Photos and videos from Steam Train Sunday 3rd July 2011



974 - our engine

Across Merivale St bridge

Looking down river at William Jolly bridge

Looking upriver to Go Between bridge

Through Normanby yard heading towards Exhibition

Through Park Road

Through Moolabin Goods Yard

Across Indooroopilly bridge

Through Normanby

Now the Spycam videos

Chuffer day

Today was the annual steam train trip. An early start to get to Roma Street Station by 10:10am started the day. I was really hoping that we wouldn't be heading to Pinkenba again as the two previous years that has been the destination. We arrived at the Tilt Train platform (#9 ?) but where was the train? I asked the lass in the ticket window and she directed us to Platform 3 (the plot thinkens!). We trudged down the stairs and proceeded to the platform. Up the escalator and there was the train. Oooh it was pointing westward. Me thinks we might not be going to Pinkenba. After checking in with the Railway Workshops staff to see where we were seated (the tickets hadn't arrived in the Friday mail but I got confirmation that we were on the passnger manifest) I asked the destination. Sherwood loop. Hooray!!! We were going south and inner west. I haven't actually been any further south than South Brisbane, being a northern suburbanite. River bridges, tunnels, and plenty of track made for a great hour out in the 'burbs. Lachlan had a great time. Matthew was somewhat subdued but he had a rough night previously so was probably tired. But he was excited about the trip. I was able to take some good still and video pictures. I will upload these (probably to Youtube) once I have sorted them out off the camera. I also took my spycam just to see how it would perform. Looking at the footage tonight I was amazed at the clarity and resolution of the pictures. Amazing little thing. I might have to take some footage from my daily commute!

From a modelling point of view,  not much this week. The plan to finish off Lachlan's church didn't eventuate. I did however clean his track yesterday so that we could put a train on. Thomas did a few laps and then I dug out the Alaska RR diesel. One of its kadee couplers started dragging. It looks like it has been bent downwards. Looks like something else on the fixit bench! Speaking of fixing things I also discovered an electrical fault with Lachlan's layout. When the new point is positioned for the siding the power is cut off to the mainline loop. What the! I have either accidentally installed an electrofrog instead of an insulfrog and need to wire the rails, or there is a problem with the point. Bugger! As for my layout, nothing. I did however pickup some tagstrips from Jaycar yesterday to preparation for wiring in the signals and lighting. On the subject of signals, the two feathered 2 aspect signal kits arrived from the UK for my birthday presents this week. Phew! As for other things for my birthday, I have asked for dosh to put towards the NCE SB3a power booster that I have decided to save for so that I can increase the power capacity of my layout.

As I am wiriting this I am watching the Tour de France. With this being on for the next three weeks, my modelling might take a back seat. I do enjoy watching the Tour as it is a great travelogue of France (scenery, chateux, mountains, villages, etc very nice). The bike race is an optional extra! ;-)

Club this Saturday so I have to finalise the roles and responsibilities of the layout coordinators for presentation to the members at the meeting.

Hallelujah - a church is made, plus other things!

As expected the week that was had a hectic schedule in the evenings. As such anything major didn't get done. However one night I had a spare 30 minutes so I was able to slap the small amount of paint I needed to do on the made up signal. Doesn't look to bad! I had intentions of installing this signal to control the engine stabling siding however I ran out of time over the weekend.

From a modelling perspective Saturday afternoon I made up Lachlan's church for his layout. He helped with placing the stained glass stickers over the windows. It was looking pretty bland so as per the picture on the box we decided to paint the roof, spire and steps a gray colour to offset the white of the rest of the church. I was able to put the first coat of paint on the model on Saturday night as I watched the Brisbane Lions get defeated once more! I will attempt to put the second coat of paint on during the week if time permits. There is always next Saturday night once again watching the Lions more than likely get defeated!

The only other thing I did was to place the rest of the service station items (bowsers, fridge, sign, etc) on Lachlan's layout and start some static grassing. Sorry no photos this week.

New Scalescenes model - a ship!

I have just cruised past the Scalescenes site and they have a new model of a dockside ship. If you were modelling a dock scene probably just the ticket.

http://www.scalescenes.com/products/T030-Cargo-Ship plus
http://www.scalescenes.com/products/T016-Dock-Edge

Maybe something for the Club's HO layout plans?

This week's modelling

Last week's hope of getting at least the made signal painted didn't eventuate due to time restraints. However I did get to the shed on Sunday to take a couple of photos of the Kensington Hill Control Panel under power.

I placed an order with Scale Rails in the UK for a couple of junction two aspect signals for the KH side of the layout. Hopefully these will arrive before my birthday in early July so that the boys can give me these as their presents to me. I also placed an order for another Digitrax DS64 and MRC 4-output decoder with my mate PK. These purchases should complete the main electricals for the KH side.

Sunday morning it was a tad cold so I stayed inside but took the opportunity to spend some quality time with my sons. For son number 2 (Matthew) I put on Thomas and the Great Discovery. At the same time son number 1 (Lachlan) helped me make one of his kits for his layout. This was the service station. In the afternoon we were out in the shed to do some more work on his layout.  Go over to Beaver Springs to have a look at some recent photos.

Unfortunately nothing was done on Illavearf this week. Lets see what this week brings!

New blog being followed - O9 Modeller

James at Eastmoor brought this blog to the attention of his readers. Might be useful for tips on scratchbuilding.
http://o9modeller.blogspot.com/

I have added it to my Blog List

A good week with the electricals

The week started when I dug out one of the four Eckon two aspect (red/green) signal kits I had purchased about two years ago to try my hand at putting it together. Easy peasy. I also went foraging in my Hornby mag collection for an article about these very kits and how to paint them prototypically. After reading the article I checked the paints and I had the necessary colours. Now just to find some time to paint the signal.
Saturday was Club day and I left the clubhouse with some homework to do. I suggested at the meeting the idea of having a number of layout coordinators for the new HO layout which would act as quality controllers for specific areas of the layout. This idea was received well but I now have to come up with the Roles and Responsibilities for these coordinators for presentation at the July meeting.
Sunday mid afternoon saw me out in the Shed with Lachlan to spend some more time on his layout. We just had time to put down some more ballasting.
Today (Monday) was a great day. The missus took the boys to a playdate and I had a couple of hours to work on the electricals on Illavearf. I finally managed to wire up the control panel, point motors and feedback microswitches the way it should have been. Once done I checked the current draw on the Powercab and it was averaging 40mA for the LEDs being powered. Now I just have to wire up the street/platform lights, station light and signal box light (once I have made up the signal box kit!). Later in the afternoon Lachlan and I continued with more ballasting. Hopefully I will get some photos up on his blog soon.
I am thinking of doing up a website that will link these blogs as well as provide some additional information. I am tinkering with the site at the moment and it is still a way off. One thing will be a To Do list which should be quite extensive!
Another thing I have been spending time on thinking about is the subject of a power booster, namely the NCE SB3a. It is within the budget and size requirements of Illavearf at the moment. My birthday is coming up so I may ask for money from the family so that I can put it towards the cost of the SB3a. I still have to purchase two Digitrax DS64s and at least another two or three MRC 4-output accessory decoders, hence why I need some more grunt for the layout's power.
This week I am hoping to have another signal or three done so that I can paint the lot in one or two sessions so that I can install them on the layout and connected up to the accessory decoder.
Time will tell!