peach james

8 of them ! 6 which were in use, 2 which were carried around as ballast due to defects... Even though the reactors are defueled, the rest of the hot loops will still be radioactive to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the "shine" on the parts. So there will be plenty of specialized clean up required, and this wasn't something that was given a lot of fore-thought. I'd assume the reactors and steam generators will end up cut out, and shipped to WA state for burial. My ship cost the RCN about 20 million to scrap in 2017, so I'm not at all shocked that breaking a ship in an environmentally responsible way is a - not a + to the bank accounts. James

Back at it earlier in the week- another 100 tieplates cut off, and I'm supposed to do the other 300 tomorrow. We'll see how many actually get cut, I've gone through about 2/3rds of a 14" cut off blade so far. Dirt movement is now an ongoing thing here at home. It's not raining, so I'm moving dirt by shoveling it into a 6 cubic foot dump box behind the garden tractor & then unloading it. Given that I have about 200 cubic feet of fill to move, it's an ongoing project. The total required fill is >300 m^3, with about 1/2 of that in place, and about 16 m^3 left on the property still to move. (and about the same to come over from where I was getting it). Dig Dig Dig ! Right now things have come to a bit of a halt with the dirt, because I can't find my 33m tape. I know it's somewhere around, tied to a 50x100mm chunk of wood...and I need the tape to put together the line where the rest of the dirt needs to be laid out. Arg ! (2x 10m radius curves and the connecting straight) James

Having seen the photos you took of the moon, you would just about be able to make (Gill Head) out using that gear from the moon ! I just think that it is going to end up with this beautiful scene to take an image of from an unusual prospective as a model- thinking of the late David Shakespeare's Tetley Mills, and how there were all kinds of relatively unique photo locations possible on it. Some layout scenes are designed to have a camera jammed into the landscape so that you can take a photo from _that_ location, and I can within my mind see that Gill Head the scene is going to be that 3/4's facing up. About all that I have that is really constructive is that the inside of the arches need to be lined for that image to work- I think you are 100% correct to design a method to do so. The only other thing I can think of would be to placard line them now, and then start from there with the construction- assuming the viaduct can be tipped over still ? Fantastic work as always, James

I think you are going to find that it ends up with a train on the viaduct, and the camera aimed upwards, as being a fairly "favorite" photo of Gill Head. I can see it in my mind, like the similar photos taken of Arten Gill. If it was me, I think I'd take a camera/lens combo that will give good results, and see where it has to sit to enable such photos, to make sure that there will be enough/appropriate scenery from there. ( like https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.artpal.com%2Fbuy%2F%3Fi%3D155757-3&psig=AOvVaw1sOOwmZG1SkxL4RPs8IpO6&ust=1606702600183000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKjA3d_Xpu0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI ) but at 3/4ths would be close to what I have in my mind ) And yes, I know, it might mean an art board insert to be able to get the placement. But I really do see this as being _the_ photo feature of Gill Head James

Can you set the required "on time" in iTrain so that it doesn't blink? This is most likely a case of cross talk between sections- and if you can increase the detection time to say, 2 seconds in block, that may solve it? Mine are set via flag in RR&Co to remain flagged on for 10 seconds due to dropouts on trains. It all depends on the fault you are getting. James

Go have a look in the dcc and computer control threads; The NCE system is not ideal for automation, because of the relatively limited ways of talking to the various components- going to either Lenz, Roco or Digitrax is probably easier if you are going to automate a layout. RailRoad & Co is like a pay version of JMRI. If you have the skills to program in a java environment, stick with JMRI, or go with iTrain. The owner of RR&Co is in my view, an interesting individual . The advantage that RR&Co has is that it was first or 2nd on the scene, in the late 90's. If you haven't invested the time to learn the idiot-cincities of any of the programs (iTrain, RR&Co 5/7/Gold, JMRI) then I would start with looking at JMRI and then iTrain) At anyway, I'd go look at the computer control area if you are interested in automation, as this is definitely James

I don't think so- I think that's a 8' wide, 9' high x20' container. (2.5*39/12= 8'1") - there are 8', 8'6" and 9' containers. I have a pair of 8' containers here which are my outside storage of stuff (like one railway layout, a 4" traction engine and 4.5 tons of coal). If I was doing it again, I would go for the 9' containers, which are rather less common, but you can fit a full 8' sheet of plywood vertical in them. A 9'6" wide container would be overwidth for North American roads. (IE http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/trucks/handbook/section1-3-7.shtml for Ontario rules ) James

