A challenge set is a challenge met. Well almost!!

Several weeks into lockdown and as restrictions ease (but not in this house it seems) I decided to challenge myself to a building project in the form of one of IP Engineering’s building kits. This particular one includes installing a motor, power supplies etc. All new stuff for me!

The kit duly arrived at the end of April and went immediately into quarantine - just in case! Quarantine also gave me the excuse to take the cowards approach and not open the box to see what I had got myself into!

So, you are all asking - ‘what is it, this challenge of mine’? It is a Tralee & Dingle Pickup and when complete will provide ‘us’ with a stand alone battery operated ‘vehicle’ which hopefully I can just switch on and leave to trundle around the circuit and provide us with hours of enduring entertainment. Well that was the plan.

“Open the box - Take the money” (remember that?) so I opened the box and was pleasantly surprised and so donned my PPE (everybody knows what that is by now) and got started. 

The plan is to make this vehicle one of my fire support vehicles and I am sure the Tralee & Dingle purists will shake their heads in disbelief, but nevertheless I have poetic licence on everything to do with the BLL - so my CEO tells me!

Everything went well to start with then the instructions advised fitting the ‘long axles’. Unfortunately these were not included in the kit so a phone call to IP put a delay on further construction, but the new axles turned up within a few days. Good service in the current circumstances.

Construction continued and I even managed to solder the electrical connections. Sadly then another problem which I had not spotted earlier in as much as the floor was slightly warped which meant that only three wheels were in constant contact with the track.[‘Three wheels on my wagon’ - remember that song?] . Another communication with IP and I was advised to try and ‘steam’ the floor. This I did using a domestic iron and it seemed to improve the situation.

Getting started ... 

Some wheels would help!

At this stage I ‘was advised’ by she who must be obeyed, that I should install a working flashing blue light so that has brought proceedings to a ‘temporary’ halt but not before I managed to run ‘Ford’ (chassis only) non stop on the BLL to test out wiring and batteries. After 24 laps, lasting 36 minutes - there was still power remaining in the batteries. 

You can view a short clip from the trial by clicking HERE.

[A brief thank you to members of SDGRG - Peter, Dave, and Neil who responded to my request for advice regarding ‘electrics’ - work in progress gentlemen]! 

Raining here today, at last, so back to the workshop later.

Stay safe - Don't Become Complacent!