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Layout building steps

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Trefeglwvs Road - Lack of Progress

Hi   The reason that there has recently no progress on Trefeglwvs Road is that they layout was designed to fit into a wheeled case for easy transporting, e.g. to shows.   The problem is that is doesn’t fit. I need to find a way to reduce the strait side dimension by 7mm. I think I have now decided how I am going to achieve it.   Hopefully there will be a posting soon.   Julie

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road - Lack of Progress

Hi   The reason that there has recently no progress on Trefeglwvs Road is that they layout was designed to fit into a wheeled case for transporting about, e.g. to shows.   The problem is that is doesn’t fit. I need to find a way to reduce the strait side dimension by 7mm. I think I have now decided how I am going to achieve it.   Hopefully there will be a posting soon.   Julie

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road - Getting Control

Hi This project is intended to enable the control of 2 points using solenoid point motors and another accessory using a standard Hornby 3 function DCC loco decoder.   The main layout controller for the layout is a Bachmann Easy Controller.   To achieve the above functionality, I have decided to use address 9. A standard loco decoder is programmed to address 9. This has 3 function outputs F0, F1 and F2. These are standard digital 0 – 5v with a driving capacity of 20 mA, either ON or OFF.  

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 23

Hi   Since the last posting I’ve been working on both scenery and other areas connected with making the layout easier to store and move around.   I've added a handle on the fold side of the layout, when folded up for storage to make it easier to lift and carry it. It's surprising difficult to grab hold of a circular layout.   I have also added rubber feet onto the fiddleyard area, to allow the layout to be placed on a table top without damaging either the layout or the table top.  

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 22

Hi   Since the last blog post I have made a cover to protect the scenic section, both in transit and when work is being carried out on the electrics etc. on the underside of the layout.   I have also installed a over-centre catch to keep the two half’s in position when the layout is being carried and being packed ready for transport. I have also built some stubby feet, this is to allow the layout, in operation mode to be placed on a table, say the kitchen table, which allows the layou

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 21

Hi New photograph of DCC wiring added 26-11-13   Since the last blog entry I have wired the scenic board, in similar fashion to the fiddleyard board. I have also wired both boards together at both track crossing points. Some people may say that this is over the top!     But I remember from electronics at college, that if you have 2 resistors of value R and you connect them in series then the total resistance is 2R. However if you connect them in parallel the total resistance is 1/2R inste

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 20

Hi   I haven’t done much in the last few days, too much work to be done! Still I've finished of the wiring of the fiddleyard area. The NEC Autoswitch won't work with my controller, so I'm in the throws of returning it.     Below are the three versions of the power bus cable clamps. The first design was difficult to replicate, the second design was easier to make in quantities, the third is basically the same as the second, turned over, with one less part, using the baseboard to replace it

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 19

Hi   I've now reconnected both sides of the circle, following the cutting of the baseboard into two. This was a more lengthy process than expected, because of the very small radius curves used on the layout.   I have also started the proper DCC wiring of the fiddleyard board, since red and black wire are difficult to buy, in the correct gauge, for the power bus, I have substituted brown for red and Blue for black. The DCC standards are set in the US, where power cable use red and black colou

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 18

Hi   I finally been able to work on the layout again. I have relayed the track over one of the baseboard joints, see below. The mainline has been relayed in code 100 track, because the cassette sits better on it, than on code 75 track. I've been experimenting with various supports for the cassette to ensure alignment and good electrical connection.     I have also decided to add a dedicated programming track, see below.     The next task is to relay the track over the other joint, an

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 17

Hi   I've been working hard since the last post, and the pictures below will show you the fruits of my labours. I have cut the baseboard into two parts, on with the scenic area and the other the fiddleyard.       This makes the area of the layout for transport smaller, but of course makes the depth larger. Another advantage in transit the electrical wiring is now inside and not exposed. This means that when I am transporting it on a train, I am not breaking National Carriage Conditions

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 16

Hi   I've had some problems with my computer recently, thanks once again to Andy Y and others for your help.   I am very happy with the basic design of the layout. I can run trains in Roundy Roundy mode, for test purposes and to run in new items of rolling stock and locomotives. I can run it as a end to end using a sequence. With a few modifications I will be able to transport it to club nights and exhibition etc. I can even use it to test my blue diesel fleet!   Although I have also had p

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 15

Hi   The images below was printed off using a cheap inkjet printer, and thus has virticle lines, which are caused because of the multi pass nature of the printing process. This is a sample area of the proposed backscene.     I think I have got the colours not quites right, I think the image is slightly too yellow. What do you think?   When I am happy with the colours, I will have it printed by a professional print company. They will print the whole images which measures about 1000 mm by

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 14

Hi   Now I am back home, I have made a first stab at composing the backscene, using the photographs I took on location at Trefeglwvs near Caresws in Mid Wales. the image below is much lower resolution than the one that will used on the layout, but should give an impression of what it might look like.     I must be born in mind that the foreground will be mostly hidden by the hedges trees and buildings on the modelled area of the layout.   I took all of the photographs at the highest res