You can do this using RR&Co, so there _should_ be ways of doing this without using that- if you are using NCE, it may be possible using a mini-panel, _but don't put too much hope on it _. If you can activate a function, usually F8 is to "mute" a sound equipped loco. The problem is going to be ID'ing which loco you have where- that's why I know you can do so in RR&Co. (I do so with a LRC, turning on the sound as it leaves the staging yard). So, the likely answer is yes, but it will require a fairly extensive automation to do. James

You are buying one of the very fundamental tools of model building. I wouldn't try to skimp out- however, Antax are not the only brand in town. Weller, Hakko and Antax are all good name brands. If you can find a robot making place, or similar, then they will likely have one of those 3 in stock in a temp controlled iron. If you intend on making whitemetal kits, then a temp. controlled iron is very helpful. It _can_ be done without, but... it's not going to be easy, you are going to melt castings, and generally I'd say invest in a good iron. I don't have experience with the knock off Chinese versions, but I would suspect you get what you pay for- a decent priced knock off is going to be far easier to work with than an expensive but wrong iron. I have a Weller 25w, and a 75W iron, and I would not go to them for precision work, because I have a Hakko 936 station. That's an analog, 50w, temp. controlled station with easy to change tips. James

A couple of more bits mucked around with- I have the clevis made to connect the servo to the valve gear. Next step with that is putting it into place. I'm working on the tieplates tonight, grinding the >150 or so that I have cut off so that they loose the wicked edge from the cut off saw. So far I have a stack of 80 done- or a little over 1/10th what I think I need. I've a fair few more hours here today to putz around with those two bits and see how things work. I'll be cutting most of the remainder of the tieplates on the 3rd. I wasn't supposed to be working overnight here but here I am ! The grate- the retaining assembly for the grate won't fit in the 4 jaw on the Bantam to swing it. So, plan B: mill it in the Bantam, holding it in a 4 way tool holder solidly strapped to the cross slide. Adapt and overcome the lack of a mill either here or at home. James

No, not strictly true. SLOT lets you fire off a message, it's a radio in a 5" can basically, but it is only 1 way. (and noisy when launched...). ELF was used to give long range radio messages to subs- something must have replaced it as the US has allowed its ability to send ELF messages degrade. It was a very low bitrate system, intended mostly to tell a single sub to come to periscope depth, or to announce to the missile boats to nuke the USSR... See Red Storm Rising for details... James

I don't know the formulas, but I do know that the penetration distances of useful frequencies are relatively low. A snorting DE sub may be at risk of radar detection, but not a nuke driving around at 400ft or something... That being said, I am aware that the use of radar to track wakes is NOT anything like as new as is being made out above- it's a computing problem, and the advances in computer capacities over the last 30 years mean that it is far easier than it used to be. James

I'd like to point out, that Luther Wright is far more notable to me as a member of Weeping Tile, the _other_ Kingston (Ontario) band from the 90's. Also, note, are a Canadian band

The "stock images" of the South African gold mines show NG railway line- but I have no real idea how deep they are at. I don't know how deep the connection between Quirke 1 & 2 was- knowing EL mines, it could have been anything over about 2' deep. Underground operations weren't taxed, surface was... Stanleigh Mine, which I went into 2x, went to 3600', but was rubber wheel when I was down it (and I didn't have any models with me...). Stinko in Sudbury is fairly deep too- and also was fairly rail based into the 90's. I think it has mostly gone over to tyre based equipment though. (& is operated as deep as 5700')

The CO of one of the Upholder class boats was a modeler- as has been at least one CERA of them in Canadian service. No, I don't know if they have run trains at deeper than 1200 ft. (being a skimmer puke). Of course, some real stock has likely been deeper, in the form of narrow gauge mine stock... No idea on higher altitude than yours though- and I don't know anyone with the kit to try off hand... James

The track hasn't seen any real work since 2011...so no, it isn't coming back until someone funds rehabilitation. The numbers mentioned range as high as $400 million- that's for 200+ km of track, including the Port Sub... It gets the occasional air here in the BC photos thread. James

