Ballard Why v2.0

[delamaize]

I work every weds, thurs, and fri, and every other weekend, I'm off this weekend (Nov 29/30) so I'll be working next, then the one after that you already have my attention to set up for the history museum show.....

[Jrbenny2]

West Why Complete!!

Al and I completed the West Section of the new Ballard Why today, commissioned ready for service.

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Here's the installed Control Panel lit up and ready run trains.

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The East Section has been wired and survived its first smoke test.
We're finally seeing the end of this phase of the project.
Another week and the East Why and the matching Yard Throat module will be done.

[x600]

Wo Hoo! Ok, I'll start cleaning up the debris in the South End Shop.

Ahhhh, is that a toggle panel near the west end? Looks to be "behind" the end profile for scenery.
Could it be closer to the track so as not to interfere with the proposed scenic profile?
If not I can build a retaining wall around it.

Greg O.

[GaryHinshaw]

Beautiful work all around!

[Jrbenny2]

Sparktricians Declare Victory !!

Both East and West Sections of the Why were joined to the Hazelton Yard Throat module and operated as a unit for the first time.
And they actually worked!!
The first showing will be the Model Train Fest at the Washington State History Museum over the Christmas Holiday.

Here's Greg, John, and Al and the newly completed Ballard Why v2.0

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Modules were sent off to the Scenic Effects Team for module "dusting" and the first pass at scenery.


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[x600]

Thanks, Gary, I hope we can keep the pace up!

I made the trek, yesterday, from way down here , to way up there, to retrieve the NBY and get it ready for it's
initial public showing. Set up is NEXT SUNDAY! which gives us a week to get it, at least, presentable.

Before I get into my post, I want to say that this is like "It's better to have a friend with a boat, than to actually own a boat."
Our version is that it is better to have members that have exceptional electrical and electronic skills than to try it yourself.
I'm not scared of basic wiring, but there is very little on these modules that is basic wiring. While looking them over today in my shop,
I am convinced that the work done by John and AL is a level of design, planning , and skill that is way above what would be normal for a modular railroad.
Looking around John's garage, I noticed several work stations with all kinds of parts, pieces, tools, contraptions, and steaming cauldrons that just screamed;
Magic Happening Here!
Nice work John and Al, proud to be associated!  My is off to you guys.

To see the Ballard Zephyr go through all the trackwork with the flip of ONE (lighted) rotary switch was amazing. 

As a club we decided that we will be using it even if there is some slip showing.
We normally don't use modules that have not been completed, at least to a visual level of completion.
Because of the operational importance of these modules, we will use the week long show to let members have a chance to learn how to
use the why controls, and to work out any bugs. (ants? inside joke)
This also gives all of our members a chance to input suggestions on the finished scenery.

I didn't have a chance to work on them today as I had to watch the Seahawks fly into Philly and dine on Eagles.
Taste like chicken,
 sorry, but we were more scared going in.
GO HAWKS!

I'll be doing some carpentry things first tomorrow.
1)  Leg and hardware modifications and corrections.
2)  Skyboard cutting, fitting,painting.
3)  Filling screw holes, sanding, and prepping facia for paint.

If I get time I'll start planning and building the retaining walls, abutments and profile boards.
I'll see if Jim Y can come down and help out.

Stay tuned for quick progress......
Greg O.

[delamaize]

Thanks, Gary, I hope we can keep the pace up!

I made the trek, yesterday, from way down here , to way up there, to retrieve the NBY and get it ready for it's
initial public showing. Set up is NEXT SUNDAY! which gives us a week to get it, at least, presentable.

Before I get into my post, I want to say that this is like "It's better to have a friend with a boat, than to actually own a boat."
Our version is that it is better to have members that have exceptional electrical and electronic skills than to try it yourself.
I'm not scared of basic wiring, but there is very little on these modules that is basic wiring. While looking them over today in my shop,
I am convinced that the work done by John and AL is a level of design, planning , and skill that is way above what would be normal for a modular railroad.
Looking around John's garage, I noticed several work stations with all kinds of parts, pieces, tools, contraptions, and steaming cauldrons that just screamed;
Magic Happening Here!
Nice work John and Al, proud to be associated!  My is off to you guys.

To see the Ballard Zephyr go through all the trackwork with the flip of ONE (lighted) rotary switch was amazing. 

