Norm81

Has anyone got a copy of a 0.9x beta release? I’m sick of the forced upgrades where you’re locked out of your design till you do it, my attempts to stop the software contacting the internet haven’t been successful. It’s infuriating as my line speed isn’t great nor is my laptop the quickest. I was happy with one of the much earlier beta releases as I just use it for 2d planning, I don’t need all the new features and bug fixes etc. Thanks.

The seats covers are as I remember, I think there was definitely an angled step at 45 degrees, possibly the second step. They were perfect for our estate, when they were replaced by low floor single deckers they were too long to get round the roads.

I think there's still some mileage in some changes with wreaking too much wanton destruction. I actually somehow found myself looking at Barnstaple for some reason and accidentally looked at the wrong station (Victoria Road) but it had an interesting feature which is three parallel tracks making two adjacent loops (see picture). That would mean Keith's suggestion, but probably with the crossover on the other board and reversed along with joining the tracks off at the far right gives the loop in the platform. Or I move the platform to the current loop and make the current line a bay. The other way is to put the loop before the platform, but I'm sure that's far more rare as you then have to arrive, passengers de-train, set back into loop, run round, propel back into platform. I think everything I've mentioned there only gives changes around the current platform area and the yard is as is. In the meantime I'm trawling old-maps to see what was and was not done in 1:1 scale.

I went looking for any sale items today and found my way here, such a shame. I never spent a great amount with any regularity, but they were my first port of call when looking to make a purchase.

It would've helped if I had given region and era too mind... mid to late 80's North East. I found Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on old-maps which was single platform with a bay (attached photo). I need to lengthen the run round to which shortens the loop so extend the right hand end then literally just over the track from where the platform would be is what looks like a fuelling point (see attached photo). No, I have 4' plus 4' plus a 90 degree corner then about 5' for a fiddle yard. So I have to start a curve on the right hand end of the existing layout shown in blue on the attached picture. Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Okay the two reasons for change to the current layout are: 1. I want to be able to run loco hauled passenger trains, so need to be able to run round in the platform which is a single plain line right now. 2. The headshunt for the reversed access sidings looks even more awkward than it ever would be, it runs across hardstanding and towards what can only be a loco shed (see photo hopefully attached). That's why I looked at adding the slip etc. Otherwise I'm happy with what I have and don't want to make too many changes.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes it is, yes they're seperate and no I don't particularly want to maintain the separation.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply. I think what I'm finding out here is the current plan would need radical changes to be more prototypical, it's the fact the access to the sidings is reversed to the norm. Your plan is probably what it should be but a bit more change than I really want to do I think. Reminds me of Hayling Island, Rowley Station at Beamish etc but with a bay platform. The siding top right shouldn't be there - I had it like that from the original plan as a reference point to keep the tracks correctly positioned. The other way to make those reversed access sidings work might be to turn them into loops? Then they'd be reception loops for the wagon works? It's more points over at the right but doable possibly.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes I should've included a bit more context. 1. The fiddle yard is going to be on the right hand side after a 90 degree turn downwards, I couldn't fit the 12ft straight run. I'll have 5ft available. 2. Yes the sheds are wagon repair, but the smaller one is so constrained for space inside I figured that was a loco shed as there's no room to do anything with a wagon in there. I had the two sidings to the right as exchange sidings for wagons awaiting collection or awaiting repair and more overgrown than unused? 3. Semi-permanently up, in theory it could be exhibited again but I don't have the transport or manpower but yes any changes would have to take the baseboard joint into account.

I'm looking to make some changes to the layout, but I'm not that well versed on how these things are decided upon in the prototype. Currently in the plan bottom right is the headshunt for the two sidings and also an engine shed. Most of it is also across hardstanding access to the larger wagon repair shed next to it. The platform is a single line with no connection to the yard area at all. I have various ideas, one common theme is to swap points and add a single slip to move the headshunt for the sidings bottom right. It currently seems a very awkward access. The others are all to get a run round loop in the platform. One idea is to move the platform next to the current loop and make the current a bay platform, but I'm not sure the platform and loop would be too close to the yard area? Another is to add connections across from the current platform, but that would create two adjacent loops and I'm not sure that would be right. I'm also going to join the platform line and yard together and run them round the corner instead of straight out. Basically any advice welcome on which scheme seems the best. Thanks.

Would I not also need the extension for each switchpilot to drive tortoises, as I think they can only drive solenoids direct? I’ve got 5 crossovers then there is a single point (my OP could be clearer) so I’d need 6, but that’s still looking a good solution. Thanks for all the replies, certainly some solutions I had not considered and the point (pun intended) about cascading one tortoise of a crossover from the other is good for saving a decoder and realistic operation too.

