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M.R.P.G
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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Simon.

If you don't want to use runners have you thought of using PTFE tape to reduce the friction between the traverser and the base board?

As for the "lemming loco" issue the easiest thing to do is have it non powered until the tracks line up but if you want it powered all the time then you need to fit some sort of cam and wheel arrangement. Which I have an idea for but I need to work it out properly. I'll push a pencil about a bit and get back to you.

Regards Lez.Z.

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  • RMweb Gold

Wood on wood works fine (think furniture) as long as the tolerances are reasonably tight: it’s when drawers turn rather than slide that they jam. You won’t be able to pull on one end though, two hands, or one carefully in the centre. A bit of candle wax works wonders for friction with wood on wood.

I was fortunate to be a guest operator on Newhaven a Town at Glasgow this year - they use the golf tee idea and it worked well.

Paul.

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Simon. 

I have two solutions for you one manual operated mechanical involving a lever frame and vertical cranks and the other automatic electrical/mechanical using momentary micro switches and a H&M point motor.

 

post-1531-0-76360300-1531485861_thumb.jpg

 

The first is simple you just line up the traveser and pull off the lever and the between track pin drops and allows the loco to move onto the traveser. Return the lever to normal and the pin rises and prevents movement.

The second is solenoid operated and is completely automatic using a H&M point motor with the pin that prevents movement connected to the drive pin of the vertically mounted point motor and the point motor driven by a momentary contact micro switch with arm and wheel mounted on the edge of the base board that's operated by a piece of strip wood with a taper on each end mounted on the traveser. As the traveser moves the wheel on the switch is pushed in by the strip of wood on the traveser and fires the point motor and drops the pin between the rails and as the traveser moves to a different track the switch is released and the pin rises to prevent movement and engages another switch and drops the pin on that track. Simples  :) .......or you go with the golf tee and hope that everyone remembers to put it back in and it don't get lost...... :O  

Regards Lez.Z.          

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Hi Paul and Lez,

 

Thanks for the comments and suggestions 

 

On Monday night, I will have to have a look at the frame and see what can be accommodated in the available space.

 

 

Simon

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LOCO ANTI-CRASH DEVICE!

 

This week we concentrated on stopping stock falling on the floor - This Loco Anti-Crash (LAC) device is likely be a two part solution...

 

Part one will be in the form of a barrier across the tracks - similar to that used on the end of a rotating fiddle-yard.  This will be put in place when construction has moved further on.

 

Part two is a piece of board fixed to the underside of the frame to 'catch' any stray stock moving when the traverser is not aligned  (The photos also show the traverser's extremes of movement)

post-31930-0-12758300-1531786396_thumb.jpg

post-31930-0-73311500-1531786458_thumb.jpg

 

Below is an illustration of my solution to prevent stock moving off the traverser if it is on the tracks nearest to the operators - it is an 'L' shaped block bolted to the outside of the frame to prevent movement off the end.  The block can be bolted under the board for transportation.

post-31930-0-51115100-1531787033_thumb.jpg

 

Both of the above LACs will also be fitted on the other end of the fiddle-yard board.

 

 

Cheers

Simon

Edited by M.R.P.G
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NEWS

 

Mark, the newest member of the group, is taking his "Welby Lane" layout to Railex NE this weekend (28th/29th July 2018).  Shaun and I will be there to help him set-up and operate it.

 

No progress on "Westfield" this week due to Shaun and I spending the Monday erecting his concrete sectional garage - Not the coolest day to have been building it!

 

 

See you there!

Simon

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  • 4 weeks later...

Track laying is steadily progressing well, with the traverser now complete we are now onto the second board. The photo showing the first two points in position, marking out for drilling holes for the point motors. 

 

post-31930-0-51893600-1534890194_thumb.jpg

 

Thanks for looking

Shaun.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi to all.

Sorry we have not updated for a while but we have been busy laying the track.

Here are some progress pictures.

 

post-31930-0-12449200-1537906747_thumb.jpg

 

Station throat point work  

 

post-31930-0-02828400-1537906822_thumb.jpg

 

post-31930-0-40721400-1537907287_thumb.jpg

Station platform area

post-31930-0-69238600-1537907375_thumb.jpg

 

Thanks for looking

Shaun.

 

M.R.P.G

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi to all 

These two pictures show there's just one more track to lay in the station area.

post-31930-0-97324600-1538680592_thumb.jpg

 

post-31930-0-20761500-1538680551_thumb.jpg

 

Preparing for the final piece.

post-31930-0-34781700-1538680398_thumb.jpg

 

And views of the completed trackwork.

post-31930-0-98638800-1538681124_thumb.jpg

 

post-31930-0-64186800-1538681728_thumb.jpg

 

We could not resist placing some stock on for the first time

post-31930-0-28786900-1538681994_thumb.jpg 

 

post-31930-0-50236900-1538682103_thumb.jpg

 

M.R.P.G

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • 4 months later...

