Bernhards Random Ramblings BACKUP

Due to social distancing guidelines still in effect, Silicon Valley Lines canceled the May ops session originally scheduled for tonight. We discussed doing another remote ops session instead, and decided that this time we'd try to do a session from the club. This was to test both our ability to implement social distancing, as well as whether and how to incorporate remote operators into an operations scheme. Another goal tonight was to stress-test the club's Internet connection with multiple video streams in a multi-user setting. We set up various cameras to record the action from different angles. We also moved the cameras around to capture trains as they moved from yards over the layout to their destinations for switching. The verdict: Over the course of the evening we ran a whopping four trains, instead of the 25 trains we normally run. We can easily support a remote dispatcher and give remote operators control of a train. We have the technology to do that. However, our Inte...

[ Untergroeningen posts ] [ part 5 ] After I went through the rather involved experience of cutting Auhagen BKS panels for the water tower in part 3  with an xacto knife, I remembered having read about how "nibblers" make cutting window openings much easier. I'm still planning to scratchbuild / kitbash the Untergroeningen station building and certainly was not in the mood to make the dozen plus windows I will need the same way I made the cutouts on the wall sections. It looks like there are only a couple models of nibblers out there, normally intended for cutting thin sheet metal. Should work fine for plastic. So I ordered the more common model. I tested the tool with a scrap wall panel and installed an Auhagen door in the scrap piece. With a little bit of practice I was able to make straight cuts. Alright, moving on to the panel where it matters. Based on a prototype photo I chose the smaller Auhagen door for size and marked the location on the panel. In less than a mi...

John Abatecola from TSG Multimedia produced a great video introduction to how operations with DTC works. Not only is this video really well done, but also shows how much fun we are having at the cllub during operating sessions.

[ Untergroeningen posts ] [ part 4 ] I gave an update on the locomotive shed to the Silicon Valley Lines member ship during the virtual club meeting tonight, and continued working on the water tower roof. The ridge tiles are now in place, slightly crooked but definitely workable. [ part 6 ]

[  Untergroeningen posts ] [ part 3 ] It was time for more work on the water tower. I built a substructure to glue the wood board sheets to. This is made from real wood. I hope to be able to replicate the greying effect of weathered wood more easily this way. However, that also means the piece needs to be removable, since it will get in the way when painting the rest of the water tower. Getting the parts right and waiting for the glue to dry takes some time, so I watched today's OpSIG Second Section presentations on Zoom, while I was working. With COVID-19 still keeping many people at home, more and more online events are showing up lately. ETE Bay Area has weekly get togethers, ETE National has a weekly presentation schedule. Silicon Valley Lines has weekly online meetings. The NMRA ran their second NMRAx event yesterday. The OpSIG has weekly presentations. It's getting busy. With the boarding in place, I moved on to build the water tower roof. I first made a roof from thin ...

[ Untergroeningen posts ] [ part 2  ] I continued working on the locomotive shed for Untergroeningen. The next element I need to build is the water tower. I copied various Auhagen wall elements and worked out how to cut them so that the water tower doesn't appear too high, or too slim in relation to photos I had printed out. The defining features of the water tower are the decorative brickwork at the upper story, the wood boarding, and the distinctive roof. While I'm likely not going to be able to match the details, I'm trying to get close. I started with the brickwork by cutting an opening in one of the wall segments. After I was done, it was clear that the shape is not right (see on the left), and I need to go wider (see on the right) The brickwork includes a single window. I contemplated for a while to just use a standard piece from the Auhagen system and make my life dramatically easier. However, I'm already going through all this trouble, so might as well try and ...

Friederike loves her swing set.

The farmers market is in town today, making Oma Kopper happy.

Schwester Maria has time.

Something is not right at track 4. Is it maybe that this Gs looks too new? Or did the van hit the loading ramp?

Let's go for a walk with Opa Helmut.

The overloading crane at track 4 stands ready but is not needed today.

Waiting for the Schienenbus to open the doors.

Hans Wagerl makes sure that the cars in the yard tracks are properly secured and hand brakes set.

Watching the trains from the market square.

Track 1a at the freight shed is empty. A good opportunity to take a photo of the activity on the loading ramp.

260 417, a rebuilt Maerklin 3065 , waits for its next assignment at the north end of track 3.

John Abatecola from TSG Multimedia joined the Silicon Valley Lines meeting last week where we ran a virtual ops session on the Untergroeningen modules. To my surprise, John mentions the session in his monthly podcast released today and briefly discusses his perspective on our event. The video above is deep-linked to start right before that. TSG Multimedia has a lot of model railroad related videos on Youtube, and I like how John keeps creating new and engaging content.

I might have mentioned before that I prefer baking over cooking. For today's event Tatjana and I made Parmigana di melanzane (basically baked egg plant). It's a lot of work, but the recipe was easy to follow, and the result totally worth the effort. Sadly, it's not very photogenic, so you just have to believe me.

Tatjana and I made Sachertorte. A lot of work, but it turned out great.

One of the cacti in our front yard is blooming. Wonderful!