DavidMcKenzie Posted October 19, 2021 Share Posted October 19, 2021 Nice wheel cleaning solution and cracking video. All the best, Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Patriot87003 Posted November 4, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted November 4, 2021 (edited) I hope those of you that saw Davidson Parkway in the recent November issue of BRM enjoyed the article. With kind permission from Andy Y, a few pictures below … Edited January 2, 2023 by Patriot87003 Pics reloaded 22 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerhaul 70 Pey Posted November 4, 2021 Share Posted November 4, 2021 Fantastic photos! Amazing modelling. Well done. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted November 5, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 5, 2021 20 hours ago, Powerhaul 70 Pey said: Fantastic photos! Amazing modelling. Well done. Many thanks … and plenty of credit also to Andy for the wonderful pics and editing skills! I’ve just found your layout thread and enjoyed … lovely layout as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted January 30, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 30, 2022 (edited) A few updates to report following the festive period; Before Christmas I had a sort out and tidy of magazines, files etc that are stored under the layout, purchasing new magazine files and labelling. Next project has been to install a new 6 track storage yard (Yard 4) underneath the countryside and river section of the layout. This will be used to store the push-pull sets, HST and Pendolino (with the loco or motorised end used to haul up the gradient to the main layout, rather than push). This will also free up some space in Yard 3 for potential new rakes in the future. I planned the yard using lining paper and Peco point templates, then purchased the plywood and timber, cut the plywood to size then transferred the plan back onto the plywood. Once happy, the frame for the plywood was cut and installed using PVA and counter-sunk screws. I decided to cut out the holes for the points so that the Peco solenoid point motors can attach directly to the points. The first two boards were installed. A point from the line that connects Yard 2 to Yard 3 was installed for the short branch towards Yard 4. The branch then has 5 curved points to form the 6 tracks. Dropper wires added … The boards for the new yard created with cut-outs around the legs for the main layout. The boards lifted into position and joined with the approach boards as well as screwed to the legs. The new magazine files can be seen below upon a heavy duty shelf. A view along the new boards prior to tracklaying … LED rope lights were repositioned to provide lighting above the new yard. The six tracks laid … each is long enough to accommodate 12 coaches. The gradient from the lower yards to the main layout can be seen just to the left. A piece to spare timber used for the end of the yard to prevent any disasters! I’ve connected some of the droppers just to test a loco and pleased to say it worked ok. Next job is to complete the wiring … including a new small control panel, diode matrix, the power dropper wires, the point motors and point indicator LED lights. The addition of this yard now gives me the following … - Yard 1: 8 Tracks: Same level as main layout: Used for freight - Yard 2: 8 Tracks: Lower level (underneath Davidson Parkway): Loco-hauled through services - Yard 3: 8 Tracks: Lower level (underneath Yard 1): Loco-hauled through services - Yard 4: 6 Tracks: Lower level (underneath countryside and river): Push-pull, HST & Pendolino A few new arrivals as well including the pre-ordered Heljan Class 86/4’s and 86/6’s … several years worth of Christmas and birthday pressies! The Bachmann Collectors club Class 90 in Belgian SNCB livery … Heljan 86404 in IC-Exec livery 86426 in the 1980’s retro blue livery 86416 in Rail Express Systems livery 86634 in Railfreight Distribution triple grey livery Finally 86622 in RFD European livery. The two RFD 86/6’s have been semi-permanently coupled using a Bachmann hose as they’re intended to work the container train … The lineup of new 86’s … they have been tested and run-in … lovely loco’s. Edited January 2, 2023 by Patriot87003 Pics reloaded 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted May 15, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 15, 2022 It took a while but I’ve wired and tested the new Yard 4 sidings …. also a few running sessions with the new arrivals in recent months …. and captured in the video below … 9 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Patriot87003 Posted May 17, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted May 17, 2022 I always liked seeing a rake of oil tankers so when Cavalex announced the TEA wagons a couple of years ago I pre-ordered a rake of 10. They arrived this morning … I have 7 of the Total branded unweathered tankers … Also a triple-pack of the unbranded grey wagons … The tension lock couplings allow for close-coupling … (I’ll replace with the Westhill WagonWorks Hunt magnetic couplings in due course) The rake successfully had a few laps around the layout … I’ve had a further running session this evening and tested around the layout, over the junctions between the slow and fast lines, also through the complex point work in and out of Yard 1 and all successfully negotiated … no derailments yet! Very impressed with these lovely wagons. 