Well, a small update on the pier. I wasn't happy with available N Scale railings, so a friend suggested I try doing some 3D CAD. Will try to see how this works on his snazzy printer.
June 15, 2017
June 14, 2017
Shelf Layout Progress
I managed to acquire some Atlas Code 55 turnouts, which enabled a quick check of fit issues over the weekend. On the good news front, the extra lead before the points on the Atlas #5s elongated some leads by an extra half car-length. Failing to account for the switch stand and head blocks, I had to tweak the location of the Santa Fe lead. I can almost smell the plywood.
June 4, 2017
Street Running Switching Layout
While work on the Pier 52 Ferry Slip continues, I'm finding that getting enough unbroken time to finish such an ambitious project is proving really challenging. With my day job becoming even more busy, "spare" time no longer really exists.
Reading MRH from my model railroading armchair, The One Module Approach reminded me that starting small, and working through ALL of the steps might help me get revved back up and past my mental blocks.
Back in 2004, Byron Henderson devised neat switching layout which combined satisfying operation possibilities with and achievable plan. Inspired by San Jose, CA, the layout features a can company, an oil dealer, packing plants, and an interchange:
Similar industries also existed in my current San Francisco prototype, so I spent a bit of time adapting the track to represent Illinois Street. I decided to compress the layout depth to 12", but I kept the 72" length:
As of this weekend, I've gone ahead an printed out a full size version of the plan, and started "play testing" with rolling stock and a locomotive. It was a bit reminiscent of playing "Thomas the Tank Engine" with my son a few years back, but it was an excellent way to clear the cobwebs in my head.
In my case, each job starts with the switcher and three cars on the Santa Fe lead— in real life this represents the connection to the China Basin yard. The length runaround track and capacity of the Southern Pacific interchange provide the constraints on the switching puzzle. After completing any switching work, the consist returns to the Santa Fe track.
Reading MRH from my model railroading armchair, The One Module Approach reminded me that starting small, and working through ALL of the steps might help me get revved back up and past my mental blocks.
Back in 2004, Byron Henderson devised neat switching layout which combined satisfying operation possibilities with and achievable plan. Inspired by San Jose, CA, the layout features a can company, an oil dealer, packing plants, and an interchange:
Similar industries also existed in my current San Francisco prototype, so I spent a bit of time adapting the track to represent Illinois Street. I decided to compress the layout depth to 12", but I kept the 72" length:
As of this weekend, I've gone ahead an printed out a full size version of the plan, and started "play testing" with rolling stock and a locomotive. It was a bit reminiscent of playing "Thomas the Tank Engine" with my son a few years back, but it was an excellent way to clear the cobwebs in my head.
In my case, each job starts with the switcher and three cars on the Santa Fe lead— in real life this represents the connection to the China Basin yard. The length runaround track and capacity of the Southern Pacific interchange provide the constraints on the switching puzzle. After completing any switching work, the consist returns to the Santa Fe track.
March 3, 2017
Minimal MQTT
It is no secret that I think MQTT has great applications in Model Railroading. With the release of inexpensive ESP8266 (and soon ESP32) WiFi MCUs and now the Raspberry Pi Zero W, I think we're close to reaching a tipping point which enables the wide deployment of affordable hardware.
Hackaday ran a nice series of articles on MQTT last summer. Excellent stuff.
https://hackaday.com/2016/05/09/minimal-mqtt-building-a-broker/
https://hackaday.com/2016/05/17/minimal-mqtt-networked-nodes/
https://hackaday.com/2016/05/27/minimal-mqtt-control-and-clients/
https://hackaday.com/2016/06/02/minimal-mqtt-power-and-privacy/
A video tutorial for creating a door-bell with push notifications is another neat tutorial video:
https://hackaday.com/2017/03/02/wireless-doorbell-hacked-into-hands-on-mqtt-tutorial/
The real challenge here will be making this accessible to "normal" hobbyists.
Hackaday ran a nice series of articles on MQTT last summer. Excellent stuff.
https://hackaday.com/2016/05/09/minimal-mqtt-building-a-broker/
https://hackaday.com/2016/05/17/minimal-mqtt-networked-nodes/
https://hackaday.com/2016/05/27/minimal-mqtt-control-and-clients/
https://hackaday.com/2016/06/02/minimal-mqtt-power-and-privacy/
A video tutorial for creating a door-bell with push notifications is another neat tutorial video:
https://hackaday.com/2017/03/02/wireless-doorbell-hacked-into-hands-on-mqtt-tutorial/
The real challenge here will be making this accessible to "normal" hobbyists.
December 25, 2016
Awesome drone footage…
One of my coworkers lives up in SF and has a nifty new drone. Tonight I got a cool Christmas present as he took a some HD video above the former ATSF ferry slip in China Basin. The video has already shown me things I've been unable to see from Google Earth, Apple Maps, or other web photography. Here are a few awesome screen captures:
October 9, 2016
October 1, 2016
Happy with the water
Test fitting the pier atop the newly painted module frame. I'm happy with the water— time to finish on the pier, which will involve a LOT more painting.
More water painting
Another few coats of translucent green makes things look a lot better. Had to extend the bay a bit, as my first pass had missed a spot.
September 29, 2016
a bit too blue
Getting the plywood down inspired me to put down some paint… but the the first pass looks a tad too "tropical":
Well, at least I know that the next layer of paint will need to have a bunch more green and maybe some brown gunk mixed in.
September 28, 2016
Benchwork Update for the ATSF Ferry Slip
Finally had some spare time over the weekend to add the plywood top to the aluminum framework. My nephew was helpful and used a 3D printer to fabricate brackets, while another friend was kind enough to let me use his table saw to cut the top.
Benchwork construction began with 20mm x 40mm extruded aluminum.
First step was to cut the t-slot extrusion to length (yes, we moved everything out of the way before we turned on the saw):
Next came some of the "erector set" pieces to join the cut strut into a frame:
But even more important than anything else, the module frame is "Rule 0" compliant, so it will actually be available for use in a setup:
Here is a view of the underside— those blue components are secured to the sides of the module frame, and allow the top to be fastened from below:
Benchwork construction began with 20mm x 40mm extruded aluminum.
First step was to cut the t-slot extrusion to length (yes, we moved everything out of the way before we turned on the saw):
But even more important than anything else, the module frame is "Rule 0" compliant, so it will actually be available for use in a setup:
Here is a view of the underside— those blue components are secured to the sides of the module frame, and allow the top to be fastened from below:
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