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a few mods...but no rockers...

bcnPete

Entry posted by bcnPete

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Good evening,

 

An update to share some thoughts of recent on the layout.

 

Firstly, the track layout. I had some thoughts on relocating the turnout onto the other board to try and increase the length of train for run-a-round purposes and this would still allow room for a class 33/73 between the turnout and buffer stops. I then realised that this would increase the amount of visible track in the front edge of the bay platform and one of the things I liked about Kyle was having a little scenic space to allow the siding to breathe. Instead I have now shuffled the turnout to the end edge of the baseboard which buys about 50mm extra in the loop, which could be a wagon length at this scale.

 

blogentry-3290-0-86513500-1346272508_thumb.jpg

 

Only minimal but preserves the single track to the front baseboard edge...

 

Secondly, the means of operation for the fiddleyards. I have been wrestling with traversers v cassettes in my mind for a few weeks now (I have always wanted one of those sliding traversers built on draw runners) but alas, its not to be for this layout.It makes much more sense for the cassette type operation as most trains on the through line will be fed from the single track end and then they will be collected and reassembled at the other end to start the sequence again.

Coupled with this, the fiddleyards need to be hinged to fit in the boxfiles...so more complications with a hinged folding sliding mechanism :O

Back to cassettes and the ones below were fabricated for CJM and are 500mm in length.

 

blogentry-3290-0-29899500-1346272860_thumb.jpg

 

Two aluminum angles on a card base...

 

I thought about reusing them, but they need to be extended as the 4CEP doesn't fit :laugh: and longer lengths will enable slightly more interesting trains (more on this in my next update) Next thought was to see if they fit in my hand luggage at 500mm in length and possibly extend them at each end...but I kinda like the idea of everything still fitting into both boxfiles, which still squeeze in my hand luggage. So it looks like I will be splicing them in half to give 2 No. 250mm pieces, hinged together with a 100mm feeder extensions to both ends :) That's the thinking today anyway...as I try to find a neat solution for power and alignment issues to avoid the same issues experienced on Kyle.

 

Thirdly, should it be of interest I have uploaded some sketches mostly which were done en route to the UK and were enhanced with a little Bombay Sapphire and Tonic in my bloodstream at an altitude of circa 35,000ft..They show how the solution was developed for the folding hinged through line alongside some thoughts on layout lighting, fascia and electrical supply etc.

 

blogentry-3290-0-90537500-1346273615_thumb.jpg

 

Overall dimensions and stacking in the boxfiles...

 

blogentry-3290-0-66685900-1346273649_thumb.jpg

 

If cassettes, that will determine depth of fiddleyard bases...

 

blogentry-3290-0-51417900-1346273665_thumb.jpg

 

Layout lighting will probably use IKEA strip lighting used on RMweb 2011 challenge entry....

 

blogentry-3290-0-57398100-1346273679_thumb.jpg

 

Ideas on power between boards and for cassettes...

 

blogentry-3290-0-50406100-1346273740_thumb.jpg

 

Hinged through line support method and location of control panel elements...

 

 

The next entry will cover rolling stock and possibly any developments on the cassettes.

 

As always, comments welcome... ;)

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MinerChris

Interesting thoughts as always Pete, I also was toying with the idea of an linear traverser for Congdon's Shop, but I likewise thought that this was an bit overkill. I have decided to use the same system as my dad's cassette's and make them compatible (may provide useful if I ever find that I need to borrow some.)

 

Have you thought of using cassettes made with brass strip, with an tube and rod type plug soldered onto the ends to provide alignment and electrical feed? This should have the advantage of being able to connect two, three or four cassettes together without having to really worry about providing power or alignment issues.

 

Best Regards,

 

Chris.

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PaternosterRow
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Hi Pete

 

Simply brilliant planning again! Those sketches are marvellous and explain everything.

 

I can just imagine what will happen at airport security - they'll have it out of your bag and you'll be delayed a couple of hours because they'll want to play trains and marvel at how you've been able to squeeze a completely functional layout into your hand luggage!

 

Mike

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bcnPete
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Your sketches are always interesting. They also remind me how illegible my day book is.

 

Thanks Rich - I'm guessing your workbook isn't produced under the influence though :no:

 

Interesting thoughts as always Pete, I also was toying with the idea of an linear traverser for Congdon's Shop, but I likewise thought that this was an bit overkill. I have decided to use the same system as my dad's cassette's and make them compatible (may provide useful if I ever find that I need to borrow some.) Have you thought of using cassettes made with brass strip, with an tube and rod type plug soldered onto the ends to provide alignment and electrical feed? This should have the advantage of being able to connect two, three or four cassettes together without having to really worry about providing power or alignment issues.

