Pinkelpa

Thanks for this reply, the do-not-use DC 'out of the box' is a serious warning, and although I didn't intend to use it in DC mode at all, It can be the reason for breaking down in my struggle to get CV values changed. On test test-circuit I have both DC and DCC. This weekend I put a tiny Kuehn N45 decoder (expensive, but tiny enough) in the loc, and my grandchildren can now play with it again.

Well, I like to add 2 more photos, just to show our progress of the past (how much more do we have to wait before we can continue with our modules): ... this one is made before we moved to our (still closed) clubhouse: It already feels a bit like a walk down memory lane Krds, Jelle

Dear reader, we would like to show you, that we are still alive and and I want to present a picture from some progress, already made some time before we made the move to our clubhouse: Unfortunately, I can't add 'and kicking' to 'alive' , because there is not much kicking due to the Covid-19 threat which causes our clubhouse to be closed, now already for a long time. Therefore I took the liberty to present an older picture. Krds, Jelle

Hello, I am having problems with a Hornby Class 3F (16440), having the afore mentioned X9659 decoder (probably). After an attempt to change the address, the decoder seems to be in a lock-down (or defect). The motor is still ok, but I can't find the decoder on both the POM and the programming track. I use a DR5000 from Digikeijs to control the layout. I can't find any description of the CV-adresses, whatever I tried. Anyone who can help me out? Thanx in advance, Pinkelpa (Cysgod-y-Fedwen)

A lot of work has been done the last months. Paul made the control electronics for the points and signals. As we mentioned before, stepper motors are to be used to realize a slow transition for the points, as well as the signals: Three control units will be managed by one Arduino. So we need at least 6 of them, and an extra one for damage control. Extensive tests are done with a single prototype, but now we are arriving to the moment where the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We start with the points. The signals are very fragile, so we will place them later on. We also intend to start controlling the points individually using simple SPDT switches to get things going. Jelle

Today, we 'sculpted' the river area. We want a 2 inches lowered river and a characteristic bridge. With proper woodworking tools, making room for the river was a peace of cake. The hard work was in fact the 'thinking before doing'. Not only we wanted to address a small industrial area, also a little bit of nature should be part of the plan. Though probably not particularly South East Wales, this type of bridge is something we aim for: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/uploads/7/6/8/3/7683812/1978044_orig.jpg The bridge, not all the persons on it. Paul is working on stepper-motor driven turnout control because the solutions we have seen with a servo-motor or electromagnetic coils do not fulfill the wish for a slow turnover. The stepper-motor found is priced about £ 1, and with a miniature relay to control the electrofrog, we expect that we can compete with the commercially available turnout controls. He is also working on electromechanicaly driven ground-signs with miniature leds. Photographic evidence will be provided later on

Progress indeed... Last week we assembled parts of the modules: the two boxes (each 1200x590 mm). The track plan is now copied onto the board and as soon as the lacking Peco parts are delivered by the postman, we can really start building. As soon as the connecting 'black boxes' are finished - hopefully this week - we can start laying the (straight and curved) tracks, the turn-outs and everything else of which I do not know the name yet. We also adapted the totem/logo a bit. We replaced 'eindhovenmodelbouw.nl' by Monmouthshire, as can be seen (bottom left) on this photo: To be continued....

A first photosign-of-life from the module we want to build and an attempt to get around with photos and galleries here on RMWeb.

Very nice digest, love to read them. Thanx! Jelle

Johnster,thank you for these extensive replies. Nice to read and helpful in making choices!

As one on the C-y-F builders, let me introduce myself a bit. My wife and I visited Wales for the first time in 2008 (Crickhowell) and we - after many vacations in the south of France - lost our hart in this part of the UK. A second week stay near Btws-y-Coed (still don't know how to pronounce the name) in 2011 confirmed that loss After joining the EMV ( www.eindhovenmodelbouw.nl ) in Holland, I met some enthusiastic guys who were addicted to OO. April this year I stumbled into Osborn's Models in Bideford, finding myself leaving the shop with a nice looking class E4 of the LB&SCR an hour later. The day after, I bought some books in the station of Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Company and on the way back home a first (Osborn) magazine. Amazing the amount of second-hand books there. I would like to share our progress with you by photographs and maybe some video, but moreover, learn from the comments and suggestions we hopefully receive from you. SeeYouLah, Jelle