cassettes...in short...
Update
Good afternoon - Wiring has continued on the layout and most of the droppers are now in place, just the turnout to wire. Then I need to work how I am going to connect them all. No pics of this as its relatively boring and nothing has changed much visually.
Whilst this has been ongoing, to relieve the pain I have been working up ideas for the cassette(s) You may recall I was going to make them 500mm in length with an extension piece at each end as the 4 CEP needs 600mm length.
The initial idea (based on Andy's son Chris highlighting it on the cassettes used for South Yard) was to use brass rod sleeved, however I wanted to try and reduce the amount of physical 'plugging in and out' of components. I then decided to try an idea where the cassettes were hinged in 2 x 250mm sections and upon butting themselves together the electrical contact was made. This was developed further using the brass strips from a well known UK supplier however I was a bit miffed when the 24 No. 250mm Brass strips arrived, to find out they had been cut down individually and actually, no two pieces were the same length...infact some were less than 250mm
So, I decided to hack them down myself using my hack saw and try and use 240mm as a common dimension which at least they would all have. Following this, the same 3mm timber strip was used as the bases and a Wilko hinge left to set with Araldite. The cut down brass strips were then araldited in place using the 2mm Association track gauges to space accordingly and once again, left to set. I then added the sides in the 3mm wood, but had to modify the side profiles to enable them to close once folded...as the first one didn't
Once cleaned up it was time to test it and (not surprisingly) although the loco crept along one half of the cassette it would not make the second half as the electrical contact was not strong enough...hmmm...time for a rethink. I did not want to introduce the sleeved brass again (in the middle) as I will use this at each end to connect to the fiddleyard fixed track so instead I decided to make a simple bent shape which could flex a little once the cassette was brought together and would still maintain electrical contact. These were made from code 40 plain rail and soldered into place and cleaned up. I was tempted to give all the brass a clean using my fibreglass stick...but thought better of it after the recent excellent 2mm article on the associated dangers of them
It was then tested again with the loco and it worked perfect this time back and forth...the springiness of the rail means I can flex it occaisionally to keep its shape. A hole was then drilled to enable a small nut and bolt to be inserted to keep them together once in the folded position in the boxfiles.
Only then did it occur to me that the cassettes were then a bit on the short side, coming in at around 480mm in length...not much good for the 4 CEP...or indeed other trains. So, a quick search on the web and I managed to source a quantity of different brass strips which although are fractionally narrower, they are in 304mm machined lengths...so I get back to 600mm (608) cassettes which will attach to a 100mm fixed portion of ballasted track at the start of each fiddleyard - this will be where the plug in and out connections will be done.
So although this one is a bit short, it has served its purpose and will be kept for shorter train formations. I now feel I have a workable solution for the cassettes for the layout.
A few pics including some sketches showing thoughts on connections etc...
Ideas on hinging at the middle...
Looking at heights regarding connection to main boards...
Overall cassette unfolded...
Zoom in of joint showing code 40 rail to maintain electrical connection...
Once unfolded they protrude a tad...but nothing that worries me...
And the cassetes folded up and secured together using a small nut and bolt...
Overall plan shot...480mm is a tad short...
Gratuitous shot again of Farish 33 on the vans...it just fits...
The idea now is to try and complete the electrics (I have a few switches awaiting collection when I visit UK in a couple of weeks time) and then start on the ballasting and platforms. Any comments, always appreciated.
- 14
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