 

Thanks Chris - Good idea on the brass - I had used clip together cassettes when Kyle resided in the box, using brass tubes for alignments and power but it was a little fiddly...maybe the brass strips will simplify things though...

 

Simply brilliant planning again! Those sketches are marvellous and explain everything. I can just imagine what will happen at airport security - they'll have it out of your bag and you'll be delayed a couple of hours because they'll want to play trains and marvel at how you've been able to squeeze a completely functional layout into your hand luggage!

 

Mike, hi - Many thanks - its normally the return leg from Gatwick where I have the most fun at security...in Spain they are pretty laid back...but I prefer the more thorough approach on matters like this...

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Jon020

Strewth Pete... that's a good advert for Bombay Sapphire if ever I saw one... not that I'm not sold on that already. I have to admit that some of my best ideas (or seem the best at the time) are helped with a little (or not so little) G&T... in that order.

Well, the master has shown his work off exceedingly well again and we're all eager to see how this develops... and I'm a little in awe of how I'm going to exhibit my work alongside this at BH13... maybe a sign saying "Nothing to see here, but look at that -->" ;-)

 

Jon

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richbrummitt

Thanks Rich - I'm guessing your workbook isn't produced under the influence though :no:...

 

I might have had a pint at lunchtime today :yes:

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bcnPete
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Strewth Pete... that's a good advert for Bombay Sapphire if ever I saw one... not that I'm not sold on that already. I have to admit that some of my best ideas (or seem the best at the time) are helped with a little (or not so little) G&T... in that order.

Well, the master has shown his work off exceedingly well again and we're all eager to see how this develops... and I'm a little in awe of how I'm going to exhibit my work alongside this at BH13... maybe a sign saying "Nothing to see here, but look at that -->" ;-)

 

Many thanks Jon - although my 'pre-prepared' sign will be pointing in your direction...try Tanqueray 10 as an alternative...not cheap, but very smooth indeed...

 

I might have had a pint at lunchtime today :yes:

 

I'm guessing that alcohol might have played a part in the ordering that DMU of recent :D

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D869

Hi Pete

 

Good to see you're progressing. One suggestion to ease the use of your 4-CEP (or whatever decent length train) with a split cassette is to fit magnetic couplings between the coaches... by which I mean couplings made from rare earth magnets and small bits of steel. I have these on some of my coaches and they really make life easier when setting up and packing away as well as giving very close coupling... must get round to doing the rest.

 

If you don't need your coaches to go through crossovers then you could go for a really simple solution and put the magnets inside the gangways. I tried this and it's really easy to do... but it will make your coaches drag themselves off the track sideways if you show them a crossover. My couplings now are mounted on the Farish coupling housing which solves the crossover problem but is much more of a faff to do (but still worth it).

 

Regards, Andy

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bcnPete
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Hi Pete

Good to see you're progressing. One suggestion to ease the use of your 4-CEP (or whatever decent length train) with a split cassette is to fit magnetic couplings between the coaches... by which I mean couplings made from rare earth magnets and small bits of steel. I have these on some of my coaches and they really make life easier when setting up and packing away as well as giving very close coupling... must get round to doing the rest.

If you don't need your coaches to go through crossovers then you could go for a really simple solution and put the magnets inside the gangways. I tried this and it's really easy to do... but it will make your coaches drag themselves off the track sideways if you show them a crossover. My couplings now are mounted on the Farish coupling housing which solves the crossover problem but is much more of a faff to do (but still worth it).

 

Andy, hi - Thanks...that's a good tip on the couplings...hadn't thought of that yet but was thinking of having something other than DG's between rakes - for the cassettes, I am developing something along the lines of brass strips now as Chris suggested so hopefully I can have decent train lengths...should be another update fairly soon on this to expand on it further...

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MinerChris

Andy, hi - Thanks...that's a good tip on the couplings...hadn't thought of that yet but was thinking of having something other than DG's between rakes - for the cassettes, I am developing something along the lines of brass strips now as Chris suggested so hopefully I can have decent train lengths...should be another update fairly soon on this to expand on it further...

 

If you would like an photo or two of our cassettes to better explain what I meant, then drop me an pm and I will try to sort it for you...

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bcnPete
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If you would like an photo or two of our cassettes to better explain what I meant, then drop me an pm and I will try to sort it for you...

 

Thanks Chris...I'm onto it...

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