toolongtoremember Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 (edited) Hi everybody! So Weston Town is no more, I will be using the DCC electronics and the point motors from that to create a much bigger, automated layout with proper working block detection and frequent running. The new layout will be 14ftx6ft and made up of eight 4ftx2ft baseboards. Equipment so far I have; Digikeijs; DR5000 control unit DR5088RC railcom block feedback detection, 16 feedbacks on each unit (x5) AD8SX eight point accessory decoder units (x3) Another 4 point accessory decoder with a tam valley dual frog juicer 17 medium peco code 55 unifrog medium points a box and a half of code 55 flexi track baseboard pattern marker dowels "iTrain plus" software to run the layout I have attached the new layout plan from iTrain to give an idea of what is to come, I just need to find some good plywood and timber to commence building. Local preferred timber merchants have said they will have some good quality in at the end of the week. Edited March 15, 2020 by toolongtoremember 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 (edited) Great! Will you keep it modern western region? So at exhibitions you will now be able to operate another small end to end layout whilst this one entertains the crowds! 14 trains available, or are you going to squeeze an extra 4 on the main circuits? We know what you will be asking for Christmas!! Edited November 26, 2019 by muddy water 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamespetts Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 There is much to be said for N gauge automation. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, muddy water said: Great! Will you keep it modern western region? So at exhibitions you will now be able to operate another small end to end layout whilst this one entertains the crowds! 14 trains available, or are you going to squeeze an extra 4 on the main circuits? We know what you will be asking for Christmas!! It will be a generic British mainline, but of course I have all Western Region modern stock still though. I will be able to run a train every two to three blocks if I wanted, locals reserve a block in front of them and express and freight reserves two blocks ahead to run. A block on the above plan is denoted by the small white square on the running lines and larger white squares in stations. Things about to get interesting! Edited November 26, 2019 by toolongtoremember 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 Good news, wood is ordered for delivery, three sheets of 8ftx4ft 9mm plywood, ten lengths of 15ft 2 inch by 1 inch planed timber. I should be left with one of the 8x4ft boards to use for backscenes and other structural work. Arrives tomorrow at 09:00 sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 Received the wood, the planed timber Just fits in my living room, photo is taken standing outside my front door! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 (edited) Double post Edited November 27, 2019 by toolongtoremember Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 I think you better take the next week off to build this! So the rest of your family can do normal life! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 49 minutes ago, muddy water said: I think you better take the next week off to build this! So the rest of your family can do normal life! And that's exactly what I have done I have the whole of next week off! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 So as of this morning we have two baseboards shaped up and pattern marker dowels added and tested. Hopefully this week I'll of finished all the baseboards. That's the aim! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 So I've finished the basic shapes of the boards now, just to add legs and attach all the dowel pieces 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 On order now are sixteen folding leg brackets, and 30 M8, 50mm Allen key bolts to go with some 4 pronged tee nuts to fasten the boards all together. With the Allen key bead, I'll be able to use a power screwdriver to assemble the layout at shows much quicker. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted November 30, 2019 Share Posted November 30, 2019 I guess the cross bracing comes in after you have fitted the point motors! They always end up in the way! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 4 hours ago, muddy water said: I guess the cross bracing comes in after you have fitted the point motors! They always end up in the way! Exactly! This was my plan also Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 Now have some boards up in their legs and the joining pattern dowels and t nuts installed, I'm looking at track, need more track. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted December 4, 2019 Share Posted December 4, 2019 Great progress! Keep it up! At least you do not have to pack it away every night. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 6, 2019 Author Share Posted December 6, 2019 The baseboards are built and installed, backscenes next to provide more structural rigidity. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 6, 2019 Author Share Posted December 6, 2019 I have enough ock detector units now, jus waiting for DCC Concepts to bring the ADS8-SX point decoder units back in stock. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 Did you manage to get one circuit working? Always good for moral. As long as the testing/playing does not get in the way of further construction! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 6, 2019 Author Share Posted December 6, 2019 19 minutes ago, muddy water said: Did you manage to get one circuit working? Always good for moral. As long as the testing/playing does not get in the way of further construction! Not yet, as I have to install the block sections as I go around and wire in the DR5088RC units to the DR5000. I need to go and get some electrical conduit and some connectors for between the boards to make it as tidy and as resilient as possible for exhibition use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy water Posted December 6, 2019 Share Posted December 6, 2019 Ok. It is better not to rush it and have to repeat it later. Great progress. You might be the next Andy Peters! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamespetts Posted December 7, 2019 Share Posted December 7, 2019 Goodness, you'll be finished before me at this rate! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 7, 2019 Author Share Posted December 7, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, jamespetts said: Goodness, you'll be finished before me at this rate! I do like to get a wiggle on!... Backscenes up, ballast areas painted... I know lots of people don't paint the wood under the track before they ballast, but as it's an exhibition layout anything can happen in transit, including ballast coming away so if there's any tiny holes, we won't see any wood coloured bald bits. I have also purchased some electrical pvc conduit which I have, and from China some db9/rs232 breakout connectors and short cables to wire between the baseboards. Now just have to wait for my track I ordered last week to arrive and I can start on laying track and installing point motors. The digital equipment is already installed and awaiting wiring under the layout, with the exception of the Dr5000 control module, which I have on top (and can be seen installed next to my laptop in an earlier post) for two reasons, one I want easy access to plug in to it and two, to show the public what the units look like at shows. Edited December 7, 2019 by toolongtoremember Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
toolongtoremember Posted December 7, 2019 Author Share Posted December 7, 2019 More backscenes up and painted chalky sky blue. 2 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