WEST ORTON

[Hound Dog]

Hi Steve - sorry to just learn of your eye problems …….. hopefully you are now on the road to recovery…….. look on the bright side that at least you don’t model N gauge !……. Best wishes

[cadman]

Hi Steve, wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Steve M]

Update: the leaky blood vessels in my left eye have effectively reduced its functionality - it's just an ornament that stops my face being out of balance.
I did try to get in the shed to investigate the dead frog. It looks like the wiring had become detached so it was easier just to install a fresh autofrog unit. The frog is now working.
This arrived from Model Rail mag via Kernow Models today. It's so small I can barely see it and fitting a decoder will be challenging (even if both eyes were working!) and it will certainly need a stay alive. Quart into a pint pot.

[Mountain Goat]

It is small! Probably don't really notice its size until one sits it next to a large loco and then it is really noticable.

[Chops]

Charming switcher. Hope you can manage a stay alive.

[Steve M]

Two small jobs today.
I temporarily fitted a spare decoder to the Y3 and found it to be a superb performer. Smooth and a nice slow runner. I have a AEModels 8 pin on order, mainly because that has a socket for a plug and play stay alive. When I fit that I will take some measurements to see if there is any chance of squeezing in an HM7K decoder and speaker. I don't think it will go but it's worth checking.
The other job was to start repositioning the magnets for my Kadees couplers. I used small neodymium magnets set vertically inside the rails but they tend to grab the coupling if it's not in use. I'm going to set them outside the rails which seems to work on the test rig. So far I have removed the existing magnets and filled and reballasted the holes before I drill new locations this week.

[Steve M]

I have hidden the repositioned incoupling magnets with some ballast and the airbrush which makes it very difficult to seecwhere they are!
I quickly made some abandoned sleepers and chairs in the 3D printer, painted them with a yellow cross, and stuck them adjacent to each uncoupling point.
Airbrush was a bit heavy but my depth perception is virtually nonexistent at the moment. I may touch them up next year.

[RogerB]

Great solution Steve. Can’t imagine how difficult that must be for you. They won’t need much fettling. R-

[Steve M]

Fitted the new decoder and stay alive. Tight fit - I had to shorten the pins on the 8pin plug and remove the heatshrink to squeeze it in. It turns out the AEModels decoders are quite thick due to their two layered PCB construction (presumably to accommodate circuitry first the SA).
Also added a shunter, lamps, vacuum pipes and badges.

[Carl L]

Cracking scene, the shunter looks so natural.