Popular Post HAB Posted April 27, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted April 27, 2013 Since my Layout is supposed to be Southern Electric, I thought it ought to have a Third Rail and, being able find no more excuses, I have had to make a start, and I thought others might be interested in how it is going. I am using the Scalefour Society Conductor Rail and insulator pots (which you do not need to be a member to buy). In due course Side protection boards will be need and I have obtained some from C&L which I will report on when I get there. So far, I have only got one piece down, but thought I would post the outcome in order that others can chip in with their own experiences. Although it is only one bit of rail, it was not straightforward as it incorporates two side ramps which have been hacked from some etch fret waste which happened to be about the right shape. At this stage I have not clipped the rail into the pots as I think that should wait until everything else is finished as it is a job you only want to do once I think! Firstly, a general view showing the side ramps from above Secondly. a side view - you can see that I have blackened the rail using Gun Blue - I am fairly pleased with how that has gone given that I don't usually get on well with this stuff! But I quite like the dark sheen on the top of the rail, though plenty of weathering will still be needed of course. This shows the effect of the blackening when looking against the light. Finally a bit of close up which shows the detail in the pots - a bit fiddly but very nice! Time will tell just how strong these bits and pieces are - certainly for short "floaters" I intend to use at least one C&L Cast Brass pot with the rail firmly soldered to it! In case anyone is wondering why the rail is so short, I am a bit paranoid about expansion and contraction therefore I am doing everything in short lengths joined by Exactoscale (C&L) functional fishplates (cut down to two-bolts of course If people are interested, I will post more as things progress. So only another 80 or so feet to do (plus the boards, the hook switch connections, the side steps and a few other things....) Cheers, Howard. 20 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
emt_911 Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Howard I'm looking forward to seeing how this experiment goes. My next layout is going to require 3rd rail but probably not C+L. Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Martin Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Third rail or no third rail, that's a beautiful chunk of track you've got there. Jim 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share Posted April 27, 2013 Many thanks for the comments chaps. Jim - more on the track here - http://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=1342 Cheers, Howard. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernboy Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 I have to agree with Jim Martin, that's a very impressive stretch of track, and the third rail looks excellent. Meanwhile, I'm wondering whether you have a layout thread somewhere? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portchullin Tatty Posted April 27, 2013 Share Posted April 27, 2013 Third rail or no third rail, that's a beautiful chunk of track you've got there. Jim Having seen this board in the flesh, I can vouch that it is indeed a very fine bit of work. Working point rodding too, details of whcih you can find if you follow Howard's link. I am still not sold on doing that myself though Howard! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin parks Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Hi Howard, I have just found your topic through a link. The opening photo is quite astounding. I was given to understand from our conversation last year at Derby that the layout was basically based on a Minories-type track plan. However, i do not think Mr C J Freezer would have come up with anything like this. The third rail section looks very convincing and has the side-entry ramps which only look right on prototypical pointwork. I tried them on 3 ft radius points and the geometry just doesn't work. More pictures please! All the best, Colin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted August 21, 2013 Author Share Posted August 21, 2013 Many thanks for the kind words Colin! Hopefully, this is giving you ideas for the New-Newhaven! Although I did some compression of CJF's layout, it is nonetheless exactly the same concept. Of course, P4 requires MUCH less space than the equivalent 00 trackwork.!! Best wishes, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin parks Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Hi Howard, Yes. the way you have arranged the pointwork does take up less space: a scissors crossing combining with a double slip and tandem points - all on a gentle curve. Presumably the third rail will have to be installed across the formation too. That will be a challenge. As for inspiration, it certainly is inspiring! All the best, Colin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted August 21, 2013 Author Share Posted August 21, 2013 Presumably the third rail will have to be installed across the formation too. That will be a challenge. Absolutely - will update progress in due course. I did plan out the third rail before I laid the track - hence you can see that all the under-rail trunking is in place ready for the cable connections to the rail. I am currently looking at getting some etches done for things like two bolt fishplates,rail-cable connections and for hook switches. Progress has been a bit slow of late because "somebody" inspired me to overcome my phobia of plastic and get on with some buildings.... Hope Berlin was good BTW! Best wishes, 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin parks Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 Hi Howard, I have just caught up with your latest post, having been on the way home yesterday. That is a very nice signal box (mostly plastic I presume?!) and the 2 EPB looks mighty fine going over that point work too. The parts you describe that are to be custom-etched are mostly ones I didn't know existed or have ignored when modelling the third rail infrastructure. (OK, the 2-bolt fishplates are self-explanatory, but what are hook switches for?) All the best, Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted August 23, 2013 Share Posted August 23, 2013 How have I missed this? Very nice work Howard. Are they the Scalefour side exit ramps as well? How did you get on with them? