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About this blog

Record of the ongoing construction and testing of a P4 test track

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Brighton Belle and others

Last night's fun included a first run for a full-length Brighton Belle before conversion to P4, a GWR cattle train and a Class 25-hauled mixed parcels.  
10800

10800

4

A trip round the circuit

Tonight's entertainment included plonking a Lumix TZ30 camera on a bogie well wagon and filming a trip around the outer P4 circuit on TT2. Two circuits in fact, one facing and one pointing backwards.   The whole train (CK's) comprised wholly rigid wagons - no springing or compensation. There was quite a lot of other traffic running at the time too.       How many trains, voices and faces can you identify?
10800

10800

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More fun on TT2 at DRAG 2

On the inside there's a Bach Johnson 3F , in the middle an SR train (can't remember what it was!) and just the King this time.  
Re6/6

Re6/6

2

A 30 wagon train reversed over a B6 crossing

Managed to get them all to shut up for the filming! Unfortunately the camera ran out of memory just as the loco was halfway through the crossing at the end!   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_I3XoIeVUM&context=C3a8ed6cADOEgsToPDskKi7V_5QecRQ8Uy_-pvoSJC
Re6/6

Re6/6

4

64 wagon test train.

Still more fun and games last night. We still have one or two electrical snags to sort out but generally speaking that's it. We're in business . A paint touch up will come eventually. We were pleased to welcome a member of one of our neighbouring groups from the Mid Devon Area . David B brought along a lovely part finished Mallard GW steam Railmotor and a couple of etched brass GW engineers wagons (Haye Developments). I'll ask him for some snaps.   Apologies for all the chattering row. It's im
Re6/6

Re6/6

4

TT2 - inaugural ribbon-breaking ceremony with 5 trains

Last night at DRAG, we held the official 'opening' of TT2, with five trains running at the same time on each of the five circuits (4 x P4 and 1 x OO). With other stock lined up on the loops as well, the 'start line' looked most impressive!   Getting ready:   Some individual items running before the 'grand ceremony'...   Dave Browne's J52:   Nick Cann's 108:       10800 & Re6/6's 11-CEP   My Class 25 makes for unexpected motive power on the 'Dawlish Donkey' set:  
Captain Kernow

Captain Kernow

4

Where does all the time go?

It's ages since we last updated this, and although we have been busy, for various reasons progress has been slower over the summer. In most cases the progress made (wiring, tweaking) is not very visible - but there has been an addition to the 00 circuit in the form of storage loops on each side.   Last Saturday we hired the hall for the day to make a big effort on finishing off the wiring on all the curved boards (straights had already been done) and do a bit of continuity testing. With wiri
10800

10800

4

The golden spike (a bit rusty)

At DRAG last night we were able to see the full track laid for the first time, thanks to excellent work by John (Re6/6), and Pete had done some of the wiring looms so we could dispense with some of the twisty wires. Only one P4 and the 00 track powered up as yet, but we did have a kind of golden spike ceremony - on the left is an old Trix Standard 5 converted to P4 by the late Nigel Hunt, and on the right some GWR thing (whose pony truck seems to have run over the golden spike and fallen off )
10800

10800

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First powered P4 movements and more 00 fun

Last Monday night we had the outer P4 circuit complete and (temporarily) wired so we could test a few trains - a moment for some celebration!   The honour of providing a debutante was given to John Farmer after all his hard work on the boards recently, and went to a Vitrains 37 (all these videos were done on a Flip video camera - the sound goes all phasy when uploaded to YouTube although the originals are fine )   http://www.youtube.c...h?v=mPnWvgfzED0   This evolved into a 3 loco lash up
10800

10800

3

DRAG goes Broad Gauge!

