Summer 2015 work and progress

Most of our work has centred on getting the track-

work and joints for the 5 main boards complete so we could move onto the electrics we need to do further test running and point control...

Ex N.A.S.A. Senior Electronics Engineer (Kevin) is seen here starting to fit the CML Dac 20's that we are using to fire all the Cobalt slow motion point motors (he looks so happy in his work!)

Here is what one of the boards looks like in close up.

This is the underside of our No; 2 board, this is the most complex with 14 points inc double slips etc.

You will see on the extreme right what appears to be more Dac 20's actaully one of the two boards is another Digitrax board called a PM 42 - this splits the power bus into 4 distinct districts.

The board on the left is the Dac 20 (these are from CML Electronics who produce several similar products for assisting with DCC control) The right hand board is the PM42. We programme the Dac 20's using CML's own software called Locoanalyse which is a free download.

Once each point is programmed, a one off job, then all points can be operated by hand throttles, command stations and or mimic?control boards.

We have also started to consider how we might section the trackwork (zip)

for the isolation joints on the electrofrog pointwork. 

Here, Kevin and Bernie are figuring out how many cuts we need in the trackwork 

and which are the best positions.

Keep tuned in for further updates.....

Trackwork and points progress

Despite the last post showing how we work in the cold, watch out for clues that these next photo's were taken on a hot day!

Above is the main Station area and goods yard

Most complex area, the station approach and link to goods yard and lower yard and sidings as well as small track down to quay area.

 Here trackwork splits in heights, upper area to main line and yards, 

lower area to branch line and sidings

Swivel your head! to see central area of layout.

Here is the last main board, (left hand side as you look at it) where there are 4 levels; lower tracks are siding on level, next is branch line coming in from right and going down, above that are the two main lines and at top, on level are three industry sidings.

So, did you spot the clue? - yes my feet! in open sandals! Anyway we took these as a record of the track plan for future reference.

The most complex board of the five is this one with 14 points, Bernie is smiling because he set us off on all the wiring!

 Now we are in a position where most of the wiring is complete, next step is to link point control to two CML Dac 20's and programme the points on CML LocoAnalyse software.

The layout in typical "tidy" state! somewhere under this lot is some trackwork! 

as Steve searches for some more wire!

We are fitting several full width magnets to operate with Kadee un-couplers.

They have to be fitted central to track for optimal working.

We have now fitted the last Cobalt point motor on the main boards, here you see another mark out for a under track magnet.

Where space under the board was an issue, we mounted the Cobalts using small nut and bolts, 

here you can see the final bolt ready for tightening.

Keep tuning in for further updates.....

Progress even in the cold!

Making progress, Brian came prepared - wrapped up for the North Pole 

he continues to solder the trackwork!

We are worried about people breaking into the clubroom - so we keep a Kerry under the baseboards!

Still more wires to connect - will it ever end? !