We have reached the time of year when the exhibition season really kicks in. Over the last couple of shows several things have been experienced which really needed something doing.
There are a few areas of grass that need a bit of touching up, so PVA was brushed on to the affected areas and Woodland Scenics rough grass was carefully applied. After letting dry, the overspill was removed with a soft brush.
The fiddle yard was next to be repaired. There had been a few episodes where current wasn't being transfered through the Bulldog connection. This turned out to be a build up of aluminium oxide which prevented conductivity being transferred from the rail to the clip. The answer to this was to remove the offending screws, clean all surfaces with a fibreglass brush and reassemble using a shakeproof washer which bites into the aluminium surface. Fresh solder and an ohm meter confirmed that power was where it should be. I also took some time in checking all the soldered joints where the track crossed baseboard joins, this was just as well as I found one in the goods yard. This showed up because the Mogul was being tested and the tender occasionally derailed on this join.
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| The connecting posts and soldered joints have been repaired. |
All locos have been test run and serviced, then checked that they would traverse all running tracks and work with the uncouplers. It is not just the exhibition itself but there is a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that as little goes wrong as possible.After all the viewers don't pay to watch your lack of preparation!
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| Hennock nearly devoid of stock and cleaned ready for it's next outing. More about the Mogul at the platform another time. |
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