Do you also have a layout in the,attic, Paul? Any pictures?
Mike
Mike, I do have an attic layout. It is about 90 complete and running. I will have to look for pictures.......Paul
Cool ! Looking forward to seeing them ,as I know they will be awesome like the rest of your work! I always anxiously look forward to each new post by you.
Mike
Brian - thanks for the reply. I figured it was a temporary fix. 1% grade is very prototypical. With toy/model trains, most engines can pull a much steeper grade. Looking forward to more progress.
Mike, here are a few pics of the attic layout................Paul
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Paul, You made great use of that attic space!! I really like the attic layout!! What are the overall dimensions?
Mark, the dimensions of the attic layout are 27' X 12'. The alcove where I have the station is approximately 6' X 6'.....Paul
Paul : That's a great looking layout too !! Nice work..
Absolutely georgeous, Paul! The big truss bridge,is that from a Miami Valley kit. I've been wanting to get one of those.
Mike
Paul, That is even bigger than I thought! It looks great!
Mike, it is an early Miami Valley bridge kit..........Paul
I thought so. They are very nice. If you ever want to change it out for something else, drop me a line. Keep up the good work !
Mike
OK- can we agree that Paul has been holding out on us? Very nice work sir. 
Guess you've been so focused on the basement that you forgot to share the attic layout with us. I like how you hid the chimney too.
Bob
RSJB18 posted:OK- can we agree that Paul has been holding out on us? Very nice work sir.
Bob
Paul, That's a real nice attic layout. I think a 6' diameter HELIX could connect the basement to the attic.
Matt, I already tried that but the CEO said no to the idea............Paul
Bob, it was not kept a secret. Two years ago or more I was posting work on the attic layout. At that time I re wired the tracks and re did all the scenery..............Paul
Yes Paul, I do recall your attic re-work now that you mention it. I'm glad you mentioned the attic layout to refresh my memory!!
I modified a Lionel plate girder bridge to be wide enough to clear my Premier PRR T1. You can read how that went in my thread that begins "I needed a topic for a new thread." Then I began replacement of the Miller Engineering Breyers Ice Cream sign I fried in the process. At this point I'm upstairs for the evening!
Paul, and here I thought you just played in the Basement! LOL Great looking trains upstairs! Now I know why your always so happy, you have a layout to play on when you get tired of build!
Started working on some scenery
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Having marked up the curves for the upper level at the far end of the layout , today we placed the cork roadbed and put the track in place on the roadbed. I used sectional Gargraves 089 diameter . Did a little leveling and adjusting of track joints to insure smooth curve joints and the proper diameter since a little miss alignment in joining two sections can multiply in the curves.
Did some test rolling of freight and passenger cars on this track area and it seems good. Tommorrow we will put a few screws in to hold the track in place.
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I've just completed a stretch of 30 consecutive days with at least of one hour of work on the layout. Today I put in six hours. I feel like I'm really on a roll.
After the hard drive failure of my train room computer, I ended up getting a new one. I installed a twin 9 pin serial card, one port for the TMCC base, and the other for C/MRI. JMRI will communicate with both ports, and could eventually run some trains by itself. Unfortunately, after I installed the card, the solid state drive quit working. I was thinking I was going to take it in to get it fixed, then I remembered, I had bumped the drive's connector. Oops. Went back in and got it after a couple tries. Now everything is working.
Saturday I did a bunch of things, including moving trains around. I hadn't had track power on in weeks. I started to smell something burning. It was horrible, but I wasn't sure where it was coming from. Then I went over to aisle 4 to check on a train I had just parked in the small hidden yard, and discovered what it was. I had been going through some of my C/MRI cards, and I left one across the rails. So when I turned the power on, a couple chips took 17 VAC. It was so bad, my wife smelled it upstairs.
It's not quite so obvious from the top, but the third chip top row, and the second chip second row are fried.
You can see it better from the bottom.
I took one of my signals and used some liquid electrical tape to fix the wires in place as well as seal off the light from leaking out the back of the LED. I'll get in there and trim off some of the excess, then paint it all silver.
