Title had me wondering

Bruce, I gain lots of good ideas from your columns so you had me concerned. Another good article, good tips and discussion of the tools you use on steam. Did an AWESOME!

TomO

A little bit at a time....

is the best way to retire. Get shut of the chores you dislike first.

If I may add a tip: I find that male header pins occasionally drift out of alignment when they are soldered. To prevent that, I stick male headers into a scrap of socket-- that holds the pins straight if they get too warm. It makes for quicker set up when doing a batch too, as the socket can remain clamped in a vise.

pqe

Sorting Tray...

I use a "pill counting" tray, very often available just for the asking from your friendly neighborhood pharmacist, as a small parts holder. Granted you won't need the portion used to fill the Rx bottles, but the remainder of the tray and the slot for dumping the excess pills back into the bulk container are perfect for small parts.

AND, you can actually use it to count and fill small, easy to use and carry, bottles of pills from your bigger 90 day supply bottles. A true dual purpose tool!

Bruce

I am in O scale and all my locomotives both steam and diesel are brass. Oh how I look with envy at videos of some of the HO installations out there. Heck, they are DONE and running it by the time I've got the wipers done on both the locomotive and if steam, the tender!!  It probably takes me about 12 hours to do it all not counting the time to make the headlight reflectors and lenses. I can see why you want to give that up. 

You didn't say (or I missed it!) whether you were doing this for yourself or others with or without a fee. 

Take care...

Peter

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

I've never understood why some revere the idea of "getting out at the top of your game..." As you certainly seem to continue at the top of yours, what kind of hatefulness compels you to to deny the rest of us the informative pleasure of draining you dry of all of your wisdom and hard-earned experience? Leave us not with a bang, but with a whimper - that we may upgrade our own modeling game before you "fade into that good night."

With caring selfishness -

Karl

Ummmm

He's only dropping a couple of aspects of doing installations. Says so in the column.

awesome, awesome, awesome!

This article is, well, awesome!  Thank you for the details - that really helps.  I've been getting back into the hobby after many years, and this is exactly the kind of information that helps me get back up to speed.  Well written and illustrated too!

One other thing that I learned from Luke Towan ( http://www.bouldercreekrailroad.com/ ) is to use adhesive putty sometimes called poster putty, to hold wires or small items temporarily while gluing or soldering.  It's available from office supply stores and many other places.

Good hint, StephenR!

I usually use blue tape, but sometimes putty would be easier.

Thanks for sharing.

super-flexible rubber wire

Bruce,

This link is to for 28 awg super-flex wire, 10 M length, and assorted colors.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-Meters-28-AWG-Flexible-Silicone-Wire-RC-Cable-28AWG-Outer-Diameter-1-2mm-/132030247770

Good article,

....Jim, SCW,AZ

Train control systems makes a

Bruce Petrarca and Brass DCC Installs

hi, Bruce

And thanks, yet again.

Your sharing your many years' experience has helped me many times, and I so much appreciate it.  Another well-explained and photo-enhanced guide to doing steam DCC installs  - - de-mystifying this previously daunting undertaking.  THANKS !