I thought I'd probably make weekly updates for the foreseable future - there's a lot of other stuff going on - trying to move the old house (now 'sold STC') into the new whilst still decorating the new house etc!

There has been some progress - the testbed track has been basically laid - just got to solder up the secondary rivets (those that are on plain track..) However, the rivet method has one advantage when constructing a 9' straight switch per GWR practice.. In real life the heel of the switch blade rotated in an open chair as the rail itself didn't flex at all. By 'soft closing' the related rivet on the timber, this now acts as a pivot for the blade. I'm also going to investigate the practicality of soldering a 'washer' to the bottom of the rivet as this might provide a stronger pivot. I'm a little worried the rivet alone may work loose. I'm also going to make 'slide chair bases' out of 0.60mm brass strip - practically this should support the switch blades during their travels. The blades will be operated through TOU's as described in the 'Dairy' entry on the 2010 comp.

Just to make sure everything worked, I constructed a 'test vehicle' - soldering 'D&S' compensation units to another length of brass strip at a nominal 16' wheelbase. So this 'vehicle' effectively becomes the first piece of 'rolling stock' built at the new house! Does it's job and I have a nice little video of it gliding through the crossing (after some 'tweaks' of course!).

As referred-to in the earlier post, the 'test track' will in fact be a mini-baseboard - I'm awaiting the arrival of 9mm birch ply to complete it's framing etc. The same order will provide the wherewithal to make the moveable 'tea trolley' fiddleyard envisaged for the lower level. It's due Monday, so may figure in the next weeks update if 12"/foot modelling doesn't get in the way!

Have a good weekend folks

Regs

Ian