Welcome Martin McKerkin

Hi all, thank you for the warm/cool/cold, welcomes.
Well chuffed!
Hopefully I will find all the answers to my problems and maybe even help others.
Early days for me having had a very long, working life long, break.
Now I hope to add my tech experience to this great hobby.
Only problem with Spain, outside is so tempting and my 00 does not go there.
Worse things in the world.

 

For years dabbling with electronics and then computing and my job was in that area.
So my plan, as if I had one. (Started with some cheap 2nd hand track and a size of base board and worked from there) is to build the layout, done that and, then start to make control board that has some form of automation or scenes that run. I expect this will take..... forever and, be very frustrating and rewarding all at the same time.
I will be adding scenery and all the, make it look good, as I plod along.
So, it is a plan!

I am heavily into IOT, (Internet of things) type stuff so lots of micro controllers, (8266? and Raspberry Pi?) home automation, pretty lights, remote telemetry and other long words.
I think model railways and this can go hand in hand.

 

Welcome Martin.

 

Hi Martin, welcome to the forum from a fellow new guy. Like you I am dabbling with a first layout using second hand bits and pieces. I am also trying automation with Arduino and servos. Share your frustrations. But there is a challenge to get it all together. Berne.

 

So, a bit of a delay, stuff happens....
Layout still in build and I am starting off DC.
My points are all becoming motorised but with Seep motors and I have linked them to my PC via MQTT. I can pick a route and the points all set. If I get it correct, and then I set the train in motion. Well that's the partly implemented plan, So far, so good.
My next step is to finish connecting all the points, power feeds and isolators to the micro controllers and then MQTT.
Plus build and install sensors to detect trains running toward miss-set points and set the points correctly.
When it all runs, I will get on with the scenery, slowly and I want to try and build WiFi control to individual locos but that is the future as I have a lot to get done.
Thanks for all the "What's happening", I welcome the dark side, it just eats time.

 

So, progress.
Basically the track is down and finished!, well already I think, could have....... but for the time it is done.
Some clearances on trackside kit, such as my 3d printed points motor housings need fine adjustment or in two cases a real think and re-design, still the smaller kit has no problem. I now wish I had started with HO, (Brexit (Soz)) is making ordering from the UK a bit difficult and more expensive.

I have my web page up, I have the MQTT computer control behind this working. Not a single physical switch in sight but can integrate some later if I feel the need.
I can now launch several scenarios and other than manual speed control (later), it works. Lot of room to move this on.
It is only DC, yes DCC would have been a great choice but more cost and this feels more satisfying right now.

What next, I am modding some HO stock to fit tension lock couplings (right or wrong), thankfully the 3D printer really helps produce mounting platforms.
I am importing the couplings from the UK, such fun!!!!! (See if I had planned that would have come prior to 2021)

I need to look at scenery, I have some 2nd hand, 1.95€ buildings from Germany that are shabby chic but us the real world any better?

Will this ever end, hope not.