I’ve now got all the tortoises I need to convert my layout I need to think about control. My layout has the following:- Board 1, 4 points configured as 2 crossovers. Board 2, 5 points, 4 of which are configured as 2 crossovers. Board 3, 2 points configured as 1 crossover, I have an DCC Concepts alpha encoder etc for the control panel, and/or could use my NCE powercab. I was looking at an NCE switch 8, as I found one channel could throw 2 points as a crossover so it had enough to drive everything. But, I’ll have almost as many inter-board connections as analogue control not just the accessory bus. It would be the cheapest option at about £70. If I put a switch 8 on boards 1&2, then a switch-it on board 3 it’s heading for £200. Then I looked into Wabbit/Hare/Jack Wabbit, I would need a wabbit, a hare and two jack wabbits which again is heading for £200. I found a single DCC concepts AD1-HP decoder I would need 11 of at £7 each but I have no idea if these are any good or not. They also do a 2/4/6 way AD-fx series ones which would be comparable in cost to a single NCE switch-8. I’m looking for ideas on how to drive these without breaking the bank or having lots of inter-board connections. I’ve done a lot of reading, including on here, so have an idea what types are available but it might be I have missed some or there’s some feedback on the DCC Concepts decoders as the switch-8, hare, wabbit etc all seem to have a good reputation. Thanks.

I don’t want to think how much time and cost goes into these, as it’s something I would like to have but don’t have the skills. Some skilled model engineering here!

1) Do they want / like Prototypical operation? - I don't mean timetable wise (i.e. continual movement or not), I mean prototypical use of signals and train movements and the correct (or closest as the modeller can get) trains doing the correct things. I'm a contradiction here I'm afraid, I want reasonably prototypical operation, but as I sometimes have my son in tow he wants something moving at all times otherwise I get dragged away as he's bored. The something moving doesn't have to be flying past on the main, could be some shunting going on. 2) If there is a gap in train movement, how can the audience be kept entertained in the mean time? This is where items like the faller road system, animations, the "find the..." games come into play for younger viewers, otherwise cameo scenes and just plain old good modelling to admire. 3) Is additional information useful? How should it be presented and where? Magazine features or some back story can be useful/interesting and I would say infront of fiddle yard or below the level of the landscape infront of the layout. 4) Does having operators talking to each other about train movements (not social stuff) spoil the 'illusion'? No. 5) How should additional effects, i.e. lighting, sound and other movement, other than those on trains be used? I have seen a couple of layouts where it gets dark enough for the lights to be effective, I guess they are well covered from the lighting in the exhibition hall. Otherwise the lighting in buildings and street lights just gets washed out by the ambient. Flashing lights on static emergency vehicles, indicators on buses in bus stops are becoming common now.

I've decided a chocolate orange is a fruit, as it's an orange, right? Same goes for chocolate raisins, another of my 5-a-day

Thanks Mick, I think three per crossover is the way to go as one isn't an option and two won't look right. I have one encoder, one switch-D PCB with 12 inputs and the 12 switches. My track plan is 5 crossovers and one point, so I need (5 x 2) + (1 x 2) = 12 channels and (5 x 3) +2 = 17 switches so I just need some more switches and the SY3's I think

The sheer scale of it, not far off needing a Bell JetRanger complete with camera operator hanging off the side

I might be being stupid, but after you park up and switch the sound off, how do you turn the cab light off?

The current frames on the layout I acquired are 1 1/2" deep by 1" wide, which is fine for the solenoid type motors it currently has. I'm looking at fitting tortoise point motors which I reckon are going to need another 3" of clearance. This leaves me with the conundrum of how to add some 3" x 1" timber to the existing frames. I guess I could glue and use long wood screws at intervals, but I'd be worried they'd be vulnerable to lateral forces even though there are cross beams I would also be making deeper. I might be able to run a length of 9mm ply along the inside of the frames to bridge the join and add strength? Any carpenters/joiners out there got some advice? Thanks.

Pretty simple question really, I've acquired some second hand cobalt alpha stuff (switches, encoder with an LCD and the board the switches plug into and know very little about it. They're AlphaSwitch-D and I'll be using hare/wabbit/other decoders for my tortoise motors so that should work okay. My question is probably more about mimic panel design or personal preference though, but are people using 3 switches with 2 out of 3 somehow connected together, or just one for a crossover? I think you can get away with just one in the centre, lit being crossover set, unlit being staright roads set. Thanks

Finally got mine from the sorting office, complete with a obvious impact to the box despite the fragile sticker. Luckily the quality of the SLW packaging and foam means no damage to the tin. Gold star for SLW, must try harder for the Postie! Will have to fire it up later on as the conversation earlier went: 3yr old “wo-ooow” me “yep” 3yr old “can I...” me “no...” 3yr old “but can I...” Me “No.” *puts loco far out of reach of said 3yr old* Even my little one is impressed with it (yes I know his threshold isn’t that high yet!)

I only noticed now so have emailed them, I should have one experiment on order but the pending charge on my card was near 4 figures! Will give it a day or two before I bother them again if they're aware Look forward to seeing it (and maybe taking a sneaky peek at layout's the control panel?)

You can get various versions of Mercedes SK (artic, 6 wheelers in various guises) from Kentoys/Wheelers. I think they might be 1:80 much like cararama but don’t look too out of place.

That’s me getting one for my Class 60, getting some new light boards knocked up for individual LED control to do proper day/night, with and without rears and all the other prototypical combinations (there’s a thread I posted somewhere with them listed).

I have a bunch of these in the pile of future projects, I don’t suppose you’d consider laser cutting more trestle parts if you could cover your costs? I thought there was an article in the late 90’s/early 00’s which told you exactly where to cut the two to get the correct length. Might’ve been in a magazine called “Model Railway Enthusiast” ? There was definitely an article on concrete beam sets more recently too.