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted May 30, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 30, 2022 It’s like busses! A long wait for pre-orders to be manufactured and distributed … then two rakes arrive in quick succession! One of my first carriages I received as a Christmas pressie as a child was a Lima MK3 sleeper in BR blue/grey livery, then during the 1990s and early 2000s I was lucky enough to enjoy quite a few sleeper services to Fort William, Aberdeen and Inverness as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow. So when Hornby announced a new batch of MK3 Sleepers during January 2021 a pre-order was submitted. They arrived recently … and in the meantime I had purchased a Bachmann MK2 RFM and a MK1 full brake. The berth side … The corridor side … I’ve replaced the couplings within the rake with Hunt magnetic couplings (the Elite Close Buckeye type) A couple of pics of the new rake … I have also had a few running sessions and pleased with the new rake. It’s only one portion of a typical 1990s London - Scotland rake when two were usually coupled together to form the Euston - Glasgow + Edinburgh service … but the terminus is not long enough for two portions. Some of the storage sidings could handle a few more carriages but for now I’m happy with an 8 carriage rake. I have also recorded a few clips of the sleeper rake in action … I also recorded a few clips of the recent Cavalex TEA wagons … 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 Mainline 87s at about 3:40 in the last video....Nice. Are they re-sprays? I need to finish my c1940 layout so I can re-build the same location c1990. 🙄 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted May 31, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted May 31, 2022 8 minutes ago, Pete the Elaner said: Mainline 87s at about 3:40 in the last video....Nice. Are they re-sprays? I need to finish my c1940 layout so I can re-build the same location c1990. 🙄 Glad you enjoyed! Those two Mainline 87’s are original Lima bodies but fitted with the Limby chassis. All my Lima and Limby 87’s have been detailed a bit, such as fitting handrails to the front end, repainting the yellow warning panels etc. Nowhere near as good as the super detailed 87’s but from a distance they still make decent layout loco’s. Good luck progressing your layout(s) as well, look forward to seeing any updates … 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted May 31, 2022 Share Posted May 31, 2022 31 minutes ago, Patriot87003 said: Glad you enjoyed! Those two Mainline 87’s are original Lima bodies but fitted with the Limby chassis. All my Lima and Limby 87’s have been detailed a bit, such as fitting handrails to the front end, repainting the yellow warning panels etc. Nowhere near as good as the super detailed 87’s but from a distance they still make decent layout loco’s. Good luck progressing your layout(s) as well, look forward to seeing any updates … I felt Mainline was a bit short-lived on 87s, which I guess is part of the reason the livery appeals to me. I have a few Lima 87s, all unfinshed 🙄 I agree that the LIma 87 has a good basic shape, which makes it a great base model for detailing. Likewise for Hornby's 86. You won't see any major updates to my layout soon. Modelling a real location can be very rewarding but also slow because I want certain features to be right. I've also got other interests to distract me so I'm lacking modelling motivation right now. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted June 3, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 3, 2022 Last year I purchased some of these card corridor connections from an EBay seller (no connection) to trial on my Hornby HST … The packs arrive with a set of card blanking plates and the folded connections. For rakes already with reasonably close couplings and small gaps, only one of the folded card connections is required. The Mark 3’s have the Hunt Elite couplings fitted. I glued the blanking plates and folded connections with dabs of tacky white glue … When coupled up, they close the gap between the carriages … but the magnets allow for easy uncoupling if required. I had a few derailments during testing and running especially when traversing the scissors crossover when the motored power car was pushing but also a few when hauling. I realised that some of the folded connections were taking more of the compression force compared to the coupling, also some additional friction caused some carriages to do a wheelie! I’ve removed the folded connections and cut off one of the card folds from each connection (to leave 3 folds instead of the original 4) then refitted. Testing in both push and pull modes has not resulted in any derailments so far, so looks like the problem is solved. Very pleased with them and tempted to purchase and fit to other rakes. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted June 22, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2022 I’ve recently been scanning and sorting older photos … and it gave me an idea to compile a video to show the construction of the shed and layout in a year-by-year summary video. I started construction of the shed during 2006 … time flies by! The Bachmann Class 90’s are lovely loco’s and four that I pre-ordered have arrived this week … tested and each are very smooth runners … 15 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted June 22, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 22, 2022 Hi don’t know if you posted it before but do you have aerial plan of the layout? