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

Flintston Cold Stores

Work has commenced on detailing the surfaces of the platform areas. We downloaded some clever models concrete textures, got them printed on paper and card, sprayed them with Dull Coat and Peter J has been experimenting with additional surface treatments and the best method to define the expansion joints. Here are the results.

Platform glue setting

The building signage being added.

Placed in position

Flintston Warehouse

When Peter J brought the Cold Stores Platform back, he stayed on to do some work on the Warehouse Platform using another Clever Models printed concrete texture.

Reinstated for the next Ops Session and we will plan another work session soon.

Forklifts

Loading and unloading at Flintston will need a forklift or two so...

Jimtown West Turnout

Sometimes Operators at the Eastern end of Hornertown Yard and Jimtown compete for space especially when both are undertaking simultaneous shunting operations even though these are usually scheduled not to clash.

At the end of Session #84 John suggested that if I install a marker, maybe a tree or pole, then the need for the Jimtown Operator to move to check the movement is clear of the point would be negated.

I installed a tree, now if the vehicles are past the tree they are well clear of the turnout.

The tree next to the track in the foreground

The view from Jimtown

Thanks for the suggestion, John!

Control Panel Training

I have been thinking for a while about some more depth in people able to run the control panel. Barry has been stepping up for a fair while now and missing out on operating, So I asked Paul if he would like to give it a go to which he said yes.

We had our first training day where I discovered he had worked panels at other smaller layouts before so for me the education process was easier. A day later he filled in for a late withdrawal of an operator and was able to practice the most complicated movement "The Jimtown Turn" and did an admirable job.

I have put the training materials up on my website if you would like to look.

In the meantime, Paul has completed two additional training sessions, so he has had around 7 hours training.

I have assigned him to work the Panels for the next 6 sessions so he get to cycle through

Sounds Modules

I have put my first module together and it will be a background sound at Jimtown which is adjacent to a farm.

Sounds for EVNGR

Peter J has installed the three modules I put together for his layout and he has reported they are working ok. Here are a couple of photos.

Installed on the fascia below the Township

Power (Top), Volume (Left) and Movement Detection (Bottom Right)

Maintenance

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

Rolling Stock

During session #83 there were two troublesome trucks derailing more than once. They were removed and sent to the workshop.

Discovered crud on the wheels of one which was cleaned off and the other had Kadee Delrin axles that were out of gauge so they were replaced with new wheel sets. Both cars have been returned to service.

Hornertown Yard West LED Lights

Working fine during control panel training with Paul on Sunday 31st May and when powered up for the ops session on 1st June they were dead.

The cause was a dead 12V battery in the remote controller.

The yellow pages walk (google search) was interesting Woolworths $3.50ea, Bunnings, $3.37ea, Officeworks $6.00ea & Amazon next day delivery $12.98 for 10 - $1.30ea. Amazon won! I have 5 remotes so I can expect the rest to die at some point.

Fully operational again now.

Throttle Batteries Died

During Session #84 Wayne brought me a throttle saying "it keep turning off" - gave him a spare to use.

The batteries need replacing so this was done before the session #84.

Lights on Loco 7600

During Session #83 they were reported as not functioning correctly. Re-wrote data from DecoderPro before Session #84 and they are now working correctly.

Ops Sessions

I hosted two sessions; Session #83 & Session #84 and I attended Wayne's since my last update.

HCS 1st June - Session #83

Three operators who planned to be at the session did not make it! Thanks to those that filled in some at very short notice.

Barry, John, Paul, Peter J & Wayne joined me for the session.

Being an operator short I offered Barry the opportunity to operate rather than work the control panel and he accepted. So I worked the control panel and tired to do some concurrent mentoring - caused a few glitches with me not doing what I should in a timely manner!

We ran Session 1 (of Version 7). We all seemed to enjoy the sessions and had some fun despite the glitches.

I was so.o.o.o busy I forgot to take any photos and also forgot to ask others do do so too.

Afterwards we enjoyed afternoon tea - I was very tired and even forgot the usual photo.

HCS 17th June - Session #84

Paul, Wayne, John, Alex, Darren and Graham joined me and whilst some had their favourite Jobs Darren & Alex undertook Jobs that they had not previously exposed to. Paul had his first session on the Control Panels and did a good job. We ran Session 2 (of Version 7).

L>R Wayne, Paul, Graham, Darren, Alex & John

Paul also had time to rest!

Alex & Darren determining how they could both work at Huntington

Alex had his first Major Job in Hornertown Yard

Wayne making up time by quickly building two consists ready for next session

Afterwards we enjoyed afternoon tea and a good chat.

Wayne's 25th June

Darren, Denis & Peter S joined me for the session. We had fun running the program and found a few improvements for the "paperwork" for Wayne to follow up on.

L>R Darren, Wayne, Denis & Peter S

Here is a short video featuring the Victorian Railways Regional Passenger Train running through the system.

Following the session. we enjoyed some hobby and social chit chat over afternoon tea.

Tasks Completed in last 30 days

Scheduled Tasks for next 90 days

That's it for now so until next time.....

-ooOOOoo-

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.