Friday Update: Twenty-one Four Twenty-three…

The workshop is getting a little less crowded and as Shades of Mountain Ash is nearing completion I can breathe again here. The coming weeks will see a little less physical modelling as a few digital projects get under way but I’ll be sure to keep documenting my own work here...  

With Bishopsbourne off to it's new home I’ve had chance to push on and finish off ‘Shades…’ which included the fiddle stick, a few small details like point levers and cleaning up and testing (extensively). It’s been interesting to find that the Peco three-way turnout is somewhat sub-optimal when running British 0-6-0 locomotives in DCC. Utilising frog juices, looking from the toe, on the left-hand deviation the front and rear right hand side wheels are both touching frogs, and this can lead to intermittent activation. However I’ve improved matters by using seperate frog juicers rather than the dual, and I find propelling wagons through first seems to ensure there isn’t a problem. I’ve got to about 95% reliability, frustratingly as longer locomotives activate it no problem. Some may say that frog juicers themselves are sub-optimal, but they work. More traditional wiring and frog polarity throwing would perhaps be better with this rather complex item in the Peco range, one for me to remember in future.

The only other progress this week, apart from boxing up completed work has been on Lochdubh. I shall write more in a few days but you’ll notice a Croft has appeared top left. This will sit on a small outcrop and the mountains on the backscene will be a little taller and more defined behind, thanks to Brian at Braeside for the inspiration and a few drawings to re-size, I’ve enjoyed knocking this up in evenings this week. This weekend sees me tied up with home DIY but the opportunity to get a little modelling done I’m sure. Wherever you have I hope you have a good weekend too, thanks for reading and your continued support. Until next time, more soon…