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted June 22, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2022 6 minutes ago, GWRPhil said: Hi don’t know if you posted it before but do you have aerial plan of the layout? Hi Phil, Andy Y produced a lovely track plan to show the main layout for when the layout featured in BRM last year (I hope he doesn’t mind me re-posting it here) … As part of the latest video, I also took a panoramic shot using my phone … Hope these help give a feel for the overall interior of the shed and layout … 14 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clan Mcadder Posted June 22, 2022 Share Posted June 22, 2022 id not seen this layout before looks amazing , really enjoyed the video , and nice to see DC power running the AC! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium GWRPhil Posted June 22, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 22, 2022 6 hours ago, Patriot87003 said: Hi Phil, Andy Y produced a lovely track plan to show the main layout for when the layout featured in BRM last year (I hope he doesn’t mind me re-posting it here) … As part of the latest video, I also took a panoramic shot using my phone … Hope these help give a feel for the overall interior of the shed and layout … Thanks so much for posting the info really gives a great feel for the layout and the aerial plan by Andy y shows all the details so we’ll. it must be an incredible layout for a running session. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazwire Posted June 22, 2022 Share Posted June 22, 2022 Absolutely love this layout and rolling stock - my favourite era/eras. What is the dimension of the room out of interest? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted June 22, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted June 22, 2022 55 minutes ago, gazwire said: Absolutely love this layout and rolling stock - my favourite era/eras. What is the dimension of the room out of interest? Thanks Clan, Phil and Gaz for the kind comments. The layout is approx 7m by 4.5m (22ft by 14ft) … 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted August 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 2, 2022 I’ve recently given the layout a decent clean and put together the video below summarising a few tips that I’ve learnt and used over time that help me achieve reliable running. Many of them have been inspired by others … so thought I would share to hopefully help others. In recent years I’ve converted from using IPA (99.9%) to using WD-40 Electrical Contact Cleaner. I learnt that IPA is a Polar solvent and they are prone to causing micro-arcing that in turn generate crud and grime. Whereas WD-40 contact cleaner is non-polar. Note that contact cleaner is very different to the normal WD40 lubricant! I only clean the layout once or twice a year … 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted August 23, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 23, 2022 Time for a bit of an update! Following cleaning the layout, several running sessions have been enjoyed making use of the flexibility the new yards provide. Only a few minor niggles but pleased with the reliability so far and no track buckles occurred during the heatwave! I attended the Bachmann collectors club practically perfect event during June and enjoyed as well as purchasing three bargains …. D123 was running during the day City of Leicester was stabled next to the Bachmann marquee First purchase was a Class 90 … since renumbered and renamed to become 90009 The Economist (I fancied a class 90 with a red nameplate!) Class 37 in Regional Railways livery was the next purchase (37422). When Andy Y visited he mentioned/suggested a Reggie Rail rake may look decent under the wires … I since acquired a 4 coach rake (I remember travelling between Stafford and Crewe during the 1990’s behind a 37/4 hauling a short rake of them) so 37422 looks good hauling. This rake will also give some opportunities for other interesting loco’s to haul in future. Final purchase was a railfreight liveried Class 47 that became a donor to become 47363 Billingham Enterprise. Murphy’s law … as soon as I commenced this project, then Kernow announced the red-stripe version was available! However, I do prefer the non-red-stripe version and pleased with this mini project and it looks good hauling the Cavalex TEA’s. I’ve also been scanning in many old photo’s onto the IPad to provide a backup and ease to scroll through. I remember seeing 47363 from my bedroom window as a kid several times but never photo’d … I did capture 47488 though (no idea the date … likely to be late 1980’s) with Selhurst Depot in the background. The land between Davidson Road and the Down Slow was sold-off during the 1990’s and houses built upon them. Another relatively recent purchase was one of the Hatton’s bargain Hornby Class 87 87001 dual named Royal Scot/Stephenson. It has become a donor loco to backdate to a 1980’s version of 87033 Thane of Fife, complete with the multiple working sockets added. Following extensive testing, I’ve now allocated siding numbers for each freight and passenger rake in the storage yards. I’ve printed a label for each yard to help with running sessions … the freight rakes allocated to Yard 1. Yard 2 primarily contains the loco-hauled services, to allow the loco’s to haul up the incline to the main layout. Yard 3 holds some of the push-pull rakes with the DVT’s. These rakes have the DVT’s modified to have a coupling bar, so the rake could be hauled from either end. The two short passenger rakes also stored in Yard 3, with two spare sidings … The dead-end Yard 4 holds the rakes that are guaranteed to have the motor at one end in order to haul up the incline. I have re-added the Voyager to the layout following servicing … the gear