Been sort of busy with a new job so I have not posted anything recently. I am still working on a couple of things though.

First is the completion of my G scale outdoor railroad. I’ve gotten the last major infrastructure project for that constructed but it’s going to take a while to get it skinned in concrete. I do plan to order some track soon and with luck will at least have a simple loop to run trains on.

I’m also working on my widgets again, I should have new Phase B boards in a few days. These are not a radical change, just correct one small issue on the old board, add mounting holes and a power LED. In the future I have additional plans for this board, I intend to take the remaining real estate and add a DCC interface, both in and out (if possible, using an external booster) and probably a couple of LED drivers.

My MOW critter is also coming along, I am converting it to battery power and adding widget control. I am also thinking about building a real small bobber caboose, probably with a work platform to pull behind it.

Also on the horizon is planning for an indoor N scale shelf layout. I have most of that designed, just need some tweaks.

And of course, the styrene depot shown in the last post is also taking shape.

Raw cutting fresh off the router.

Here I’ve added the 1/8 inch square strips and the window trim, then I shot the thing with some light brown primer.

I’ve been doing some experiments with the CNC router, trying to cut styrene. I’ve messed up and melted a sheet or two but now I think I’m getting the hang of it. I’m working on a standard N&W depot, this one is at Winfall, VA. I found the pic on the Virginia Tech Photo Archive.

Anyhow, what I have found is that styrene needs to be cut with a slow RPM and a decent inches per minute feed rate. I’m using a 1/32 inch bit at 7500 RPM and a 25 IPM feed rate. You also have to cut shallow, anything more than say .030 or so will start the dreaded melt. So I do three passes to get through 1/8 inch styrene (.125 inches). This produces a big shower of nice plastic chips or ‘saw dust’. This is what you want to see.

Can’t help myself. Here is another CNC cut critter mounted on a USA Trains 4 wheel power truck.

I wired up my yellow critter with a control widget, a Turnigy 20A ESC and a 4.8v 2300mah nimh battery pack. Works quite well. I did have to add a relay to reverse the motor but that’s already supported by the software, it’s what I use in my RS3.

A pic from the video, out on the track at Gilbert Virginia.

Just can see the Xbee in the cab. The battery is in the engine compartment along with the Turnigy ESC. The relay to toggle the motor direction is also in the cab but you can’t see it from here.

The development platform for my Dash 9 whenever I get around to it. A close shot of the control board with the Xbee. This is the same control board in the Critter. There is just enough room (I think) in the critter to put in micro servos for the couplers but I have not gotten there yet…

And here is the critter with the handheld controller.

This is my newest critter design. A freelance sort of fantasy vehicle but it came out pretty good and was fun to build. A couple of 3D peoples and some resin cast details thrown in for good measure. Everything is cut out on the CNC machine except the fuel tank which is a piece of PVC pipe. (I cut those on the band saw). Anythow, I am planning on possibly selling these as kits or at least making the plans available, not sure how that’s going to work out quite yet…

Working on another critter. I plan on three, with a base price of $26 for the kit or $6 for the digital download of the plans- for those who wish to cut them on their own CNC or laser machine.

Finished critter. Cut out of 5mm plywood with the Probotix X90.

Here is a shot of my Probotix X90 Desktop CNC machine. Works really GREAT, I love this thing.

One of my 3D printed 1/29 scale fellows on a CNC cut out Critter. Its a tiny locomotive I’ve designed based on a collage of prototypes from google searches. It’s cut out of sheet of 5mm finish ply and fits on a USA Trains 4 wheel power truck. I’ve left room for batteries and controls, I’m not a track power guy.

So this is the finished warehouse. Or I guess. It still needs some steps and other details but the main construction is done. I do hate that one support that is crooked. Hmm. Have to fix that. I need to light all of my structures and come up with a common power feed. It’s on the list.