Overdue update...

It's been a long, looooong time since my last blog entry.  Seven months... is that possible? 

I have to say not a whole lot has happened on the layout.  Life took over for a while.  It happens. 

But now, I'm slowly getting back to things.  Good thing I'm not working against a deadline.  Good thing I have many healthy years ahead of me.

These pix were taken at our last work session.  Primary focus of the night was wiring, specifically snaking the two buss lines through the Swiss cheese holes throughout the underbelly of the bench work. 

 

Electrician's best friends.

...Swiss cheese...

"Head Electrician"?  Or Swiss cheese mouse?

The result of my wiring skills.  Yup, not so hot.  Or should I say "too hot"?!

Electrician's apprentice.

Can't have too many apprentices.  Apprenticii?

The paint shop.

Workin' on some detail.

Can you see me now?!

Figuring out the track plan in the next town.

Oh!  You want me to work?

Okayyyyyy.

Manchester track plan northbound (revision I).

Manchester track plan northbound (revision II)

Power!!

And joy spreads across the lands, for we have power.

 

 

For the sake of full disclosure, only 6 feet (almost a whole tenth of a scale mile, woo hoo!) of the mainline is up and running.  I'll be asking the DCC expert, Scott R to help me with proper wiring of the NCE system (Scott, what do you like on YOUR pizza?)

And certainly, big props to Jim O for hooking me up with the NCE system in the first place.  Thanks Jim!!

Work continues...

Another great round robin with the guys last week... Fueled up on pizza, we headed downstairs to the war room.

In anticipation of getting the Bennington section done (or near to it) and moving on to the next stop, our esteemed colleague, Bob R was tasked with preparing some detail parts.

We laid down some track leading into sidings that will service industries located in Bennington.  Again, there was more discussion regarding space constraints and we came up with less-than-prototypical-but-good-for-operations track plans.

George M continued assembling car kits for the railroad, changing out plastic wheels for metal and putting on Kadee no. 5 couplers.  Weathering is then done at his leisure back at his place... where Management doesn't look over his shoulder every minute.

John M assisted Robert S with laying down and spiking in some track.

Harley continued supervising, keeping everybody on task.

Queue up the barrels...

 

Barrels up!

 

Sidings...

 

Space constraints...

 

Detail work...

 

Wheels and couplers...

 

Cutting track...

 

...Laying track...

 

...and spiking track.

 

 

Fuel for the workers.

 

Keeping oriented.

 

"Hey buddy, take a break"...

 

("It's good to be Management".)