side and -3 C in the open.
It was actually frost, but it looked the part :)
Cheers
Rod
The poor old winter Doona almost let me down last night. Under the clearest night sky we have seen for more than a month, I turned in and wrapt the Doona all round and slept peacefuuly till 10.00 am :D
Apparently the whole place was covered in a thick white frost with some "snow" on the hills?
Missed it all, but this was what was left :(
About -0.7C under the verandah on the leeward side and -3 C in the open.
It was actually frost, but it looked the part :)
Cheers
Rod
2014/07/18
2014_07_18 The Day the Russians Shot down another Passenger Airliner
2014_07_18
My heart goes out to the people killed and their families Hopefully justice will not be denied.
on the model I will simply show pictures of Honeysuckle which is to become the branch line Terminus.
This layout was built by Tony Kociuba to demonstrate McKenzie and HOlland signalling systems, and is in working condition. A little bit outdated for its original purpose, but should fill an empty space on my large layout. To the right of the picture you will see two unpopulated modules which sit between the two ends (end +new+middle+new+end)
Rod
My heart goes out to the people killed and their families Hopefully justice will not be denied.
on the model I will simply show pictures of Honeysuckle which is to become the branch line Terminus.
This layout was built by Tony Kociuba to demonstrate McKenzie and HOlland signalling systems, and is in working condition. A little bit outdated for its original purpose, but should fill an empty space on my large layout. To the right of the picture you will see two unpopulated modules which sit between the two ends (end +new+middle+new+end)
Rod
2014/07/17
2014_07_17 still raining!!
2014_07_17 still raining!! Bloody droughts!!
Still holding the enthusiasm :) In fact its a bit like I am determined to at least put up a fight with the bitter cold.
Before running trains I have to go out and check the rail shrinkage Ha Ha!
Some yard lengths on the Helix have popped the fish plates joinersand gaps are growing everywhere.
Its currently 4 C in the shed at night. I really cant afford to heat such a huge area 24/7.
Found another few sit down jobs, after working on wiring in the branchline for a few weeks. Installing point motors can become a PITA after a while and I took a break.
Mike Walther called in and showed me a trick or two with sound installations in BRM T Class and Austrains Y Class. He is a wizard installing sound in the Y Class in less than 20 minutes!
Unfortunately the new series of Y Class have some mechanical issues and the loco runs really nicely Long End, but clatters like Mothers egg beater Short End. I had to undo all Mikes work and strip the engine down to replace the bogie. The damaged Y 131 donated its bogie and the problem appears fixed.
Still impressed with my car wagons :)
Here another few pictures.
Cheers
Rod Young
Still holding the enthusiasm :) In fact its a bit like I am determined to at least put up a fight with the bitter cold.
Before running trains I have to go out and check the rail shrinkage Ha Ha!
Some yard lengths on the Helix have popped the fish plates joinersand gaps are growing everywhere.
Its currently 4 C in the shed at night. I really cant afford to heat such a huge area 24/7.
Found another few sit down jobs, after working on wiring in the branchline for a few weeks. Installing point motors can become a PITA after a while and I took a break.
Mike Walther called in and showed me a trick or two with sound installations in BRM T Class and Austrains Y Class. He is a wizard installing sound in the Y Class in less than 20 minutes!
Unfortunately the new series of Y Class have some mechanical issues and the loco runs really nicely Long End, but clatters like Mothers egg beater Short End. I had to undo all Mikes work and strip the engine down to replace the bogie. The damaged Y 131 donated its bogie and the problem appears fixed.
Still impressed with my car wagons :)
Here another few pictures.
