Mini-panel success and other things

This week has been one of a number of small success stories. After waiting over a week for a reply directly from NCE I posted the same question to the NCE-DCC yahoo forum and over night received three replies. Thanks to Mark Gurries, Rex Beistle and Graeme Brown for their answers which explained and cleared up some uncertainty around the use of the TERMINATOR, NOP and LINK commands. Following hot on their heals (strangely enough) was a reply from NCE. Thanks to Matt for providing additional information. Subsequent to these answers, I revisited my mini-panel programming during the week. Still had problems. Hmmmm. Come Sunday I thought lets go back to programming basics. I would clear out all commands currently in the mini-panel by going through each input and programming a TERMINATE into each memory slot per input. Didn't take too long once you got the hang of it! Using my Operating rules I developed through the week, I started with what I wanted to do at system startup and entered the appropriate commands. Tested these and worked OK. Next the "GOD INPUT" - the one that "makes the mainline active". Tested OK. Then moved on from Input 1 programming each input, testing, and then moving onto the next LINKed input's programming, testing, etc. Then I programmed the alternate Inputs. Once all this was done, it was time for the BIG TEST. A real POWER OFF and ON (power cycle). Did this and it kind of worked. Some of the initial commands didn't work. Maybe at power on Input 31 issued the commands but the other decoders hadn't completed their start up cycle. Let's inject a DELAY command at the start of Input 31 to allow the other DCC systems to get ready to accept commands. Not knowing how long this could be I started with 20 seconds. Another power cycle. After waiting what seemed to be an eternity but really only 20 seconds everything came up as it should. HOORAH!! Time to work on that DELAY command and see what the minimum wait could be, so I reprogrammed it a number of times (16 -> 12 -> 8 ->4). As it all worked OK for 4 seconds I left it at that. I couldn't be bothered checking further in 1/4 sec increments!

So I have included pictures of my Operating Rules and Mini-panel configurations below for reference.

I have also got a link to a movie of the signals in action. This has been speeded up x4 to get through the sequencing it as short a time as possible.

What else happened? Well my order from Kernow Models in the UK arrived on Friday, so on Saturday night I was able to progress a little further with my signal cabin as I had a figure I could use as the signalman. A bit more painting inside so that the light will not escape through the plastic once installed. Now I just have to rig up the LED and somehow install the roof so that it is removable but semi-fixed in place.

Saturday morning I was able to catch up with the father of two (twins) friends of Son # 1 at their house at their birthday party. He has a freelance layout which is currently a work in progress (aren't they all!) but he showed me some of his locos, one of which was a US steamer with smoke. A couple of smartphone videos below (sorry for quality).

The Club Xmas do and modelling competition on Saturday was also well attended but not many actual models went in for the competition. I was unable to put anything in this year as I ran out of time, and have been concentrating on Illavearf's electrics this year. Hopefully next year as we are intending to do different categories. Photos of the winners below (sorry for the smartphone camera quality, it was the only thing I had at the time!).

HOn2.5 (I think) backwoods manual gantry crane

N scale craftsman kit 'backwoods' water tank

 

N scale logging pile driver scratchbuilt



Well that's it for another week.

Mini-panel deliberations and progress with the signal box kit

As previously mentioned I am trying to sort out the interlocking logic between the signals and the points inputs from the mimic panel to the mini-panel. I did inject the DELAY command and that works as it should but I am a bit hesitant at this point in time to say that this is the solution. I am still thinking the commands as issued without the DELAY command are OK, it is the fundamental logic of the interlocking scheme that needs to be sorted out. The Mini-panel is probably not the right device to do in depth signal programming, which may be more the focus of JMRI Panel Pro when I get the USB interface connected and start playing around with it from my laptop.

In the meantime, I was thinking about this on Friday night. Having imbibed a few glasses of shiraz earlier in the evening, I was amazed at the clarity (not claret!) I had of thought when I came up with the idea that perhaps to get around the mini-panel's shortfalls I need to impose layout operational rules and these would feedback into the low level signalling required. Basically a set of assumptions that guide the basic signal programming. It was about at this point that my eureka moment started to pass and I started to nod off on the couch. I never got a chance over the weekend to progress this thought and document the programming required. A job for this week.

Saturday night I spent some more time on the signal box kit. I painted the levers black with silver handles. Black for points only. No interlocking required for lever signals as these have been 'replaced' with the new fandangle electric signals. (Layout operating assumption!). Then I painted the floor and door inside surface a wood colour as the white of the styrene was not right! I thought I had a signalman figure to install but alas no. I little spot was left unpainted so that when he does get installed a clear surface is available. Hopefully something close enough will come in the Kernow models shipment in the next couple of weeks. So now the decision has been made not to enter this kit into the club modelling competition as it will definitely not be finished by the end of this week.

