Finally made the jump to start working on a new layout.
November - Track Wiring
In preparing to start building the layout, thought that I would practice on a short piece of track. I will be using Micro Engineering code 100 track and switches, and RC servos as the switch machines. The servos are controlled by Tam Valley Depot Quad Pic Servo Accessory decoder. I built the simple test layout which consists of a short piece of track and a switch. Soldering to both the track and the switch was a challenge.
A look inside
Completed project
Programming on the kitchen table
August - DCC Programming track
Since the construction of the layout had not yet begun, I needed a way to program locomotives. I also wanted a way to program a locomotive away from the layout. Since I had choosen the NCE Power Cab, I took an extra PCP panel and a USB interface and put them in a small case, with bananna plugs to connect to my three foot test track. The hardest part of this was making the short cable that connects the PCP with the USB interface, with the RJ 11 connectors on each ends. After everything was put in the case, I had to widen the hole next to the USB interface so that I could see the programming LED flash.
A look inside
Completed project