This month has seen things happening on Scenery, Structures, Sounds for EVNGR, Maintenance, Ops Sessions, Tasks completed & scheduled.

Flintston Cold Stores

Peter J kit bashed the building from a Walthers building kit I obtained from Wayne some time back added colours, weathering and textures. I think it has come up well.

The overall look at Flintston is improving!

Next we will apply the concrete look to the platform areas.

Flintston Warehouse

I painted the area under the platforms in the track wells.

Huntington Branch

Peter J working his magic with different coloured ground covers...

What a difference! - Front slope Vs hill behind bridge...

The retaining wall behind Flintston has been glued in place.

The finished product.

I painted the concrete supports for the trestle leading into Daveyston.

Sounds for EVNGR

I finished the two sound modules with ultrasonic detection causing operation.

One for his town and the other for his mine.

After testing he wanted the playing time after "no detection" increased from 10 to 30 seconds.

The volume level for the granary module had it volume level lowered as well.

He installed the speaker at the mine underneath on a joist.

The volume knob on the fascia and the movement detector just below the fascia.

I ordered a more robust 12V power supply for his accessories.

I has arrived and I have made the necessary connections ready for him to install and put to use.

Maintenance

There was a number of issues addressed since my last report.

Rolling Stock

During session #81 a gondola on the Jimtown Turn derailed in the helix for no apparent reason. It was removed and placed in the workshop. Upon inspection the back-to-back flange distance of all four wheel sets was out of gauge - too narrow. This is not the first of the delrin axle shrinkages I have encountered. The solution was to replace the wheel sets.

Turnout Throw Bar

Another issue with the throw bar disconnecting from the actuating throw from the above-board solenoid mount. I placed one of my custom made retainers in place.

Clearance issue

Occasionally a wide car catches on something in the tunnel mouth on the Iron Hill Branch This was investigated and the offending protrusion of the scenery was removed.

Helix Derailments

During the last two ops sessions a problem has surfaced on the second turn downward on the back wall - a difficult spot to access. Denis reported that some wiring appears to be hitting bogies that may be causing the issue.

I had a very close inspection and the DCC feeder running vertically on the outside of the helix, being used to attach droppers too, had entered the train clearance envelope - it had a L-shaped soldered end which was at bogie height and was catching on bogies of passing vehicles resulting in pulling them off the tracks.

I repositioned the wire outside the track area and believe this should address the problem.

Ops Sessions

I hosted two sessions; Session #81 & Session #82 since my last update

HCS 4th May - Session #81

Barry, Denis, Don, John, Paul & Peter S joined me for the session.

L>R Paul, Peter S, Denis, John, Don & Barry

We ran Session 5 (of Version 7) which is the least challenging of all the sessions. There were a few minor issues, but all trains were run and we finished 45 minutes early.

We all seemed to enjoy the sessions and had some fun.

Afterwards we enjoyed afternoon tea.

HCS 20th May - Session #82

Denis, Graham, John, Paul and Peter J joined me for the session. Barry was a late withdrawal so I had to run the control panels.

L>R Paul, Denis, Graham, Peter J & John

Peter J took a few pics of the session see below

We ran Session 6 (of Version 7) which is a challenging session. There were a few minor issues and all, but one trains were run due to a late derailment in the helix.