Not much has happened over the past 3 months!
The point motors arrived yesterday. Next task will be fitting them, provisionally planned for 1st week in September.
I have re-ordered the 5 SEEP PM1 point motors from MRS.
By bridging the damage to the stripboard, I have soldered the transistor back. It worked with the testing. All that remains to be done is to box it and perform final testing.
I had ordered some point motors over the internet but my credit card was refused!
I have un-soldered the transistor, but in the process managed to damage the stripboard.
I have migrated the CDU to stripboard and tested it. It didn't work of course and I have traced the fault to soldering the transistor in the wrong way around! Oh well, I will need to remedy that.
The Memory Wire kit is a basic sample of everything you might need to have fun with memory wire. I should be able to use it for signal operation, and I think I will be able to use it to use it for a DCC based uncoupling system. Another possible extension to my current solenoid idea/solution for N Gauge uncoupling, is to use the retractable part of a retractable ball point pen to set the uncouple on or off (i.e. 'raise the ramp' or 'lower the ramp'), but I am having a problem sourcing these cheaply.
I have ordered the Memory Wire Kit from C+L Finescale. The plan is to try and use it for operating semaphore signals.
The breadnoard version of the CDU seems to work! Next is the transfer it to stipboard and then case it.
The points that I gummed up have been freed now. All that remains before ballasting them is to paint them brown.
I need to get some Seep PM1's and install them before working on the next section. The insulating cuts have left some sections of track a bit dead.
I am going to start on the CDU as my first electronics project is complete.
I have been thinking about trees. Scale trees could be up to 25 cm tall and I have given myself 10 cm of headroom. So it will have to be young trees.
I will be making them out of wire as I have lots of 7/0.2 wire. The wire will need to be sprayed black-brown before leaves are added.
A cork 'skirt' was not needed and I have glued the turntable in place with some PVA glue. I have also glued down some cork for the stations to sit on.
Unfortunately, I won't be going to the Perth MRC show.
Using a hand drill and a Stanley knife, the hole has finally been cut for the Peco turntable (a method not recommended). It will be glued in place with a suitable cork 'skirt' to bring the level up to track height. I will at some point look at motorising the turntable.
I have been painting the track ready for ballasting. I should have learned after the first time not to jam the pointwork up with paint. But no, the points are jammed again!
Visited Model Rail Scotland 2007 but I only stayed a couiple of hours. The Dapol N gauge village was good, as were a lot of other stands. I had money to spend, but ended up not opening up the wallet, and that was a shame. I saw the Bachmann Dynamis system. It seems small and 'plasticy', I don't rate its long term durability. The Hornby Elite fares better, but even that is not enough to part me with my money. The general DCC presence was greater than last year. I meant to get a Memory Wire Kit from C+L Finescale, but I forgot! There would have been a lot more things I may have bought had I researched a bit 1st. Never mind, maybe I catch them at the Perth MRC show.
I also ordered some bits from Rapid that will make a CDU amongst other things.
I am off to Model Rail Scotland 2007 tomorrow.