These are our running updates on the construction of the new layout.
Start at the bottom of the page for a logical progression.
For now the goals are: For the fiddleyard – getting the second half of the track and points installed, and droppers soldered ready for track power cabling. For the Canal & scenic boards – continue working on the first mimic panel, it’s wiring harness and circuit boards. We are starting to panic: Supertrain is early April.
Mid February 2025 The Bridge sections is finally built and track layed, connecting the Canal section to the Fiddle-yard. The second ‘snake’ delivering track power to the back (non-scenic) half of the layout has been started.
Mid February 2025 Switch control has started. Push buttons on the Mimic panel are connected via a Button Shift Register board to the Control ESP32. It connects via WiFi to the Node ESP32 under the layout that connects to all of the servos through a PCA9685 distribution board under the layout. The Control ESP32 is also connected to a LED Shift Register board the distributes signals to the LEDs on the mimic panel. Writing the code for the ESP32s is underway.
The circuit diagrams for the 2 different Shift Register boards have been bread-boarded & tested, then the components added to the board, and connections soldered. Writing code for the ESP32s is underway.
Jan 25, The first loop of track power bus cable (or snake) built. It runs from the ‘Canal’ corner to the centre board on the opposite side. It has plugs for each board spliced in, and the Power Distribution Box built and wired to the other end. A second ‘snake’ will be built and wired to the Distribution Box to service the boards of the fiddle-yard and other non-scenic boards.
January 7th 2025 All wiring for track power and points installed and tested.
By end of 2024 the Canal area (boards1&2) have all servos installed, the node (ESP32 & PCA9685) installed, all connected & functioning.
Point and uncoupler servos testing & mounting workshop.
Fiddle-yard boards, cork down and track layout trialed.
Front boards: raising main line, glueing roadbed and laying track. Boards 1,2 &3 connected and tested.
December: Laying cork on the fiddleyard boards, glued down and weighted.
Trail spacing for track and cassettes on the fiddleyard.
November: carpentry work building the raised section for main line track laying track and finally track power droppers while the boards are upright.
October 24th, Laying track on the Canal boards, and starting the incline for the Main lines.
September 6th, Heritage Park’s Railway Days, demonstrating SCARM track program and trial track laying.
September 1st: Track ordered!! Great Day.
July 31st update: all 16 boards have been built, & with a few hiccups all fit together well.
July 24th update: Board construction is under way, 16 boards, 5 different types, Confusion occasionally reigns.
