Finally some trains!

Another long weekend but this time we had trains! The AMRA Brisbane Model Train Show was on over the weekend and fortunately I was able to go to it on Saturday afternoon with my eldest son. We had a couple of hours wandering around before spending some time with the club (RMCQ) HO layout "Brendale". I had seen quite a few of the exhibited layouts before but one by the BRMA was the one that caught my attention the most. It was a new OO layout called "Two Up Two Down". It was a pretty good layout. A lot of trains moving around. A took some photos and videos. Our club layout also looked very good with the new river module in place. The N scalers had "Pine Rivers" in attendance and the Structure Building crew was doing their thing. I unfortunately didn't see anything worth buying at the stores for my limited budget at the moment. Saving the dollars for other things.
Today I was able to do some more electronic investigations. I replaced some of the resistors on the control panel with 300 ohm types. I then reconnected the panel up to the mini-panel and the MRC accessort decoder. Also Point 1's microswitch was wired in. Some mini-panel programming followed before showtime! Powercab was then connected to the PTP and bingo! The microswitch powering Point 1's control panel LEDs worked. Hurray! Signal 1 and Light 1's LEDs though not working via the MRC panel. Damn. I disconnected the control panel inputs from the switchs and did some programming via the Powercab. One of the Signal 1 control panel LEDs on. I also connected a LED to one of the other outputs and sent the ON command. It turned on. But for both trying to turn the LED OFF doesn't work. Some more research on this as I followed the MRC instructions but obviously a gotcha somewhere.
So the lesson here seams to be that SPDT switches don't work I would have to probably use a momentary type. The other thing I noticed after power cycling the system was that the MRC doesn't have a memory of the last commands it received. This is no good as you would need to reset everytime. I either need to find a device that has feedback memory or not worry about controlling the signals and lights via DCC which isn't what I had intended. Also the issue with the mini-panel inputs needs further pondering as under the existing Powercab powered system I can only use one mini-panel which I probably need for the point motor controls. I might not have the luxury of using the mini-panel to control other accessories.
Finally I also helped Lachlan do some ballasting and grassing on his layout.