Jump to content

TS's lockdown diary

A blog by TurboSnail in RMweb Blogs

entries
100
comments
165
views
1,763

About this blog

A brief summary each day of the often limited modelling I've been up to in the last 24 hours. Keeping light hearted and hopefully keeping myself amused!

Entries in this blog

Sort By

Day 25: measuring thingy

While I was messing around with controllers, I thought I'd make a thingy to help with some basic measurement jobs and to act as a reference for various things. No idea if it'll be any good, but worth a punt since it wasn't expensive to make. It's got an average OO person, back-to-back gauge, centre finder, scale ruler, actual ruler, track width gauge, some other handy measurements and wire/axle size identifier. Probably a bit small, but any bigger would have been more expensive.

April 17, 2020

1

Day 24: Planet 20hp (ish)

Well, I do have one other ongoing project... this semi-freelance version of a Planet 20hp. It's a bit larger, so maybe it's a 30hp? I don't know, it's just a bit of fun to keep my mind off other things. Stats: No of my brains insufficiently active to generate stats: 1 Cumulative pushup counter: 2725

April 16, 2020

2

Day 23: Scraping the barrel

Erm... you may have noticed this post is a little later than usual... That's because I have done hardly any modelling today! Doing long hours at work is making me lose my motivation a bit, at a time when I really should be doing more modelling to distract myself and lower my stress levels (my work messaging app is are still beeping every few minutes - or would be if I hadn't just muted it). Oh well. Anyway, I've put some writing on this PCB. Does that count as progress? I've tidied

April 15, 2020

2

Day 22: PCB design (fun!)

Well, I sort of enjoy it anyway. PCB design is a bit like fitting together a puzzle, only there's no one set solution so you can be more creative. Especially when trying to fit things onto as small a board as possible. Here's the controller solution I've come up with, it could be made smaller (currently 55x70mm) but at the expense of ease of assembly and clarity. Regulator in the middle, directional LED at the bottom, power on (with LED) in the top corner and shuttle and reverser switches also a

April 14, 2020

0

Day 21: Trying to decide controller specification

More progress on the controller, I've managed to put some code together to make the controller respond to a potentiometer, operating as a centre-off (as I prefer that to having a reversing switch). Experimenting with throttle curves and various amounts of dead zone in the centre too, so it buzzes less and has nice smooth control at lower speeds. So the next part is to make this all into a nice neat PCB. I've started on the schematic in KiCAD (free PCB design software), and so far I have

April 13, 2020

4

Day 20: Electrickery - making a controller

I've got my science hat on today (it glows, and there are many bells and whistles) and am having a stab at making a controller. I haven't got one here and it's irritating trying to test locos with just a 9V battery. So, the plan is to make something that I can use for testing, which means adding a degree of automation to shuttle a loco back and forth along a short length of track. That means Arduino. So I've had a play around with a new Nano Every on a breadboard with a PWM motor dri

April 12, 2020

2

Day 19: Finished prototype Ruston! + video

I've now finished the Ruston works no. 177530, the prototype that would eventually become the 48DS. The loco was built in 1936, then was sold to Heinz, during whose ownership it was slightly modified (hence the two versions in yesterday's post). I've put together a basic video showing the build and the removal of the DCC socket that was needed to make it fit. Hopefully my voice isn't too soporific! If you'd like a set of prints to do this conversion, have a look at ts3dmodels.blogspo

April 11, 2020

2

Day 18: Even more CAD... (sorry)

I've not really had the motivation to do proper modelling the last couple of days, so I'm just sat doing more CAD. I've also been trying to fix my 3D printer as that's been playing up again. However, this has resulted in the prototype 48DS CAD being finalised, and the Heinz version modelled as well. Here they are in the print supporting software. Stats: Hours left on current 3D print: 7hr30mins (ooh, exciting...) Number of Rustons bought today: 1 (it won't be a

