... and on another topic ...

  I have received and been playing around with my TI Launchpad developers kit.  The project I most want to build is a "Speed Trap" that you can run your train through and it will tell you the speed in scale miles per hour.

  I know you can basically do the same thing using a couple of known points, a stopwatch and a slide rule (remember those?), but I think a battery or track powered doo-hickey to do all the calculations for you is just plain spiffy! 

   I got to playing around with the numbers in my spreadsheet for determining the timing constants for calculating the speed for different scales and with different spacing of the sensors (gate).  It turns out that this little processor is powerful enough to be able to time a 120 MPH loco in 1:22.5 scale with a timing gate as short as 0.1" - that is really cool for a chip that sells for $2.25 !!

  I ordered the IR emitter/detector pairs, some switches, LEDs and other parts this morning.  I'll have to hit up one of my friends with a 3-D printer and see if I can sweet talk them into making me a nifty "bridge" to hold the detectors, wiring and PC board that I could place over a piece of track.  I would really like to have this done in time for our PNW FreemoN meetup in March.  But dangit!  I have trees to build too!

Toni

Keep this between us or local

Keep this between us or local police departments will be calling you. They're always looking for new ways to raise a buck!

Seriously, I would  be interested in learning more about this project.  As a newbie I have a lot to learn and electrical related items are neat but for me intimidating.  I have no idea where to start on such a project or where even to acquire the necessary equipment. 

Neato.

I'd be interested in seeing how this develops.  I love techie stuff like this.

Trees

I have not used the wire frame method of making trees. I only use a dried flower material called "Candy Tuft" which I purchased from places like Michaels or similar. It's real name is Pepper Grass if you were to use it and need a large quantity check internet for wholesale suppliers best price and able to get large quantities.

Anyway I take 3-6 individual stalks of this material, put them together then wrap masking tape around several times to build up thickness. After that I use DAP Acrylic Latex Caulk - White apply it with my finger. If you leave a small build up on your finger as you apply it you can get some real nice bark effects. After it gets dry it is easy to paint. I don't know how it would work with your wire frame method but it might be worth a try.

Richard - Superintendent CNW - Peninsula Division

http://mrhmag.com/blog/richard_harden

Twisted Trees!

I like your trees and since I'm just starting with making them I'm not optimistic enough to approximate any particular species.  Just going for "deciduous" at the moment.  I am hand twisting with wire and coating the branches and trunks with a 50/50 mix of white glue and plaster with acrylic paint to dye it to a dark grey or black color.  I have photos of my work here:

http://geotrains.blogspot.com/2013/01/twisted-wire-trees-attempt-1-part-3.html

I'm experimenting too so don't judge to harshly   Looking forward to more info about your tree work!

Twisty trees II

  Jeffrey,

  I checked out your trees and that look pretty nice.  I know I may be a little nuts to try for specific species of tree in N scale, but that is the lofty goal I want to strive for, figuring that if I fall short it will still result in a nifty looking tree.

  Last weekend I took all the armatures with the fluffy white pollyfill and sprayed them with flat black and applied some "spring green" ground foam.  I then hit that with a shot of Krylon matte finish, and a light dusting of Scenic Express "mixed turf".  Another light misting of matte finish and set them aside to dry.

Here are the results...

  My wife says they are still a bit too "clumpy" for alder trees, but not too bad for summertime maples...

Toni

Hows the Speed Trap Progressing?

Tony,

  How is the speed trap project going?  Any Progress?

Sorry Dave - Speedtrap

  The code for the speedtrap is finished and I have the parts I need for the detector portion.  But I have been working on my build for the Model Rail Radio layout contest and not much else.  Of course, now that the nice weather is here, demands on my "hobby time" will be intensified.

  The short list of hobby related projects:

Finish the build on the contest layout
Re-lay track on my FreeMoN modules with code 55
Finish the Super Trees kit
build the rest of the Speedtrap
paint the F7 in GN sky blue
successfully build a Ngineering rotating beacon 

I am sure there are others and I actually have a couple of things planned that I haven't started yet until I get some of these off my list.  This doesn't include whatever "honeydoos" that someone else has planned for me!

But, I WILL get back on it eventually - and July isn't that far away (the deadline for the contest)

Thanks for the interest.  If you would like a copy of the code to work on, let me know.  I have no problem sharing!

Toni