#ogauge

So we tried bending acrylic rod today. We did a simple one, only bends one way, not an “S”. Takes a while - 30 minutes - to heat the rod up in the oven at 225F in convection mode. From what I’ve read, you dont want to heat it at higher temperatures or you run the risk of the acrylic blistering and/or discolouring.

I’m an accident waiting to happen in the kitchen so Sheri ran the oven for me.

Great success!!! So now that we know that we can do several at a time. Plan is to use a curve track section as a pattern/mould - which we did with the first one - put two pieces of Rod on the track between the out and inner rails. Take a second piece and put it upside down on top of them and zip tie the tracks together to maintain the shape while the acrylic cools/hardens.

Well, it’s been a while. But there was Christmas, followed by a solom New Year’s Eve due to a family illness, closely followed by the sad and unfortunate passing of Sheri’s brother at far to young an age. 52...

That’s in the past now and time to get going. I’ve spent a few days prepping boards - the black ones between the horizontal arcrylic of the hanger and the track. Those have a layer of cork on them to help dampen the track noise.

In addition, I’ve been centring ALL the boards I’ve put up thus far on their respective horizontal and fastening the track to them. As opposed to the very few I did for Christmas Eve. The Christmas tree is gone so I’m back in the corner.

If you look at previous posts there is no arcrylic between the bell hangers mounted on the ceiling near the corner due to the curve in the track. So there are two in that corner I need to complete. That will be an experiment in heating and shaping the rod to follow the curve of the track. Hopefully in the next few days.

Then there are four similar over the theatre seating, and of course Sheri needs to make the tunnel entrance look like a proper tunnel entrance.

All what I call “trim” work which admittedly I’m not great at doing.

Once that “trimming” is done I’ll move on to completing more track. Trying to discipline myself by saying “no more track laying until the earlier trim work is done!!!

All For Now,

Chief Engineer

Well, it is, Christmas Eve.

I’ve been done the honey do list for a while now. However I had a few things on the “Charlie wants to do list” to complete before I sat down to post this long overdue blog.

The train is far from from complete, but it’s a hobby after all. So it will never be done in the true sense of the word “complete”.

I believe I said in my very first post that I hoped to have it up in running in some shape or for for Christmas Eve didn’t I?

Merry Christmas Everyone

Chief Engineer

Mannheim Central Railway

The real photographer has arrived 👋🏻

Well, so much for “a couple days reprieve” and good thing I stayed “on track” as it where. 😀

Good news is the Christmas Tree fits. Thought the tree may hide the tunnel hole but it doesn’t, so we’ll have to get creative before Christmas Eve (which I’m really pumped about - love that nite) Have a few ideas so all should be good.

Spent the day consolidating my “spread” as Sheri calls it. I tend to spread all over the house, as I have now, whenever I tackle a project. But I’m out of the TV area, which encompasses the tree corner, so all is good. AND I fixed the bar stools with lock washers so the seats shouldn’t come loose anymore!!

Planning is done so I should be able to progress at a faster rate, but as I said earlier I do have other obligations. That and I want to maintain this as a hobby, not a chore.

Speaking of obligations, we have one tonight which is why the tree is not entirely up. Might get finished when we get home. Time will tell.

All for now.

Charlie

Chief Engineer

Mannheim Central Railway