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Darius43
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Hi Darius

 

Must say your extra rise on the Helix is looking pretty good, I have to say...

 

Thanks for the information, the straight is a lot smaller than I expected it to be, but if it helps the slope length increase, the better I guess and having the Helix in a 3rd and 4th radius makes it great to run just about anything you want...!

 

Can I ask what is the size of the gap between the two tracks that you have settled on...?  I was wondering about a Pendolino for example maybe the biggest overhang of the rails that Hornby as probably made to date, so is the gap wide enough to have Passing Pendolino's with no smashing or knocking against each other...? Heljan as a few of the Cargo wagons that are quiet lengthy to... so I was just wondering how you settle on the Gap Width between the two tracks...?

 

Thanks again.

 

Regards

Jamie

Hi Jamie,

 

I will check next time we are in the shed - this weekend most likely.

 

I first laid the track with the standard Peco Streamline gap (as per their red plastic thingy) but that meant the Mk3 “test” coach was occasionally “brushing” the support pillars at the inside and outside edges of the helix. I have relaid the original track and laid the new track with a closer gap, so as to give a few mm of clearance to a Mk3. This means that two HSTs most likely cannot use the helix simultaneously.

 

We test each revolution of the helix with a trial run.

 

As stated before the Rapido APT cannot use the helix (unless we lay a third track down the centre) and I suspect the Hornby Class 800 would not be able to either.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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Hi Jamie,

 

I will check next time we are in the shed - this weekend most likely.

 

I first laid the track with the standard Peco Streamline gap (as per their red plastic thingy) but that meant the Mk3 “test” coach was occasionally “brushing” the support pillars at the inside and outside edges of the helix. I have relaid the original track and laid the new track with a closer gap, so as to give a few mm of clearance to a Mk3. This means that two HSTs most likely cannot use the helix simultaneously.

 

We test each revolution of the helix with a trial run.

 

As stated before the Rapido APT cannot use the helix (unless we lay a third track down the centre) and I suspect the Hornby Class 800 would not be able to either.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

 

Hi Darius

 

Interesting, I have plans to do a Helix myself with some help to cut the wood correctly, which is why I raised the question to see your verdict on the passing points on the bends of the Helix etc., at the time the Pendolino was what we used, as this was about the worse or the bested (depending how you want to look at it) as the front bogies are tucked much further back than most others along with slightly longer coaches and thus giving me the biggest overhang when cornering on a bend.  I've not even gave the newer models a thought till reading your reply which you are probably correct with regards to the Class 800 and the Rapido APT-E and also the APT-P from DJM aka DJ Models in the future.  I do not have any of the new released sadly but I do run modern image which is where the problems are as I can not see older Steam era being a problem as wagons were genuinely smaller in length.  I have Ordered the DJM APT-P though, which may also fall into the same category of passing on the Helix which I may have to look into a bit more but I would expect all HST MK3 and MK4 coaches to pass with ease.

 

I guess at worse, like you say... only send up or down the Helix independently to stop any damage or derailing as each other pass, so I will be interested to know on your test runs what can pass or what will run independently unless you have widened the gap between the two tracks, using the widest side on the Peco Streamline gap (as per their red plastic thingy) as you call it, and I agree totally with that name :no:  I knew exactly what you meant by the description you gave ha-ha!

 

From memory we tested that 68mm would be sufficient for a Pendolino to pass in either direction on a Helix without any issues, but I am questioning the class 800 for future proofing the Helix design, along with the APT-E or APT-P.

 

Thanks again mate, and look forward to seeing your progress.

 

Regards

Jamie

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  • RMweb Gold

My helix is similar to Darius's except that the straights are 6 feet long. The tracks are separated by 67 mm. (the separation between radius 3 and radius 4 curves) and the track base is 6 inches (152 mm.) wide. I don't have any problems with trains hitting each other or the supports, even the class 800.

 

I use M6 threaded rods to support the levels, and I don't have any problems running the nuts down the rods as I have made various gubbins to drive a 10 mm. socket all the way down the rod from my cordless electric drill.

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Another revolution added to the helix this morning :)

 

post-29162-0-12305900-1533995604_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-29439500-1533995667_thumb.jpeg

 

Also tested a point motor installation using an old 16V AC power supply (H&M Clipper) a CDU and a GM point motor - once I realised that the green wire was the common return (not the black one) it worked fine.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • RMweb Gold

Top of the helix reached this morning.

 

post-29162-0-99321700-1535200906_thumb.jpeg

 

The outside track spurs off to the right hand side of the shed whilst the onside tack continues round to tie in with the right hand side of the shed.

 

post-29162-0-21984900-1535201107_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-46995300-1535201639_thumb.jpeg

 

This also works electrically as the fiddle yard and return line would have been a reverse loop if both tracks had tied in to the left of the shed.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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Point motors fixed to the fiddle yard approach tracks. We opted for surface mounted motors and cables for ease of installation and troubleshooting. They will be operated by a dedicated 16v AC supply via a CDU.

 

post-29162-0-98152100-1535201960_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-41201500-1535202275_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-96818800-1535202479_thumb.jpeg

 

A separate power supply and CDU will operate the points to the fiddle yard exit at the other end of the shed.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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I am going to surface mount many of my point motors. Are you going to run the point power supply wires on the surface too, or do they dive underneath where the connectors are?

