Hunkerin' down

Well, like much of the world, we're trying to "sequester in place" and, when out on "essential" errands, maintaining "social distance" with others.  Tomorrow may be a bit of a different story.

The pantry is becoming somewhat depleted.  So, we plan (you know how planning goes) to get up before sunrise and drive to the near Walmart.  They have "seniors-only" hour from 6 a.m. until store opening at 7 a.m.  We've never tried that before.  And, I have trouble going to sleep, usually after 1 a.m.  It'll be interesting.

On a more cheerful note, I've got the PICAXE micro-controller + L298 h-bridge wired on a breadboard, and have done preliminary power application to it.  So far, so good.

Now, I need to make a good, solid bench supply for +5v.  The h-bridge board has a +5v regulator on it, so it can source a little, more than enough to run the PICAXE and IR detector boards. But, ...

There's always a "but."  The high voltage input (up to 15v or so) that feeds the regulator is also needing to be variable, down to 0v, to control the train speed in my application.  So, I need a separate 5v feed to power things such as the micro, the IR boards and the control logic on the h-bridge board.  So, I'll make that (no problem, I have all the parts) (I hope).  It'll need to be small so it can be built under a train module with the micro.

Since the tracks involved cross multiple modules, it'll need a five-wire interface: two for track power and three for the IR sensor cards.  I haven't decided on exactly where to mount the electronics, but that's a minor item at this point.  

Otherwise, the isolation party roars on with the wife, the dog, and me.  yippee.

After waiting for the seemingly endless winter to end, now it's wait for the end of spring and the virus. Hopefully.  2020 is turning into almost a lost year.  With three grandkids ~50 miles and a new one in Florida, having to stay home is punishment.

Time to turn back to the work bench.  Everyone keep safe and healthy!

Only God can make a tree . . .

As I clean the two modules for show, I'm needing to do a little maintenance, scenery-wise.  One thing I often did in the past while working in a module was not only clean and repair, but also add a couple new details to it.

Same story now, with the Poco Loco grain elevator.  Not much, but I've added two trees and two vehicles.  I think a few figures would help, too.  Here's the module, after today's work:

The tree at the corner of the office and the (dead?) one at the end of the silos are the additions.  They are old models, inherited from the estate of a long time railroad buddy.  Thanks, Jim.

In addition, there's a yellow delivery truck at the warehouse door.  I definitely need a couple of people there. And, maybe, in front by the cars, too.

Looking around back, the red semi has been there from the start, but I added another, the blue one.  Moving a lot of grain in and out of here, they are. 

I got the blue truck a bit further around behind than I first intended, but it's glued down and not moving.  It can be seen from the front at the right angles, so it's good.

I have toyed with making "where's Waldo" lists for my modules.  The idea has been to print a composite list for each show, based on the modules being shown.  I'm thinking that the question sheet would not indicate which module to look for the target.  It's something to do in my spare time.  Yeah, right.  The half-hidden semi would be a good item, as is the worker on top of the elevator (not visible in the photos, but he's there.)

As for the second module, the Twin Towers (see my last post,) it will be worked on tomorrow.  A few new trees (I glued up a dozen or so late this afternoon) and some figures will dress them up pretty well. 

Both modules will get a pole and flag.  I'm using the flag kit from Osborn Models out of Canada.  I have the US and Canada flag sets.  Probably won't be using the Canadian ones, yet.

So, not a lot, but progress.