Hello Rich

You are right, that is a mess The thing is, is it possible to model and NOT make a mess?

Its nice to see it comming together, I bet you cant wait to see something working though?

Missy

Hello Richard,

It's looking good - I'm glad I'm not the only one with a messy hobby room!

I think it's just the turnouts where there isn't any time advantage in using Easitrac - it's got to be better than soldering up metres and metres of plain pcb track

Did you find a way to represent bridge rail in your sidings ?

Andy

Haha. That's the tidy bit. I daren't show you my workbenches (just out of shot to the left).

Andy, I didn't represent bridge rail in the sidings. Firstly because it's not available despite the fact large quantities could be used to construct fencing and cattle pens! Secondly after reading through source material again I suspect most of the yard was laid/re-laid after the conversion to standard gauge.

Something will move soon Missy (and you can guess what ). I've boxed the controller and started wiring in anticipation.

If you start adding chairplates to improve the soldered track it does tend to slow progress down. I bet you get quicker with easitrac the more you do.

I see I'm not the only one who uses the layout as an additional toolbox! At least you know where to find them.

The curved baseboards look good I think it will work well.

Donw

I have just spent some of my weekend threading up 3 metres of easitrac ( using the straight 500mm lengths of bullhead) and I did get quicker as I developed techniques - about 30 mins a 500mm length.

I have also had a go at an easitrac turnout, and yes threading those tiny chairs ( and working out where the different ones go) is a bit of a pain. My first effort is not fantastic but it works and I have learned from it.

I wonder whether I should try soldering one up, as it can't take any longer?

Are the association's copper sleepers the same depth as easitrac?

Sorry Rich, didn't mean to hijack your thread!!

Look forward to seeing your layout develop.

Regards,

Chris

I have just spent some of my weekend threading up 3 metres of easitrac ( using the straight 500mm lengths of bullhead) and I did get quicker as I developed techniques - about 30 mins a 500mm length.

I found it was easier to do shorter lengths. My rail is off a coil and I was cutting 2-3 44'6" scale lengths.

I have also had a go at an easitrac turnout, and yes threading those tiny chairs ( and working out where the different ones go) is a bit of a pain. My first effort is not fantastic but it works and I have learned from it.

Fully de-burring the rail is paramount to easy chair threading. You have to make sure to get them the right way around too! (The fat part goes to the outside, the more sloped part inside.) I cut them from the sprue first and bagged them according to type so that I could have just the few chairs I needed for each piece of rail at once. I found that the easiest way to thread was to hold the chair down with a small file or the butt of a pair of tweezers on the base of the chair behind the chair jaws. That way it is held quite securely and you can ease the rail gently through the chair jaws up to the holding tool. After that it is easy to slide the chair down by hand and thread the next one.

I wonder whether I should try soldering one up, as it can't take any longer?

Are the association's copper sleepers the same depth as easitrac?

Probably quicker to solder, if you aren't scared Sleepers with chair plates are the same depth so I am told. I quite like the look of Easitrac compared to my previous soldered track.

Sorry Rich, didn't mean to hijack your thread!!

Look forward to seeing your layout develop.

 

Regards,

Chris

Don't worry. If you don't ask you may never know.