Hi Mike,

 

On the lower “non-scenic” storage level everything will be surface mounted including the wires. There will be timber “bridges” (like the track feed bridges in the photos) to take the wires up and over the tracks to the control panel. There will be a surface mounted “bus bar” for the common return to the motors.

 

There are storage boxes under the lower baseboards and the chances of one of them snagging a wire or two (and then having to get underneath to fix things) was not worth putting the wires under the boards. Some areas may use the Mercontrol tube and wire system.

 

The upper scenic level will probably have the motors and wiring under the boards.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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Hi Mike,

 

On the lower “non-scenic” storage level everything will be surface mounted including the wires. There will be timber “bridges” (like the track feed bridges in the photos) to take the wires up and over the tracks to the control panel. There will be a surface mounted “bus bar” for the common return to the motors.

 

There are storage boxes under the lower baseboards and the chances of one of them snagging a wire or two (and then having to get underneath to fix things) was not worth putting the wires under the boards. Some areas may use the Mercontrol tube and wire system.

 

The upper scenic level will probably have the motors and wiring under the boards.

 

Cheers

 

Darius

 

Thanks Darius

 

I am going to try to surface mount and wire on the surface in much of my scenic areas, due to the likelihood of cupboards/shelving under the layout in many places, and my disinclination to make all the boards separate and able to be lifted. I was dwelling on how to path the wires across the tracks in places, and was considering simply raising all of the track on thicker layers of cork, to allow wire channels below. But your wooden bridge concept gives me an idea to make this more simple.

 

Looking forward to seeing further progress on yours!

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  • 2 weeks later...
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Helix on test with the new Hornby Class 87. No problems up or down apart from a patch of dirty track that was quickly sorted.

 

post-29162-0-98570800-1536415571.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-84204600-1536415589.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-38612300-1536415605.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-43365400-1536415629.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-72957900-1536415645.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-21706900-1536415663.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Edited by Darius43
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Mimic panel for the point motor switches to the storage yard entrance - used Tamiya masking tape and an old scrap of plywood that was knocking around.

 

post-29162-0-06152900-1536467342_thumb.jpeg

 

Meanwhile, waiting in the wings to test the helix...

 

post-29162-0-66302800-1536467402_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-30598100-1536467431_thumb.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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  • 1 month later...
  • RMweb Gold

Installed some loco and short train storage sidings at the loop end this weekend.

 

post-29162-0-69569100-1539604018_thumb.jpeg

 

Also built some “covers” for the timber wiring “bridges” over the main storage tracks. These will hide the wiring looms and also have track numbers applied to the sides using model aircraft serial number decals.

 

They were built from 1mm plasticard and painted with Halfords “Nissan Red”.

 

post-29162-0-29883100-1539604187_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-25992500-1539604207_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-95636500-1539604229_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-01938100-1539604255_thumb.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
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Storage sidings on one side completed - other side work in progress.

 

attachicon.gif3AF46BFB-CC14-4C52-B98D-D2FAA9CE6C57.jpeg

 

attachicon.gif1867F111-2E62-4212-9925-0CCE41504BD2.jpeg

 

attachicon.gifD2E6516A-9BA9-4386-86B2-75581756517D.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

Is that all you've got?

 

Nice; very nice. I'm not at all envious, you understand.....

 

Happy modelling!

 

Ian.

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First coat of paint on the shed inside wall, plus upper level support structure on the “other side” of the shed installed :)

 

post-29162-0-93301100-1546699096_thumb.jpeg

 

post-29162-0-40796700-1546699160_thumb.jpeg

 

Stock storage shelf in the shed rafters :)

 

post-29162-0-26938500-1546699409_thumb.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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Track planning today.  Old wallpaper rolled out over the baseboard and marked up locations for a 3-road engine shed, turntable and station.  

 

The island platform tracks will be laid with gentle arcs rather than as laid out here and the station approaches will be on a gentle curves, but this gives an idea of the sizes and locations of each element - essentially what will and what will not fit.

 

1C8B994D-FC8B-4A4D-AAF6-2D14B5B4C411.jpeg.98b9dc0fda1655b51a0c25216088b88d.jpeg

 

E3566EFF-B2AD-4186-8E57-5F21406B7478.jpeg.630c80e8de36c0e913016a9abf71d1c9.jpeg

 

956032DC-F49A-4C71-868A-AE0B640096CB.jpeg.eee7d63d49a88c7be809cfffa55634d3.jpeg

 

0987C0E3-4854-4947-8A11-2ED0AA965535.jpeg.222295a6d1c8b28b3e3255add1f8775e.jpeg

 

BA1F5A1B-85C6-44E3-91A6-E07E7D17CA0B.jpeg.4c95f34787baa475bc7719ccf0b2c31c.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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Some vertical adjustment to the upper scenic level to get the gradients of the helix connections to work.

 

Followed by some re-planning of the loco depot.

 

F2406423-68D2-4BF0-8A25-2AD1567A6719.jpeg.fa4b6819a261d5bd54c73b629245efbe.jpeg

 

2A01CF14-824A-4A2C-8F3F-8C31E9086B57.jpeg.a400c44c5b1fc627a5fdaef40ca935c2.jpeg

 

6ABA4974-39D9-4BF3-A2CE-053AD7BB9552.jpeg.3cc3c5c19acce77ca5583c7751f6f14e.jpeg

 

Cheers

 

Darius

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