Second Part of CTC is nearing completion

Backside of Lower Panel with Switch Wiring only. No LEDs wired yet. The use of RG45 connectors allows panel to be unpluged and moved to a work bench for repair or for changes.  This board has seven Breakout Boards.  Each has a RG45 connector.  Each DIN32 and DOUT32 cards also have Breakout Boards.  A simple CAT5 patch cable connects them together.  When the LEDs are wired they will connect to our custom Signal Control Circuit board (SCC) which controls 12 LEDs with an eight wire CAT5 cable.  The SCC then connects to the Breakout Boards via a CAT5 cable.

Front of Lower Panel

Half of the CTC showing Model Boards and Lower Panels

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Update May 22, 2012 Painting Finished

My Son in law and his brother have finished drywalling, priming, and painting the ceiling and the backdrop for the layout.  Below are a selection of photos of the results.  Now we have to clean off the top of the layout and get back to building the WV&TRR.

Layout Update May 9, 2012

It has been a while since I posted to the blog.   Currently we are in the process of dry walling the ceiling of the layout room.  We have used 50 sheets of drywall.  Today by Son In Law tapes about 40% of the ceiling.   After taping all of the ceiling there are two additional coats of drywall compound, then primer, and finally paintint the entire ceiling.   Then we can get back to building the railroad.

Progress Report 03/28/12

We have continued to install the drywall ceiling.  So far we have hung 24 of the expected 60 sheets of drywall over the existing railroad.  No one should ever build a layout without finishing the ceiling first.  It is a real pain to hang drywall over a layout.  However the improvement in the looks of the layout will be worth the pain and problems incurred now.  I am also installing Can type recessed lighting to illuminate the aisles.  The layout during construction and during operation will have it own lighting system consisting of 100+ CFL 13 watt lights, some spots in areas of special interest and blue rope lights to allow for night operations.  We also have red ropes at the horizon to create a sunrise and sunset look.  When LED lights become more affordable, the CFLs will be replaced as they burnout with LEDs.  When we then reach the point that the entire layout is lit by LED and rope lights, I will add dimmers and some type of automatic day to night sequencer.

Hopefully the drywall work will be done in a couple of months and we can then return to scenery, the CTC system, structures and rolling stock.

Progress Report 02/25/12

Hung more smaller pieces of drywall and installed some of the plastice channel to support the fiberglass tiles along the wiring channel or race.  I believe this is easier than putting up masonite sheets and screws. For now I have left the light cans un-covered to the wiring is done.  Leaving the 16 inch space occupied by the lights open, allows you to shift the fiberglass tiles back and forth to get access to the plugs for lighting.

Also installed some of the rope light hooks for the blue rope lights.  These are attached on the wood strip that secures the valance.  Also intend to start cleaning up all the trash from removing the old light and valance wood frames and roll up the unused rope lights and clips.  Then if time is left will continue to remove the old stuff from the ceiling, moving wires, and getting ready for more drywall which I will get Tuesday morning.

Some Layout Building Good Practices

From Mar-Apr 2012 O Scale Trains, The Bayshore Lines: The Espee in Switzerland by Juerg Luetscher, page 5:

"Over a period of 25 years Guenther has built a total of 12 modules.  His working principle is to complete one module before going to the next one.  Over the years this has given him a lot of fun.  Focusing on one specific module, changing the work activities from bench work to track laying, to wiring, and to the completion of many highly detailed scenes avoids the feeling of repetitive work."

Recently I have expressed the same feelings but have not practiced what I preached. Hopefully I will change my habits and try to finish selected sections starting in the East at South Bend.

Also: http://www.trainmaster.ch/XCV-15-15.htm