Cheers
Rod Young
2014/07/12
2014__07_ 12 Stawell Show
2014__07_ 12
The decks and floor of my Studio are covered in the stripped plastic insulation bits as I enjoy the wonder of DCC You know, connect two wires and 1999 trains can run independently I guess I have made over 1000 connections just to hook 6 tortoise and 5 servo point motors into the extension which is in reality only 10 lengths of track long (10 m) However despite the fact that the two wire story was in fact unlikely to be of any use to anybody beyond the most basic of modellers, its all very much worth the effort. Today after a break of two days to go to Stawell Exhibition, I am about to test it and see if I got it to work :p
The Car Carriers arrived today also :D
Don't ask me how much these cost me :( Ask Rodney or Paul at End of Line Hobbies instead!
http://www.endofthelinehobbies.com.au/
Just search in this format substituting your railway name and letter code to find your model
(Picture by Rob ORegan edited Mark Bau and found here Mark Baus VR Web site!
This is how I want my Ford train to eventually fill up :)
The Stawell Exhibition was 500 Kms away and I returned home after it in one long drive. Was good till I got to Glenrowan where I broke my oath never to visit a McDonalds store again, and purchased a cheeseburger and a huge cup of coffee. 10 minutes later I was ready to drive the last 112 km, and made it safely. Whose idea was it to let those bastards have a monopoly of the Highways in Australia?
No wonder everybody is looking obese!
On the way to the Exhibition, I explained to one of my "guests" (passengers) that all I really wanted was a WABX. The Exhibition was huge! And even though the Traders were limited to 1/3 of floor space their was a number of them there, and only End of the Line Hobbies had the wagon.
My guest who said he did not know what a WABX was ,was told it was a WAGR version of a VSX louvered van. That they ran on the gauge between Syney and Albury, and on the BG between Wolseley and Dynon. Oh! he says. After working my way around the hall my guest races up and tells me who has the vans I am looking for. When I get there, I find that he also had bought the only packet I was interested in. He almost walked the 200 km to his home :(
No way would I do that to a friend. And although I can live with it, I am not impressed. And the fix is to keep my mouth shut, but hell, you all know me, I guess :)
Cheers
Rod Young
The decks and floor of my Studio are covered in the stripped plastic insulation bits as I enjoy the wonder of DCC You know, connect two wires and 1999 trains can run independently I guess I have made over 1000 connections just to hook 6 tortoise and 5 servo point motors into the extension which is in reality only 10 lengths of track long (10 m) However despite the fact that the two wire story was in fact unlikely to be of any use to anybody beyond the most basic of modellers, its all very much worth the effort. Today after a break of two days to go to Stawell Exhibition, I am about to test it and see if I got it to work :p
The Car Carriers arrived today also :D
Don't ask me how much these cost me :( Ask Rodney or Paul at End of Line Hobbies instead!
http://www.endofthelinehobbies.com.au/
Just search in this format substituting your railway name and letter code to find your model
VR WAGON KIT STRATH VR ALX CAR CARRIER KIT SKELETAL HO
In Stock
Price: $109.95
After buying the kits two years ago, I decided to get them built, mainly because with age and such a huge gap between when I did build kits, I was not prepared to have then sit un-built for ever. It took about a year to get 10 built and I simply direct debited $100 a month till the build cost was covered. It was easy and I did not notice it.
Now if only Auscision would allow this!
This is how I want my Ford train to eventually fill up :)
The Stawell Exhibition was 500 Kms away and I returned home after it in one long drive. Was good till I got to Glenrowan where I broke my oath never to visit a McDonalds store again, and purchased a cheeseburger and a huge cup of coffee. 10 minutes later I was ready to drive the last 112 km, and made it safely. Whose idea was it to let those bastards have a monopoly of the Highways in Australia?
No wonder everybody is looking obese!
On the way to the Exhibition, I explained to one of my "guests" (passengers) that all I really wanted was a WABX. The Exhibition was huge! And even though the Traders were limited to 1/3 of floor space their was a number of them there, and only End of the Line Hobbies had the wagon.
