SMR CHRIS

Hi Bob how are you doing looks like your making good progress again The repairs to the main platform and goods siding platform are coming along nicely, hopefully they will last a while and no more wild weather events get at them. I've just updated my RM tread, I have started constructing some more passenger rolling stock a MCE 12 wheeler and VHO they are actually rolling models now just forgot to take any photos of them I took them down to the Aus7 forum a week ago for display I'll get a screen shot from the video and add to my post Still lots to do fit roofs truss Rods windows

Victory Down Under Ixion models had a selection of the Minerva models locos with them at the Aus7 forum recently and I couldn't resist getting one of the hefty looking Kerr Stuart Victory models here it is stopping for water at Moonan Flats it's a very nice runner and will pull more wagons than you could fit on the layout, also took it round to give it a run on my dads layout (it's way bigger than my layout) as well more to give it a run in, it makes for a great yard shunter with really good slow running. And from a small loco to a big loco, one of my older NSWGR C38 by Fox Models number 3813 I've also been building a MCE 72'6" 12 wheeler Carriage and a VHO passenger Guards/parcels van When finished the new cars will complement my TAM 12wheeler Mould for making the roof section Not quite right first Test castings painted up for demo build purpose. I prepainted the test casting sides before I had the ends cast just to see how they would look. After the first test castings where done and checked volume of urethane resin worked out etc this is the result for the VHO again prepainted need to cast up some more ends now for the carriages doors etc

Hi Simon, thanks yes it has been worth it.It was train running night at Moonan Flats a few nights ago and the loco ran perfectly all its lights worked and whilst at its size, its not an ideal shunter the slow running quality's make it very useable for the task also made the operators think a little more as they could only get one wagon in the run round unlike when using a small loco. Re brave I have discovered that there isn't much in the world that can't be fixed it's just a mater of joining the dots and following the lines. Luckily have spent years diagnosing automotive electronic problems and trying to find a fix in the feild, for a large Mulitnational Automotive company so striping a model train isn't really "Brave" for me doing it to someone's 80k vehicle yes may be.

May have been easier to do a new board if the factory board couldn't have been modified but it seemed a shame to have to use a pile of new resistors when I could get away with only 4 new instead of 26 I would have needed, However this has turned out to be a relatively easy mod to the board and a few wires swaped After I took the quick video I set up the decoder on "Decoder pro" and the loco runs very nicely very good pulling power I also replaced the Kadee coupler's as supplies on the model, with the Procraft scale knuckle coupler's that I have standardised on. Very happy with this model it has been a first for me with RTR NSW O scale to get a model that works from the box with all its detail still fitted I can fault only 2 things so far, 1 is that the body has provision for 8 mounting screw only 4 were fitted as the ones in the center section don't quite line up with the chassis holes possibly all models like are like this I will ream out the holes to get them alined to fit some screws when I install the sound decoder. 2 the short hood marker lights being Orange a easy replacement when I did the DCC conversion.

Installing DCC in a non DCC ready/compliant O scale Australian locomotive. Moonan Flats latest loco get DCC fitted. The model in the SMR work shop is a NSW 45 class RTR brass model It has an amazing 26 LED lights throughout the model all factory fitted. Some of which are Headlights Marker lights white/ red front and rear, cab lights, number box, step, coupler etc It has a nice PC board with a set of switches that allows in DC mode you to turn on or off the lights however as nice as this is some of the Circuits are not compatible with DCC so it was a choice of remove it or modify it to convert to DCC The LED polarity orientation is used to have directional lighting And where a light needs to be on in both direction like the Cab lights they simply have 2 LED one lights forward the other lights in reverse instead of a Bridge rectifier and one LED. 1/2 of the LED wires needed transposing so they all worked in the same polarity with the decoder doing the switching now A quick look at the PC board and I took some photos of it so I could zoom in and see where the traces went on the board and a plan was made to modify the board this would save installing a huge number of resistors the PC board is fitted with 28 SM 2k resistors if the board could be used with traces cut and some link wires to the decoder this would save a lot of new resistors and making a new circuit board. One of the Photo's below shows the spaghetti wiring and my images of the PC board that I printed out, this made it nice and easy To make the mods I had marked up, was so much easier to see at the size af a A4 sheet than if looking at the little board. I only had to make up 2 additions for the marker lights operation with 2- 2k SM resistors on separate copper clad. The model has marker lights and the white ones had a very different colouring at each end so I replaced the 2 at the leading end with a similar warm white LED to the No2 end, as they were more orange as Supplied may have been Picked wrong when the models wiring was made? So after waiting for the adhesive on these LED's to set before I tidied up of the harness in the body and a temporary mount of the TCS G8 decoder to the Long hood roof I could test and all the lights worked. A TCS WOW 5 amp sound decoder will be substituted when it arrives from TCS with true ALCO sounds The G8 is just to get it operational. Link to a clip of the first test Wiring done, the printed out photos of the little PC ready help as it is easy to follow the tracks with it this Big rather than looking with a magnifier to see where the traces go on the Board This is the quick marked up image of the PC board with links for the function wires marked and cut lines to separate the circuit's What you find when first looking at the wiring.