62 cuts using the abrasive saw @ work. 539 to go... (I made 2 tieplates, one is the wrong length, and I need a chunk of plywood to use as a jig gauge for making them...) The heap of 5' lengths of steel is quite impressive. (I might get a photo tomorrow, if I remember the ipad)

600' of code 1000 tieplates picked up. Now need chopping into 12" lengths, and a pair of holes drilling in each one. So, only 600 cuts, and 1200 holes to go... Taking them to work to cut them there- will drill them there too. Next step is cutting the whole lot into 5' chunks with the cut off saw, then piling them under the workbench. Too busy building my lego Krok to turn the grate parts. That, and working on the room that Long Marton lives in- it is now - the old ceiling.

To add more: If you want mountain operation, then it's not Vancouver, or the Island. If you want unique, there is all kinds of it... The current (basically, from about the mid 80's on) scene involves LOTS of unit type trains- be them containers, or tank cars, or grain, or potash, auto racks, and coal. (and more coal...). You have to go back to mid 80's or earlier to find mixed trains really being a big part of the scene, along with boxcars. If you step back to before the early 80's, then boxcar movement of grain becomes a much more important part of the scene. Stepping back further, once you go before the mid 70's, you loose unit coal trains as well, and it becomes far more mixed for operational prospectives. One thing I would highly recommend is to jump on ordering some version of Rapido's Canadian, as the deadline for ordering is tomorrow (16th Nov). The rough dates are ^, 1955- 1978 is CP, more recent is VIA. I'd assume if you are thinking N gauge (note, it's 9mm gauge, 1:160 scale...not 9mm gauge/2mm scale...) that you are planning on diesel era rather than steam. Roughly, this means 1955 out west. There isn't a lot of steam options in comparison to the UK, because of the # of different railroads. Another resource is PWRS- https://www.pwrs.ca/main.php Similar to Prairie Shadows, they have done some of their own locos/stock. I think you will find that you end up ordering stuff from over here. I don't know how the whole of Brexit will work for importing stock, nor does anyone else. However, it may be easier to get stock from Canadian dealers than US. James (on the island)

I'd be going for the full height spotters bridge...located right above where the one is on HLJ :). Being serious, is there enough height to do that in the basement? Could you build a bridge over the layout, and still have 6'6" above? It might be far more comfortable than ducking under the layout. James

If you read OK the PK & Trains, apparently VIA only has enough carsets to make up 4 Canadian consists- so on return the Canadian will only be 2x/week. Said article indicates the end is near for the Budd S/S cars, as it appears that refit/repair isn't practical. I am willing to bet that the Canadian will end soonish. I'd like to take it in a sleeper across Canada, but...

Why not order from Australia ?

More bits arrived ! Most of the fittings are now in my hands, though I suspect I'm going to need to get a different set of safety valves. The ones which I bought seem to be a bit small in comparison to the boiler- realize that the boiler is a little over 10 sq ft of heating surface ! Next on my list is working on the base for the grates. I'm going to chuck it in the 4 jaw, turn out the 3" gap in the middle, then drill a pair of 3/16" pin holes, one right through the 3" or so on one side. At least I have a plan for now !

Here's the next steps done: As those of you who have done these things know, there's been a bunch of work to get from the photos above to this- everything in the room has moved x2, and then I went and emptied several drawers out into the new cabinets. I have handles for the cabinets, but need a set of calipers (which are at work) to mark out the 2nd hole location for the handles. I'm a little surprised IKEA didn't supply an adhesive label to get spacing for the handles. Next steps are not in this room- but soon enough, I will be back in there. I pulled the light covers off the fluorescent lights, they will be coming down, followed by the ceiling. I might get at that today, or perhaps tomorrow. I have a bank appointment tomorrow about the Mortgage, it's up for renewal. I'm not scheduled to work till after my birthday (a week today), so I have a bit of time.

I'm growning that one as an indication of it being a bad idea ! We demand track, even if singled, with a horrid Pacer as the passenger service, a single platform, with a bus shelter as the station ! Otherwise, the dozen residents of Gill Head will be irate at the governments inaction to care for their transportation needs. >36000 saved the line. And one dog...