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75A Brighton MPD: 140720 Progress Update

NorthHighlander

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I see that I haven't updated the blog since last year so here's an update on progress.

blogentry-14375-0-27130400-1405878790_thumb.png (Image created with Templot Sketchboard - completely impossible to have progressed this far without Templot!). Green track is completed, yellow is work in progress. Basboard outlines in red, magenta shapes are the baseboard supports - an 'H' gateleg arrangement.

6 of the 11 boards are now constructed. I won't complete the others (3, 6, 7 and 8 and particularly the turntable board 5C), until the shed board (2A) is completed. I will make a start on board 6 as soon as board 5C is completed. Board 3 and 7 are only backscene boards and board 8 will probably start life as a temporary fiddle yard.

The trackwork on board 1 is nearing completion.

blogentry-14375-0-47108700-1405878424_thumb.jpg

In the background (above, foreground below) is the partly completed Bulleid pacific 34019 'Bideford' - a regular at Brighton in the 1950s and early 60s. The reason that the tender is lower than the loco is that I've removed the chassis from the tender so it's resting on its axle horns. The loco is also an 0-6-0 as I haven't completed the bogie and pony trucks yet!

blogentry-14375-0-86338300-1405878539_thumb.jpg

The white space to the right of Bideford in the upper photo is for the weighhouse which is in progress and almost complete.

blogentry-14375-0-46256700-1405879701_thumb.jpg I made a bit of a guppy with this and originally drew it 20% too large, but thanks to CAD, I was able to reduce it to the correct size before too much progress had been made.

The next stage is to complete the baseboard supports so that I can connect board 2A to board 1 to progress with the shed roads. I won't be able to complete the shed roads until the induction charging system has been completed, which should be sometime in 2015.

I'm also having problems with the flat bottom track that makes up most of the West Coast running lines. Because of the third rail, the baseplates for this era were the very specific type BR3, so I might have to end up making my own. I'm not keen on using copper clad so I am going to have to create a system for flat bottom third rail. Suggestions gratefully received!

 

Tony Hagon

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KH1
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'induction charging system' ? It has been some time since we last heard from you on this great project so apologies if you have explained this before but please what is the 'induction charging system ' If my best guess is correct it could be very interesting indeed!

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NorthHighlander

Hello, KH1

We're developing this layout as a demo for the Protocab wireless control system we are about to launch. We've been 'about to launch' it for over a year and a half now, but testing and refinements have taken a lot longer than we had planned. The system is based on batteries in the loco and controlled over the air from (initially) Android smartphones. Initially, recharging the batteries will be through a plug in the loco but we are developing wireless charging so that the locos will be positioned over charging mats and the batteries topped up inductively. This technology is very well advanced so one of the developments that has delayed the launch is to be able to swap out the plug charging unit for an induction unit without having to replace the rest of the system inside the loco.

The plan is to show the layout in September 2015 and the operators will be the visitors to the show via their smartphones.

 

Thanks for your interest

 

Tony Hagon

Director

Acc+Ess Ltd

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KH1
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Sounds very interesting but how long before the inductive charged batteries will power the loco as well?

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NorthHighlander

Dear KH1

I'm not sure if I've understood your question correctly, and please correct me if I have misunderstood, but our locos are powered by battery now, it's the means of charging that we are developing. At present, charging is done by means of a tiny plug but this means holding the loco. We want to get away from that by providing wireless charging. There are still some technical issues to be solved. The interim requested by many modellers is charging through the rails, which IMHO gets away from the benefit of doing away with pickups, wheel and chassis insulation and point and crossing insulation. But if that's what our customers want, then we are here to help.

(75A Brighton, by the way, has no wiring to the rails and if you look closely at the photos you will see that the tie bars and crossings are solid too!)

Thanks for your note.

Regards

Tony

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NorthHighlander

I hope you get your smartphone ready for our first outing (hopefully) in September 2015! After all, YOU'll be the operator! The way we're planning it is for you to download the Protocab app to your phone or tablet and guest on our Concentrator. In return for a donation to charity (50p upwards!) you get a 'Duty Roster' to take a nominated loco from one part of the yard to another. Each roster will last around 5 - 10mins to give others a chance...of course, put lots of cash into the charity box and you'll get lots of goes!

The biggest problem I have is getting enough locos ready for then! So far 2x West Countries (one rebuilt, one air smoothed), one Q, one N1 (Bachmann conversion), a couple of Cromptons and a couple of interlopers in the form of a Bachmann BR Class 5 with the wrong number and a Mainline Warship, both of which have starred at the exhibitions we have attended so far this year. Keep your fingers crossed for an SECR P class because we haven't yet designed the Loco Control Unit for a small tank loco, but we hope to have it ready by next year.

 

Thanks for your support and encouragement!

 

Tony H

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Matthew Cousins

Ironically, I've been asked to paint a semi aerial view of Brighton shed and your plan will help me keep the track layout faithful, good luck with the model.

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NorthHighlander

Interesting, Matthew. The web is rich with images of 75A going back well before 1932 when it was remodelled for the resignalling and electrification.  See Flickr and the ASLEF websites for the best views.

Images of the shed around the Great War makes you wonder how they managed to keep track of which locos went where - not a single computer in sight!

My memories are spending every Saturday morning in 1959-1962 at the end of the platform. If only...

The OS map I used(2500 scale) is pretty accurate but, of course, does not give the subtle variations in levels which I found to my cost AFTER I built two of the baseboards!

Your project sounds interesting too!

 

 

Best regards

Tony

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Matthew Cousins

Interesting, Matthew. The web is rich with images of 75A going back well before 1932 when it was remodelled for the resignalling and electrification.  See Flickr and the ASLEF websites for the best views.

Images of the shed around the Great War makes you wonder how they managed to keep track of which locos went where - not a single computer in sight!

My memories are spending every Saturday morning in 1959-1962 at the end of the platform. If only...

The OS map I used(2500 scale) is pretty accurate but, of course, does not give the subtle variations in levels which I found to my cost AFTER I built two of the baseboards!

Your project sounds interesting too!

 

 

Best regards

Tony

Thanks, for that, I shall send you a progress pic when I've done some more to the painting.

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