Maurits71 Posted March 27, 2015 Author Share Posted March 27, 2015 me being a happy chappy and proud to say that I have done quit an endurance test last night over 4 hours with 27 trains and only 2 minor issues, so convinced that everything works as it should do so time to start with the next level I have made a small movie for those who are interested best regards Maurits Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted April 4, 2015 Author Share Posted April 4, 2015 Hi All, after all the testing I am confident now that the fiddle yard works as I had it in mind, so time to start thinking about the next stages. first planned is a ramp to cross the fiddle yard towards a 2 meter stretch which will end in a 3 layer Helix. total height increase is from 55 cm to 85 cm. offcourse he ramp was a reason to test for 2 hours to see if all carriages could pass without problems,which delayed everything a bit. after this was approved I have started with the first helix, done similar as I have done on Highbury Fields , although this helix is wider. I will finish this one tomorrow. more updates to follow best regards M. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 Hi all, some more progress to report, the whole ramp and the helix are in place from the last turning to the Helix is 210 cm with a height difference of 3 cm. the helix will all the trains to clime another 16.5 ( 3 layers ) cm to a level of 85 cm, so this shouldn't be any problem for none of my trains. If I am in the mood I will start laying track tonight best regards, Maurits 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Hi all. after lots of progress I needed to have a step back as I wasn't happy with the ramp towards the first helix, I did try a few longer then normal trains and they all struggled. Learned from my previous layout that if you are not happy don't continue but start again because you will regret this at a later stage. so this was the old situation, just before I removed all track. and with the ramp gone and a helix layer in place. it's much better now, still one train who's struggling as the loco needs ideally a bit of weight, but confident now that we are back on the right track. best regards Maurits 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 Evening, thanks to a cold and cloudy sunday I was able to spend some time in the mans room, another layer of the helix finished and tested. you will see a full rack class 43 going up whilst a dutch class 1100 wit 5 German double deckers is heading down, not a usual combination but perfect to see if trains are not touching each other in the bends 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted April 26, 2015 Author Share Posted April 26, 2015 Afternoon. managed to finish the rest of the layers of Helix 1. all sections are connected and tested, next step is to build Helix 2. Both will end up on the 95 cm level so once Helix 2 is done I will make a temporarily connection between them so I can test all loco's / trains to see if they are able to manage the inclines. best regards, Maurits 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted May 13, 2015 Author Share Posted May 13, 2015 I have done a few bits and pieces, ahum, but not really time to update everything What have we done over tyhe last couple of weeks, well Helix nr 2 is getting shape. 40 metres of track in total, 40 cm up, 5 layers so 2% incline. per layer 2 sections so if needed I can put another 20 trains out of sight. Helix nr 2 is nicely renamed ' Super lifter ' by my buddy Paul This weekend is the Ely show where we will display Horsely Fields, I am really looking forward to see Ben's efforts but Sunday I am planning pending on the missus to connect nr 1 and 2 temporary to do a proper test run, probably I will also do a video best regards M. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted May 16, 2015 Author Share Posted May 16, 2015 Evening After a very enjoyable day with our club layout Horsely Fields at the Ely railways show I managed to spend also some time in the mans room. both Helixes are temporarily connected and the first 2 trains have done a run. going to add all sections in the computer tomorrow ( 29 sections to be specific ) and hopefully a proper run with all available trains. more to follow M. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted May 18, 2015 Author Share Posted May 18, 2015 Good running session last night, few hick ups in the small helix, one of my class 58's doesn't like two connections both up and down. rest seems to be ok. at one point I had 16 trains running so happy with that. coming days/ weeks will be spend in sorting out the small hick ups before we start with the upper level. best regards M. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsy11 Posted May 18, 2015 Share Posted May 18, 2015 Absolutely superb work mate! You seem to lay more track in a few days than I get laid in a month!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted May 25, 2015 Share Posted May 25, 2015 This looks amazing! Any chance you can post some more info on your curve maker? I'd love to know how to make them so I can either keep it in N if I decide to change scale or scale up if I decide to stick with OO. Cheers, Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted June 2, 2015 Author Share Posted June 2, 2015 (edited) HI All. as mentioned previously I had some de railing issues with a few loco's in the helix, so after some thoughts I have decided to demolish this small one and do it again. so here back to the start and 3 nights and 3 layers further down the road. , to avoid further problems I have used a combination of several useful tips I have received, so all rails are soldered, glued and where the section cuts are I have also extra screws soldered to the rails. Maybe a bit of an overkill , but better safe than sorry section cuts with extra soldered screws And my 4 lovely problem childs together, these four were the ones derailing, so now they are doing the test runs. so far, no more issues Matt, I