Minitrix British N-Gauge Class 42 Warship

N206
Class 42 Warship (D82 "Hermes") Bo-Bo Diesel

Minitrix British N-Gauge Class 27

N204
Class 27 (D5379) Bo-Bo Diesel

N212
Class 27 (27014) Bo-Bo Diesel

N Gauge Layout MkV

Despite the software indicating that the siding (between the Loco Shed and the Controller) would be possible, in practice it was too tight.  Below is what the layout will now look like.

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkV

N Gauge Layout MkIV

Below is the fourth design iteration of my small N Gauge layout.  I have replaced the two Peco engine sheds with a single Graham Farish pre-built unit.  This gives me more track space at the front and rear of the shed (the MkIII version was very crowded) and allows for the addition of a storage line down the side of the shed.

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkIV

N Gauge Layout MkII

I have made some modifications to my planned layout.  See the image below.  I have simplified the design and added a signal box.  Construction has commenced with Tasmanian Oak beams and plywood base.  The controller will be a Morley Controllers Vector Zero Two (rapidly becoming my favourite controller).

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkII

Edit:  See below for a slightly modified "MkIII" design.  This is the design I have commenced construction on.

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkIII

A belated update of sorts

So, it's been a while since I posted a blog update.  Here goes:

• I upgraded the RAM in my 13" MacBook Pro from 4GB to 16GB (purchased from http://www.macfixit.com.au).  The performance boost is nice.
• The cubby house I am building for the kids is progressing well.  I am looking forward to the first round of bulk rubbish collections in the area for the year so I can stock up on some supplies (mainly Colorbond offcuts and wood).
• The computer collection received two new additions - an SE/30 and a PowerMac 7600.  Both are used but came in their boxes including all peripherals, cables and documentation.  Two very nice Macs.
• The N gauge model train collection and layouts are progressing well.  Recent additions include some old Graham Farish Class 43 HSTs, a new Dapol Class 58 and numerous rolling stock items.  I am in the process of planning a small 400 x 1200 mm layout as space in the Howell residence is becoming a little tight (see below for the planned layout).

400 x 1200 mm Layout Plan

• I purchased an iPad Mini (16GB, WiFi+3G, White).  I am finding it a very convenient size.  This is my iPad, the children have claimed the other iPad (3rd Gen iPad, 16GB, WiFi, Black) for YouTube, ABC iView etc.

2011 WA AMRA Model Railway Exhibition

Once again this event crept up on us: surely 12 months haven't elapsed since the last exhibition?  As usual I attended twice, once with my father-in-law and children on the Saturday and once with a friend (who is also into model railways) on the Sunday.  According to the brochure this is the 35th such exhibition.

While the number of exhibitors and vendors seemed the same as previous years the floor space had increased significantly (this year both the Robinson Pavilion and the Silver Jubilee Pavilion were used).  This was great news as it made navigating the crowds with small children a little easier.  Popular exhibits with the children included anything with Thomas the Tank Engine in it....

My favourite layout by a fair margin was "Avalon", a British N gauge layout.  We saw this layout as a "work in progress" last year and were very impressed.  Running were a variety of steam and early diesel locomotives (mostly Graham Farish as far as I could tell).

Another highlight was the "Northern Districts Model Engineering" display.  This included a ride-on train that we all enjoyed and some fairly impressive large scale locomotives.

Study Rearrangement

I have just finished rearranging the study (again).  The motivation this time around was to make the model train layout more accessible to me (and the kids of course - Declan has been complaining he can't see trains).  It now sits approximately one metre off the ground and (when I clear out some stuff) is accessible on three of the four sides (including both "long" sides).  The study is quite a high use room: anything of any value that we want to keep the kids from damaging tends to get stored here.  My laptop is in the study, as is Kylie's G5 iMac, the printer, the ADSL modem and network switch and so on and so forth.  The study is now much easier to access and egress.

The only downside of the movements was that a track section switch on the train layout was destroyed by the door frame.  Thankfully I had a spare and was able to solder (with only minimal burning of flesh) a replacement in situ.

Class 14 and Class 20 Diesels

Belated update of sorts

Well, so much for my plans to update this blog more often...  Life has been busy so here is a quick summary:

• I am working away regularly again, splitting my time between jobs at the Rio Tinto ports at Dampier and Cape Lambert.
• The model train layout is progressing, albeit slowly.  I am now starting to consider building an OO gauge layout to run the Wrenn rolling stock I have been acquiring of late.  If I were a betting man I would put money on the era being early British diesel (LMS).
• I am slowly getting though all of the home maintenance jobs that have accumulating over the last few months.  Still have plenty to keep me busy though.
• Birding has been good.  Trips north have allowed me to pick up birds like Western Bowerbird, Black-necked Stork, Eastern Curlew and most recently Crimson Chat.  Haven't had the time to do as much birding as I would like (especially around Perth, I have missed twitching a few "easy" ones like Chestnut Teal and Cattle Egret).  My life list (Australia/WA) is currently at 243.  Only 7 more and I hit 250!
• My G4 Mac Mini is now hosting a development website (via MAMP) allowing me to develop and test a new Birds WA sightings page.  The project is coming together nicely (but too slowly).
• For those of you interesting in birding, may a I recommend the following blog published by some friends of mine: Leeuwin Current Birding.
• I have purchased an Australian reptile field guide and am in the process of working out what reptiles (monitors mainly) I have taken photographs of in the Pilbara.  Stay tuned for some updates on this theme.
• Oh and the iPad 2 has been announced.... drool....

