CHMRG BLOG

for 2007 Feb - July.

27th Feb 07 - This time we concentrated on the Test Track - finishing fitting the wooden blocks at the corners of the blue foam, to provide anchors for the joining clips and the plywood casings. We also completed erecting a steel shelving unit in our storeroom; thankfully the room is beginning to look organised!

13th Mar 07 - Only three of us made it, so we concentrated on the test track, finishing putting the ply strips on the sides, and beginning to sort out positioning the pins between the boards locating them in line. The library was rehoused into a donated, lockable filing cabinet, as well.

20th Mar 07 - Full house, all members present. Work continued on the test track, with all the ply strips and locator pins now in place; we were also able to fit the locking clips to hold two of the boards together. On the main layout further rail was laid on the end board (B5), and the first test train (DCC controlled) was run on boards 6 and 5 - now the problem will be to stop people playing trains and to get them working on the layout again.

27th Mar 07 - Ballasting started on down slow, to see whether we are satisfied with result - await next meeting because ballast still damp when we stopped today. Another metre of track laid on the up slow line. The remaining clips put on test track, and a start made on letting-in wooden soffits where the tracks will cross baseboard joints. With all the boards clipped together, measurements checked to ensure track-plan fits (it does!)

6th Apr 07 - Decisions made on test track programme, we are not now using wooden soffits at board joints, but having drop-in bridging sections instead - means in storage fixed track ends stop short of edges (so protected), while un-pinned drop-in section will float across the board joint, allowing for the small variations in the blue foam heights. Laid outer code 75 track on one end board, fastened down with No More Nails - waiting till next week to see how well this has stuck.

17th Apr 07 - Further work soldering track on end board 5, and more ballasting on board 6. Discussion of various options on the test track; decided how to use wire-in-tube point control, with all points on one board, and that initially traction current will be carried across baseboard joints via the rail-joiners (the KISS principle - keep it simple, stupid!). Under consideration still are the inclusion of an additional point on the outer circuit to permit "plugging-in" train cassettes for loading/unloading stock, and the exact wiring of the optional ammeter and voltmeter. Glued the code 75 track on both sides of the centre board.

3rd May 07 - Finished setting out the code 75 circuit on the test track - to be glued down and tested next session. Have decided not to install point for cassette access. Finished soldering all the main track on board 5 of Attam Bank - just need to line up one end with the fiddle-yard board, and fettle two of the hand-build points to ensure clearances are to DOGA intermediate standard.

10th May 07 - Attam Bank: found Board 4 of fiddle-yard out of vertical alignment with end-board 5, so needed to erect both end-boards and the four fiddle-yard boards to adjust this - successfully done. Test track: Experimentations showed "drop-in" track idea to bridge baseboard joints wasn't sensible (the glueing of the track to the blue foam, while strong enough to hold track in place, was too weak to stand repeated pushing and pulling when fitting drop-in track sections. A fresh idea is in process of being tried - Watch This Space!

22nd May 07 - We had a meeting at the Chairman's house as planned; it was with regret that he reported our recent new member had decided to resign. The member made a number of points in resigning, and the meeting discussed and 'took on board' these points. One outcome is that we have decided to suspend work on the test-track, and to concentrate all our efforts on getting Attam Bank running in both directions by the end of September 2007. After the meeting we had lunch and then repaired to the Mission to do some work - Board 6 wiring was started, as was the impact-adhesive sticking down of copper-clad sleepers on Board 10, ready for further track laying.

29th May 07 - Today we worked mainly on finishing getting Boards 4 and 5 to fit together accurately. We took the opportunity to fit the Tee-nuts to this junction, and felt they would certainly speed up the erection and dismantling of Attam Bank. We are confident now that we have worked out the best way to fit these nuts, so will gradually introduce at the rest of the board joints. We also worked out the best way to use the temporary legs needed to hold Board 4 up on its own. One member arrived early, and so took the opportunity to set up the test track on his own, mainly to confirm that the new method introduced by our (ex)member Derek did conduct the traction current satisfactorily across the joints - it did!

5th June 07 - Four members attended over this six-hour long session. Finishing touches put to levelling the join between boards 4 & 5, and track then laid across the join so that the up and down mainlines are connected to fiddle-yard. Finalised wiring plan for the ribbon-cable DCC circum-layout bus. Fitted D25 connectors and tag-strip to board 6, and wired all the track-feeds. Planned wiring of end-board 5. In storeroom more floor-space freed by storing end-board screens on brackets high on wall. Members agreed conditions for accepting young (under-18) members.

12th June 07 - Two members only, but we worked from 0945 to 1700hrs. Track wiring now 40% finished on end board 5, and down slow line fully ballasted on Board 6. [we felt we needed to ballast track to ensure it is fixed in position as we take out the bent-over track-pins holding it - we don't want to rely on the grip of the PVA glue injected under the sleepers once positioned by the pins]. All connections checked on board 6, and the two points checked and fettled.

19th June 07 - Four members present. Wiring now 60% complete on board 5, and all tracks laid, aligned and roll-tested between boards 4 and 5. All tracks on board 6 now live and DCC test-running showed no dead spots; have removed pins so will see if track does move before it is ballasted. Decided we need to proceed with test track in parallel with layout as shortly will need to test DCC chipped locos - after much experimentation, decided to revert to original idea of let-in wood soffits at the board joins - all these now in place. Mended two-drawer filing cabinet and put on top of new one, so now have six lockable drawers for the Library and Shop material. Worked out wiring diagram for control panel and associated diode-matrix (to be wired off-site). Re-examined DOGA Intermediate Standard, and checked all tracks and point -work - confirmed we will adhere to this Standard.

26th June 07 - Meeting cancelled because of last minute commitments of members.