April 10, 2020

2

Day 17: more 3D projects

I am becoming slightly obsessed with the Hornby Ruston 48DS chassis, to the extent that I'm now looking at a number of other things I might be able to fit it under. Suggestions welcome! Last night I was too tired to do any proper modelling, so I had a mess around with my Howard/Hibberd/Planet CAD, and it looks like the Ruston could be made to fit. The wheels are a little bit too small, but reasonably well hidden on this loco, and the bonnet would have to be made about 2mm wider. I'm

April 9, 2020

0

Day 16: prototype Ruston painted

I managed to prime and paint the little Ruston yesterday evening, although it's not the neatest job I've ever done. A generous weathering will hopefully hide most of my indiscretions. Stats: Number of Ruston chassis' I need to buy to run all the loco bodies I've designed or am working on: 4 (this may also increase in future) Cumulative mugs of tea counter: 64 (estimated) Cumulative pushup counter: 1555

April 8, 2020

1

Day 15: the little Ruston works!

The prototype 48DS (though it wasn't called a 48DS until much later) fits the footplate! Some nice design from Hornby here means I can reuse the footplate, which is great as it has a lot of weight in it, so it should still run well. Lots of pressure at work at the moment so my time is given over to that rather than modelling, but hopefully will get primer on soon. Stats: Number of bolts/screws left over from the desk and chair I put together yesterday: 8 Level

April 7, 2020

0

Day 14: Ruston 48DS, but earlier

I had a Ruston 48DS body lying around after nicking its chassis for the Sentinel. So I've done some CAD for the prototype version of the class, built in 1936, which allows it to be used much earlier than the Hornby examples. Next job is to see if it still fits the chassis! I'll probably make it's modified version as well as used by Heinz. Stats: Number of attempts it took to get the desk I ordered from the completely different address the bloody courier delivered it

April 6, 2020

0

Day 13: AEC chassis build

Last night was taken up with the build of the new prototype AEC chassis. It now runs, with 4 wheel drive, but needs some tweaking to get it a bit smoother and quieter. It's built with 3D printed gears and no bearings (due to issues of supply for both), so it is very loud, and not great at smooth starts. I think I'll have to make another one with better components once all this isolation jazz is over. I also livestreamed this chassis build, but I wasn't very organised so it's a bit of

April 5, 2020

0

Day 12: AEC shunter improvements

As hinted at yesterday, I've been re-jigging the chassis of the AEC shunter. It's now 4 wheel drive and hopefully still very easy to assemble - I'll find that out at some point, as it's currently printing. The body I've already made will hopefully be reusable. I say hopefully, as it will need some weight removing to fit the motor, and that's what caused me to break the little Hunslet a few days ago. Wish me luck... Stats: Built: Southall works 1938 Power: 78hp

April 4, 2020

0

Day 11: rediscovering half-finished projects

My modelling workbench chair is one of those cheap office chairs, with a gas strut providing the lifting mechanism. I've got a sinking feeling that the gas strut has a leak... I rediscovered a couple of old projects (while looking for bits for another project), the NER Class H (later Y7) and the AEC shunter. Cue some faffing about curing intermittent pickup issues, and a short while later, the H is running happily up and down the test track on a 9v battery (video below). Nice and slo

April 3, 2020

3

Day 10: Sentinel weathering and painting people

I've taken some brave pills and had a go at weathering my Sentinel. I'd just finished it when I had a look at it in a few different lights, and it was way too black, even for a heavily used, unkempt loco. Fortunately the wash was still wet enough that by adding more thinners and rubbing it back with a paper towel, I was able to get it back to a more reasonable state. Not convinced it's the best job ever, but I think it looks better than the unweathered version, so I suppose it's progress.

