BSW01

Goodnight all 

Good evening everyone 

Like yesterday, the weather remained fine, in fact I didn’t need to wear a jacket today, although Sheila still wore her coat! Anyway, the items we went to collect were picked up, so that’s Ava’s and Evie’s birthday and Christmas presents sorted! This afternoon I sat at the table and with the aid of a pencil, some paper and an eraser, I pondered the switching and wiring arrangements for the 3 way point. My final design uses, apart from some cable, just 3 items, 2 micro switches for changing the crossing vee polarity and a Double Pole, ON/OFF/ON switch for operation. The point will be operated using 2 mini servo’s mounted below the baseboard, the 2 micro switches will be mounted on the servo brackets, 1 on each servo and will be operated by the servo arms. Hopefully, the drawings below will make it all clearer.
 

First the point and crossing vees

The the operating switch 

Psycho Killer - Talking Heads 

Goodnight all 

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. 

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. 

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✔️.