Progress Report 2013
Entry posted by Ark Royal
671 views
Its Been a while since the last post but work has been progressing
Track Work
After countless hours propelling wagons and coaching stock back and forth ( Its a hard life BUT.....Someone has to do the job) followed by some fettling , the permanent way gang have now concluded all major work need on the track. We are now satisfied that both coaching and wagon stock can be hauled through all the pointwork.
Its been a long and sometimes frustrating journey but the reward is seeing wagons snaking through crossovers as they are being shunted (apparently something that could not be achieved on Eridge Mk1).
Unfortunately the files are too big but some short video clips here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z3op670x0ntj101/38mXe2osZs
Fiddle Yards
This has been designed to use stock cassettes that are removable and that butt up to a track feed onto the up and down.
A major improvement on Eridge Mk1 is the ability to turn these cassettes without removing them from the safety of the operating shelf.
One fiddle yard has been completed and incorporates a sliding shelf to store stock formations when not in use. The other has been put on hold due to an immanent possibility that KAG HQ may need to be relocated
Wiring
The main track bus and feeds have now been installed. The Up, Down and Goods/Head Shunt are now separated into 3 DCC districts, mainly for the purpose of circuit protection
All the crossovers have had their respective tortoise turnout operating units mounted and wired. At present this is being controlled by the temporary control panel but the new version is in build as we speak and will have a whole new feel about it ( This may become a post of its own... as it progresses)
The cab bus has been installed and the utp panels mounted allowing 3 cabs to control the layout. The NCE SB3a Smart Boost Box has been trialed and it seems we get 6 cab addresses which is handy 
Scenery
This is still in progress.. The viewing part of the layout is essentially 4 boards ( well 3 and 1/4 actually but)
The "London End" board scenery form has been completed and needs the "Three Arch Bridge" upgrading. This will then have the final covering added in the form of static grass fibre. There is also two signals that need housing within this board.
The "Station Entry" board also has its scenery form completed and just needs covering. This board also has the start of the river and the river crossing bridge.. both of which are in progress.
The "Eridge Station" Board has little in the way of hill form but what gradients there are have been catered for. The Station platforms and Canopies are In Progress and this makes for some nice photo shoot opportunities looking through the canopies. The Station and platform building are all but complete and the Road Bridge which houses the Station is now under reconstruction.
The "Country End" board (the 1/4 extension board) has had the scenery form done although this will need adjusting for the new Road Bridge,
Buildings
The majority of the buildings are being progressed in one form or another. With the immanent relocation of the club room it is this area that will probably be progressed until such time as we have found a new permanent club room. Which is difficult considering the size of the layout and the limited number of members and therefore resources at our disposal.
Signals
The majority of these have already been built ( thanks Rod). I have undertaken making the down starter only because this gave me the opportunity to design/build the unit that will operate the servo and to write the program that will interface with these servos... initial results are very promising . I will endeavour to get a video of this soon. This could well be another area on the layout that will get more focus in the next few months.
So thats the progress so far
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All at RM Web (hope Santa is kind to you)
-
3
1 Comment
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now