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 13

Hi   Since the last blog post, I have been researching how to model the water rushing over the weir. The basic water techniques I have used to model the stream were learned by watching Right Track 6, Modelling Landscape Part 2, by Barry Norman. This involves giving the stream some actual depth, modelling the surface with perspex sheet, and roughing and painting the stream base a dark brown colour.   Next I went out using the digital camera on my phone to take pictures of weirs on local water

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 12

Hi   I had a frustrating weekend, attempting to paint a rectangle of MDF sky blue. In the last 6 months the two local art shops have gone bust, leaving us with no other option than buying paints from an internet supplier. The company sells a range of art products aimed at children, poster paints etc.   I purchased a bottle of white poster paint and mixed in a small quantity of blue artists acrylic paint, the colour in the pallet was good, it had the correct consistency, BUT when applied to t

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 11

Hi   Since the last posting, I have continued working on the scenery. I built the basic station buildings, using a Peco kit, which has been modified to suit the location.     The bridge that carries the farm track, still needs much work. The slope of the embankment which will carry the road is still impossibly steep, and there is no road surface yet. The front of the bridge structure exists, but not the back yet!   The light railway, didn't go in for fancy fencing to enclose it platform

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 10

Hi   Today I've been working on removing the excess ballast from the track, and then cleaning it to enable the running of trains. I also adjusted the platform, there was need to taper the ramp and reduce the platform slightly where the platform near the station building.   The photographs below shows a mixed train stopped at the platform. Note that the clearance between the train and the bridge is about 2mm all around the train.       I have installed a checkrail in the middle of the

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 9

Hi   Firstly the picture below, which shows the scenic work that I have been doing today, does not do my work justice. However it is the only one I have taken so I have used it.     I have installed a landform of polystyrene, which is covered in PECO Modrock and then painted earth colour, and is now awaiting the addition of grass etc.   I know that the bridge needs work doing to it, currently the bridge supports looks drunk!   I have laid the ballast, but this requires much tiding up,

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 8

Hi   Whilst working on the scenics, it was discovered, that althought the legs carried the weight, they were not as stable as desired. An extra brace was added going in the opposite diaginal to the original one.     Now what do you think about my improved legs?   Just as an aside, I have included a picture of an early sage of the scenic works, the support for the passenger platform.     Julie

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 7

Hi   Since the last posting, I have given the underside of the layout a first coat of paint, See photograph below. PS I have missed a few small patches.     I have taken earlier comments to heart, and I have reduced the height of the fixed backscene. This will be increased by using net curtain, which will be dyed sky blue.   I have also reduced the height of the frame, as I have decided that it was originally over engineered. Both of the above will make the layout lighter to carry, and

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 6

Hi   I have been thinking about the height of the backscene, and also about the possibility of a removable part, since the comment of MikeOxon, as a comment to posting 3.   Thanks Mike, I have now recalled seeing a layout at a show, with sky coloured net curtains as backscene, very good is was too, the backscene was about 600mm high, from near track level to the proscenium arch.   With the scenic section well lit, and the fiddleyard in relative darkness, the viewing public were unable to s

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 5

Hi   New photograph added 15:50 21-09-13   Since the last post I have been working on the fiddleyard. The photograph below shows a birds eye view, with a train in the back siding.     The back siding is designed to hold the passanger train and the general freight train, both without thier engines. The middle siding is designed for a loaded mineral train and the guards van between trains. The front siding is designed for the empty mineral train.   The train arrives from Van and drive

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 4

Hi   Since I last posted I have continued to work on the layout. I added the facia, the shape will need to be trimmed when the overbridge, platform and the bridge over the stream are fitted.     What do you think of my legs? It now looks more like a model railway layout now the legs are fitted. They are placed into pockets on the bottom of the layout, and are held in by simply friction and gravity.     Julie

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 3

Hi   Today I have been working on the backscene. I decided, some time ago that I did not want a flat backscene. The first stage, of building backscene was to built a sporting structure onto which I could fix the curved backscene.     I decided that I wanted the backscene to extend into the bridge box and hence the it was not to be a simple rectangle.     The structure of the backscene is made from 4mm MDF, which was wet and then bent to shape, then allowed to dry for more than 24 hou

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

Trefeglwvs Road Cambrian Railways 2

Hi   This is the first time I have used flexible track on a layout. I have however previously cut Settrack sections, to allow more flexible design. I have watched a DVD on track laying, by Bob Phelps, which included the techniques of pre-bending curves and measuring the rail length in place.   The circle is formed using code 75 track, whilst the point that I have used is code 100 Settrack. I have curved the Settrack point, by cutting the webs under the rails. When I tried using the Settrack

Steam_Julie

Steam_Julie

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