RMweb Gold Kevin Johnson Posted September 5, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 5, 2019 Stuey the ballasting looks great. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 6, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 6, 2019 Side panels and one rear beam added. A 2nd higher beam will be added to connect the supporting guy wires for the loop. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 7, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 7, 2019 Some more progress this morning. The upper board has been adjusted to fit between the two end screens, and various point configurations played with ( though not shown in the photo). The first point will be on the bridge over the left cutting, with the longest siding along the front. The other route will lead to another point, one siding will be parallel with the 1st, the other will be straight off the point at a shallow angle to the others. A 2nd bridge over the right cutting will allow room for a visiting loco to park, awaiting removal of the incoming train by the local pilot. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 8, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 8, 2019 And the probable point configuration. The lead point is a curved one, just to ease the entry from the FY. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold john new Posted September 8, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 8, 2019 On 06/09/2019 at 11:46, Stubby47 said: Side panels and one rear beam added. A 2nd higher beam will be added to connect the supporting guy wires for the loop. I like the concept of the folding half circle. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 8, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 8, 2019 17 minutes ago, john new said: I like the concept of the folding half circle. It works well, now I've changed the hinges for some of the firedoor variety. I didn't want to have a separate board with just a loop on, and the temporary loop for DM4MS was not really good enough. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 12, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 Today I have taken delivery of some items from MERG, which will ebable the point operation to be electronically operated. I've not used servos before, so this will be interesting. The intention is to mount all the gubbins behind the backscene above the baseboard height, to allow easy access for set-up and adjustment. I still need to determine how to fix the pcbs to the baseboard, I've seen little plastic legs before, or clips holding the pcb's edge. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 34 minutes ago, Stubby47 said: Today I have taken delivery of some items from MERG, which will ebable the point operation to be electronically operated. I've not used servos before, so this will be interesting. The intention is to mount all the gubbins behind the backscene above the baseboard height, to allow easy access for set-up and adjustment. I still need to determine how to fix the pcbs to the baseboard, I've seen little plastic legs before, or clips holding the pcb's edge. Nails. If you can't nail it down with an 'ammer then it is meant to move. 1 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Morgan Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Stubby47 said: I still need to determine how to fix the pcbs to the baseboard, I've seen little plastic legs before, or clips holding the pcb's edge. I use nylon spacers like these off eBay. Then, I use small woodscrews into a wooden baseboard, or nuts and bolts to metal or plastic cases. A spot of superglue to attach them to the PCB first makes things easier to assemble. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 12, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 12, 2019 Thanks Ian, very helpful. I've also noticed the PCB has pre-drilled holes for fixing, which the stripboard version didn't have (although I've just noticed there were indications where to drill fixing holes). A spot of close-up soldering is on the agenda very soon - good job I got my new glasses today (and went to KMRC and managed to walk out without buying anything). 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted September 12, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 12, 2019 8 hours ago, Stubby47 said: went to KMRC and managed to walk out without buying anything Support your local retailer... 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Northroader Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 17 hours ago, Stubby47 said: good job I got my new glasses today (and went to KMRC and managed to walk out without buying anything). Should have gone to Specsavers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 3 minutes ago, Northroader said: Should have gone to Specsavers. I did. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 On 03/09/2019 at 16:55, Stubby47 said: Meanwhile, The Circle is complete. More testing has revealed I need hinges with less movement - the gate hinges have too much slop meaning the two levels ( baseboard & loop) are not aligned. add in some sliding door / gate bolts to force them to align. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 4 minutes ago, 2ManySpams said: add in some sliding door / gate bolts to force them to align. I've replaced the hinges with firedoor ones - much better. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 Y'know, sometimes it's easy to overthink / overdesign something. I had intended to use a simple on/off switch on the control panel, to operate the MERG servo board, which would operate the servo to both move the point tie-bar and activate a micro-switch which would change the frog polarity. I have the servos, I have the MERG servo mounts and microswitches. However, instead I will use a 2-pole On/On switch on the panel instead. Again, this will indicate the direction of the traffic flow, but the 2nd pole will be used to directly switch the frog polarity. Much, much simpler. So, wiring-wise, I'll need one feed from each of the two point's frogs, plus a +'ve and -'ve feed to the track. And an extra feed to the isolating section at the end of the longest siding. The power will come from a Gaugemaster Walkabout, needing a 16v ac feed in. The servos' power will be fed from either a 9v dc battery, or a 12v dc regulated supply. Keeping it all very simple. I'm not even sure I'll need a control 'panel' - just a row of 3 switches should be adequate. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 13, 2019 Gotta have a control panel. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 I've built layouts smaller than that ! 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 Contemplating the point configuration. The lead point needs to be across the bridge to give the length to the sidings. But this puts the correct location for the servo over the lower track. I need to find some skewers which are long enough (12") and then attempt to fit the servo to the side of the track. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chuffinghell Posted September 13, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 I’m looking forward to seeing how this layout pans out, I think we’re in for a treat 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 13, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 13, 2019 I'm also not sure about a Y point as it gives a slight S curve, which is perpendicular to the main viewing angle so not obvious ( so why include it?). 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 14, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 14, 2019 Two point servo boards have been soldered up and tested - both worked first time Just need to fix the points in place then use the long skewers to affect the connection betwixt the two. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 15, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2019 Overthinking again. The lead point position doesn't give much space for track for it exits off scene. Moving the point so the tiebar is on the bridge means I then have to disguise the operating mechanism. I might look at some sort of pipework for this - there is a lot of water moved around in the clay pits area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 15, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2019 Nope, that's not an option. Having moved the points around, I'll lose more siding length than I gain in lead in track. Back to as you were. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted September 15, 2019 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted September 15, 2019 Walked to the local big green plant & diy emporium to purchase some garden canes for use as subterranean point rodding. Had to buy a 8ft 6mm pine dowel strip instead. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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