Hi to all

Westfield has been progressing steadily with the track wiring to the three boards now completed. We've had a few operating sessions and all works fine.

Boards have been fitted to the sides of the traverser and also at both ends underneath the frame. 

Cheers Shaun .

 

 

20190205_100636.jpg

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  • 2 years later...

Hi to all,
Its been a long time since we did an update on our project, February 2019 we had a running session but there was several problems with the fiddle yard traverser. The rest of 2019 we was busy working on members personal layouts preparing and exhibitions , then 2020 came with Covid so still no further progress was happening with the group project. Since we have been allowed to meet again we have decided to make a few changes to the layout , not only to simplify the fiddle yard but also make the scenic area more interesting. 
C505BF0F-8474-4EE6-9A40-ACAD16B3E33F.jpeg.96d62303979ca2c5b3c453cc9df2aecc.jpeg
We have removed the loco storage sidings from the end of the fiddle yard, so the board is now shorter and easier to set up with no more alignment problems. The traverser board also no longer moves to the running lines nearest the viewing side.  The front of the fiddle yard is now going to be a DMU stabling and servicing area , it has been raised slightly to add more scenic interest. A kick back siding has also been added to the plan, this will be at the same level as the rest of the trackwork, this is for the station pilot loco to use when shunting coaches between platforms.

25782DFB-D598-4C86-9981-C299BCB02735.jpeg.7f704b9af320818f451bd97e894b2927.jpeg
These alterations mean that the full front of the layout will be scenic, with a lot more operational interest . 
The two loco sidings in front of the control panel which would have been hidden are now going to be used as goods sidings so a point has also been added for running round. 
 

Edited by M.R.P.G
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This picture shows the simplified fiddle yard and the new raised area in place for the DMU stabling sidings. 
53BC2A37-6F37-4D31-B902-F63E1E1E8D7E.jpeg.2286897aa19a798c883a1ece8376bf7a.jpeg

 

This picture shows the DMU sidings with a Peco inspection pit added and buffer stops. The lower short track is the station pilot kick back siding 

866D8E0D-1A64-4CD7-9722-18FFC7425D56.jpeg.8d3c1596cb504bd363a0b971398be432.jpeg
 Thanks for looking 

Shaun 

 

M.R.P.G

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Hi to all 

So the new altered track work is all now in place, and after a few testing sessions we have painted the rail sides with Phoenix Precision  rusty rails. 

We have also put the backscenes on the traverser board and middle board.

 

Edited by M.R.P.G
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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi to all

The layout has been progressing well over the past few weeks.  We have started to build the station platforms and decided to use the Peco platform sides. 
753F1E7E-11F3-46F1-8E53-992AAF18198A.jpeg.a5f68e3e16ae57b02f25db96b49982f0.jpeg The two holes are for a new scenic feature idea. We have decided to add a disused canal, this will make the scenery more interesting around the station area. 
847DC56D-29D2-4AB8-BC87-3F8840A90E0D.jpeg.3dac39f2a6803ef38ed5c82cda31b6b6.jpeg

 And some stock arrives for testing the clearances.
 

B5D7D97D-27D5-4221-B36C-F30A02ED5C8A.jpeg.e2e735754aab2737773ded5242aef561.jpeg

Modified Triang sprung buffer stops are being used for the passenger platforms . 
thanks for looking 

MRPG

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  • RMweb Gold
20 hours ago, M.R.P.G said:

Modified Triang sprung buffer stops are being used for the passenger platforms . 

I did that too (on my previous layout).

Paul.

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  • RMweb Gold

I like your permanent/electro uncoupler theory, it fits with mine.  I was under the impression that the Kadee electromagnet could be fitted below the sleepers, but you have them at foot of rail level.  Is this based on experience or just ’conservative’ design?

Paul.

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8 hours ago, 5BarVT said:

I like your permanent/electro uncoupler theory, it fits with mine.  I was under the impression that the Kadee electromagnet could be fitted below the sleepers, but you have them at foot of rail level.  Is this based on experience or just ’conservative’ design?

Paul.

Hi Paul,

 

From past experience I find that they are more reliable at this height, so we went with it

 

Simon (M.R.P.G Member)

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  • 3 weeks later...

More progress with the station platforms,  we have used Slaters brick sheets for covering the sides, glued on with UHU. 
CA5F5812-E9E7-4722-902D-60D309854732.jpeg.629f653752bde3435fb1772880e1cf7a.jpeg


0DAE8264-0A4C-43CB-A2B5-B61DFC5027ED.jpeg.3733d5b1649834a1041ed4d31b7c66fe.jpeg

 

42375725-2EF1-4894-A399-77CCA1DE1553.jpeg.12e402b1cd1deb6e4b0747b9c0efe83c.jpeg

Concrete sections will be over the canal area. 
 

Shaun.

 M.R.P.G

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