As a club we decided that we will be using it even if there is some slip showing.
We normally don't use modules that have not been completed, at least to a visual level of completion.
Because of the operational importance of these modules, we will use the week long show to let members have a chance to learn how to
use the why controls, and to work out any bugs. (ants? inside joke)
This also gives all of our members a chance to input suggestions on the finished scenery.

I didn't have a chance to work on them today as I had to watch the Seahawks fly into Philly and dine on Eagles.
Taste like chicken,
 sorry, but we were more scared going in.
GO HAWKS!

I'll be doing some carpentry things first tomorrow.
1)  Leg and hardware modifications and corrections.
2)  Skyboard cutting, fitting,painting.
3)  Filling screw holes, sanding, and prepping facia for paint.

If I get time I'll start planning and building the retaining walls, abutments and profile boards.
I'll see if Jim Y can come down and help out.

Stay tuned for quick progress......
Greg O.

Hey Greg! Shoot me an E-mail, call me, or drop me a text message tomorrow (well, today now) and i can probably swing out and give you a hand, I'm off monday and tuesday.

[x600]

Very productive 3 days!
On Monday, I started by working a few bugs from the leg set-up. Somehow I had one set 3/4" too long
or was the other set 3/4" too short?
Added some hardware to the leg braces and moved the slide switches for the passing siding.
Also moved the UP5 panels to the outer ends of the modules on the backside.
Mike (delamaize) came over and we cut the sky boards and got them fitted.
Thanks Mike!
On Tuesday, I filled screw holes, sanded the sky boards and painted them.
Then spent most of the day sanding and refilling the screw holes on the front and tops and sides.
Today, I started by light sanding and painting a second coat on the sky boards, Oh, and I realized I needed to angle cut them at the
yard entrance to avoid the "hole in the wall look" This also lets people see more of the yard itself.
Jim Younkins came over and we spent the rest of the day figuring and cutting the retaining walls, and bridge abutments and wings.
These were cut from wood and will be coated with spackle, sanded and painted to look like concrete.
I used the PINK STUFF that turns white when it's dry. Still can't figure out where the pink goes
We worked steady and got all of the walls done. That was a big task out of the way.

Here we're looking from west to east at the entrance to the concrete canyon.
 

closer view at the bridges. The modules aren't clamped together yet. Foam will go in between the walls and be shaped as slopes to the upper level.
I started to spackle and you can see that some is still PINK, These will get sanded smooth and expansion joints carved into them.


Higher view of the same area.


View from Yard throat looking out. I'm really hoping that once all the scenic elements are in it won't look as weird.


Here's as they sit now, more spackle, cut and place foam, and fill some of the slots with screen and sculptimold.
After this show and shake down cruise, and after some of the terrain features are figured out on the upper level,
The sky board will go off to Diane Powell's to get pretty mountains painted on them.



Thanks for looking
Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? Questions?

Greg O.

[delamaize]

View from Yard throat looking out. I'm really hoping that once all the scenic elements are in it won't look as weird.

Well, if it does look weird, add more trees!

[Jrbenny2]

Greg, looking great, thanks for the nearly instant scenery.  I'm with Mike, just add trees to the mound in the middle.

[davefoxx]

I don't think it looks weird at all.  Reminds me of those Pennsy flying junctions.

DFF

[Jrbenny2]

Knowing that there is always a reason for you do, what is the purpose of the notches or steps on the front of the ML center elevated sections?  Inquiring mind.  JRB

[x600]

Thanks for that Dave, It now looks more plausible to me. Too bad we didn't have time to do some Pennsy type stone work!
These PNW guys would have a cow, though. Damn SGNFs

JRB, the front of all the walls were Dadoed to give the wall a thinner appearance on the top. These pieces were cut offs.
I thought it would be easier in the long run to NOT compound miter and dado the wing wall and end profile.
The error here is that I should have cut the short side of the wings a bit taller to plane in with the retaining wall segment. These are now filled with
foam and will be topped with sculptimold.
I'm not in charge of trees. Scrubs, OK, but not trees. I don't know who is but they can have at it!

Jim Y. came over again today and we got all the foam on the lower level in and the first coat of mud on. Pics soon.

Greg O.

[Jrbenny2]

That's Cool, Daddy-oh, what's a Dado?   
 

[Jrbenny2]

Here's the completed Yard Throat Module, updated and modified to work with the new Ballard Why modules.
This is the SparkenWerkes view, there's probably tracks on the top (opposite) side, but we're not sure.

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