Bob S Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I’ve built layouts in a number of scales; HO, OO, On30, N, but I always like making the smallest layouts I can get away with! When I discovered the range of products for OO9, I was hooked. I’ll try to share my progress in this thread. All observations are welcome, just be gentle! I decided to use Peco settrack to have curves compatible with a lot of rolling stock. First step was to use my Anyrail design software to see what size board I was going to need for my concept. It measured out at 24” by 44”. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 I’m in Southern California, so there isn’t much of an OO9 community to run to rely on, so the internet and YouTube are important sources of info for me. Anyrail can produce 3D renderings of a track plan. The vertical dimensions seem exaggerated, and the track width seems small, but this is its interpretation. I’m using this layout to practice hills and rocks modeling techniques, but it won’t be as extreme as this image. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 Software and reality don’t always coincide, so the next step was to test curves, grades and overhead clearances, so I assembled a partial trackage segment. I’m using Woodland Scenics inclines to maintain a consistent grade. 5% was indicated on Anyrail, so I took a 3% and a 2% incline and combined them. My test vehicles were a Bachmann Rheneas and a Peco freelance Brake van, and a MinitrainS Gmeinder Diesel and wagon set. All worked well, each engine pulling 8 of these little cars. All slipped under the overheads with room to spare. Encouraged by this, the remainder of my trackage is on its way. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisr40 Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Looks good Bob. I am having a dabble in 009 myself too and it's good to have a change from many years of 00. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 Hey Chris! I really like your second picture. Tell me a little; radius of the curve? Is that one of the Bachmann 2-6-2’s? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisr40 Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Thanks Bob..it's a 9 inch set track curve with the impulse buy Bachmann Baldwin that started it all. The pic came out really well and my son who built the layout with me has really enjoyed getting involved. Most of the layout is repurposed material from my 00 layout but the track and points are n gauge donated by a friend. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 (edited) Very nice! Speaking of locomotives, I bought the Bachmann “Rheneas” and did a quick conversion. Sacrilege I know to Thomas fans, but I changed out the smokebox door with a part found on Shapeways. Edited June 12, 2019 by Bob S 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 19 minutes ago, Bob S said: Very nice! Speaking of locomotives, I bought the Bachmann “Rheneas” and did a quick conversion. Sacrilege I know to Thomas fans, but I changed out the smokebox door with a part found on Shapeways. Hello hello, I do believe that that is my design delighted to see it being used I trust it was all okay? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 Hi Edge! Yes, that is yours. It fits perfectly, nearly clicks into place. Can hardly see the seam. Took about four days from order to delivery. Good stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Very happy to hear it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestTom Posted June 18, 2019 Share Posted June 18, 2019 I like your plan - very reminiscent of the large Welsh slate quarries, as well as the once-popular "Rabbit Warren" layouts. It'll be a great playground for Skarloey and Rheneas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SomethingTrainLover Posted June 19, 2019 Share Posted June 19, 2019 Nah, I wouldn’t say you’ve gone far enough with Rheneas, wink wink nudge nudge 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 21, 2019 Author Share Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) Trainlover, beautiful detailing! Honest Tom, yes rabbit warren is an apt description. I did change one aspect, making a go-around siding on top. Here’s an update photo. The spindly support towers will be replaced with permanent support now that I know clearances are adequate. Edited June 21, 2019 by Bob S 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard van de Weijer Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 What is your minimum radius? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted June 23, 2019 Author Share Posted June 23, 2019 Gerard, this is all Peco set track; nine inch radius. