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Traverser testing


Mikkel

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I’ve been testing my somewhat "under-engineered" traverser, and made a little video to show it in operation.

 

It continues to work well, and I now have some faith in the basic concept. I’m in the process of re-enforcing how the tubes are fixed in the foamboard, but that is more of a pre-emptive move than a result of any actual problems so far. The running is smoother than rendered by the video.

 

PS: I’m aware of the period inconsistency between loco and wagons, it's all still a work in progress ;)

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That works really well, and I agree with Ian, the red wagons look lovely.

 

Now, how can we convince you to exhibit the Farthing layouts in the UK? Is it time to petition David 'Cheeseplant' Lane to whisk you over here for Railex?

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Thanks gents, glad you like the red wagons. I've become so used to them that I tend to forget that red GWR wagons are a bit controversial on a 1900s layout. Not to mention the colours inside the depot.

 

I've never tried exhibiting anything. We have very few model railway exhibitions here, there's simply not much of a tradition for it. 

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Well, if you come and exhibit at Railex, Didcot is just down the road...

 

As is Pendon...

 

Just a thought!

 

All the best,

 

Castle

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It all looks very smooth! Do you have a method for aligning the traverser with each of the tracks or is it done just by eye?

 

Mike

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Looks and works fantastically well as with all your model making.

 

I tend to get put off layouts with sound, but that is the best sound chip I have heard. 

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Hi Mikkel - Dingham couplings by any chance?  If not, who's??

 

Looks very good!

 

Regs

 

Ian

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As others have said, "very smooth!" I think sometimes we tend to over engineer and over complicate "just to be on the safe side". This is a great example of a simple solution being beautifully executed and consequently working really well!

 

You've certainly got those Spratt & Winkles working well! I was considering removing the delay feature on my 7mm versions, but now I may have to think again.

 

All well up to your usual excellent standard, I'm looking forward to seeing more!

 

Dave

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Well, if you come and exhibit at Railex, Didcot is just down the road...

 

As is Pendon...

 

Just a thought!

 

All the best,

 

Castle

 

The Swindon-Pendon combo is definetely on my list for a perfect weekend. Combining it with an exhibition might take the relaxation out of it though :-)

 

It all looks very smooth! Do you have a method for aligning the traverser with each of the tracks or is it done just by eye?

 

Mike

 

Originally the plan was to use the ball catch below, which would be mounted upside down underneath the traverser deck and slide along a strip of perspex with 3 holes aligned with the 3 tracks. I had seen this mentioned in a couple of threads (sorry, I forget where). But I realized that in my case the forces involved would probably be too much for a foamboard structure (the spring in the ball catch I tried needed a fair bit of pressure). In general, I think that method might work best for a larger heavy duty traverser.

 

IMG_3372.jpg

 

So instead I just use alignment by eye, which is easier than I thought and I very rarely have mishaps. I usually get the alignment right first time, ie in a single move as per the video and with no fine tuning or fiddling. A few caveats though: (i) I operate the layout sitting down directly in front or behind it, (ii) because of the "tube in tube" method, there is just enough friction to avoid the traverser shifting on its own, ie it stays exactly where I stop it, and (iii) this is OO and the wheel tolerances allow a little bit of play. Sometimes, that can be an advantage!

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Lovely stuff Mikkel - simplicity is the best - might have to 'make reference' to this design :D

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Looks and works fantastically well as with all your model making.

 

I tend to get put off layouts with sound, but that is the best sound chip I have heard. 

 

Thanks Pete. Yes, the 517s did have a very melodic bark :-) The "sound chip" is courtesy of Youtube's own audio library, which means that you avoid copyright issues etc.

 

Hi Mikkel - Dingham couplings by any chance?  If not, who's??

 

Looks very good!

 

Regs

 

Ian

 

Hi Ian, they are Sprat & Winkle couplings. I wrote a bit about them here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/75/entry-1087-sprat-winkle-couplings/

 

I have to say they work quite well. Mostly they do need a little initial tweaking though. I have a principle that whenever a wagon has been fitted with the couplings, I manually test it out 10 times with *every* other wagon on the layout. Only when they have passed that test are they "let loose". Not sure I can keep up that rule as my stock grows though :-)

 

Note that I use the 3mm versions for a finer look, and that I employ a single-coupling method, which is not really the "authorized" method.  One problem with the latter is that wagons can occasionally uncouple unintentionally while passing over the quite powerful magnets. On "the bay" I solved this by breaking the magnets in half. This time I'm trying out a less crude method: The track on the uncoupling section of the traverser is elevated by inserting an extra strip of cork, thereby creating a little more distance between the magnets and the couplings. So far this seems to work.

 

The Dingham couplers do look nice though!

 

 

As others have said, "very smooth!" I think sometimes we tend to over engineer and over complicate "just to be on the safe side". This is a great example of a simple solution being beautifully executed and consequently working really well!

 

You've certainly got those Spratt & Winkles working well! I was considering removing the delay feature on my 7mm versions, but now I may have to think again.

 

All well up to your usual excellent standard, I'm looking forward to seeing more!

 

Dave

 

Dave, I do like the delayed action feature. It takes away much of the headache of figuring out exactly where to put the magnets, and the flexibility of propelling a wagon to anywhere you want is a great advantage, I think. But I realize that my layouts are very simple "push or pull" affairs. It's possible that there are drawbacks where more complex operation is required.

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Lovely stuff Mikkel - simplicity is the best - might have to 'make reference' to this design :D

 

Hi Pete, it would interesting to see how others get on with it. If I know you well enough, you would improve it no end!

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Fabulous Mikkel.Everything you do seems to do exudes class.I liked that quote at the end.

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Brilliant!

 

just kept watching that vid over and over.  Did you time the music with those lovely S&W action shots?  Wouldn't put it past you if you did!  Excellant stuff as per usual.

 

That traveser is a superb bit of mini engineering - smooth action - very enjoyable to watch.

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I like the movie.

Nice to see your concept working.

 

I also liked the quote at the end. I have found another one I found fitting your Farthing diorama:

 

The playing adult steps side-ward into another reality;

the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastering.

Erik Erikson

 

I believe that for some modelers the second line is true to.

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Fabulous Mikkel.Everything you do seems to do exudes class.I liked that quote at the end.

 

Hi Rob, why can my wife not see that  :D Yes the quote is great. This hobby has it all, serious business and plain fun!

 

 

Brilliant!

 

just kept watching that vid over and over.  Did you time the music with those lovely S&W action shots?  Wouldn't put it past you if you did!  Excellant stuff as per usual.

 

That traveser is a superb bit of mini engineering - smooth action - very enjoyable to watch.

 

Hi Mike, it's funny about the music. It wasn't at all timed in this one, but it seems that if you just add music there will always be a random fit with the action at some point!

 

 

I like the movie.

Nice to see your concept working.

 

I also liked the quote at the end. I have found another one I found fitting your Farthing diorama:

 

The playing adult steps side-ward into another reality;

the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastering.

Erik Erikson

 

I believe that for some modelers the second line is true to.

 

Hi Job, glad you like it. That's a nice quote. I hadn't heard of Erik Erikson before, sounds like he's done some pretty fundamental work in modern psychology. 

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Combining it with an exhibition might take the relaxation out of it though :-)

 

I agree with that point of view.  I also liked the Erik Erikson quote, from Job, very much  - the parallel reality is what it's about for me - to drift off into another world - whether or not that world ever existed as I imagine it. 

 

Unfortunately, it would be fatal to "drift off" in an exhibition  :)

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