After a few years of dabbling, have been putting serious effort into my first "serious" layout. What began as a lark -- could I make a weatherproof trainbox to put on my front yard as a holiday display? - and a 3x4 display is morphing/molting/evolving into this:
7x8 and modular (two 3x4 and two 4x4 tables) so I can move it lock, stock & barrel to the yard come holiday time; will also prove handy if (who'm I kidding: when) I want a more dramatic permanent setup. Right-rear quadrant is where table power is distributed, connected to a 30 foot trunk line running to the house, through a window, and to the control board (everything currently bolted to the wall) and power supplies. This'll let me & the kids power-up and run conventionally the outdoor spread from the comfort of an indoor sofa.
Tonight, finished wiring the switches in synchronous pairs (6 switches; 3 controllers) for each siding as well as the interior track's transition track. Also wired on/off switches for 2 power blocks (1 for each siding). Had 1 switch acting janky but a quick peek under the hood revealed an over-tightened screw. One quarter turn later, we were off to the races.
Tested and rec'd the A-OK. Yay.
Next up: power blocks (1 for each quadrant) for accessories; then I start framing out the new enclosure, mock up a tunnel covering the sidings, and test some new weather seal ideas.
As was said about anything good in the old neighborhood: this thing's a p!issah!
- The Other Guy
Side note: I decided to keep all track wiring on rather than under the table; I'm a fairly athletic 40 year old guy but getting under this thing on a regular basis is a pain. Another layer will eventually cover the entire table, wires and all, and I figure a few ungainly bumps are more than acceptable compared to the alternative.
- TOG