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted July 2, 2019 Author Share Posted July 2, 2019 (edited) Ok guys, progress is being made. However, I’ve run across a complication. I have a number of transition areas between level and 5% grade segments. Some of my Peco OO9 shorty coaches will disconnect, due to the change in angle of the couplers. If any of you have experienced this, did you do any modifications of the couplers, and were they successful? Are there other couplers on the market, and are they easy to substitute? At at this point I don’t really expect to shunt the coaches, so I could say, add a wire post to one coupler that the corresponding coupler can’t disengage, but any ideas are welcome. I’ll ll post a picture or two once I clean up the board. No scenery, just track bed support at this point. Edit: are the Peco couplers NEM style, in other words pull out removable? That’d make it easy to modify. There’s nobody I know here in Southern California who I can ask! Edited July 2, 2019 by Bob S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cnw6847 Posted July 2, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 2, 2019 The Peco couplings have NEM fittings so will pull out. Greenwich couplings https://shop.narrowplanet.co.uk/collections/components/products/cpl3 can replace them but may not guarentee solving the problem although they are etch brass so the loop will be a bit heavier than the plastic one of the peco. They are much finer than the Peco ones so look better. I have used the Peco GR-105 close coupling inbetween the 4 wheel coaches so they might work https://www.hattons.co.uk/270136/peco_products_gr_105_pack_of_12_narrow_gauge_close_couplings_for_nem355_pockets/stockdetail.aspx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted July 2, 2019 Author Share Posted July 2, 2019 Richard, thanks! Armed with your info, I pulled out the coupler, no problems. So, am I correct that Peco’s GR-102 is the direct replacement and the 105 still fits into the pocket, but is closer? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cnw6847 Posted July 2, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 2, 2019 7 hours ago, Bob S said: Richard, thanks! Armed with your info, I pulled out the coupler, no problems. So, am I correct that Peco’s GR-102 is the direct replacement and the 105 still fits into the pocket, but is closer? The GR-102 is the one fitted. The GR-105 is really designed for the slate wagons but heres a pic of them fitted to the 4 wheel coaches IMG_9683 by Richard Doe, on Flickr 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted July 3, 2019 Author Share Posted July 3, 2019 The route is finalized. Lots of tunnels & grades! It’ll be fun to devise scenery for it. Maybe a snow capped peak, or a quarry pit...who can say? This has been all done with Woodland Scenics products. I did run a pin pin up from the couplers, now they stay connected through the dips and humps. Richard, your coaches look great. I think my curves might be too tight for them. The Rheneas can pull three, but not four Peco coaches up the grade. I have a Skarloey enroute, we’ll see how many it can pull. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cnw6847 Posted July 3, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 3, 2019 Looks good so far. Curves maybe a bit tight for the close coupling but you could try a pack if you're ordering from somewhere at anytime. You could try gluing a piece of thin brass wire on the Peco loop to help weigh it down. Being plastic they are quite light although sounds like you may have sorted it with a pin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted July 3, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 3, 2019 Love the Welsh flag Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 The left hand loop might lend itself well to a deep slate quarry. Might it be worth trying to introduce some undercut into the upright peg? I do this with the older GR-101 type (though not built to the instructions) to add a degree of 'tension lock'. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Nile Posted July 3, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted July 3, 2019 15 hours ago, Bob S said: Richard, your coaches look great. I think my curves might be too tight for them. The Peco coaches with close couplings work fine on 9" set-track curves. 15 hours ago, Bob S said: I have a Skarloey enroute, we’ll see how many it can pull. You may be disappointed, it's rigid chassis design may cause problems at your gradient transitions. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted July 9, 2019 Author Share Posted July 9, 2019 Hi Nile, you’re absolutely right. The Skarloey cannot manage my grades. It’s not so much the transitions, but the curves and grades combinations. As the track curves and climbs, it has to “twist” a bit. Skarloey can’t do it. Ah well, that just means I’ll have to build another layout it can handle! I wonder if the Bachmann 4-6-0 is flexible enough to work. I’ve tried some n scale locomotives, and they work. Anyway, the layout is progressing; fascia boards up, and some scenery. I’m using Woodland Scenics shaper sheet techniques. It’s a bit expensive, but for this size board it’s ok. It’s also easy to modify with a hobby knife. I’m also casting their rocks in plaster. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now