73 progress

It has been one of those crazy weeks at work so I have been rather tired each evening. However I made a start on the 73's electrics and documenting what I am doing. I swapped the bogie pickups around so that they are correct as per standard. I have also labelled each of the lightboards' wires at each end so that I can document them when attaching to the decoder. I then attempted to rotate one of the red marker lights and inadvertently dropped the LED so when I picked it up to resolder I have no idea which way it was and thus which way to reposition! So I have just resoldered it and will see once decoder in place. I also had another accident with one of the red marker LEDs this time I obviously had the soldering iron on it a moment too long and the lens popped off. Aarghhhh. Well lucky I ordered a swag of different coloured 0603 SMD LEDs from LedBaron in Germany at the start of the week and hopefully these should be here this week if I am lucky. Amongst the pack are white and red LEDs. I think I will be needing them!

We had a public holiday in Brisbane one Wednesday and my initial plan was to head on down to the club for a couple of hours, however the missus had other plans. With no kids at home for most of the day (the kids' dau off was Monday), I had to do the morning school/kindy run, sort out a couple of errands, and then go out for lunch, then do the afternoon school/kindy run, then take my eldest to footy training, and then finally get home for dinner. So no chance of getting to the club! I did however take about 30 minutes just before heading out to lunch to prepare and prime the two whitemetal 'driver' figures I had chosen just in case I can use these in the 73.

I have also purchased one of the 30W temperature controllable soldering irons from Jaycar that Mr Mackie had suggested for the SMD LEDs. I'm yet to get it out of the packaging!

I also checked the JMRI forum for any further feedback for the Pi howto, but nothing new.

So this week I think I will proceed with the 73's wiring and documenting. If time permits I will look at the suggested amendments to the Pi Howto, but time and work's current follies will tell.