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bostonjim Apr 13, 2020

  1. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Hi, All. I hope all is well out there. All of this extra time hasn't necessarily led to more being accomplished. I did take this off the shelf and put the finishing touches on the main structure. I am channeling all of the Just Plug LED's and exterior lights (n-scale) into a manageable mess. This kitbash is made from several Kibri 6770 factory kits. I made a cradle for accessing the bottom. You can see the mish-mash of parts holding it together. I built this without plans or drawings. My obsession is light leaks. This build had many of them. It is held together with black construction paper and white glue. Once I get the lights arranged I will come up with some type of base for it and it's 14 separate lights. I will post more photos of it as I progress 20200412_172113.jpg 20200412_172056.jpg
     
  2. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    It's a very interesting design, I really like all the crookneck lamps at track level. I can't wait to see it all lit up!
     
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  3. Heay Equipment Designer

    Heay Equipment Designer TrainBoard Member

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    As always just amazing Jim!
     
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  4. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Here is where the design came from: DSCN1740.JPG
     
  5. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Here is what I did to corral all the wires. Pretty simple. I cut a hi-liter into a small ring and threaded everything thru it and CA'd it to the framework. I will now seal the entire bottom except the wire channel with black construction paper and white glue to further seal those wicked light leaks. Jim
     
  6. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Here is the picture. DOH... 20200412_215419.jpg
     
  7. shamoo737

    shamoo737 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Nice work.
     
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  8. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Here it is sealed with black construction paper and white glue. I tested all the lights several times before sealing it up. There are still a couple of stray light leaks I will approach from the outside (more signs!) Having the opportunity to have it laying on its side I was able to give it a tune-up and some PM. I touched up many joints especially under the roofs. I intend to mount it on 1/2" gatorboard. It will be 12"x6" with embedded rails on the siding side of the building. John (Shamoo) I see you are working on a similar project. How are you achieving getting the building to the height of the rails? All tips welcome. I hope to have it mounted and lighted today. Take care. Jim 20200413_121928.jpg
     
  9. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Boston Jim, great job! I have to confess, my main effort is procrastination with some actual work thrown in. ;)
     
  10. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    HAH!! I put the PRO in procrastination. This project was started in 2016. It has taken a worldwide calamity to get me going...Stay strong. Jim
     
  11. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    After several more days of procrastination combined with frustration I have actually finished the building. Other than minor landscaping when it is mounted I think it is done. The just Plug lighting system is an issue with a project this big. It has 14 separate lights. The exterior lights are particularly finicky. They are magnet wire and seem to get dislodged easily. The control for the exterior lights has 2 dimmers that have broken and must be replaced. These are views of the building with the interior LED's on. You can see the mess of wires and controllers that need to be tucked away when this is mounted. I'm hoping somebody out there sees this and can show me how to clean this up. The dimmers are the big sell on this product. So everything must go thru the controller. For some reason I didn't take any photos of the trackside of the building. I'll be working on getting the exterior lights on and then shoot the back. Enjoy. Stay safe and healthy everyone. Jim
     

    Attached Files:

  12. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    OMG! The buildings are just FANTASTIC! The electronics are horrible! You have got to be kidding, all four of those humongous panels just to make the lights plug selectable?

    The detailing of those structures is superb, and the lighting effects are well done. Don't take this wrong, I just want to help. I am just now learning about what these things can do, and how cheap they are.

    You could have put an Arduino Nano inside the building, wired 1 LED to each of the 14 digital output pins, and have them all gone on and off individually for whatever times or random times you write in the sketch, and it only costs about $3. Super small:
    1.jpg
     
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  13. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sweet!!! Well done Jim!
     
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  14. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, John. I didn't know the Dentyne factory was in Long Island. Nice touch. The Gillette factory is still in my hometown. Jim
     
  15. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, Robert. No offense taken at all. I was hoping somebody would dope slap me and say "What the Hell are you doing!!! Can all of the wires be cut and added to the Arduino? If they can, why can't that unit be buried under something? What about the ability to dim them? Heck, that is what attracted me to them in the first place. Using resistors would help, No? I find the LED's to be way too bright and in need of toning down. About half of their brightness is good. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate them. Anybody else out there hoping to take this path, please heed. I have several other modules that have this amount of unnecessary clutter. Jim
     
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  16. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    It's ALIVE! :eek:
     
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  17. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    With the Arduino (Warning: Learning Curve Required) you need 1 resistor for each LED, and connect to a digital output. The Mini is about 3/4" x 2.5" long, and has a mini USB plug that you connect to your PC to program. For LED's only, the program (called a Sketch) is relatively easy. You need a 5V or on some clone mini's 12V power supply to run the LED's after you are done programming it, and unplug the USB cable.

    So, you can write it as easy or as complex as you want, set brightness levels for each LED, have some randomly go on and off using timers for whatever time lengths you want, and best of all, if you don't like the times, or brightness's, just change the number in the sketch, (which you can save on your computer as well as upload to the Arduino) press upload, and a few seconds later the changes are running and stored on the Arduino.

    I am currently learning by watching Tom's Trains and Things Arduino Made Easier series.
     
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  18. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you, Robert. I think I can fit it under the model. There is no way it would have fit inside the build because there are just too many closed off spaces, etc...I will watch the video on the link you posted. Once I master it I will convert the other couple of modules. Hopefully this ordeal will be over soon and I can shoot over to "U-do-it-Electronics" and consult with the most knowledgeable sales staff in the business. I like all of the possibilities the Arduino offers. I did see them at Radio Shack and should have bought a few when they closed down. Be well. Jim
     
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  19. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Hi, All I have decided to try and make the Just Plug lighting system work for my 12x6 modules. I have installed all of the components on a 7 3/8"x 3 1/2" piece of foamcore, tidied up the wires, tuned all of the dimmers and slid it inside the module. What is left is the power cable and 3 switches that cover 3 zones in the module. They will be mounted under the module. I want to flush mount the ports so each unit is really "Plug and Play." I am in the process of having some professionally made 12x6x2 plywood modules made. I will close up the several completed modules using the Plug and Play system and move on to something less cumbersome for future builds. Have a good weekend. Jim 20200521_085914.jpg
     
  20. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sweet Jim! The Kibri factory has to be THE most kitbashed item in Z scale. Well done.

    John
     

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