I also put some on the wires coming out of the bottom, to keep them together.
Then I soldered on my Arduino plugs, and soldered some Cat5 to the socket. Again this is just a single test unit. Mass production will be coming in the next few months.
I call this "rainbow spaghetti". These are the salvaged C/MRI wires from enterTRAINment. I've been cutting the old tie wraps and marking tape from 25 years ago.
The part I'm really after is the Molex connector. This connects to the input and output cards. There are three of these 8 pin units on each 24 bit card.
This trash can used to be full to the top. I've still got some work to do.
Time to get back to the Searchlight Signal Driver cards my wife and I built over the last year and a half. Today was partly spent testing each circuit. I got through half of the eighteen cards.
My test LED.
Now that my computer is working, I made up this chart listing the defects in my handywork. There were only two cards out of the first nine where all 12 circuits worked. The problems only came in a few different types, no light, one light R or G, and one light with no active input. Now if only I knew how to troubleshoot them. I know what it does, I just have no clue as to HOW it does it.
Finally, some carpentry (which I totally understand). I did a little tweaking along the south wall behind Hastings.
I also added part of the base for the Mississippi River. This is only one of two areas where the river is actually going to be represented on the layout. In spite of the fact that most of the railroad follows the river very closely, it is almost always in the aisle, and not on the benchwork. BTW, this is going to be a winter scene.
I started the last section of backdrop on the entire layout. It was a humble beginning, but important. Before...
and after. There will be one or two more of these supports over to the left, where this section will just end behind the ConAgra Mill and Elevator (out of frame left). Before I can hang this section, the small control panel for the helix turnouts will have to be moved. A much easier task than the other panel that used to be here. Just need to cut some tie wraps, and no wires, secure it in its new location below, and tie up the excess.
Stay tuned.
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Wow Elliot. You're really on a roll. Great progress. Regarding your statement: "Now if only I knew how to troubleshoot them. I know what it does, I just have no clue as to HOW it does it." Since this is a new build from a kit, I would start be checking your solder joints. You may have some bad or cold solder connections. Resolder anything that is in question or anything in the path of the error. Look for dull solder.
Zeke posted:Started working on some scenery
Zeke That is really nice work
Al Galli
Pat is right, WOW! For one hour a day you sure got a lot done, it amazes me the size and complexity of your layout! I look at all that wire and I just start sweating ! LOL I sure am glad you know what your doing, cause I would be lost, but then again that's why I fallow your post so maybe I can learn something along the way. Great work Elliot!
Big_Boy_4005 posted:I've just completed a stretch of 30 consecutive days with at least of one hour of work on the layout. Today I put in six hours. I feel like I'm really on a roll.
After the hard drive failure of my train room computer, I ended up getting a new one. I installed a twin 9 pin serial card, one port for the TMCC base, and the other for C/MRI. JMRI will communicate with both ports, and could eventually run some trains by itself. Unfortunately, after I installed the card, the solid state drive quit working. I was thinking I was going to take it in to get it fixed, then I remembered, I had bumped the drive's connector. Oops. Went back in and got it after a couple tries. Now everything is working.
Saturday I did a bunch of things, including moving trains around. I hadn't had track power on in weeks. I started to smell something burning. It was horrible, but I wasn't sure where it was coming from. Then I went over to aisle 4 to check on a train I had just parked in the small hidden yard, and discovered what it was. I had been going through some of my C/MRI cards, and I left one across the rails. So when I turned the power on, a couple chips took 17 VAC. It was so bad, my wife smelled it upstairs.
It's not quite so obvious from the top, but the third chip top row, and the second chip second row are fried.
You can see it better from the bottom.
Nothing like the smell of burning G-10 or FR-4 (circuit board materials) in the Morning! Having manufactured circuit boards and semi-conductors for over 30 years, I can remember that smell well. It takes a while to make that smell go away, too. If you repair the burned board with new components, use epoxy or solder mask to coat any burned areas to keep moisture out of the base material.
Everything else is looking good.
