The framework all six boards has been completed & end panels (for joining each board together) have been installed.
Catches and dowel pins have arrived.
Big order for electrical components placed (relays, capacitors and breakout pcb's)
Still require MDF for the sides and tops of the boards.
2 x HD tunnel mouths received, one more required for this layout.
Wiring configuration for 37 pin connectors drawn up.
Started writing a schematic diagram for the points control PCB's, started using Visio to write this but gave up and drew everything from scratch using Excel instead.
Some track lifted from the loft layout, this will be cleaned and the best pieces will be used for the front of the layout. Only the best, straightest, flattest track will be used, this will reduced the risk of track shorts, derailments and uncouplings. As the track is going to be ballasted I need to be sure that none of it is going to fail and require removal / replacement.
Also decided that the signals will be converted to LED. I've already experimented with a signal that had two blown bulbs - I have quite a collection of these now. A while ago I ordered a signal matrix control, although it's really designed for mimic displays these things can be used to control LED signals. Dublo bulbs are too powerful but also they generate a fair amount of heat. This is going to be an exhibition layout, the signals will be illuminated for hours, the dublo bulbs don't like that kind of treatment and have a habit of losing their colour so LED is a better option as well as greatly reducing current consumption. I can also use the matrix pcb to automate the signals using the same principle that I used when I built the relay controlled version I'm using on the portable layout.
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