Bernhards Random Ramblings BACKUP

As we're riding up the hill at Santa Teresa County Park we spot turkeys on the hill above the street. Shortly after they decide to cross the street. ... and land in the grass on the other side to join their friends.

[ Untergroeningen posts ] After the very successful remote ops session with SVL club members yesterday, I ran a couple more trains in Untergroeningen to exercise tracks and turnouts. I also set up the lighting system for a stress test and had everything on all day long. Tatjana switched one session by herself and apparently had fun, too. I used mostly the new Brawa BR212 in the Digital Extra version (#42863). This engine is a superb runner and the sounds are top-notch. The motor sounds just right, and the brake squeal is perfect. The locomotive comes with some fun features like motorized cooling fan that spins when the fan sounds come on, as well as remotely controlled couplers. The sound volume is too loud out of the box, but overall I'm very impressed with this engine. I turned off the lights in the living room tonight, which dramatically enhances the shadow box effect of the layout. I can't wait to add trees and bushes in the background to get more texture. The stress test...

A quick trip to Tulare Hill. It's nice here.

[ Untergroeningen posts ] 212 074 is ready for operations Today is the last Friday of the month, when Silicon Valley Lines  usually puts on the monthly operations session. However, due to COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders the club is closed. I suggested to the membership to try a virtual operation session instead, so we did. I emailed a track diagram of Untergroeningen to the group before the meeting, as well as a switch list. The train is rather short, only 5 cars to set out and 4 cars to pick up. I ran the engine on the layout and the group told me which moves to make. There was quite a bit of discussion and banter along the way which made this an enjoyable experience. Before the session, I set up the Untergroeningen modules in our living room and tested the arrangement. To my utter surprise, the throws of most turnouts where misaligned and the Tortoises needed adjustment. That took some time. One puko strip did not have power. Apparently the solder point to the neigboring puko s...

We had a very German dinner tonight.

[ Untergroeningen posts ] [ part 1 ] I figured I should paint rails before I paint the platform. Tar on rails mistakes are easier to fix than rust on tar ... I'm very pleased with the look of the rails. ModelMaster "Leather" is my preferred paint for rusty rails. Some touch-ups here and there are needed, but this is good as is, and I can move on to ballasting. The turnout point areas will remain unballasted and unpainted until I can confirm proper operation with more rolling stock. Time to clean the railheads. [ part 3 ]

[ Untergroeningen posts ] [ part 1 ] An order I made back in March, ... which feels like a very long time ago at the moment ... arrived on Friday and included Auhagen parts for the locomotive shed on the Untergroeningen module. I still need to figure out how to convincingly represent the water tower and the workshop in the space I have, but I can start with the engine stall. The Auhagen BKS (Baukastensystem) modular system is very well done and quickly produces a convincing industrial brick building. I will use this as a base for further kitbashing. [ part 3 ]