Hellier Train Care

So I was getting somewhat irritated by having to constantly box and unbox rolling stock everytime I wanted to change a rake of wagons or coaches, so I decided to use some unused tesco vouchers and got myself a nice 6 drawer storage unit, that idealy fits under my layout, which was not easy. Though its not perfect because the stock rolls about in the drawers when opening and closing it, so I also have some sheets of foam on order to sit in the bottom of the drawers to stop the movement, and of couse I may add more if needed to pad the front and back. It is at least making it easier to alter the trains running about.

Well I have been working on my arduino based DCC Decoded and am proud to announce that I have been able to create a firmware update Link Removed . This enable a couple of features on my pcb's which have had slight rewiring due to my silly errors. I still need to correct a few errors (such as a recently occurring servo chatter) but most seems to work fine. New Features include push button programming (in a similar fashion to train tech signal where you press a button and it takes the next address thats pressed) LED to show when in programming mode EEprom utilization to remember address when powered off Changes to come Push button adjustment of servo movement limit (may require new PCB version or control board) PCB Changes Added Reference ground Changed pushbutton resistor connection Removed 3 unusable pin headers Corrected resistors outlays for 1/4w resistors Added GND and 5v layers If anyone would like a copy of my new pcb and the updated list of components requi

So after a bit of time with the Class 33, I found that I was constantly having to clean the wheels to keeps it running, though recently I found Howes (Heljans uk spares dealer) Did replacement wheelsets made out of Nickle Silver or similar (whatever they use now for making wheels) for the class 33 and other 4 axle locos made by heljan. So first thing is to take the bogies baseplate off, now though this is quite tricky, you can do it by using a small jewellers screwdriver set at which point the wheels are easy to access and can just be lifted out without causing issues to the gearing. At which point you end up with something similar to the above, now the next thing I need to do is replace the bulbs that are factory installed with led's but this may be trickier as I need to figure out the bulbs voltages and replace with appropriate 3mm leds and the required resistors. More to come after the wheels are installed.

No, don't read too much into that title, it just means track laying is complete though ballasting is still needed on the yard tracks. It actually links to the fact that I am now starting to slowly add buildings, the first being a scratchbuilt building to cover up some point motors. The 'Rats Nest' to cover up. So I have made a template building out of plasticard ( .30 thou from work  though any will probably do). This so far is roofless and has a slot in the wall facing the tract to allow the point rodding to go through. The basic plasticard template Now as I said, this is just a temporary mock up, the final will be made either from slaters, south eastern finecast or wills stone sheeting, now as can be seen already, even without a roof it looks much better, so imagine what the final result may look like, and then tell me as I still haven't fully decided what the building will be, though a water tower is likely at this point in time. But now I have s

Well after some thinking and consideration, I have decided the final name for my layout will be Hellier Train Care. It will be a small train care facility that can act as a service point for locomotives of all types (bar electric, as currently there are no electrified lines in the south west) It will remain based between Taunton and Yeovil and will be able to, for now only fuel up diesels, but its shop will be able to handle steam locos to do minor service between specials, I may also have it as stabling point for a heritage loco (that may or may not have been preserved in real life). I would also like it to have a turntable, but I believe that at the moment with size constraints it's unlikely, however when it (I) gets a larger home and the layout is expanded. At that point I will most likely be able to add more onto it and hopefully the train care facility will make up only a small fraction.

Well, the decoder is almost complete (trying to find the right headers to connect the servo to the board), and so far I have found out how much all this would cost me, knowing what I know now, and this is just for parts. Below is a list of parts plus the prices Product Code Quantity Product Description Unit Price Discounts Line Total 22-0822 11 3 Way 2.54mm Kk Molex Housing £0.13 £0.00 £1.40 58-0598 1 6n137 Highspeed Logic Gate Optocoupler £0.79 £0.00 £0.79 64-0098 1 10k Cr12 0.125w Cf Resistor - Pack of 100 £0.69 £0.00 £0.69 47-3416 5 1n4148 Signal Diode 75v 150ma (tru) £0.01 £0.00 £0.05 85-3077 1 12vdc 2.5 AMP International Plug Top Psu £15.92 £0.00 £15.92 20-0960 1 Switchcraff DC Power Socket PCB Mount 2.1mm £0.65 £0.00 £0.65 08-0919 2 1uf 2.5mm Y5v Dielect Ceramic Capacitor £0.11 £0.00