I figured I would try my hand at the scenery shell. I went with Jamie’s' method using tape over the cardboard web. I like the idea of being able to see what the finished scenery will look like. The tape went a lot farther then I figured, this will be another new technique learned from Jamie.
The sub-roadbed for the first deck is done, and all but about 5 feet of cork roadbed is too. (I knew i should have bought more!) Time to order some code 55 track and attempt to build the closet helix. That my be on hold though. My appendix had enough of me 2 weeks ago, servers it right takeing my train money!
The Move to DCC I had the family over last weekend, and ran a couple trains for them. Wasn’t very successful with the two reversing loops at the end of the whole 5 ft of mainline track i have down. I suppose a lot to do with inexperience running the atlas reversing controller. Either way what a major pain in the side trying to keep up with the loops and throwing the switches! I had enough and sent my 6 dc locos to the engine house. I hooked up my ar-1s, booster and brought out my only dcc locomotive. Glad i did and good ridden to dc. I love the slower speeds i can get, so much more realism and control. At the slower to scale speed the trains seem to spend so much more time on the mainline, making it feel like the track in longer. With the move to dcc was the removal of all the block wiring that i won’t be using on the antelope mine leads/staging tracks. Also i have wired my 8 atlas switches, they too are now ready for a dcc board like the smd84 from team digital. I used a combo of 5 wire thermostat wire and 4 wire phone. For the connection of the turnout wires and the phone/thermostat wires i simply used the relay switches that come with the atlas turnouts for terminal blocks. I build a board / location for my dcc componets to go on. All of the componets will be on the side you see up, this will make it easier to wire. Its on hidges and folds all of the way around under the benchwork.
Interesting to me, as I have been looking at what people do for mounting their DECC components, yet having easy enough access for any maintenance needed.
It seems like a good idea, i happen to find it on digitrax site in their tech depot. Hopefully it will work as well as it looks. I am a little nervious about the wires, but running it threw my mind and a mock up i dont think it will be a problem. I also cut the pine board between the hindges on a 45. actually its pine so i just used the ultitly knife and cut out what looked like a 45. i dident want any dust
