The grade crossing is done! (almost...)

So got the grade crossing motor mount designed and cut...

Even installed!

The mechanism in motion...

And finally the grade crossing in motion! (Not as smooth as I want it to be. I'm hoping it just needs a little bit of a break in period...)

And a here is the IR LED and receiver mounted at a diagonal.

Hardly even noticeable in the middle of the track!

Also I mocked up the location of the SWIFT truck being stuck!

That's it for this month. Maybe I'll have the tip of my hat to my past [more] done for next month!

Electrical Work...

So more work under the layout occurred this month... And the bad thing is that it's still not done!

Anyways, due to the potential voltage variation on a modular set-up and the delicate nature of maintaining certain light levels on especially outdoor lights, voltage regulators are a must.

Now this may not seem important but let's look long term. The Walthers streetlights like to operate, and are rated for 12 volts. Running them at 16 volts will not blow the bulbs right away and put off more light. With them up at that voltage, they really put off some light. Seems a bit too bright though. Reducing the voltage considerably extends the life of any bulb. (This hasn't been to thoroughly tested on LEDs due to their extremely long life under normal conditions.) With incandescent lights in particular, they get very hot when operated above their voltage, thus having the potential of melting any close plastics.

I finally came up with a solution for my grade crossing. It's only in the early part of the installation but the feel is already coming across. I have one of the ITTP HQ sound modules hooked up to a 3" speaker. Only one of the infrared detectors has been installed for the Signalogic circuit, which triggers the sound. (Hopefully the crossing arms soon, too!) They recommended installing the sensor and light at an angle relative to each other for reduced issues with false triggering with lights. Since these won't always have the same lighting on them at all of the potential locations these will be set up at, less headaches are a must. I went the infrared route due to my liking of night ops, and let's face it, photocells just can't do it. I'll show the location of these later on. ; ) (NJI crossing gates)

I haven't gotten a good shot of the custom table and chairs in the out of business café, so here it is. I still need to install the glass and the upstairs walls and lights but it looks good so far!

See you next month!

Prepping for school!

For those of you that don't know, I'm headed by to college this semester! So this summer has been busy trying to save up as much at my now former job as a truck driver. With the end of that job, I've fully moved back in with the folks, which feels somewhat strange in itself considering I've only really visited periodically for the past 5 years. With that, most of the time since I've quit was used to get moved back in to the point of actually being able to utilize my room more fully along with setting up my old 10 gallon aquarium, which has a few new features not seen back in 2000, when the tank was made!

And now back to the trains! A few more voltage regulators have been installed for Durkee Road. They've been installed with a terminal strip between them and the lights, with a few extra spots for future lights. Currently the street lamps and the porch light to the closed café have been done up with the other two lights planned to have one, too.

I've built up a Details West electrical shed for the grade crossing. It still needs to be painted, which might just happen for the next post. Hopefully I can figure out a way for it to have its light, possibly using fiber optics.

Next time the grade crossing should actually have its new gates and IR detection system installed. Might just have to get video of it for next time but don't hold your breath!

I can't remember if I've written about the gate yet or not, so here it is. I made it now a little while ago for the entrance to the warehouse, which SWIFT was not supposed to leave out of. It will likely still be a bit until I install it though.

Happy Modeling!