Thanks Al!
slow night, only got the next set of shelves in....
gave my knees a break and ran some trains.....
and worked on a little project,
making my own 5 car sets, replacing the couplers with drawbars......
may not be prototypical, but I like how they will look when I am done.....
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paul 2 posted:Bob, it was not kept a secret. Two years ago or more I was posting work on the attic layout. At that time I re wired the tracks and re did all the scenery..............Paul
Well I joined the forum about a year ago so my loss. Still very nice work!
Sean, the grass and backdrop look fantastic!
LIRR, That GarGraves looks great! I can't wait to get my pile of GarGraves installed. First I need my benchwork! LOL
Elliot, Wow!!! I'll say you got back on track! So you let the smoke out of the chips!! It happens. Are these old cards from way back, or did you build them new? You probably covered that, but I forget. Yes the colored spaghetti is a good name. I am so glad to see you back on a roll!!
Brian, I am guessing the inspector said enough! I really like your idea for the draw bars! I have been thinking about trying to take 2 flat cars and put them together with just 3 sets of trucks just to see how it would look!
Don't forget Ice cream for the inspector! LOL
Al Galli posted:Zeke posted:Started working on some scenery
Zeke That is really nice work
Al Galli
Seeing Al's post prompts me to say it again! That really looks great!!
Mike, she could barely keep her eyes open after her treat, a "push-up", her favorite....
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Al Galli posted:Zeke posted:Started working on some scenery
Zeke That is really nice work
Al Galli
blended very nicely
into your backdrop!
Elliot- good to see the work progressing. I too remember the smell of burning circuit boards all to well. That and old magnetic fluorescent ballasts. I love the smell of PCB's in the morning.
Bob
Elliot, you get a lot done in a one hour session. Sorry you fried that board but when you consider it could of been worse. I wish I had you stamina for wiring.
Brian, your another one that zips through things. Like your idea of joining the cars together.
Zeke, you got a good eye for blending scenery together. You nailed it.
Mark, I see table construction in your near future. You're ready to roll up your sleeves.
Nothing from me today. All you guys have made me tired LOL. Not really you guys inspire. I just have some outdoor chores to do today.............Paul
Big_Boy_4005 posted:I've just completed a stretch of 30 consecutive days with at least of one hour of work on the layout. Today I put in six hours. I feel like I'm really on a roll.
After the hard drive failure of my train room computer, I ended up getting a new one. I installed a twin 9 pin serial card, one port for the TMCC base, and the other for C/MRI. JMRI will communicate with both ports, and could eventually run some trains by itself. Unfortunately, after I installed the card, the solid state drive quit working. I was thinking I was going to take it in to get it fixed, then I remembered, I had bumped the drive's connector. Oops. Went back in and got it after a couple tries. Now everything is working.
Saturday I did a bunch of things, including moving trains around. I hadn't had track power on in weeks. I started to smell something burning. It was horrible, but I wasn't sure where it was coming from. Then I went over to aisle 4 to check on a train I had just parked in the small hidden yard, and discovered what it was. I had been going through some of my C/MRI cards, and I left one across the rails. So when I turned the power on, a couple chips took 17 VAC. It was so bad, my wife smelled it upstairs.
It's not quite so obvious from the top, but the third chip top row, and the second chip second row are fried.
You can see it better from the bottom.
I took one of my signals and used some liquid electrical tape to fix the wires in place as well as seal off the light from leaking out the back of the LED. I'll get in there and trim off some of the excess, then paint it all silver.
I also put some on the wires coming out of the bottom, to keep them together.
Then I soldered on my Arduino plugs, and soldered some Cat5 to the socket. Again this is just a single test unit. Mass production will be coming in the next few months.
I call this "rainbow spaghetti". These are the salvaged C/MRI wires from enterTRAINment. I've been cutting the old tie wraps and marking tape from 25 years ago.
The part I'm really after is the Molex connector. This connects to the input and output cards. There are three of these 8 pin units on each 24 bit card.
This trash can used to be full to the top. I've still got some work to do.
