Triple O Salvage Project - Pu'uoma'o Yard Office and Observation Tower

Eric_Mueller · November 10, 2025, 6:37am

Update:

The 1:24 lads and I had a go at this today. Frist, we mounted this doo-hicky to the underside of the roof to
accommodate the wires.

For now, I used Shoo Goo to hold in place. I found appropriate wood screws later, which will go in tomorrow.

Next, we had to figure out how to mount the power switches. You’ll note from the photo below they are just too short to allow me to bore a hole in the roof.

I thought about carving out a puka for each switch, but I am sure I could neither make them square, flat, nor of even depth.

The final solution had to be repairable yet durable, so we rejected just gluing switches to the deck. Instead, we embarked upon an effort to build “tubs” for each switch so that they could bear the forward and aft stress of use yet be easily removed for replacement.

We carefully measure the timbers…

…and used carefully executed guard to ensure even cuts…

Only to find that my natural talent for woodwork left the gang with some trim work to do!

Oh, well. I’ve learned to err on the side of “leave a little extra and sand to size.” All is well, the glue is drying, and tomorrow I should be able to set the switches with double sided tape, tap holes in the roof, and wire them to the doo-hicky. If I can get that far, I am not far from being able to wire this back to the railroad, brining the mill’s loading dock and our coaling tower back into operation. As the new version of this will be removeable, it will allow me to work on this between operating sessions (operating = trains chasing their “cabeese”).

Getting there!

Eric

Rooster · November 10, 2025, 10:36pm

I’m not throwing the switch you throw the switch. I’m not throwing the switch you throw the switch. I’m not throwing the switch you throw the switch. I’m not throwing the switch you throw the switch.

Ummm the switch isn’t even hooked up guys? It’s a trick I tell ya’ so if it’s not hooked up then you throw the switch!

I’m not throwing the switch you throw the switch. I’m not throwing the switch you throw the switch.

Korm · November 10, 2025, 11:05pm

just for your information: it is 20 letters minimum, not 20 repetitions.

Rooster · November 10, 2025, 11:08pm

Horse puckey… it has nothing to do with 20 letters or repetitions. It is purely a discussion between the characters!

Now quit jacking up the kids thread!

Eric_Mueller · November 18, 2025, 7:02am

Update:

This project lurched forward over the last two weeks. The events below happened simultaneously but, to make it easier to describe, are broken into two key lines of effort: 1.) wiring, and 2.) the observation deck.

Key to Line of Effort #1 this was getting the cables in and wired to the wire-connector-thingy.

There is just enough room to get in there and do the connecting, but the wires are too close to the building core to close the roof!

At Kid-zilla’s suggestion, I cut up some “lumber,…”

…glued it to the core. The roof sits “level-ish,”
but the 1:24 guys figured a bit of shimming on the bottom when we affix this to its base should do the trick.

As long as it passes the all-important can-a-PLAYMOBIL-dude-stay-standing-upright test, it’ll work. Oh, the black paint is preparatory to the upcoming “rock” foundation, the original one made from expanding foam having long rotted away

The observation deck began simply enough with some cutting, sanding, gluing, and clamping.

At some point, I remembered to get the wiring installed before preceding. I was, however, glad for this one cross-piece, as it allowed me to “prove” I could get at and fix any loose wires without deconstructing the tower. Yay!

The lads and Kid-zilla joined me in slowly building the frame.

Sunday, the lanai went quiet with all cross-pieces in place.

Two observations:

It is exactly two crafsticks long! Yay!
It is in no way a parallelogram. Booo…

We will forge on.

Bracing, decking, paint, safety rails, canopy, and ladders to go! Should get some wires from the hardware store this weekend so that we can at least plug this in and restore some passing sidings to service as those other things go from imagination to creation.

Updates as Progress Merits,

Eric