After what seems an age I have a working MERG DCO6 block cutout pcb up and running. The previous versions I have put together and are successfully working on Summat Colliery used my own etched PCBs but this one is using Trevor Stockhill's "stealth black" pcb - double sided, plated through holes, gold flashed and black solder resist.
There are however a couple of problems with version A of this PCB - there is a resistor missing from the remote shutdown input circuitry and the legend for
After a very pleasant afternoon at the Huddersfield Railway Modellers Open Day I got home and started wiring up!
I've gone for simple and chained the tracks on the surface - well it is all going to be painted black.....
Just got the deck to wire up then connect all the bits underneath
The fiddle yard board is coming along nicely after a few dry Friday afternoons. Last night I soldered up approx 3 yards of track and tonight I hope to get the remaining little bits made and get it all fixed down. The photo below gives you the idea though
Once laid and wired up the lot will get a coat of black paint then it's onto the shed scene at the front - the inspection pit is already fitted
So, after a couple of Friday afternoons playing with my circular saw and some more reclaimed 15mm ply from work we have the basis of a fiddle yard with traverser
The slides are IKEA drawer runners complete with soft close mechs so the fully shut position is self locking - god bless bargain corner
The wooden uprights from runner to deck are screwed at the front and "mitre bonded" as well as it was impossible to get any other fixing.
here's the underside
I've got m
I've constructed an O gauge inspection pit from the free Scalescenes download to sit under/out front of the small engine shed. Only problem is that the Black Cat Technology OO gauge lighting units will not fit!
Never fear dear reader, they also do a universal set for six quid that can be split up and made into whatever shape you want. Twos sets were bought and the bits of PCB sellotaped to a print of the pit sides for assembly
and here's the result late at night ....
I can
Well, it's all systems go with the 3' 3" wide fiddle yard/Engine Shed board. The cardboard model goes in the boot - just!
The section at the front is the scenic area, I've boxed it in as I intend to make a transport cover for the real thing. The rear fiddle yard lies towards the rear of the boot. It's quite a faff to get it in but it does go.
It struck me as I took the photo how many layout builders go to these lengths to ensure their creations fit their transport, or more to the po
Well, it all went pretty well at the Member's Day, quite a lot of work was put in filing the point blades especially on the double slip, my excuse is that they were my first ever point blades and I erred on the side of caution when filing them initially.
Anyway, even the Lima power bogied Sentinel ran through in all directions by the time we were finished.
One TT300 is going back to John at Bromsgrove Models as it was noticeably weaker in one direction, on at least two points and even w
Tonight was a milestone, the track was laid on board #2 completing the plan for the main body of the layout.
The only remaining trackwork to do is the engine shed road on the (yet to be constructed) fiddle yard board #1. Most of that is over the inspection pit, so not too much soldering left
I am going to concerntrate however on getting boards 2 and 3 operational for the Member's Day, I have Monday off work and the plan is to wire up and test (including all the remaining TT300
I managed to keep the momentum up and have all the extra track for board #2 built (remember board #2 used to be the original board when Fourgig was just supposed to be a demo/micro plank)
Sleepers are gapped and tested, just the droppers to add and then I can start laying. I have to dig out a little ballast at the end of the existing track where the tracks interlace and get some cork glued down first.
So, I only have the engine shed road on the half scenic board #1 to build and
Bit of progress, all the track is laid on board #3 and it matches up to the original trackwork on board #2
and in a fit of enthusiasm last night I stuck the final turnout plan to the workboard and laid the sleepers ready for some soldering action tonight
I really need to get on and wire up board #3 - TT300s ordered from Bromsgrove Models and components in hand to build the block cut-out boards.
Once all this electricery is done then I'll start with some scenics, pot of bro
Been a while since I posted an update on Fourgig East, so here goes:
Cork trackbed has been glued to baseboard #3 and since the photo below I have cut the cork away to clear the tiebars on the switches and drilled holes for the track droppers.
I have also been busy with the woodwork. Both end protectors have been made, dowelled and toggle catches fitted so the basic 16" x 2' x 4' box is made. I have set the boards further apart so that the 10" high backscenes do not overlap the edge
Well, after much faffing around with various prototypes I have the final design for the functioning (the ones powered by the turnout motor) tie bars.
Basically one independent bar for each switch linked underneath by a springy brass wire allowing some sideways movement as the bars move towards each other as the switches throw.
