I think it's time to give an update as to where I am.
In the 2 and half years since the last update I have changed my mind umpteen times , gone down the rabbit hole of procrastinating over which is the "right way " to proceed and on more than one occasion, contemplated getting rid of the whole thing as it seemed i could never find the time or desire to kick on with it.
For a long time it was covered over and became a repository and storage area for everything else going on....other areas of life just took over and became more important - its the way it goes at times.
Finally - I made the decision in mid summer this year to just get on with it and at least get the track down and some basic wiring done by Christmas. I got off the fence on what type of point control I would run with it and made the investment. There is a danger in this hobby in looking at what everybody else is at. it can cut two ways ........you can get inspired and learns lots from the efforts of others.....................or you can become paralysed with indecision and doubt was to whether you are doing the right thing, have the right equipment or the right skills...........the truth of the matter is that there is a million and one ways to build and run your railway and whatever works for you..........So rather than continuing to procrastinate as to whether I'm doing the right thing - to paraphrase a recent expression - I have made my plan and am proceeding quickly (by my standards), untidily with rudimentary skills and am breaking things (not too expensive) on the provisio that I can revisit the issue in the future as my skillset (hopefully ) improves and I can improve it ...............but I am at least proceeding and have the solder burns to prove it!
So what have I done?
Most importantly I was never really happy with the depth of the initial baseboards - so I took them apart and doubled the depth of them which massively increases their capacity for bits of equipment like point motors etc etc . I lifted the initial trackplan , relooked at it and I think improved it and I am in the process of relaying it. I have the Book Shelves area done - it is wired for DCC and the point motors are solenoids with Guagemaster frog polarity switches - the wiring is basic and functional and I will revisit it and tidy it up when it has been fully tested etc etc - it is good enough for the moment - the next priority for that area is to install LED Lighting in the BookShelves to give proper light.
So the immediate plan is to finish laying the track and underlay on the scenic area, get it wired up and start installing the COBALT points on the main loop and junction - the sidings can wait. If I have Trains running in a continuous loop by Christmas on permanent track.........result!
Here's a few picture attached as to where I am at the moment.
.png.c363cdf5c3fb7955cd92a55eb6dbbae0.png){kind=logo}
