Wednesday 7th May 2025

Electrics:  

Add outstanding track wires.

Review required switches and check availability: Illuminated, latching, push-button section switches - 3 required and found. Point switches and knobs - 1 required. We didn't have the exact rotary switch used previously, but we found something suitable. Point knob - we had previously used guitar-tuning knobs, but there were none left so another knob was found. Uncoupling servo toggle switches - 3 required and 3 left-overs found.

We added track feed and common-return wires to the new track sections.

The new track layout was sketched on masking tape and the component positions agreed. Holes were drilled and the switches fitted.

We then had to add wires to the loom for the new items.

New wiring loom section being made to add onto the existing loom. (2 more needed for the other boards).

We needed a shell for the new 20-way connector. Geoff discovered that the American company had sub-let the manufacture of the range to a company based in Kiev. Assuming a long wait, he drew and 3D printed his own shell.

Stephen had painted the garage, but it didn't meet Geoff's minimum standard for rust colour authenticity (it's too red). We'll have to see which mellows first the rust or Geoff.....