SHMD

Besides simple 2D and the more complex 3D drawings, there are more specialised programs for producing PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) or even CAM (Computer Aided Machining - for driving routers, millers, Laser Cutters, etc) ? What do you want to draw ? What's the end use ? Kev.

Now I was good at Tetris in my yoof, bally good! ...but not this good! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67871775 Kev.

With your abilities and (available) time, I would recommend a mixture of options 2 and 3 but... ...finish the loco using the most readily available bits, and more importantly, capturing the main features - cab, fittings placement, livery and weather it to the prototype you actually want from a photo. (Don't shorten the chassis for this!) This will be the quickest, so if you are not happy, you can then build the %99 accurate one from scratch later. Get something running first, that "looks" right and fits the part being played. Kev.

Those "dints" on several fireless locos, are they caused by collisions or are they "vacuum" related? Kev.

Santa did bought it "ages" ago! Didn't you know? Kev.

I thought the answer was a shilling, or one bob. Kev.

That really is a minute wheelbase! Thanks for the thread, Mol. My interest in these is that we had a Fireless loco locally at Heartshead Power Station near Stalybridge. Although, 'our' 0-6-0 loco was made by "Hawthorn Leslie". Link to info here... https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/02/18/the-micklehurst-loop-part-1c-including-hartshead-power-station/ Kev.

That's a pretty good "security" feature! Kev.

I actually live in "Staly Vages", (not sure if you knew that or not), but otherwise there are not too many similarities between the too except: - Greasy cafes; Nightlife (a few remaining Pubs); and some of the weather... The weather!?! We just had a tornado. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-67832935 This hit 2 days ago, on the other side of the valley, only about a kilometer from me. Very localised (short and very violent). Whilst they had a lot of damage, (I've seen it), we only suffered a loose empty plant pot moving around the garden! Kev.

Yes, not "whacky" at all. Where is it? (Asking for a friend...) Kev.

What the hell's that gauge for below the "check list"? I also like the USB points beside the gauge. Is it to power your phone while it's in "SAT NAV" mode! Kev.

York has been removed from BeiJiao's, 2024 itinerary, due to a clash of dates. Kev.

"Esbjerg" could fit the itinerary. Kev.

MOOOoooooo.......

" In the mid 70's to early 80's the company built a few twin screw ships in Germany the memory of which permanently altered my opinion of German engineering." How so? Kev.

I think that would be good posted in the "Ghosts in the Machine" thread! Merry Christmas David, and a big thank you for ALL your posts, pictures, memories and time. Kev.

This just about sums up travelling by (UK) railways at the moment. Whoever you book with - it's a gamble every time now. Everyone who has been tricked/suffered the current situation, is now voting with their feet. The railways ARE appalling at the moment. Kev. (Long time TPE sufferer.)

"Cycle reservations essential" my son booked this one year - he got it. Kev.

"Feed me!"

How to "reverse engineer" a PCB's circuit. Step 1 - View the target PCB easily Place pictures of the Top, and Bottom (here mirrored) views, side by side. This makes "following" where the tracks go easy. Step 2 - Draw the circuit as the PCB. The resultant diagram should match the PCB! The (layout) is a "mess" and is not easy to "read". Step 3 - Rearrange the circuit. A circuit is usually "made up" of "sub circuits". "Group" these together "by function" AND from "left to right". Add some notes too! Step 4 - Interpretation. D1 Reading, from left to right, the first component is a protection diode - sometime called an "idiot" diode as it protects the circuit from being connected to the supply circuit the wrong way round! However, its main purpose is to "rectify" any AC supply powering this circuit. (DC can also be used to power this circuit.) R1..R5 Next are the resisters. These do two jobs. Firstly, they "bias" the charging Transistor (I've chosen a Darlington here) that will "charge up" the Capacitors. Secondly, they also connect the "load" to the Supply BUT limit the current the load can take from the Supply. (They will stop "burn out" of Solenoids for example, but they can be chosen to provide a "holding" current too.) There is a choice to use one "power" resistor R1 (0.5W) OR you can spread the power across the other four resistors R2..R4 (4x0.5W=2.2W). Q1 This isolates the "load" from the Supply - when connected. It also "charges" the storage capacitors up when the "load" is not connected. C1, C2, C3 and C5 These store the energy (Charge) that is required to "throw" the Solenoid Load(s). (It's best to think of this as stored energy rather than Volts here.) D2 Ensures that the storage capacitors can ONLY discharge to the "load" connected to the Output. It also protects C1, C2, C4 and C5 from any stray high voltage that appears on the output.) (D2 also has another function..) D2, D3 and C3. These protect this circuit from any "inductance" that might want to discharge itself through this circuit. C3 "allows" any stored energy in inductive loads, somewhere to go, when their magnetic field collapses. C3 is rather superfluous here as the "load" (whilst usually inductive) is either connected (think of it nearly as a short to ground) OR high impedance (open circuit), but some end users may have a need for it. (C3 may also be being used to "suppress" noise on the Output connection too.) Conclusion A Capacitor Discharge Unit (CDU) with protection and options. Kev. (John ks beat me to it but I think we went to the same school!)

Can't help you with that. (The last time I swapped a hard drive over, i couldn't find it - it had "magically" changed itself into an SSD which I didn't recognise!) Kev.

Turn the Toaster on its' side for Peanut Buttered bread... Kev. (...only joking - DONT DO THIS!)

Regarding BSC_1180, another example of ancient "long gone" stock - except on preserved railways. Your archive is full of such "Time" snap shots. Kev.

I thought they had 9 lives! Kev.

Only twice as far. Kev.