April Update

April has been a different time for me with ups and downs with my wife having major surgery so not much has gotten done - Absolutely no time in the train room.  After her my wife's surgery and whilst she was still in hospital Rossco (Aka Ros from Oz) came over for a bite and we had a few bottles of wine and spent the entire evening catching up on the Train Masters TV shows - thanks Rossco I had a great night and a great nights sleep too!

The Production PCB's have arrived and I have started assembly of the Dual Block Direction Sensing (DBDS) modules required for the top level of my layout which is to be the first installation to be completed.

The Top Level Signals controls assembly planning is complete and the construction commenced. Ralph DeBlasi has started a video series called Sayer Shops on YouTube and Pierre has missed out once again on his training - sorry mate!

Production PCB's 

They have arrived!

Dual Block Direction Sensing (DBDS) modules

Let the assembly begin....

Top Level Signals

Signal number nomenclature had to be determined and consolidated with direction sensing feeds to determine wire numbering between "section nodes" and the central signal controls. Block occupancy will be another "set of wires" to be run between the DCC Booster control boards and the central signal controls. Similarly the turnout states will be provided from the existing central control panel connections.

Design Details

Here is the logical progression of developing the wiring looms from the central control board.  There are four distinct groups of wires 1) the individual signal head (RYG - 4 wires)  2) Photo Transistors for Direction sensing 3) Block Occupancy  & 4) Turnout states.

These diagrams below cover Block numbering & Turnout numbering

Electrical Blocks

Electrical Blocks and Turnouts

Photo transistor direction sensors

Signal Head Designations

Grouping of wire runs to Section nodes

Signal Controls Physical Layout Planning

The plan is something like this...

Physical Layout Construction

Signal Head RYG wiring
3 Light Signal Module to RJ45 plug and "signal common" wires installed
Block occupied and links to adjacent "Yellow control" outstanding

Sayer Shops

Ralph DeBlasi the owner Lehigh Valley - Wyoming Division has started a "how to" weathering series on YouTube so I have found the paint like he is using from BNA MODEL WORLD (based in Melbourne with good freight prices) and have gotten the basic set of colours that he proposes o use.

He has posted some photos of his models on his Facebook page that look really great so I look forward to learning how Ralph does things and giving it a go sometime soon.



Once again I am not sure just how much "hobby time" I will get for the next month or two whilst my wife convalesces but I am sure there will be some....

That's it for this month.

Thanks again to those that continue to help me achieve my ambitions and hello once again to all my followers!

Till the end of May 2015.

-ooOOOoo-