Indomitable026

These are the gauges. The Mint gauge and the flangeway gauge are from the Scalefour Society stores. The roller gauges I think I bought from C&L a few years ago at a time when they were selling Exactoscale items, but I don’t know what make they are - may be someone can advise?

That’s where they went...

Thanks for that Will. Yeah, Tie Bars - not resolved. Not as obvious answers as there are on most other things on the track build. I know what I’m doing with the droppers and point actuators - but not the tie bars. Mark Forrest is also grappling with this one on his Manifold Valley Minerals layout..

A little bit of progress tonight, I’ve made a tentative start on the electrical wiring. I’ll post in a bit more detail once I get my eye in on the job and I’ve got a bit more time.

I’d like to share something with you, this should be my 10,000th post, but it’s not - Despite a couple of warnings from Andy I missed it! This is actually my 10,003rd post - I don’t even think that relates to a loco number? I’ve been reflecting back on this fantastic journey and I feel it’s important for to me to say... THANK YOU To Andy York for creating and running this forum over all these years, it remains a wonderful platform and in an unrivalled position - a fantastic resource and community. To all my close friends - you know who you are. For everything really - there’s too much to even start and mention... To everyone that has followed all my exploits, your feedback, encouragement and camaraderie. We are no where near the end of the line. So here’s on to the next 10,000, and all those unbuilt layouts we’ve not even thought about yet - let’s keep sharing...

Thanks for the reminder Mr Banks..

I’ve generally really enjoyed it. The key thing is as I’ve got older I’ve managed to slow myself down and pace myself - I was always in too much of a rush to get things done before. Building this P4 track has been no more difficult than any other gauges I’ve worked in - in fact with the excellent gauges and jigs in some ways it’s easier. Posting on here allows me to reflect and check - these days all my work is done under a magnifier, however there’s nothing like closeup photos to show you what’s wrong - it’s warts and all on here. Like everything it’s important to recognise when your having a bad day and walk away - some days I can’t even thread chairs on rail - it’s fascinating how different you can feel and how it effects your abilities on a given day. Enjoy your build.

Here’s a link to the cardboard building mock-ups. Showing how the buildings may extend in to the fiddleyard.

And cast off...

Have you been drinking your home brew again? Repeat after me - there will be no scope creep. (I ended up reading the whole of the Treneglos thread after that little diversion above - great memories) To be fair the scenics (the side of the adjacent shed) will go in to the fiddle yard. Somewhere in an earlier thread I explore this with cardboard buildings...

Final stock-rail in (albeit under the influence of Peroni). I’ll see what it looks like in the morning.

I know This is me telling myself - there will be no extensions...

I’ve finished all the soldering on the board joint now, as you can see I’ve cleaned it down and given it a coat of brown/ rust.

Meanwhile I’ve got two more stock rails fitted in the fiddle-yard.

Our Layout (now sold) Treneglos is a good case in point...

We are experts at scope creep - too many over the years. So it’s a no - I’m hanging on this concept - there’ll be no extensions...

You’re getting as bad as Old Gringo with your number spotting - I hadn’t noticed, so thanks for pointing it out...

Oh, and I’m not doing nothing. Heres a shameless plug for my current project “Highland Sulzers”

Yes Rose Street curve is just to complete the scene.

Oh, and I’m also making good progress through my video collection...

Nope - regular fizz tonight..

Nah, I’m happy how it is - you know me, I like the odd random track that goes nowhere. Remember the two “Newquay” lines on Diesels in the Duchy? They went nowhere - and they were different gauges, one P4, one EM...

I’m calling it a day now - getting tired - mistakes will be made - I’ve already lost half a brass chair on the beige carpet. So this is as far as I got... Time for some more fizz...

I’m tackling the board joint now. Of note here are the brass chairs soldered on to the copper clad sleepers. And I’m going to run out of rail!

Having got the rail anchored down at the bottom end I’m now gluing down the top end ‘fast track’ sleepers making sure the rail lines up with the plan below. Note the rule at the top stuck down to the board with tape - this aids getting the track straight. Templot wasn’t used for the fiddleyard - instead I established the curves/ centrelines and cut up point plans in to sections to follow the curves - a bit of old school...