Time to get back to the Searchlight Signal Driver cards my wife and I built over the last year and a half. Today was partly spent testing each circuit. I got through half of the eighteen cards.
My test LED.
Now that my computer is working, I made up this chart listing the defects in my handywork. There were only two cards out of the first nine where all 12 circuits worked. The problems only came in a few different types, no light, one light R or G, and one light with no active input. Now if only I knew how to troubleshoot them. I know what it does, I just have no clue as to HOW it does it.
Finally, some carpentry (which I totally understand). I did a little tweaking along the south wall behind Hastings.
I also added part of the base for the Mississippi River. This is only one of two areas where the river is actually going to be represented on the layout. In spite of the fact that most of the railroad follows the river very closely, it is almost always in the aisle, and not on the benchwork. BTW, this is going to be a winter scene.
I started the last section of backdrop on the entire layout. It was a humble beginning, but important. Before...
and after. There will be one or two more of these supports over to the left, where this section will just end behind the ConAgra Mill and Elevator (out of frame left). Before I can hang this section, the small control panel for the helix turnouts will have to be moved. A much easier task than the other panel that used to be here. Just need to cut some tie wraps, and no wires, secure it in its new location below, and tie up the excess.
Stay tuned.
Elliot, you never cease to amaze me and for that matter, probably the entire forum membership, with the scale of your project and the technology that you incorporate into your layout. I still have many fond memories of my visits to EnterTRAINment when you were at the MOA. Everything seemed to run smoothly and like clockwork. You are making great progress with the Twin Cities Central and I am looking forward to another visit sometime in the near future. Looking forward to seeing the new signals in operation. Until then, keep up the good work and hope you continue to feel better daily!
Dave
Thanks guys! A few of you may have misunderstood part of what I said regarding the hours of work I put in during the last 30 days. I meant it was aminimum of one hour each day. Most days it was 2 or 3. There were a bunch of days of 5 or 6, and even one ten hour day. I'm just not fast enough to get all that done in 30 hours.
Pat - I already checked solder joints, and they all looked good. In that initial inspection, I located a number of accidental solder connections. I'm not sure what is on each path. The instructions may offer some troubleshooting ideas. I'll look. I suspect that each different problem is rather specific. Fix one of that type, and most will be the same.
Mike - I swear, nothing I'm doing is very complicated in and of itself. What makes it look complicated is, there's a lot of it.
Wires are color coded to help keep track.
Matt - I will be repairing those boards, sometime in the future, as I'd like to have them available as spares. The one that burnt the worst, I was lucky that it didn't the big chip installed, because I may not be able to replace that. I have two other boards I picked up last Sunday, from a buddy that does layout salvage. Funny story about one of those two boards: Back in the late 90's, I sold off some of my excess C/MRI boards. All of the pieces I sold, I scratched my initials and the date in a blank corner of cladding. One was "repatriated". The cool part is my buddy just gave it to me.
Mark - The card I fried is old, as are all the input and output cards. The only new ones are the ones I built with my wife, for the signals. The ones that need debugging.
Bob - I believe all the damage is repairable. I may even have the parts in my stash. Good thing I have the the old books that cover that stuff. New books don't cover that, and I don't think Chubb sells those anymore. His new stuff is 32 line instead of 24.
Paul - The rainbow spaghetti isn't wiring (yet), it's just wire.
As soon as I get my layout schematic drawn for JMRI, I can start using it to hook up my turnouts. Then comes the detection, and finally the signals.
Dave - enterTRAINment was fun while it lasted, but in truth, I like this one a whole lot better. No rent to pay, and no chance of being evicted, no outside pressure, just what I put on myself. It did take a few months at the mall to get things running smoothly. You have no idea how many engines we went through using postwar stuff. Eventually, I had to give up running them. But the show went on. Let me know when you're coming up. White Bear show?
briansilvermustang posted:
Mike, she could barely keep her eyes open after her treat, a "push-up", her favorite....
I see you know how to bribe the inspector! What a great DAD!
And watch the sharp solder points as well as the dull stuff 
...What? Those things are pokey sometimes 
(ok.....dull & oxidated is suspect )
