Worklist:
Track cleaning vehicles
Bell amplifier
New cassette
Cassette extension
Following on from last week, Geoff had purchased a Dapol track cleaning vehicle to compliment the Bachmann vehicle. However, the Dapol unit, as well as a pad for liquid application, had a suction fan to pick up loose debris from the track. And it worked well.
The previous week, Geoff had described a cleaning vehicle common in the US that used a simple, weighted pad free to slide up and down on nails. Suitably inspired, Stephen had developed his own version.
Two long 8BA bolts sliding in brass tubes, two car-wheel weights and a square of sanding pad. The nut, now with a tube attached, allows the pad height to be adjusted, which alters the amount of friction on the track.
Whilst the tank wagon can be used at any time, neither of the other vehicles would be suitable to run during an exhibition. A body will probably be made for the tank wagon, but the very long 'hoover' will need some creative thinking.
Stephen had brought a bag of components that made up his TV 'outdoor' sound system and assembled them. Made to allow an indoor TV to be heard from outside without annoying the neighbours, it comprised a small amp kit, a small speaker in a heavy, camouflaged box and a load of wires. The speaker was placed on a trestle shelf, under the lever frame and it worked perfectly. The volume will allow adjustment through noisy and quiet periods of the show.
While Laurence set himself up on the bench to work through adjustments to his Kadees, Stephen and Geoff made another cassette using the final leftovers. We now have 6 full-length and two short units. Following the Littlehampton show, the vulnerability of stock going off the end of the cassettes if blocks had not been fitted had been identified. Geoff had also made a short extension shelf to solve the problem.
The success of Littlehampton made us more confident about the looming the Burton show. Our only problems were logistical, trying to find out about access to the venue and suitable car parking, but we'll sort that out in due course.