I received the George Dent "Airbrushing for railway modellers" book I had purchased from Amazon a couple of weeks ago over the weekend. Before it was covered up with Xmas wrapping paper as my gift from the boys to me, I had a quick flick through and it looks like it will be a good read. I succumbed also to ordering the accompanying DVD from Telerail through the week.

Now I also have to decide on the number of packs of Eureka Models NSWGR BSV (bogie sheep van) and BCW (bogie cattle wagon) models coming out next year so that I can take advantage of the pre 2012 pricing. I intend to use these on the NSW layout (Narromine) I intend to build sometime in the future, once Illavearf has been completed. As these types of rollingstock are not continually produced, you have to take advantage of buying them when they come on to the market.

Until next week, happy modelling.

Programming the mini-panel and the signal box started

The small amount of time I had this week was spent dicking around with the NCE Mini-panel's programming. I had programmed the point activation but it was time to add the signalling features in now. One night through the week I went and did this based on a signalling interlocking matrix I had developed. Seemed to work some of the time and at other times some of the required features did unexpected things. Maybe the logic was wrong. Further thought required. A couple of days later I was revisiting the logic and found a few missing things. To put in the required features I would need to do some Linking. I developed another set of commands and had some time Saturday afternoon to program these in. Not all the Linked commands were working as expected. Hmmmm. More thought needed this week.

Friday night I started to put together the Wills Ground Signal Box kit. I have to add some things like a LED before the floor is glued in to place, as well as pait the signal levers inside the box, so some delays completing this kit while I attend to these modifications. Whether I submit the end result to the Club Xmas modelling competition will depend on when I can finish it.

Today was a write-off modelling-wise as we are now into the silly season with pre-Xmas catchups, and this evenings school Christmas Carols.

So this week will be spent thinking more about the mini-panel programming and the kit.

Kensington Hill signalled up

This week I was able to wire up KH-2 (two aspect on goods yard siding) to the MRC decoder. Then on Saturday I was able to wire up KH-1 (two aspect with feather at station turnout) to the MRC. I then tested them. KH-2 started to flash alternately, which was the immediate sign that I must have programmed the decoder output some time ago to do this, so I was then able to program on the Main the appropriate CV to change it to latching mode. This worked but then whole decoder board then reset/power cycled and then all connections turned off. Odd. Not sure if this is how it is supposed to be or not, but nothing that I can't live with for the moment.

On the lighting side of things, I still have to wire up the station and street lights. Then once I have made the signal box, I will put a LED in it as well. The goods yard lights will then follow.

I had an email last night from MB Klein (www.modeltrainstuff.com) to write a review of the MRC 4 output decoder. As I am now in full swing using these little beauties, I thought why not. So you can see this at http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/MRC-HO-1628-DCC-Accessory-Decoder-4-Outputs-p/mrc-1628.htm

Nothing happened on Sunday as it was spent at a playgroup Christmas Party which went on for most of the day.

This week I am hoping that I can wire up the station and street lights. If not these, maybe start building the signal box. I might even think of entering this in the club Christmas Modelling Competition if I think it is worthy (cue Wayne's World 'We're not worthy' skit!).

I also ordered from Amazon a book "Airbrushing for Railway Modellers" by George Dent as I am interested in learning more about this side of the hobby and I think George does some fine work from what I have seen. If you are interested, a sampler can be found at http://www.crowood.com/details.asp?isbn=9781847972651&t=Airbrushing-for-Railway-Modellers but a better price was found at Amazon.

Let's see what happens this week modelling-wise. I might be able to take a small video of the signals if I get a chance and upload next weekend.

Modelling all round!

During the week I was able to paint the 'concrete' around Lachlan's shop.

Saturday morning came and the missus wanted to go a do a bit of shopping but I was lucky to be able to stay at home and look after the boys. Lucky because I could go to the shed and supervise them mucking about in the yard while I mucked about with Illavearf. All I have to do is put up one of the tilt-a-doors of the shed to let the breeze in and I can see most of the back yard.

So I was able to wire in the signal KH-4 which is two aspect with a junction feather. So two MRC sub-decoders required, one for the aspects and one for the feather. Worked perfectly and looks good. So I took the opportunity to install the other two signals, KH-1 (two aspect junction feather) and KH-2 (two aspect only), but I didn't get to wire them in.

Saturday arvo was club monthly meeting which I chaired as VP as the President had to go to a wedding. This was sprung on me as I arrived. Nice!

When I got home, Lachlan wanted to do some work on his layout so I gave him a few choices and he chose to do some grassing around where the shop was going. We did this and let it dry overnight.

