Why?

Because I have (as of tomorrow) started another stage of study. I am going to do a Bachelor of Applied Management at CPIT, majoring in Business IS and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Thankfully work have effectively let me have a day a week for classes (paid! woo!) and most of my papers are online. I’ve also managed to arrange it so that I get a New Zealand Diploma in Business as well – the combination of these and my other degree should increase my repertoire quite well.

Also on the cards is the birth of my first son – scheduled for June (fingers crossed it doesn’t clash with Exams ).

As for my own business, well finding time to get any development done is a bit tricky at the moment, with everything else. But thankfully everything else with it is ticking along quite nicely, and it will be up for its official first birthday in April – really good considering the minimal amount of income is just enough to pay the bills and that I am effectively working for free. But that’s what it’s all about right? I’m doing something I enjoy, learning skills whilst I do it (Web Design/Development, Business, People, etc.) and I have a bit of opportunity to contribute back – put some money into different people and tech that I feel will benefit the community and the environment. Oh, and the number of clients regularly paying for hosting and such is increasing slowly

Finally, my hobbies are going well too – the garden is full of heaps of different shapes and sizes of green tomatoes. I wonder if they will ripen this summer properly or not – the weather has been kinda crap. Crap like a summer with only a handful of good sunny days. This, of course, makes the tomatoes take longer to ripen. And when coupled with the sheer amount on each vine takes even longer. But I’m not complaining too much – there are occasional red ones which get scoffed before anyone sees

My trains are coming along quite well too – I have been building up an N gauge layout which takes my mind off other stressing factors. Just purchased come carriages off TradeMe which should look good with the new platforms I just built.

Oh yeah, and to top things all off I am going for my restricted driving licence next week…

I also think that I will put the area including the goods yard in this configuration, that way it will include the shunter shed, turntable and such. Should be interesting to do!

Also, I know I havent done any updates lately. So sue me! I’ll put up some pictures and a life update tonight I hope…

Thanks

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=228686319

finished baseboard

Originally uploaded by WalkerWhanau

Well, timber with plywood top done, bolts done. now just to sand down and prep for trains. oh, and to drill wiring holes…

“Triang Princess 4-6-2 loco
Princess Elizabeth 46201
Model released 1955 -1958
Body marked R50 but chassis looks like a R53
All plastic body.
Loco runs well.
Faults:
Tender coupling loose.
Lining and “Lion on Wheel” decals missing from tender.
Running number missing both sides of cab.Discolouration on top of firebox.
Front screw attaching ccassis to body loose.
Apart from all that a reasonable model”

(Warning: Lots of pics. Small ones, but still lots.)

And with other projects associated with it:

Lighting with DCC (the reason I got the LEDs etc.) http://brian-lambert.co.uk/DCC.htm#DCC Lighting

A DCC Lighting Kit HowTo (Where I got the idea from) http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=DCC-Concepts-Light-Module

Modelling of Sodor (Thomas the Tank) http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/ffarquhar.htm

Model Railroad track plans (Might use the single car turntable on the wharf, perhaps a small engine version…) http://www.building-your-model-railroad.com/model-railroad-track-plans.html

Laying track over baseboard joins http://modelrailway.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-to-lay-track-over-baseboard-joint.html

I think, for the nerd in me, that I shall have to name one of my trains Ruby. Leave a comment if you get the reference…

Firstly, the bridge for the figure 8:

Secondly, a T.A.R.D.I.S:

Good thing is, the bridge is practically exactly what I need, and the T.A.R.D.I.S satisfies my geek side (and can be put anywhere without looking out of place!)

Finally, I got some LEDs and bridge rectifiers so that I can start to put electronics in the coaches to light them up. Should be fun

So. I have decided that since I am going to garden all spring and summer and part of autumn, I probably need something to do in winter and at the times that I can’t/don’t need to get outside.

Therefore, I am going to be adding Model Trains to the list of things I blog about. The picture above is about the 6th iteration of my planning – the figure 8 will be on a hill so that the straight without the point on will be over a bridge at the top. The double loop is designed in such a way that a train can swap on to either – the larger trains will go on the outer tracks and the smaller ones on the inside.

It’s also going to be set up to be switched between DC (12vDC, one train) and DCC (16vAC, multiple trains, digitally controlled) on the figure 8. This way Little Ms. 3 can play on it at the same time

More to follow as things progress…