Well, as my darling wife has said, I should really update this!

Deb & Patrick just got back from her mom and dad's in Orangeville yesterday. They were gone for just under a week which was a couple days too long in my books. It wasn't so bad at first because I worked for the first 4 days but I fould after a couple nights with only the cats as company, the house felt empty! I WAS able to get a few things done though while they were away though. I replaced a couple of wall sockets in the living room to match the rest in the house. Plus the one had corroded/burnt wires so it was a bit of a fire hazard. I was also able to nearly complete my train table in the basement. It looks really good but needs a couple more things to complete it.

Concerning the train... I guess I should update anyone who reads this! I've been interested in starting my own model train set for a long time but really got into it a few years back when I met my father-in-law who already had one. He kind of got me started thinking more seriously about it. So when Deb and I went looking for a house, one of the things I was looking for was a room that I could build my own set in. First Objective... CHECK.

Secondly, I had to build a table in which I could store things underneath it because I couldn't in good concious, have a room ENTIRELY devoted to trains. It had to be practical too (So Deb told me in no uncertain terms), so the train table would be a little different then normal ones in that respect. May make wiring a little more tricky but where there's a will, there's a way! So I finished the base of the shelves and table last year. Second Objective... CHECK.

Thirdly, I had to build the top of the table that would hold the styrene and make it look pleasing to the eye. I was able to accomplish that when Deb & Patrick were away this week. I work a lot better at this kind of stuff when I'm alone. I'm not very handy and subsquently, tend to make a lot of mistakes. This in turn leads to my frustration level going way up and I'll take it out on anyone or anything around. I do NOT want to take it out on Patrick and Deb because that's totally unfair so it's best that when I do these major projects, no one is in the house. Anywho.... Third Objective... CHECK!

Now, onto the fourth objective, the planning of the layout and it's controllers. This was roughly done right from the beginning in order for me to design and build my table. I always had a rough idea what I wanted. A mid 1800's to early 1900's mining train with a mountain in the middle of the table, a switch yard, small mining community and a mine. Basically lots of scenery. I also knew I wanted to get into N-Scale modeling because it offered tighter turn radiuss and smaller track. IE. I could get more bang for my buck when it comes to size. I was able to semi-finalize my plans while Deb and Patrick were gone but I don't think you can ever be fully finalized when it comes to something like this. I have decided i'm going to go with a Digital Command Control (DCC for short) set. This simply means that instead of the old way of having a train set where you had different "Blocks" for power and you basically controlled the track with switches rather then controlling your trains, you put out one steady current to the whole track and each train or turnout had a chip that would recognize when a signal is sent to it and do what it was told. This simply means I can control everything on the track a little more easily. Up until yesterday, I thought wiring for this system would be a snap. Sodder on a wire to each track from the controller and I was set. Upon further research though, I found out it is better to sodder on wire to each 3 foot section.... and turnouts can be rather complicated.... CRAP! I'm going to have to learn a lot of basic electrical principles!! Oh well... It could be fun. Just as long as I don't screw up a lot of track! Anyways... this objective is almost complete.

Deb and I are heading to St. Catharines this weekend for a get away. It will be my first time back since I moved here 2 1/2 years ago and really miss the city. It also has ontario's largest hobby shop so I'll be able to purchase my train, track and hopefully all the equipment I need, Plus ask a lot of questions! Deb may want to go out shopping or something during that time because I figure i'll be a good hour or more.

Well... you're basically caught up with my hobby now. I'm sure I'll have other stuff to report today as I think of it... but for now, Patrick is actually getting tired of watching Baby Einstien so I think we should go play some more!