Sunday was equally good. The missus wanted to go off on her bike, and Lachlan went with her. That left me to entertain Matthew. He started with his duplo blocks (big lego), but after five minutes got up and said "shed'. That's my boy! So off we went to the shed to vacuum up the spillover from yesterday's grassing. By then the bike riders had returned. I had to go off to do some chores by then. After a arvo nap I got up and Lachlan was the only one up so we went off to the shed to do more on his layout. We did some gravel work around one of the sidings. That is where we left it for the day.

So maybe this week I can get out to the shed one night to wire up the other signals and the 12V bulb street lamps, and station LED? Let's not get to ahead of ourselves!

Xmas is rapidly approaching so might have to start looking around for gift ideas or buy things for others to give me as gifts!

Signal KH-3 operational

This weekend I focused my spare time in getting one of the installed signals operational. I decided to do the simpler of the two KH-3. So using the same setup as my test LEDs I soldered extension leads from the signal wires to the MRC 4-way accessory decoder Acc # 16. I then turned on the system and activated Acc 16 to ON which should have turned the Green aspect on. No go. Huh? Select 16 and turn OFF which should turn on the Red aspect. No go. Double huh! A bit of head scratching then happened. It was then time to go inside, so that was it for Saturday.

Further thinking during the evening came up with possible problems like "had I inadvertently reprogrammed the MRC decoder?", "had I buggered up the LEDs?", "is there an issue with the supplied LEDs in the Eckon kit (1000ohm) versus the supplied resistors with the MRC decoder (300ohm)?", "was it a soldering problem?", etc. Too much thinking over a few glasses of red in the evening meant no answers were forthcoming!

Sunday morning arrived and with some spare time after breakfast and before waking the neighbours up with the whipper snipper and mower, I went the shed to see if I could answer some of the above. I progressed through the list and ruled out most. What was going on? I reread the Eckon wiring instructions and the MRC manual. Nothing was obvious. I put my test LEDs on to the decoder outputs and they tested OK. Hummmm. Time to think a bit more while taming the lawn.

I had intended to go to the RMCQ (my club) Buy and Sell but a small family emergency entailed after the yard work and just before lunch. Son number One had misplaced a Lego Man he was going to use in a class project. This character was in a powerpoint presentation and thus couldn't easily be replaced. We searched all over the house for nearly an hour. Everywhere was given at least two searches by myself and the missus on separate occasions in case one of us missed it. We were on the verge of conceding defeat when Son number Two all of a sudden whilst in Son number One's bedroom found the lego man. What! So an indepth chat with a 2.5 year old entailed as to where did he find it. He finally pointed out a lego liferaft model with one of its sides down and it was apparently in there. We thanked young Matt with curious looks. Lachlan was adamant he hadn't placed it in there. I strongly suspect Matt had put it in there earlier this morning. So by the time we had done this, had lunch, and tried putting Matt down for a nap (and succeeding in putting myself to snoozeland as well!), I had missed the opportunity in getting down to the club. By all accounts it went quite well.

However the nap must have reinvigorated the brain cells as I quickly commandeered the laptop the missus was pottering around on to check something on LEDs on Wikipedia. Mainly the electronic symbol and usual orientation of the positive and negative terminals. Making a note of this, and following a coffee, I went to the shed again to check the documentation. EUREKA! I thought something was wrong. The MRC's common is positive whereas as per the Eckon wiring instructions I had the common as negative and resisted. The polarity on the Eckon LEDs was reversed and thus potentially not working. So I rewired to how MRC likes them presented, turned on the system, selected Acc 16 ON and bingo, Green came on.

Oh wow, what a lesson to note. Lord knows why the Eckon LEDs are wired like this. But now that I know, I can wire the remaining signals the same way.

Here is a small video of KH-3.

Not sure what this week will bring. I know I have to paint Lachlan's shop pavement before we can place it on his layout. Maybe the other signal which has a junction feather. Let's see.

SB3a finally arrives, but no USB ;-(

The week was sans modelling. Busy with other stuff. I called Austral on Friday arvo for the weekly check on the SB3a's arrival and was pleasantly surprised when Ray said it had arrived but the USB card was still on back order. Hoorah!
So when planning Saturday's activities I was able to splice in a trip to the southside to pick up the SB3a. I will have to sort the USB out when it arrives.
Sunday was also very busy but I was able to get to the shed just after 4pm to connect up the SB3a. No problems, strange that the Cab number initially shown on power up was '09' when it only allows 02 to 05?? I changed it to '05' as '03' is reserved for the mini-panel, and I have reserved the USB to use '02'. This leaves '04' spare.
Lachlan wanted to do some more work on his layout so we decided where the shop was going and I showed him how to scrape the grass flock away ready for positioning. I will have to paint the pavement gray sometime this week.
Matthew was running Toby on Lachlan's layout while we were busy with the above.

Unfortunately I missed the Ipswich model train show at The Workshops this weekend.

Hopefully some opportunities this week at night to do some work.