April 2, 2020

1

Day 9: Master of Muppets

I was working on the Hunslet 4wDM last night - it was running and was usable as a loco, but I was never happy with the speed of it, so I redesigned the chassis to reduce the gearing by 3x. So I was trying to take the weight out of the body to make room for the new motor, but it was too well stuck, and well... it didn't go to plan. Needless to say, much profanity was uttered, and I decided it was best not to try any more modelling for a while. Still undecided as to whether to repair it or just ma

April 1, 2020

2

Day 8: unconvincing weathering and painting people

I've had a go at some weathering, something I'm not very used to - I started with a wagon I'm not too precious about, just in case. Not sure it's turned out too great? It's just had a simple wash of black so far, all over. The underframe needs a bit more variety, so will get a brown wash at some point. Any pointers on improving my techniques and adding a bit more interest without overdoing it? Some enginemen and workmen have started being painted too, in this case some cast ones from

March 31, 2020

2

Day 7: livery help request

Not much modelling done today - busy running the printer and packing up kits in the hope that I can get outside tomorrow to the Post Office. Planning to tie it in with a food run and picking stuff up from the office. So instead, a request for help. I'm trying to decide on a livery for my freelance coal wagons and have done a few in slightly different styles. Personally, I think I prefer no. 21 so far, I think it suits the 1910-ish time period best. Any comments? Think I should probab

March 30, 2020

10

Day 6: Sentinel and Rail Rover

Bit of a lazy Sunday really, the Sentinel has gained name and numberplates, and the mechanism has been painted so it doesn't appear obvious through the gaps in the body. I also dug out my old planned Rail Rover adaption kit. This hasn't really worked yet, it runs, but it a) is too quick and b) doesn't pick up well. The first issue I have a solution for, that's not a problem - the second though depends on the source of wheels. The one's I've got are blackened, which according to my multimeter doe

March 29, 2020

0

Day 5: Coaling

Done some more work on the wagons, finished the painting, and added coal. I added some lead in the bottom of the wagon, covered it in a sheet of thick card, then added the coal over that - unfortunately I forgot that lead and PVA don't mix well, and now I have some authentically bowed-out wagon sides. Oh well... And the Hudswell contractors loco got coaled too.

March 28, 2020

3

Day 4: printing kits and horrible resin

Today's modelling has mostly been taking a quick break from work throughout the day to monitor, set off and clean up 3D prints. Making a batch of ballast wagons for a customer, each pair takes 8 hours to print! And I only have 1 printer. So it's a slow process, checking on it every couple of hours to make sure it's all still working fine. I also changed out the IPA cleaning fluid after about a month of use (a horrible job). As an experiment, I left the old stuff on a windowsill for about 10 minu

March 27, 2020

2

Day 3: Wagon liveries

Just some wagon painting and transfers this time, on a couple of kits that I've had lying around for a while. The paint is Halfords Ford Polar Grey, and don't tell anyone this, but I've cheated with the ironwork and coloured it in with a Sharpie. I'm still trying to work out a final 'Kent Coal' livery, hence why all the wagons are a little bit different! Hopefully for tomorrow, I'll have the wagons fully painted and the rest of the transfers done. Stats: Pasta stock

March 26, 2020

3

Day 2: Howard lives!

Howard lives! Last night all the wiring (there's not much) was finished, and the wheels given a good clean. Testing with a 9v battery (I still haven't made a controller yet), it works pretty well, and the pickup is good for such a short wheelbase. It could probably do with a little more weight if I'm going to pull more than about 5 wagons at a time, but the plan for it is to be one of the shunters for my planned 6-wagon Inglenook layout, so it should be fine. It has wooden gears, I'm

March 25, 2020

0

Day 1

I consider myself fortunate to have a job still, so I don't have much more time to myself than usual, although I can break off during the day to spend 10 minutes painting something or run the 3D printer. So this little series is going to be a short account of the modelling I get up to each day, just to help keep myself amused. Some entries may be very short! The first job today was trying to paint a grey sky backscene - and here, we're not off to a great start as I used spray paint on to pl

March 24, 2020

0

×

×

Create New...