Some more scenic additions The obligatory Palm near the water tank and some grass trees to give a point of interest at the edge of the layout to back scene. Alco 4427 has arrived at Moonan Flats The grass trees and Palm in the background.

How did that 1833 replacement motor go Bob Who makes it ?? Any idea on the specs? Do you have a Link to where to purchase them.

Thanks Bob it's an impressive machine lights everywhere They have fixed the drive issue no more rubber tubes has nice machined shafts. And a very smooth runner. Just waiting for a decoder now From TCS

It's been a while since a Moonan Flats Update however something shiny arrived in the yard recently and hopefully with a new internet connection I may be able to upload photos again without it timing out The new loco was on trial up the steep grades to the Flats and the local Gunsels where out getting photos All shiny and new it's a NSWGR 45 class Alco No4520 effectively a hood version of the earlier 44class DL500 Alco with some upgrades. 4520 with 4427 in the bay

Looks like you having abit of fun in the sun Bob Just got the internet back on again now on the NBN let's see if it's more reliable And there's been a new arrival at the Flats the Auscision 45 class

Just as well the local super decided to give in and place a shelter, Bob or the little people would have melted in today's heat literally Been in the 40'c + all day and at 9:30 pm it's still 35c Hope your weathering the heat OK

The Little people will be really surprised when a Candy Colour loco passes with a Train and doesn't stop to pick them up

Hi Sorry to scare you, its all still 2 wires even when using a Circuit breaker it just goes in line before you connect to the track bus. A Circuit breaker will cost you about the price of one Good quality decoder but it's worth it esp with the NCE system, even in the NCE manual it recommends some sort of Circuit protection even if it's only there light globe method (lights up when a short occurs taking the load) The NCE web site is worth a look lots of articles and info that you can read and manuals and diagrams to Download. Don't worry you don't need to know much about electronics as it's all been done before and there are diagrams online for just about everything you may ever need to do regarding DCC. With everyone posting photos of the Dapol 08 it's getting very hard to resist ordering one to be delivered down under.

The Powercab will usually just cope with a Heljan loco but add sound and it's probably at its limit due to the nature of the unit it won't cut out the loco will just run very slowly as the unit maxes out, most other RTR O scale locos Ixion, Dapol, Bachmann, etc and generally most kits use motors that draw no more current than a larger OO loco so the Powercab can cope with a layout full of them. Adding a booster as suggested above will be the cheapest solution I would also add a Circuit breaker as my experience with my NCE systems now upgraded to ProCabR 5A is that it doesn't cut out if there is a short that it can push through it is quite able to melt things, so I have a inline Circuit breaker that cuts the output and doesn't keep powering up at full load whilst a short exists. One like the PSX1 by DCC specialists is all you need good protection for not letting the "DCC Smoke" out of your decoders. Info on Circuit breaker http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/powershield_x.htm Following this layout build with interest Ps weathering so far on the 08 looks great

