July 2015

Grateful thanks go to David and all who helped with the Summer Party. It was a great evening; the weather was kind, the food super with good company.

OO Gauge Matters

Pointwork

All servos  are now installed ready for the arduino control units. Testing of pointwork operations and settings can commence soon.

Wiring and electrical

Following decisions on arrangements for DC and DCC which have led to the adoption of a different plug system for the fiddle yard the linking of sections on the tag strips has commenced and is making good progress. Several boards have been completed and, when all have been finished, testing prior to running can commence. The SCART cables, which have already been soldered up, should now suffice for the majority of the  layout's requirements.

Baseboards and trackwork

Construction of end-boards has started to facilitate turning for wiring work while protecting the track-ends.

The Romsey line board remains to be constructed and the track to 'Romsey' installed but this is a simple board with no pointwork so it can remain outstanding for a little longer.

Buildings and Scenics

Work has continued on the generation of 'mock-ups' for the yard. Good progress has been made following Jim Wheeler's visit and the loan of his photographs and plans of the site, which have been scanned, copied and are about to be returned. With the temporary fitting of the daughter boards it is possible to assess for the first time the potential public view and the desirability of avoiding overcrowding the layout while demonstrating its essential functions. It is possible that some hard decisions will have to be made but the viewing angle will allow quite a lot of structures in the relatively small space of the layout. It is expected that final 'foot-prints' can be set up soon so that other work, ballasting etc., can commence.

Control System and Boxes

Having been deferred deliberately at the start of the project the final design and details of the systems of control are being debated and defined prior to commencing construction.

Signalling

The gantry on the causeway is under construction.

Exhibitions

'Invitations' have been received – Brockenhurst at the end of May 2016 and New Milton the following July.  This should focus the mind a little !

EM gauge Matters 

The dealing with members’ estates is taking up a lot of time and I am appreciative of the time put in by members.

With Otterbourne coming up, I may need to ask for help with the erection etc.. of “Yes Tor” as of course Graham Hatton is unable to assist. This will be the very last time seen and he thinks he may sell the layout soon owing to his disabilities.