I have cranked the wire clear of the end of one of the bars to allow for the drive pin from the motor. The bars are secured to the switch blades by the bent d
Took advantage of the sunny afternoon on Friday whilst the kids were swimming and knocked together my first ply construction baseboard.
I'd salvaged the material from work ages ago and cut it up into a 4ft x 2ft board and then lots of thin strips for the sides. It is 15mm packing case ply and not particularly good quality, but it was free and as it's never going to be subject to a damp garage etc I think it'll be okay
The track I built at the Mansfield show is shown roughly in place
And lo, the double slip emerged from the pile of twisted copperclad and nickel silver rail
Very, very happy with the weekend's work, in the full glare of the public too
Here's a couple more gratuitous shots
Next steps are to cut the sleepers and then remove it from the board. Then it's tiebars and a good electical test
Well, the trackbuilding went well today, the simple turnout just fell into place really and I'm more than halfway through the double slip
Lets see what tomorrow brings .......
After a mammoth session with the guillotine we have all the turnout timbers as well as the plain line timbers for board #2
Should keep me busy at next week's Mansfield Show
I have loads of 7mm turnout copperclad left, although less than one pack, so looks like my calculations aided by Martin Wynn's TDV version of Templot have worked out fine.
So here are the Vees ready to go. Two are reworked from the 1:6 ones I made earlier and two brand new ones.
Now to get some switch rails etc prepped, not forgetting all those sleepers
I thought I'd settled on the final track plan - until Ian Allen posted a 1:5 double slip in O gauge on the Templot forum. Why didn't I think of this in the first place? When Martin advised me that a 1:4 would not be practical I went for a 1:6.
So, have a go I thought. This meant that most of the layout had to be redrawn, including the position of the 1:5 turnout leading to the goods shed and of course the run-round turnout was made a 1:5 too.
here's the final, final plan. It's got to be
Following Brain Harrup's excellent example here I've made my first V
It's a 1 in 6 - taken with a similar one from a Waverley point kit (the Waverley is the one at the top)
Nose is a bit blunter than I'd like, but it should be okay.
Right, one more #6 and a #5 to do then it's onto switch blade practice
Thanks to all on here and the Templot Club for advice, some of which was ignored but hey, it's all good.
The solution is somewhat of a compromise as is often the case and I have gone all round the houses to arrive at the obvious.
here's the current plan:
I have gone with a GWR 9ft heel #6 turnout which gives 10" of total track length from switch tips to the 11 ft marker, take an inch off for a half buffer and I will still have enough room for the largest "home" loco on the layou
I'm in two minds with the trackplan. At the "dead end" of the station area I currently have a very short 1:4 point to maximise the length of loco that can clear the switch blades and run round the train. This has resulted in an ugly curved section with a pretty tight radius between the point and the double slip as the slip is based on 1:6 diamonds. If I replace the 1:4 with a 1:6 and make the section between the point and slip straight it looks much better, but I'll only ever be able to fit an 0
Bit of progress on 4gig - I've bought a couple of Lima MK1s from BlackRat of this parish and am pleased to see that they clear the goods shed when on the run-round loop. It's not going to be a "normal" move but I can foresee the need to shunt them into the loop to release a long guest loco that can't clear the point.
The above shots are using the Templot print, but I have since checked on the real trackwork and it's fine. So full steam ahead Santa, Marcway gift vouchers please
So having completed the goods shed I thought I'd better check to make sure that locos and wagons would get past it, so armed with board 1 and a Templot print I started arranging things last night.
It's a wee bit tight entering the shed past the office building and the longest item of stock I have at the moment is the Toad brake van. I hope to have a Lima coach soon, so I'll have another check when that lands. There's no real need for coaching stock to pass the shed on the run-
So the goods shed is done, save for some much needed weathering and fitting out etc.
Here's a couple of snaps of it in place on the Templot plan.
Next step is to get some Peco flexi and a couple of wagons to check clearances etc
Cost? - a 20 ml tube of UHU - £1.50 ish, 2 36g gluesticks - about £1. Scalescenes download £4.99 Card was salvaged from work and the prints didn't cost me owt either
Having a small son has it's advantages sometimes. I mentioned that I needed a few coffee stirrers for an idea I had about a free set of coal staithes. A couple of days later he presented me with a good handful that he had "collected" on his last trip to a well known fast food joint.
So, here's my McStaithes
A coat of weathered wood and then some dirtying down should do the trick 🙂
