Western Union meet May 2010

Today, the Western Union held another meet, and I had the chance to test out my first two loco's that have been converted to DCC. One of which didn't work very well, but I found some small issues with it, so I shall be working on that. The other was my SW1200 switcher, which can be seen in action on this picture on the layout.

Athearn

I just have to 'abuse' my blog for a moment to praise the customer services department of Athearn.
I recently wrote their parts department to order some replacement handrails for one of my C44W-9W locomotives.  They replied next day with a price quotation , and I after I gave the go ahead I received my parts within 8 days. Their website states 6 weeks so I was very pleasantly surprised to receive them that quick. So hereby a big  'THANK YOU' to Athearn!

Progress on the CF 7

Here's a picture on the progress on my CF 7 locomotive.

As previously reported, I use my spare time while traveling for work to do a bit of modeling in my hotel room etc. Seen here is the loco with some of the detail parts test fitted. Compare this with the picture of the loco in one of the earlier posts on this blog in February (although you will have to blow up that pic to see it better :-) ) to see what's changed since then. For some information about the prototype and it's more famous underpinnings, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CF7 to get you started.

Making your own etched parts

There are 1000's of small detail parts available on the market today, but there are still situations when you may want to make your own. One way of doing so is by using the photo etching technique.
Rather than explaining that myself, here is a video that describes the process very simply and effectively.
One note, there are sprays available that you could spray onto any brass or other metal plate so you don't need to use a plate as shown in the video per-se.

Traveling Modelers

Not sure if any readers of this blog are in the same situation as me, but I can't help thinking there must be others out there, that have a job that requires a lot of travel, spending time in hotel rooms etc.
In any case I do. So what can you do if you travel, and still want to do some modeling?
My solution to this 'problem' is to take along a small set of basic tools, (no more than fits in a small shoebox or lunch box, a bit like the picture (not my set)) and a small project. My current one is building  a CF7 locomotive. I use a railpower shell, various detail parts etc.
So I spend my free time in hotel rooms to sit at the desk (I've also got a small hobby mat to protect the desk surface) and do some drilling and cutting (with a small pin vise, scalpels etc) to my shell, and fit some of the details that can handle the travel. A small corner of my suitcase is reserved for these items and a few bits of additional foam or bubble wrap protect that corner from all to eager airport luggage handlers etc.
Basic tools I travel with are:
- small screwdrivers set
- Needle file set
- precision file set
- Scalpels
- Pin vise
- set of miniature drill bits
- cordless Dremel
- detail parts + locomotive shell
- masking tape
- ruler and vernier caliper
- desk hobby mat

All of this takes up fairly little space of my suitcase.(I try to pack cleverly, put items inside shoes etc to save space)
If any of the readers here have similar experiences I'd like to know, perhaps I can pick up a few tips :-)

My first DCC session at home.

After I got home from work today, I wired up the SPROGII to my laptop and layout, and after 10 minutes or so of experimenting (I don't find the manuals of either JMRI and SPROG very clear, but a bit of common sense prevailed) I had JMRI talking to SPROG and saw communication messages flying by on the screen of my laptop. I also got my iPod to talk to JMRI and had Withrottle working. Then I got my only DCC equiped loco ( a Bachman GP35) out and see if I could run/control it, using default address 3. Indeed, I could switch the headlight on off etc but had no movement, doing this from either a JMRI on-screen throttle, and also from the iPod. Then I realised that the last time I used this loco on DC, it didn't run very well. I took off the shell and turned the drive shafts with my fingers while the loco was on the track, and off she went. Controlled by the Withrottle I could run it fwd reverse, and turn the lights off /on etc. Slow speed operation was not brilliant , but I read that these simple Bachmann decoders are not very good for that anyway. However, this loco keeps being tempramental, after 10 minutes or so, it stalled again, and when going to reverse direction, the headlights/rear lights flickered erratically and independent, in fwd direction the fwd headlight is on, but no movement. Until the motor was encouraged again. It looks like I need to take that loco apart do some maintenance (even though it's brand new) and see why the stalling happens etc. unfortunately, I have no other DCC loco yet to continue experimenting and getting used to operating in DCC. I'll keep you posted...

SPROGII has arrived

I'm a happy modeler.
My SPROGII has arrived, together with the 1.25A powersupply I ordered at the same time.

The nice thing is that the powersupply came with the plug already attached and terminated, so the remaining terminals are to go to the track. It should make the whole installation a breeze.  I'm going to try that tonight if I get a moment.
SPROGII comes together with a CD-ROM with all the software needed to get it working, but it is always a good idea to see if updates to the software are available to make sure you install the latest versions.
Also shown on the picture is my iPod running  WiThrottle software, which I will use as my wireless cab.