WVR Blog

Blue Sky and Benchwork

I was able to get some work done on the WVR this week. I put up Masonite backdrop and worked on benchwork. I used 1/8 inch Masonite hardboard for the backdrop. Masonite installed for the upper and lower levels I had to take some time out of my schedule today…
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Back from Vacation

I have not been able to update the blog for a while, been busy working outside. Finally finished up a new paver patio and grilling area a couple of days ago. Unfortunately my wife and I used most of our two week vacation putting it in. I did manage to…
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Wiring Just Sucks!

I've been working on the layout off and on for the last few weeks. Haven't taken the time to write a new post because I just feel like I haven't been getting much done. I've been wiring up an new section of track with three turnouts and going back through…
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More Benchwork

Having finally figured out the electronics and methods (for the most part) I want to use throughout the layout, I have started with more benchwork. I have a rough plan or two for the yard area along the north wall, I'll call it the North Yard for now. The lower…
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Turning Engines 2

I am using this slip ring to transmit power to the rotating turntable bridge. I made an adapter from plastic, the brass tube fits inside the axle of the bridge and the other end fits the diameter of the slip ring. I decided to use four of the 6 wires…
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Turning Engines 1

I was thinking of purchasing a Walthers turntable sometime in the future. I will need two turntables for my planned layout. They sell a 110' and 130' ready to run turntable which can be converted to DCC with an additional board. After some research, I am not so sure that…
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Making a Circuit Board

I got my first (of many) semaphore working last week. For my initial test, I used one of my turnout decoders to operate it. I'll need those for turnouts (plus a few!) so I designed a new decoder for the signals. It is a simplified version, based on my turnout…
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Signal Working

Here is a You Tube video showing a test of a Tomar semaphore on my layout. The semaphore is animated by a hobby servo connected to a DCC accessory decoder based on an Arduino Pro Mini board. JMRI is used to control the signal based on block occupancy. I'm utilizing…
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Turnout Control – Update

The turnout control I described in my last post was working great... That is until I subsequently added block detection to the mixture. I am using RR-CirKits equipment to access the Loconet buss of my Digitrax system. I am using BOD-8 block detectors, connected in this case, to a TowerMan…
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Turnout Control

It appears that the plan is coming together! I have successfully set up the RR-CirKits TC Mark II to output the switch message on Loconet to drive my turnout accessory decoder. This allows me to operate turnouts via a panel switch, my throttle, and a JMRI panel.
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