trains were gummed up with grease. At the same time I also stripped and serviced my Bachmann Class 85 that had some performance issues and it’s running well again. The glue has seeped through the paper a bit to blodge the ink … oops! I can live with it as I’m likely to update the rakes and sidings over time. Two more sidings are spare …. So potential for 4 new rakes in future, or 5 if I double-stack the short rakes in one of the longer sidings. The only rake that doesn’t like the incline and curves to the lower storage sidings is the NSE Mark 1 rake … the close-coupling mechanism of the Bachmann coaches doesn’t straighten up after the curves due to the weight of the stock climbing the incline …. So that will have to live in the terminal station and upon the main layout. Another bit of progress has been to use a small piece of 3mm plywood and attach the plug, LED light and sound-bar controllers to it to allow ‘walkabout’ control around the shed. I’ve also attached Velcro to the back of the ply and to the control panel … just another little project to make using the layout and shed a bit more easier and enjoyable! Plenty more mini-projects on the to do list around the layout and to the rakes and loco’s and I’ll be recording a running session video in the coming days. A few interesting pre-orders …. 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Some nice new stock that I'm sure will look brilliant out on the layout and those control boards are just supurb. Is the layout reasonably easy to operate? I struggle at times to keep on top of my very simple four track loop, I think I would go into meltdown trying to control such a big and impressive layout 🤣. Thanks for posting the pictures and videos, it's always a pleasure to follow your progress with the layout. All the best, Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Patriot87003 Posted August 23, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted August 23, 2022 5 minutes ago, DavidMcKenzie said: Some nice new stock that I'm sure will look brilliant out on the layout and those control boards are just supurb. Is the layout reasonably easy to operate? I struggle at times to keep on top of my very simple four track loop, I think I would go into meltdown trying to control such a big and impressive layout 🤣. Thanks for posting the pictures and videos, it's always a pleasure to follow your progress with the layout. All the best, Dave Many thanks Dave. I’m also enjoying following your layout build and good luck with the overhead wiring! Regarding operating, the layout is still DC Analogue using two 4-track Gaugemaster panel controllers. Controllers 1 to 6 are linked to 12 rotary switches that control 12 zones of the layout, then controller 7 powers the depot and controller 8 can power the lower yards, test track and testing wires. I usually operate the layout in two configurations … either ‘roundy-roundy’ mode, where the 5 main tracks (Down Fast, Up Fast, Down Slow, Up Slow and Reversible) have the rotary switches set to controllers 1 to 5. This allows easy continuous operation of 5 trains … ideal for when family/friends visit and play etc. I can then have simple variations, by ‘looping’ the fast line trains into the Davidson Parkway loop platforms, even sending a rake to and from Patriot Central via the incline. This allows the Slow Lines to operate ‘roundy-roundy’. I can then also send slow line rakes to or from the yards easily. Another mode of operation is simplistic one-train running … where the whole layout is powered by one controller. Eg All the rotary switches switches to say Controller 1. Just have to make sure all other loco’s are in an isolating section! This mode is ideal and easy for track cleaning, using the camera truck, running in or testing, also sending rakes to and from the yards to anywhere on the layout. The DPDT switches to the left of the rotary switches were included in the planning phase to allow conversion to DCC at some stage in the future … and with the main scenery and stock around the layout in a decent place, it’s a bit tempting to give DCC a dabble! Although I do enjoy the ease of use of cab-control using the rotary switches and the panel controllers … and I have had 8 trains running at once a few times before! Operator errors do occur though, especially when distracted or tired … most frequently forgetting to reset points back to ‘normal’ position after a rake has passed … so the next rake either short circuits or stalls! Look forward to your updates as well and enjoy the EMU’s … would be good if a few of the 321’s and 319’s were upscaled! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 Impressive stuff, thanks for the description. I'm also still on DC, the price of DCC locos combined with having an 8 month old daughter and a new house to renovate mean I'm not likely to change anytime soon, although I do see the appeal of DCC. It is very motivating to see what is possible with DC on a far more complex layout. I can understand the feeling of wanting the EMUs upscaled. I've been wishing the other way around for 92s, 90s and 87s as you have in OO for a long time and two of three are now looking to have had the rescaling treatment, so fingers crossed for you that it will only be a matter of time until the 319 and 321 go the other way 🤞. All the best, Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCML100 Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Just come across this thread, great layout - following with a lot of interest 😃 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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