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.