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 (edited) Hi Rod, Many thanks for the kind words! No, the ramps are home made, but I cheated more than a bit - they are actually fret waste from the Scalefour Society Lever frame kit. The tapered bit of waste between the levers is, coincidentally, exactly the right shape, just needing the end to be bent down. Since my frame has 30 levers, I will probably have enough ramps... I know that is not a very helpful answer unless you also need a mechanical lever frame! Sorry about that. I am not aware that the society sells Side ramps - they do sell end ramps, but I think that these are the LU forged pattern rather than the bent-rail SR pattern. They look very nice - if you are modelling LU!! C&L do something similar - http://www.finescale.org.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=346_347_360 Sorry I can't be more helpful on this one. Cheers, Edited August 23, 2013 by HAB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 (edited) but what are hook switches for?) Hi Colin, Thanks for the kind words - and yes it is all plastic apart from the York Modelmaking slates - hope I am getting the hang of it though I notice that one or two glazing bars have come unstuck. Hook switches are used for local isolation of sections. They were operated (under instruction from Control) using a "hook switch pole" which had (presumably still has!) a hook on the end for operating the switch and a long wooden handle which insulated the operator from the juice (unless it was raining!) There is a close up of one here:- http://patrickoneill204.smugmug.com/Other/Southern-Area-2012/21870427_spDK8D/1895187519_NfHn5VZ#!i=1895187519&k=NfHn5VZ This is a modern one but they have not changed much! You can see they are quite chunky things - well at least to me they are! Edit: - The same page also shows track circuit spiders - I need to do something about that also! Best wishes, Howard. Edited August 23, 2013 by HAB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 No, the ramps are home made, but I cheated more than a bit - they are actually fret waste from the Scalefour Society Lever frame kit. The tapered bit of waste between the levers is, coincidentally, exactly the right shape, just needing the end to be bent down. Since my frame has 30 levers, I will probably have enough ramps... I know that is not a very helpful answer unless you also need a mechanical lever frame! Sorry about that. I am not aware that the society sells Side ramps - they do sell end ramps, but I think that these are the LU forged pattern rather than the bent-rail SR pattern. They look very nice - if you are modelling LU!! Thanks Howard, useful tip about the Society lever frame kit, of which I have one! I did buy a couple of the LU end ramps for experimenting with but yours seems a better solution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 Thanks Howard, useful tip about the Society lever frame kit, of which I have one! I did buy a couple of the LU end ramps for experimenting with but yours seems a better solution. Well you are in business then! As soon as you look at it next time, the bits I an referring to will jump out at you! There is just one other point to mention which no one has asked about - the colour of the rail. I pre-curved the rail, soldered the side ramps where needed, bent the end ramps then polished up the rail with a glass fibre brush. I then blackened the rail chemically and the way I did this was to dampen a piece of cloth in the blackening solution, then draw the rail repeatedly through the cloth whilst applying finger pressure. Gradually the rail darkens whilst retaining a polish. Finish off by drawing it through a cloth containing only water. At this stage it is a bit black and shiny, but my theory is that a mere dusting from the airbrush with the gunge mix followed by a wipe over the contact surface should finish the job. the result should look like sirty sides with an oily top. Not got quite that far yet but will post a pic in due course. I should add that I am limiting the lengths of individual rails to about 18" because I am paranoid about expansion. Hope that is useful, Cheers, 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Re6/6 Posted August 24, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 24, 2013 How have I missed this? Likewise! Exquisite. Thanks for showing us. If I can get the small amount of S&C work needed at Balcombe to look like that, I'll be a happy bunny! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
10800 Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 If I can get the small amount of S&C work needed at Balcombe to look like that, I'll be a happy bunny! And then there will be Lewes ... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 And then there will be Lewes ... Count me in for that one - there were some great formations there! Thanks for the kind word chaps, Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Todd Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Been awhile, since the O/P last posted, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Some hook switches are normally open, most are normally closed. Every EMU cab (and 33 and 73) has a hook switch pole in case the driver needs to do an emergency isolation under instruction from the electrical control room. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 Been awhile, since the O/P last posted, David, How right you are - sorry about that! Other things (only some of which are model railway related!) have got in the way so progress on matters third rail has been less than hoped, but here are a couple quick snaps (from about 6 months ago) of the some slightly more recent work - apologies for the long unsupported joint in the foreground - I must see if I can slip another pot in there somewhere... Best wishes, 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 That has to be the finest trackwork I've ever seen. Don't make any apologies for the slow progress... you can't rush perfection. Outstanding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAB Posted February 7, 2015 Author Share Posted February 7, 2015 (edited) Thank you for the kind words. Just to (hopefully) show that it is not just "looks" - here is a youtube vid of some high speed shunting. Just for those who say you "must" compensate wagons in P4, I would point out that only one of these wagons is compensated - who can spot which one? Sorry about the fluff about 1/3 the way in where the clown pulling the levers got in a muddle... EDIT:- remis of me not to mention that the wagons are the work of Colin Parks of this parish - and an excellent job they are as well. Cheers, Edited February 7, 2015 by HAB 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin parks Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Hi Howard, It's all looking very good indeed! Perhaps you should keep those wagons until after the Scaleforum in June. Those shunting manoeuvres are done at quite a rate of knots, which is very impressive. All the best, Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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