Class 25 Diesel

Weathered Graham Farish Class 25 Diesel (this is the locomotive mentioned in the last post,
click on the photo to see a larger version)

Graham Farish Class 25 Repairs (split chassis type)

I finally repaired my N gauge Graham Farish Class 25 Diesel locomotive.  I took it apart when it first arrived and would not run (in this instance I think a wire had come loose).  Apparently I didn't put it back together quite right.  What I neglected to do was to make sure all of the copper conducting tabs (between the bogies and the chassis) were below the chassis (and therefore able to maintain a conducting contact) and not captured inside.  It turns out that the locomotive will run reasonably well with one of the four tabs out of place but will stall on bends.  If by some chance you have made the same mistake as me you may find you need to bend these tabs slightly with a small screwdriver to restore contact.

Model Train Layout Progress Update

IMG_5590, originally uploaded by gjhmac.

I am slowly making progress with the modifications and improvements to my British N Gauge model train layout. My previous attempt at a branch line has been dismantled (I salvaged any useful parts) and I have added a more sensible and carefully constructed branch line (with storage sidings).

As can be seen from the above photograph I have painted the horizontal "rails" on all of the buffer stops - as far as I can tell (from a few Google image searches) this is the colour they should be. Eventually I will paint the wooden uprights and the stone ballasting as well.

From the point of view of locomotives and rolling stock I may have reached the point where I have everything I want/need. In fact you could probably argue I reached this point a few months back... Anyway, the latest additions are running very well. I am particularly happy with the new Graham Farish Class 08 shunter - it is a work of art (and it doesn't stall on my points when running very slowly like the older version).

Declan and the trains

IMG_5579, originally uploaded by gjhmac.

Declan REALLY enjoys watching the trains run in the study. Surprisingly he doesn't break much or try and touch the trains as they pass. The only problem is that it is difficult to get all three of them in the room at once watching trains (and none of them like to be left out when there are trains running). Of course I can fix this problem by building my dream layout in the shed....

Train Layout Progress

I have been spending some time tinkering with the train layout lately. I find it relaxing at the end of the day. Here is a summary of the work in progress and completed:

• I have completely removed the rather badly installed branch line track and started replacing it with a more professionally installed set of sidings and a small station. It is still a branch line but it only connects to the main line at a single junction. Eventually I plan to run separate power supplies to the main and branch lines to allow for the operation of two trains simultaneously (one train could run a continuous loop and the other perform shunting duties).
• I have started improving the scenic elements of the layout. I still have lots of work to do here. I am finding the wall plastering putty to be quite useful in creating rock shapes. I am also starting to ballast areas of the track but I am less confident with that.
• I have repaired the buffers (again) on the old Class 37 Diesel. I still have to finish painting the blue and yellow Class 31 and work out why the Class 08 shunter is misbehaving. The Class 08 shunter needs fixing as soon as possible - it's Cameron's favourite. The Class 31 was painted but I was unhappy with the result so have started again. I also discovered it could be taken apart - a fact that makes the paint job much easier!
• As a result of these upgrades I still have a fair amount of wiring left to do. Time to get the soldering iron out again...

Another rambling update...

Here's an insight into what I have been up to recently:

• Started basketball training again (with the intention to play a season on a team). I really need the exercise...
• Still tinkering with model trains. I'm in the process of re-doing a whole heap of track work I did earlier in the year (or late last year) that I'm not entirely happy with. Contemplated (briefly) a new, much larger N gauge layout but decided to continue with the one I have been working on. Still acquiring random trains/rolling stock/buildings and other miscellanea. Lots of fun.
• Not bird-watching/photographing anywhere near as much as I would like. Don't like my chances of reaching 250 species by the end of the year (currently sitting on 215).
• I have finally delved back into Mac programming. Just working on a simple project to start with but hopefully things will ramp up once I get familiar with it again. Seriously liking the new version of Xcode.
• Still working (probably too much). Got to pay the bills somehow. While the downturn means less project work it does mean we are putting together a lot more quotations and proposals.

More model train photos

Peco N gauge Shell/BP Petrol Tanker.



Graham Farish N gauge Class 47 (number 47635).

A bit of an update

It has been a while since I have blogged anything so here is a bit of an update:

• Work has been insane (both in terms of difficulty and work load) recently, so much for the downturn (I guess that is a good thing for me);
• Went on my second pelagic bird watching trip (both have been off Hillarys in Western Australia), added two new birds to my life list but felt quite seasick...
• The model trains have been going well - starting to clean up sections of ugly wiring, fix dodgy sections of track etc.  Adding bits and pieces to the collection (most of it second hand).  Starting to work on the scenery a bit too.

Yellow-nosed Albatross (Diomedea (Thalassarche) chlororhynchos, race bassi).

Track layout complete (for the time being)

After many hours of tinkering the track layout of my N-gauge model railway is complete.  The new sections aren't powered yet but a few hours with the soldering iron should sort that out.  I have also taken the opportunity to add some extra lighting.

The layout features:

• 11 turn outs (or points) - all are Peco electrofrog;
• 7 sidings (of varying lengths, 5 can be isolated to park locomotives);
• 3 tunnel mouths (1 double width, 2 single);
• 2 station platforms (may be more to come);
• 3 "loop" paths.

Package from Hattons

This is the package from Hattons. The order was placed on 01/05/2009, it was packed in the UK on 07/05/2009 and it arrived in Perth (Australia) on 12/05/2009. Everything was intact and exactly as I ordered. This was a test order to see how things went - I will be ordering some more significant stuff from them sometime soon.