have made a tutorial which you can find on the lighter side of the net : http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=15148.0 best regards M. Edited June 2, 2015 by Maurits71 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted June 6, 2015 Author Share Posted June 6, 2015 Hi All. Spend last night wiring up the last bits and pieces, adding sections etc to the software and have done a stint of an hour without any issues. Today is spend on cleaning the last locos which were still in the boxes, calibrating speed and other settings and tonight I am going to do another run 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 Happy Sunday Little video of the layout 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted June 7, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 7, 2015 Very impressive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grob1234 Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Incredible, can't believe you don't get more comments! How many 4mm modellers can pull off plans like these?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted June 21, 2015 Author Share Posted June 21, 2015 Evening all. Just realised haven't done much of an update lately. despite having Horseley Fields complete build up in the garage ( and nothing cooler than running Horsely Fields on your own ) I have also managed to do some bits and pieces on HaM. Not building wise more on the software side. I was struggling a bit with a build up of traffic going into the fiddleyard down to the fact that around the fiddle yard is a loop with both exits and entrances. with some actions and fine tuning it seems now running more smootly and I managed last night to do an average of 13 trains constantly with an average overall speed of 823 kilometres an hour. as a reference Highbury Fields was never able to do more than 500 average an hour. http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MJCMonique/1-Millbrook%20Meadows%20model%20rail%20way/20150618_153320795_iOS.jpg[/img] has also a bit of a play with the DRS class 37, looks so much better with the snowploughs fitted on. http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c353/MJCMonique/20150621_173316909_iOS.jpg[/img] 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
neal cooper Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 What a cracking project! I could never achieve the complexity of this, but it's great to see you build and master this layout design. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 evening, have finished preparing the wood work for Helix nr 3. as mentioned this will be the main and biggest one. total 7 layers, 4 tracks per layer. with a bit of luck I have some time tomorrow to lay some track 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 have finally managed to convince myself that if I want to do scenery I first need to finish the whole layout and the monster Helix is this biggest project. Have done quit a few invisible things over the last days, installing the section controls, done already all the wiring so this morning I could happily start with the helix. so far layer one is finished, 6 more to go As you can see I have decided to use an under layer in this one, reasons are to avoid the screws getting through, a more smoother ride over the connections and bit more space for leaving the wires underneath the track. more updates to follow best regards Maurits 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Walters Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Just noticed this thread, what a fantastic project, it wasn't until I saw a tape measure in one of the pictures that I was convinced it was 'N' gauge. You make building helix's look easy, when everyone else has told me they are a nightmare ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Morning all. Helix is getting there at the end, busy with work and the new puppy means less time for H@M. So far only one layer left which I will do once I start with the 2nd fiddle yard. All droppers are done and connected, testing is done with a couple of loco's everything works sofar but the big test will be with the longer trains . Last night and tonight are planned to enjoy running trains before I have to dismantle the temporally connection to make space for the rest of the layout 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2015 Looking superb so far. With all that track just in the 'fiddleyard' how are you intending keeping it clean? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurits71 Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 The main ' secret ' is the yellow train on the last picture. this is a lux hoover and a lux polisher, not cheap but works superb. next to that I use ' halfords contact spray ' so I have normally no issues with dirty track. To give you an idea it was 5 weeks since I have run any trains. last night, power on and go without any issues. but I realise that sometimes a good clean is also necessary so It's possible to have access ( not easy but possible ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold roundhouse Posted August 12, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 12, 2015 The main ' secret ' is the yellow train on the last picture. this is a lux hoover and a lux polisher, not cheap but works superb. next to that I use ' halfords contact spray ' so I have normally no issues with dirty track. To give you an idea it was 5 weeks since I have run any trains. last night, power on and go without any issues. but I realise that sometimes a good clean is also necessary so It's possible to have access ( not easy but possible ) Ah yes see it now. This shows one working. Looks very good. I must admit that we dont always clean the track on the second day at shows as theres just too much stock to move. We just do any particular areas that tend ot get dirtier than the reas such as on the curves in the fiddleyard. ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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