The first section of landscaping has been added to this corner of the layout
The blocks to the left of the viaduct are stuck on a removable “wall” to ease access for construction.
Prototype Hill
We’ve (well, mainly my artistic daughter) have been experimenting with creating realistic hills using insulation board. The normal method is to use a plaster covered bandage for the surface, but this hill has been done by simply scratching away the insulation board and adding paint, ink and scatter.
Canal Hill
The hill by the canal has finally been painted. Whilst this all looks too shiny at the moment, it’s only a base for the grass/rocks/scrub that will eventually follow.
There is now a retaining wall separating the railway from the hill:
Mimic Panel Update
The mimic panel has been updated so that the yellow LED’s now light up when a train is in the associated section. This information is also sent to any attached computer for (eventual) automatic train control.
CANTOTI
The CANTOTI firmware is an extension of the CANACE8C v2g firmware and is designed to run on the MERG CANACE8C board. FlimConfig V14510 or later is required to configure the CANTOTI firmware.
Whilst the firmware is primarily designed to be used with TOTI (Train On Track Indicator) hardware, it is also suitable for monitoring other inputs, particularly if inversion or input conditioning is required.
Unlike previous versions of CANACE8C firmware, this code samples each input every 10mS, and will generate an event when each input is the same state for more than a configured number of samples.
Each input can be optionally inverted to allow for an “Active High” input.
To allow for noisy signals being connected to the CANTOTI, optional delays can be enabled on an input by input basis.
If “Delayed input” is enabled for an input, the input must be ON for at least the “On time” before an ON event is generated, and must be OFF for at least the “Off time” before an OFF event is generated.
The “On time” and “Off time” are set in units of 10mS, with a minimum time of 10mS and
a maximum time of 2540mS.
If “Delayed input” is not enabled for an input, the input must be ON for two 10mS samples before an ON event is generated, and must be OFF for two 10mS samples before an OFF event is generated.
The “Extended Configuration” value is not currently used; ensure this is set to 0 for
future upgrade compatibility.
The current CANTOTI firmware defaults to an input “On time” of 100mS and a “Off Time” of 500mS.
In addition, there is a build for the CANACE8C itself. This has the standard CANACE8C module ID, and defaults to to an input “On time” of 10mS and a “Off Time” of 10mS.
Download CANACE8C & CANTOTI_v2j Firmware
TOTI Hardware
A wide variety of circuits can be used to detect trains. One of the simplest is this one:
This is for a DCC layout only; the diodes would be connected in series with the DCC feed to the track to be monitored. This requires an opamp with ground referenced inputs such as a LM324, and can easily be powered from the track itself.
I’m using three prototype DCC-TOTI boards (designed by Trevor Stockhill), each attached to a CANACE8C running the CANTOTI firmware:
These PCB’s are available from MERG as ‘DCC ToTI 8 PCB Part Number: 968‘.
The details for this PCB are here:
Download/View DCC-TOTI V1.01 Schematic
Download/View DCC-TOTI V1.01 PCB Layout
Download/View DCC-TOTI V1.01 Bill Of Materials
Download/View DCC-TOTI Build Instructions
Ethernet Interface
There hasn’t been much progress on the railway recently, but there is finally an interface between the railway electronics and the house network:
This currently allows the trains to be driven from a mobile phone, and is the first step to automating the railway.
Canal Wharf
The canal lock has been extended, with a tunnel at one side:
and a small wharf at the other:
This triggered a repositioning of the goods shed and the associated tracks:
The hill will still need some work though!
New Hill
The base for the hill between the village and the canal wharf has now been made from polystyrene.
Eventually it will be covered with grass and rocks and look a bit more realistic!
The next job will be to build the rest of the canal, the wharf and the canal tunnel.
The Village by the Halt
Major progress on “The Village by the Halt” (I must think of a name for it) this weekend.
The level crossing has been partially rebuilt, and the roads finally sorted out. There is also a signal box for the level crossing now, which meant moving the houses to fit it in. As always, all the buildings are lit:
I’ll need to schedule one of our resident artists to paint the backdrop!
There is now also a road to the inn, though I think this will need some more work:
Terraced Houses
The village by the halt is getting more complete with some terraced houses.
Unlike the ones on the left, these are full houses with backs and yards:
And of course they are lit
