BSW01

Good morning everyone It looks like it’s about to start raining soon, I hope it holds off until I’ve been to the butchers! After that, WE are going to the Trafford Centre to pick up some click and collect items, these will be birthday and Christmas presents for the girls! This trip will no doubt take up the rest of he morning! After dinner, the rest of the day is mine, so a little scribbling with pencil and paper to work out the electrical circuit diagram for the 3 way point will be done. Back later. Brian

Goodnight all

Good evening everyone Well, the predicted poor weather never materialised, instead we had some sunshine. But I decided that I would stay with my original plan and add the dropper wires to the 3 way point. Before heading out though, I wrote an operating schedule the point, as well as a ‘truth table’ to assist in planning the switching of the polarity of the 3 crossing vees. Once I’d drawn it up and double checked it, I realised I could make even simpler. 2 of the vees (circled in yellow and green) can remain connected as if they were one, this is now circled in red. The yellow and green will be the same polarity, when diverting left or going straight ahead. When diverting right, the polarity of the green and blue will be the same, the polarity of the yellow doesn’t matter, so that too could be the same as the green. So, that just meant I only needed to solder on 2 drop wires, instead of 3. Hopefully, the photo below hopefully explains it a bit more. ION After dinner, I phoned the surgery to get the results of last week’s blood test, unfortunately my PSA has risen again, it now stands at 17.8, instead of 14.76. At this rate, when I my next PSA test in July, which I’m sure will take me over the ‘20’ threshold set by The Christie, I’ll have my medication admended and be put on an extra drug.

After The Thrill Has Gone - The Eagles

Midnight Flyer - The Eagles

The Midnight Rambler - The Rolling Stones

A little bit more info on insulated rail joiners. I came across a packet of ‘n’ gauge Peco insulated rail joiners in my workshop, so tried one on a rail of the diamond kit I’ve made up. They’re a bit sloppy, but they do fit, but then again, they're designed for code 55 flat bottom rail. They would work, if that’s all you can get hold of, but I'd only use them on dead straight track.

Good morning everyone Up a lot early than usual, mainly due to Sheila once again going to her Zumba class and requiring my chauffeuring service. After that, the rest of the day is my own, but the weather isn’t looking good for outside work, so another day in the workshop is planned. Wire droppers will be soldered to the 3 way point I think. I’ll also draw up an operating table / sequence too. Back later. Brian

Goodnight all

I’m 3 way point I’ve been working on for the last week or so. Although this was t a full kit, I’ve used pre-etched parts from DCC Concepts and some of there stainless steel rails. The actual plan was drawn up by myself using Templot and then printing out the plan. The lengthiest part of this was actually placing the sleepers in place, once that was done, cutting and bending the rails didn’t take long at all. Believe it or not, I’ve used just over 2m of rail in this point! I used a completed plastic truck kit (with no additional weight added yet) and gravity to check the operation of the point, I’m pleased to say it works very well, the truck passed through all the crossings with ease in both directions. For a first attempt at any sort of track building, I think I’ve done alright. The photo above was taken, just after I’d finishing and cleaning it of flux etc, but before the isolating gaps had all been cut. These have now all been cut and the point has also been electrically tested etc. The next stage will be to solder on some dropper wires so that I can switch the polarity of crossing vees to suit the chosen route, this will hopefully get done tomorrow.

Good evening everyone Well I spoke too soon this morning, before I’d even got to the workshop it was raining, since then, the weather has been awful most of the day, the wind picked up late in the afternoon, but thankfully it’s died down again now. I wouldn’t have liked to have been any of the tree fellers (although there could have been more) working down the road in this weather, that’s for sure. I’m pleased to say that I’ve completed the 3 way point I’ve been working on for the last week or so. As requested by @polybear, there’s a photo included below. Although this was t a full kit, I’ve used pre-etched parts from DCC Concepts and some of there stainless steel rails. The actual plan was drawn up by myself using Templot and then printing out the plan. The lengthiest part of this was actually placing the sleepers in place, once that was done, cutting and bending the rails didn’t take long at all. Believe it or not, I’ve used just over 2m of rail in this point! I used a completed plastic truck kit (with no additional weight added yet) and gravity to check the operation of the point, I’m pleased to say it works very well, the truck passed through all the crossings with ease in both directions. Really, really pleased about that, so that’s big ✔️. For a first attempt at any sort of track building, I think I’ve done alright. The photo above was taken, just after I’d finishing and cleaning it of flux etc, but before the isolating gaps had all been cut. These have now all been cut and the point has also been electrically tested etc. which is another big ✔️ then. The next stage will be to solder on some dropper wires so that I can switch the polarity of crossing vees to suit the chosen route, this will hopefully get done tomorrow.

Don’t You Forget About Me - Simple Minds

Love Is A Battlefield - Pat Benatar

I’m Not In Love - 10cc

Time Is On My Side - The Rolling Stones

Child In Time - Deep Purple

Mother, Stands For Comfort - Kate Bush

Here is a close up of one fitted to a single rail of a B7 diamond crossing kit. They’re quite small and are a little fiddly to get on, but they do go on and are a good, tight fit. This is a packet, for those interested. I’ve no connection with this company, other than as a satisfied customer. Brian.

DCC Concepts make some insulated rail joiners, I've just bought some, but haven't tried them yet. I'll test a couple later today and see how they are.

Good morning everyone Well, it’s not raining at the moment, but it looks like it could do so at any moment. If the rain holds off, I might try to straighten up one of the bird boxes I put up a couple of weeks ago. It’s currently leaning at a rather odd angle, probably due to all the strong gusts of wind we’ve had over the last few days. If it does rain, then I’ve a few items to unpack in the office and then I’ll head to the workshop, to hopefully finish off making that 3 way point. Back later. Brian

Goodnight all

Good evening everyone What an awful day it’s been today, rain, lots of it and very windy too! I’m glad I decided to stay in the workshop this morning. Although, after dinner, I went to Costco, as we were running very low on a few items that we buy from there. Anyway, back to this morning. More progress has been made on the 3 way point. Almost completed the soldering, I’ve just got one check rail to fit. I’d already fitted this, but it was too close to the running rail and the truck wouldn’t pass through it, so I removed it. It just needs refitting a little bit further away from the running rail. I’ll do that tomorrow. Once I’m happy with how the truck runs, I’ll fit the 2 operating arms, once that’s done, the points finished , which will be a big✔️.

Wishing Well - Free

You Wear It Well - Rod Stewart

Good morning everyone Another dull start to the day here in the damp northwest corner of England. So, I’ll definitely NIT be doing any work outside today. So, with a bit of luck, it looks like I might get that 3 way point finished today! Back later Brian