Very nice Bob good progress getting the Chassis to the running stage. Looks good I still have to get my Chassis milled to get it to the correct height so I can reassemble it. Hope you had a good Xmas and best wishes for the New year

Not a lot been happening modelling wise Bob, we had a short shakedown trip in the new camper now back home I have been doing more bits for other people than myself with DCC installs and loco repairs etc. I did Finished the scenic revamp on my 8ft plank now it's done, I may put it on EBay on Sunday night. And see if anyone wants it. I did have a running session the other night on Moonan Flats, with about 12 of the local guys round. We have a good supper as well as running trains

That's a good compromise Bob At least in the middle of winter when the rails are iced up out side you can run some trains if you take photos of all the wagons you intend to use you can deal them for a train order to make up, can some times take a good while and it's good for the gray matter up too. There are a few online examples of random card draw etc for inglenook shunting layouts. I do it with Moonan Flats then print out for a session. Example below

Hi Bob yes did the track in both directions. The camper handles better than the 4x4 have to say it's the best trailer I have ever towed. Check out this video of the prototype under test The one Shelley got is the current model Mk4 version Yes will get up your way eventually Bob and bring some trains to stretch their legs on your layout. May be sooner now we have this new camper. Hope you find all the bits, best of luck with the search

All good I hope at my place Bob I'm out at Bathurst this weekend no trains though. And a massive thunder storm last night hopefully a fine night tonight as we are on the top of Mount Panorama lucky in the new camper trailer so weathered the storm well. Would have liked to go to the NewEngland convention but dates clashed so another 2 years until the next one may be next time

Not good Bob the perils of out door modelling I guess but ones you don't tend to factor in when building. Best of luck with the cleen up

Hi Bob The Blue and Yellow was a bit of me the owner usualy has BR green Locos to blend in to the greenery the blue was a big splash of colour for the little layout The Large Logo was the current colour scheme when we lived in the UK in 1981 so that my memory's of modern BR, Locos racing through Crew Station on football specials and growling along on freights and when travelling around by train I had the Ian Allan spotters guide. so a good part of my OO Locos colection are Blue and yellow boxes.

Hi Bob I think the loco may be a kit that has been Australianised with a westing house air pump headlights that are Kreoby Orignaly I think it may have been an MR/LMS dock tank. The little Layout I was helping on was Industry Lane OO British a minimum space layout with really nice detail Photo below Liverpool 2016 Exhibition by CHRIS, on Flickr

No we can't be loosing too many of them however it's a sad fact many modellers choose to switch to Oscale very late in life, A mistake I think, modellers should do it earlier, if you are ever considering it, you will get a lot more out of it over time slowly building a collection of Locos and stock and building a layout rather than a big change and then try and build a new layout before they fall off the perch, Here's the little loco and the 2 LCH hoppers Been busy painting the rails this morning Haven't tested it yet looks like it has been sitting for some time though will need a good clean and lube before any running and then DCC installed. I will also try a Keepalive in it with its short wheel base a few other Locos in the que in front of it though.

The corner treatments look just right Bob and also add to the operational potential. Not to bad at the moment I'm doing a revamp on a O scale Plank at the moment I should put up some posts about it on my thread. It's just a single line with a siding it came with some other items from an Estate auction last weekend I picked up a little O scale tank loco 2 LCH hoppers and they came with a 2.4metre (8ft) scenic plank it's no wonder no one else bid than me so got the lot for the starting price, as you had to take the lot and the 2.4m length just fitted between the dash and the tail gate of the wagon, I'm giving the scenic's a once over and have split the layout in two so now have 2, 4ft sections much easier to transport the a 2.4m long piece, also had to cut a peco point in two as was across the middle of the new join between the two boards the little layou can then find a new home at least the size won't put people off now. I made up a couple of locating dowels to help line up the joint and they work well and there has been no miss alignment of the point I also made the Point DCC friendly and added a few feed wires to a DCC bus

Plenty of atmosphere Bob A really good way to make the most effective use of a small space use the corners. We always did it with HO and with the larger radius of the Oscale curves there is a a comparably large amount of space that becomes very useful for sidings and industry scenes like on you new layout.