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meeth

A blog by bcnPete in RMweb Blogs

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a few experiments...and a way forward...

bcnPete

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Evening all,

 

Quick update on Meeth.

 

Having condemned all the trackwork on Thurso (a regular episode in my track building :rolleyes:) it was time to stand back and re-evaluate. I decided the best way was try a few experiments and the simplicity of the Meeth layout lends itself to this.

 

Firstly, a return to turnouts made from PCB and code 40 bullhead. This followed on from my struggles with the easitrac turnout kits...great kits...but just not for me. Also some plain track and some using etches chairs. Unfortunately I found the Versaline system too fiddly for me...and opted not to buy all the jigs required to make the turnouts.

 

The overall decision is that I will construct turnouts using PCB and bullhead and use easitrac for the plain track. As much as I love to see a layout with all the track handmade, I felt that not having chairs on the plain track was a loss considering the looks of easitrac.

 

So Meeth track will be built and wired and once it is running smoothly I will put on hold and repeat the methods for Thurso as this has to be complete for the MRJ competition 2019, still leaving time for Meeth for the 2mmFS Diamond Jubilee 2020.

 

Next up was preparing the curved backscene formers which will be constructed from 0.5mm ply sheet from the studio model shop. This was made in two pieces and cut with a scalpel to fit. They are loose fit at the moment and once the track insert is in place the respective holes can be cut in the fascia for FY access.

 

Lastly was the track insert, this time using 1.0mm ply sheet, again cut with a scalpel. This is removable to allow the track to built offsite on my DRT (as the fascia is in place restricting access etc.)

 

This afternoon, the turnout was positioned and easitrac plain track laid. A few cut lost wax brass sleepers are installed at the relevant places to aid wiring. I need to gap the sleepers on the turnout and construct a catch point in the siding (a first for me) but the basic track has been glued down in place.

 

A few pictures attached to capture progress with newly purchased Farish class 25 which will primarily be used for this project - the aim is to try and get this laid and wired by the end of 2017 to allow it to be shelved and return to Thurso.

 

Overall, I feel a lot happier about this approach again now.

 

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Experiments including PCB turnout, PCB plain track and Versaline etch plain track...

 

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Back to basics...

 

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Removable track insert on 1.0mm ply which is fairly strong...

 

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Curved backscene dry fit in place...holes will be cut later for FY access...

 

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View towards where turnout will be located...

 

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View towards where golds shed will be located...

 

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Track insert in place...track overhangs slightly at present hence no fascia in place...

 

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Ditto...catch point to be constructed next...holes have been formed for wire in tube operations...

 

Comments welcome as always,

 

Pete

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D869

Always good to get some track down. I still havent tried Easitrack myself but have recently been knocking together some pointwork with PCB and I always find that I need to make adjustments before I get the alignment right... plus the ones I'm making are non standard anyway so I think it will be a long time before I use Easitrack turnouts. I did puchase some plain Easitrack at the AGM though... but haven't had reason to use it yet.

 

Regards, Andy

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nick_bastable
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well done that man nice to see your soldering coming on   :declare:

 

just one observation is that V gaped ?  :scratchhead:

 

Nick

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bcnPete
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Always good to get some track down. I still havent tried Easitrack myself but have recently been knocking together some pointwork with PCB and I always find that I need to make adjustments before I get the alignment right... plus the ones I'm making are non standard anyway so I think it will be a long time before I use Easitrack turnouts. I did puchase some plain Easitrack at the AGM though... but haven't had reason to use it yet.

Agreed...feels like good progress but am trying to correct mistakes from Thurso so don’t want to rush it...

 

well done that man nice to see your soldering coming on :declare: just one observation is that V gaped ? :scratchhead:

Thanks Nick - good spot...nope, no gapping as yet and need to cut the rails beyond the frog...will avoid a disc cutter as last time I took chunks out of the outer rails too :no:

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Alex Duckworth
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Hello Pete,

 

                you have my sympathy, I hate making track in any scale and I'm not much good at it.

 

Alex

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46444
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Nice 'n' neat (Not Spicy!) work there Pete.

 

The point work is looking good with some nice clean soldering ;)

 

The 1mm ply is a Take a Break £10 Top Tip...Will have to try and source some of this.

 

Think the mojo has been rejuvenated.....

 

Cheers,

 

Mark ;)

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bcnPete
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Pete try a piercing saw

Thanks Nick - en route from e-bay as of tonight!

 

Hello Pete, you have my sympathy, I hate making track in any scale and I'm not much good at it.

Thanks Alex - My 7mm stuff went ok so am trying to feed that back downstream!

 

Nice 'n' neat (Not Spicy!) work there Pete. The point work is looking good with some nice clean soldering ;) The 1mm ply is a Take a Break £10 Top Tip...Will have to try and source some of this. Think the mojo has been rejuvenated..... Cheers,

Thanks Mark - my language was pretty spicy in places doing it :rofl:

 

I used 1mm card previously but that was a bit springy...the ply is a bit more rigid I guess.

 

Mojo back on track for Crimbo ;)

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Mikkel
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That looks good Pete. The curved backscene too.

 

The view from above made me wonder whether it would work to make a layout with both the backscene *and* front of the layout curved - ie a rectangle with all corners rounded, thus hiding the outermost sides of the layout at the front and giving a sense of an "endless" landscape at the sides. 

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bcnPete
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That looks good Pete. The curved backscene too.

 

The view from above made me wonder whether it would work to make a layout with both the backscene *and* front of the layout curved - ie a rectangle with all corners rounded, thus hiding the outermost sides of the layout at the front and giving a sense of an "endless" landscape at the sides.

 

Thanks Mikkel - interesting idea that - think a chap did it on the 2mmFS Golden Jubilee Layout competition - personally, I prefer straight edges...like most of the buildings I design :jester:

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