2021_09_26 More backdrops

2021-09-26  Yesterday Graeme came up with a plan!

We used thin masonite board to block the sharp edges and also block the bricks.

The masonite was wet down and bent to shape and allowed to dry. Not as easy as it looks.

We then need to attach the masonite to the brick piers and when they dry there to the wall under the windows.

 After gluing the bent pieces to the bricks they will be attached to the frame (top level) or glued to the wall on bottom level.

After that, cut to fit flat masonite between the piers. Might have to paint these sky blue before I glue them in place. Graeme wants the side edges beveled to allow the joins to be filled. Now all we need do is work out which glue to use?

Cheers

Rod

2021_09_21 Having too much fun, so today was a maintenance day!

 2021-09-21 Coal siding LED's are detaching and starting to hang down

And today one string shorted out. I removed the block connectors and fitted male and female spades. I san hot glue these to the frame and take a little pressure off the LED strips. I cant hot glue the strips on as the leds don't like the heat.

The problem is that I am not able to twist my old body into spots I could reach only a few years back. Wish I had done a better job then :(

BRASS BOGIES

For me, useless. Seem to be built for a show case! Fortunately with the help of a washer, these Auscision bogies work really well. I could not keep the axles in place, but now a small push and the coach goes half round the layout!  Well almost. Got to a hill and returned back to where I pushed it from.

Height right up next to a Powerline new series car. Happy with that.

FIXING LED LIGHT STRIPS

 

This old body needs a lot of help getting underneath the boards. Even a year ago I could have leaned under. But not today.

The lamp? the lamp? Turn it on champ!!

Both strips out. Power to block. So I got rid of block and replaced it with spade connectors.

Dimmer switches.

Next job will be to sort this all out. Main problem is the 4.03 AMPS. Even with all locos off track, it draws a lot of power. I think it might be the TAM Valley singlet switches, but I need to sort that out.

The blue meter is the fernleigh circuit with 16 Singlet switches and drawing 1.38 amps.

The Red Ramp Meter supplies total power 8 amps.  Circuit breakers are reliable now too.

Cheers

Rod

ps fixed the BG video by removing the duplicated part,

2021_09_18 Just running a few trains.

 2021_09_18   Running two different SOP's One for 60's and one for 90's

After the gauge went through to Melbourne, The Spirit of Progress was moved over to it and ran through to Sydney. At the same time a NSW train named the Daylight ran through to Melbourne.

Here I try to duplicate a little bit in HO scale

After the B Class diesels arrived, and before the SOP was transferred to the SG, the train was hauled from Wodonga to Melbourne by these diesels. The magnificent steam streamlined S Class were quickly withdrawn for highly political reasons. Their was an uproar as it was perceived the S Class ran a faster service and anyway it was much loved. 

The Victorian Government quickly decided in favour of the diesels and gas axed all the S Class engines. This was astonishing. as not even one of these iconic engines was saved for preservation.

Rod Young

2021_09_14 New Video Albury Locomotive change

 2021_09_14  Representing thru running between Sydney and Melbourne prior to 1980

Cheers

Rod

2021_09_12 I am still here :(

 2012_09_12  Life goes on.

So lock down is over for now.  Not sure how long that will last as the government seems to really enjoy their new jack boots.

However I have noticed so many folk are fairly depressed here in this country, and so I guess am I, as well

May God bless us all, and I pray that this will all finish sooner rather than later.

My layout is running fairly well. I have a few dead spots and a little derailing happening. In general I run a train and when it stops, I find out why, fix the problem and keep moving around the layout.

Sometimes its the rolling stock, sometimes the track, and fairly rarely these days, the wiring. Its a lot of fun, being able to operate the railway, however much better with friends around to enjoy it and the company.

I am presently upgrading old Powerline coaches. I am replacing the bogies and attaching them with screws after filling the large holes and drilling out the filler after filing everything neatly.

 As well I tossed the useless brass bogies under an expensive brass coach, They would not run 6 feet without derailing. And so I replaced  them with Auscision commonwealth bogies. tested the coach by lightly pushing it on the flat and it went 21 meters stopping only on the grade, and then returning to me within inches from whence it started. Never seen such a thing. Probably the weight?  But I am now working on some original (powerline) S cars and same bogies. Interesting to see how they roll.

Anyway, I am enjoying the job, so must get back to it.

Cheers all and Happy Railroading :D

Rod