Home Page

RDC ScrapBook
[ Transport & Transition ]

Homepage of the webmaster for Southside N Scale & NTRAK Australia.

The RDC ScrapBook is the host for the promotion of NTRAK Australia and advise current/future NTRAKers of the Southside N Scale Club. The club is a supporter, promoter and active participant in the NTRAK concept and along with an offspring, West-N-Trak, promotes NTRAK at shows/conventions through displays and the sale of NTRAK material.

What's not so new ?

Although it been two years since I graduated from Griffith Uni. - completed a Microelectronic Engineering with honors degree and an Information Technology degree I am still enjoying the fulfillment of a dream. Unfortunately I still have the odd bad dream concerning assignments, lab reports and exams. The dream's plot is always the same with university realizing that I've not completed all the requirements for one of my degrees. I guess I'll stop feeling the graduation is new when the dreams stop and the reality that they are mine to keep sinks in.

What's also not so new ?

The shift from student to engineer in enabled me to upgrade my favorite mode of transport to a CBR1100xx Black Bird. Although there are more kilometers on the bike that when I got it, it is actually looking better that when I got it, all due to a minor but unfortunately incident with motorist. The vehicle in front of me veered right as if to turn into a side street but then the driver switched on the left-hand indicator and turned into a driveway. Unfortunately I had little distance in which to stop or to avoid hitting the car by mounting the footpath. The sudden contact cause me to loose balance and subsequently the bike fell to the left, where it received most of the damage from the concrete curb. The vehicle a 4WD sustained a dint in the LHS running board. And me, apart from the embarrassment of hitting a neighbor's car, sustained a dislocated right thumb.

What's doing ?

This past year the main focus has been the house and garden. After years of the usual make do maintenance we have been in the rejuvenation the place. The yard has received the lion's share of all my spare time. The project is our version of a backyard make-over/blitz with only me and the missus providing the labor. Although it has kept me from modeling the effort will pay dividends in the future by reducing the time spent in mowing etc. This work will continue into next year, again reducing my hobby time, but I'm enjoying the work so all is OK.

However I did make time for the hobby by participating in a number of Model Train Shows and display exhibitions. (Brisbane (3days), Toowoomba (2 days), The Hills District (2 days), and Redbank (1 day). All were an enjoyable diversion from work etc and I hope to be part of them again next year.

What's The Future ?

The bench and track work on my home layout was completed last year. The design incorporated my original NTRAK Modules (1800mm & 1200mm). I say original as I've now acquired five 1200mm NTRAK modules. The increase has virtually doubled my operating potential. Some of these modules went with me to train shows during the year.

Since I've not been active on the layout I've had time to rethink about whether or not the layout is heading in the right direction. This process was further heightened by the new modules. Plans are now progressing along the line of building a carport over the driveway. This will enable me to relocate and redesign the layout in the garage. The new design will include the new modules. The space where the layout was will become a much needed workshop.

What In A Name ?

RDC: Rich D. Coyle/Rail Diesel Car. As a kid I spent lots of time on Queensland Railways' equivalent - the Rail Motor. During school vacations I would travel on one between Ipswich and Boonah. The service and rails are now long gone but the country trip, the rhythmic sway, the sounds and the smells live on in my memory.

ScrapBook: A collection of items on a particular theme. As such the ScrapBook will contain items that are old, new or in transition.

What To Do ?

You could cross to a site inhabited by another Southside member.

Colin Jones - Scientist, British Railway modeler and DCC guru.

rcoyle@tpgi.com.au