My guest who said he did not know what a WABX was ,was told it was a WAGR version of a VSX louvered van. That they ran on the gauge between Syney and Albury, and on the BG between Wolseley and Dynon. Oh! he says. After working my way around the hall my guest races up and tells me who has the vans I am looking for. When I get there, I find that he also had bought the only packet I was interested in. He almost walked the 200 km to his home :(
No way would I do that to a friend. And although I can live with it, I am not impressed. And the fix is to keep my mouth shut, but hell, you all know me, I guess :)
Cheers
Rod Young
2014/07/05
2014_07_05 Building the branchline!
2014_07_05
Well the enthusiasm is still there and the body is doing what its told. Not as cold today, although raining again, Clouds only a hundred meters above and the Hills are out of site again.
But Trentham is now connected to the main line at Bowser. The track is down as are the main line points. Need to go back and install the Grain Silo when I build the kits and work out where the discharge / loading tracks need to be placed. Tomorrow I need to gather up the droppers and connect them to the bus, also wire in three more point motors and at least two switches.
Some pictures follow, as usual :)
The area towards the yellow capped bottles is reserved for grain hopper storage , need to add a point to connect in where the RH one is sitting.
Track runs through wall.
And enters the other section, ready to join the main BG line and head towards Bowser again.
That slope through the back drop actually looks wrong and I might have to smooth it out by lifting the ply a little this side of the wall.
Joining the Main BG which parallels the SG. Closest I got to running a train today :( Setting up the SG line to ensure enough room was left for it.
Track on the extreme left is the No 1 rd through Bowser (Code 70) with a passing siding No2 Rd to its right (code 70)
The next track is the BG Main Line (Code 75) and beside it will be the SG Main Line (Code 100)
The Shinoharo Code 70 is a pain to use, and should not be regarded as being flexible!
Took me a long time to get a 442 Class. This original production model was sold to me by a Club Member after I missed out on at least 12 of them on EBay.
Well the enthusiasm is still there and the body is doing what its told. Not as cold today, although raining again, Clouds only a hundred meters above and the Hills are out of site again.
But Trentham is now connected to the main line at Bowser. The track is down as are the main line points. Need to go back and install the Grain Silo when I build the kits and work out where the discharge / loading tracks need to be placed. Tomorrow I need to gather up the droppers and connect them to the bus, also wire in three more point motors and at least two switches.
Some pictures follow, as usual :)
The area towards the yellow capped bottles is reserved for grain hopper storage , need to add a point to connect in where the RH one is sitting.
Track runs through wall.
And enters the other section, ready to join the main BG line and head towards Bowser again.
That slope through the back drop actually looks wrong and I might have to smooth it out by lifting the ply a little this side of the wall.
Joining the Main BG which parallels the SG. Closest I got to running a train today :( Setting up the SG line to ensure enough room was left for it.
Track on the extreme left is the No 1 rd through Bowser (Code 70) with a passing siding No2 Rd to its right (code 70)
The next track is the BG Main Line (Code 75) and beside it will be the SG Main Line (Code 100)
The Shinoharo Code 70 is a pain to use, and should not be regarded as being flexible!
Took me a long time to get a 442 Class. This original production model was sold to me by a Club Member after I missed out on at least 12 of them on EBay.
The track becomes a little separated on the corner because of a pair of points placed around the bend which although in a wrong position, actually allowed the passing road to hold a standard train. Actually hated it until I laid the BG Main around it, and now it does look much better than it did.
Here is the point that caused the trouble. You can see the BG track has to sweep out to get around it.
The BG branck No1 track maintains 36 inch radius. The No2 road pinches down to 30 inch for a short time, but does reach 34 inch rad whilst the BG Main on the outside is at 36 inch and the SG Main 38 inch.
Looking over the three way point. Again the left trach enters the branch and you can see No2 track points towards the corner?
The BG Main Line through the middle roads and the Quarry siding takes the right road and crosses the SG Main line, which will run up to the Bg and space 2 inches off the BG at the corner.
Well thats about it for tonight. Inside about 9.00 pm. A pretty solid day, with a couple of breaks to watch the Motor Races at Townsville ;)
Cheers
Rod
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