On Monday night, one of our members Andrew Howlett brought in some 4mm scale broad gauge models he had started a few years ago, but hadn't completed yet for personal/domestic reasons. I'll let the photos speak for themselves:      
Captain Kernow

Captain Kernow

2

TT2

Cleethorpes - Exmouth S&D excursion! Bottom pic...Treasurer Dave seems disinterested!
Re6/6

Re6/6

0

First trains on TT2 run under their own power

Last night we got the OO P87 circuit on TT2 temporarily wired up and actually ran some trains on the new facility for the first time.   The honour of breaking the metaphorical ribbon went to John farmer's LY pannier tank, which was swiftly followed by a succession of other Western Region, Southern Region and S&D trains.   The first powered movement on the completed OO circuit.   A general view of the test track   10800 getting his version of The Cornishman ready to put on the t
Captain Kernow

Captain Kernow

3

The end for TT1

Last night also saw the final outing for TT1 before salvaging anything of use and scrapping the rest. So no more running until TT2 is operational (provides incentive!).   Here's the last set-up showing both TTs together       The end for TT1 was marked firstly with an enthusiasts' brake van special       And finally by an 08 with single brake van to collect the station furniture and any other bits and pieces     RIP TT1!     Captain Kernow additional comments on 29/12/
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Partial set up last night

A diminished attendance at DRAG last night saw much of John's progress on about half of the boards and enabled a bit more track to be laid.         Here is the current stub-end on the two superelevated tracks     And Pete meanwhile has been making excellent progress on the master control panel, complete with automatic blanking out of DC power when DCC is plugged in and lots of indicator lights which the rest of us don't understand yet .  
10800

10800

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Superelevation strips

You can see the 'run out' of the Tillig superelevation strip. It starts at a point halfway along the transition curve and works very well in high speed 'push along' mode! If you are going to try this, when gluing the track to the strip with PVA glue (plenty needed), a lot of weight will be needed during the drying time, as the inner edge has a tendancy to lift if you don't!   Meanwhile a few more snaps of progress. More edging fitted and painting.
Re6/6

Re6/6

5

Curves, superelevation and red oxide

You may be forgiven for thinking we had taken our foot off the pedal recently. Far from it, as work has been proceeding steadily both at DRAG meetings and especially at John's (Re6/6) premises, as these photos will show.   Here you see the full collection of five tracks on some of the curve boards, with 00 on the inside and then four P4 tracks. The middle two (fast) P4 tracks have been superelevated using Tillig 'styrene wedges', the whole track bed has been sprayed a red-oxide colour for un
10800

10800

4

Er, this is a P4 test track right?

Well yes it is, just that due to working from the inside track out the first one onto the curve is the inner 00/P87 circuit. And we had to give something a powered run didn't we?         Captain Kernow update - 10/11/09   Of course, when the Traffic Department made their hasty request to run a train, the Electrical Engineering Department belatedly realised that none of the sections was electrically linked, so the Electrical Improvisation Committee was duely formed, with the single
10800

10800

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More track and a bit of grass

Another routine DRAG meeting last night, with both TT1 in use and work continuing on the trackwork on TT2. Here it looks like we've left CK on his own (not true, others were busy threading rail into trackbases etc )       But meanwhile, John (Re6/6) had just taken delivery of his new Noch Grassmaster for Matford, and gave us a quick demo. The following pictures speak for themselves really, although it is difficult to convey the 3D effect on a 2D image.              
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10800

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Tracklaying complete on one straight side

Although somewhat depleted in numbers the DRAG meeting tonight managed to complete tracklaying on the first straight side of the test track, except for the transition curves into the ends. This included the 00/P87 track, and there's no denying the contrast between the P4 and the Code 75 Peco (maybe a cruel comparison as I know 00 track can be made to look much better).       John's Heljan Cargowaggon with Kean Maygib P4 wheels went through the crossover at whatever speed we could shove
10800

10800

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DRAG TT2 - in the beginning ...

This blog covers the doings in the Devon Riviera Group of the Scalefour Society, aka 'DRAG'. Not to be confused with 'SWAG', mind, which is the South West Area Group of RMWeb...   There are several members of RMWeb in DRAG, including Re6/6, 10800, Metropolitan, FatAdder and Brinkly. We meet twice a month in the Teignmouth area.   Although we are an official AG of the S4 society, most of us have various amounts of OO and R-T-R stuff squirrelled away.   Our current project is 'TT2' (Test Tra
10800

10800

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