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Motts Lane - a foray into EM


Southwich
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11 hours ago, andytrains said:

Will.

Looking forward to seeing this develop.

Good work.

Andy.


Thanks for the kind words Andy! Next step is wiring, all of the droppers are soldered onto the bottom of the rail so just got to wire it all up before gluing it down. Megapoints controllers have been ordered too.

 

Kind regards,

 

Will

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Albeit small the first movement at Motts Lane - 56006 fitted with Bif’s awesome sound and EM wheels. I’ve also fitted the LED strips to the boards - makes a huge difference!


4576FA49-C6B1-411E-A194-32679C6BC2DD.jpeg.11d4b69978ecd1b30ce651880254e43a.jpeg

 

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Hopefully get the track wired up properly this weekend rather than this temporary wiring to run the first train!

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Will

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1 hour ago, Wayne 37901 said:

Hi Will,

 

Nice to come over and see the thread, I came across your layout on the Facebook group.

 

Wayne


Thanks Wayne much appreciated! A big inspiration was Dragon Steels so nice to have you following! 
 

Kind regards,

 

Will

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A nice little project this evening courtesy of a GW Models wheel puller, just extended the EM wheels a bit further on the axles to the correct gauge. 37710 looks right at home on the layout! 
 

68A5150F-AFAD-4252-B8AE-862B473B21CE.jpeg.e65a8ae1b27dc308f589a42d038623fe.jpeg

 

CD12A31F-D1E5-4072-8904-1714FCFE3BEB.jpeg.a64721cdde420fe030e4c499f77af351.jpeg

 

Hopefully get another loco completed tomorrow night before wiring at some point this weekend.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Will

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Well done that man, you're a puller not a hammerer!

When you come to bigger diesel wheels you might find the larger capacity of one of these helpful;

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gear-Puller-Aluminium-Alloy-for-1-10-HPI-Traxxas-Monster-Truck-RC-Car/333261803542?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

Mike.

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1 hour ago, Southwich said:


Thanks Wayne much appreciated! A big inspiration was Dragon Steels so nice to have you following! 
 

Kind regards,

 

Will

Haha! Thanks for the kind words, but I never made a secret of the fact that Dragon Steels was built as cheaply as possible when money was tight!

 

I think it turned out pretty good though, it was the last OO layout I built before I moved into EM when I acquired Dave Tailby's Trevanna Dries Cornish branch layout.

 

Cheers

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19 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Well done that man, you're a puller not a hammerer!

When you come to bigger diesel wheels you might find the larger capacity of one of these helpful;

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gear-Puller-Aluminium-Alloy-for-1-10-HPI-Traxxas-Monster-Truck-RC-Car/333261803542?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

Mike.


I am indeed a puller, I did a Hornby 56 using a hammer and that won’t be happening again, much easier and less labour intensive! Thanks for the tip, that looks like a lovely bit of kit. Looks like it should have more grip on the wheel as well. 
 

19 hours ago, Wayne 37901 said:

Haha! Thanks for the kind words, but I never made a secret of the fact that Dragon Steels was built as cheaply as possible when money was tight!

 

I think it turned out pretty good though, it was the last OO layout I built before I moved into EM when I acquired Dave Tailby's Trevanna Dries Cornish branch layout.

 

Cheers


 

It was the steel works setting I liked I must say, being from Essex we don’t get anything in the way of steel traffic so nice to imagine a “what if scenario” if it ever did happen. I agree - a lovely little layout!

 

Will

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8 hours ago, Wayne 37901 said:

Hi Will,

 

I know this sounds like a silly question, but who did you get your GW Models puller from? I googled them and all I could find was pictures linked to other threads or eBay, nothing actually linked to GW Models.

 

Cheers


Hi Wayne,

 

I don’t think there is a website for GWModels - I found the price list on the S4 society forum. Copied it for reference below:


G W MODELS
Specialised Tools
11 Croshaw Close, Lancing, Sussex, BN15 9LE
Telephone 01903 767231

Wheel Press & Quartering Jig for 3&4mm fine scale wheels £28 ea
Wheel puller £12 ea
Worm/Gear Puller Type 1 for 2-3mm Shafts £6 ea
Worm/Gear Puller Type 2 for Shafts less than 2mm £6 ea
6” Mini Roller & Rail bender UK P&P £7 £55 ea
10” Mini Roller UK P&P £7 £65 ea
12” Bending Bar UK P&P £3.50 £9 ea
18” Bending Bar UK P&P £7 £12 ea
Standard Rivet Tool UK P&P £7 £45 ea
Universal Rivet Tool UK P&P £7 £95 ea
Heavy Duty Universal Rivet Tool UK P&P £15 £165 ea
8Ba Socket Spanner £5 ea
10Ba Socket Spanner £5 ea
12Ba Socket Spanner £5 ea
14Ba Socket Spanner £5 ea
16Ba Socket Spanner £5 ea
Back to Back adjustable Gauge for; 16.5, EM, P4 Scales £15 ea
Back to Back adjustable Gauge for 3mm Scale £15 ea

Unless otherwise stated Postage & Packing is £1.50 per item UK only.
Please Phone or send SAE for all Enquiries.
Buyers from outside the UK please contact for Postage Costs.
Please contact for availability
Cheques Payable to GW Models
No Credit Cards Taken  
Prices Correct January 2019. Subject to Change

 

I just sent a letter with £20 in it and called him on the number to check he had it. The two pullers turned up a couple of weeks later.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Will

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Managed to get a significant amount of time on the layout this weekend, which resulted in the layout being wired up. First on the agenda was gluing the track to the cork on Friday afternoon during my lunch break, managed to weigh it down and with the assistance of the heating it was dry by the evening. Using weights I managed to get the whole 6ft length of track glued and weighed down Friday night to dry over night. 

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I had presoldered the droppers using the awesome Palatine Models droppers so on Saturday morning just stripped the wire and soldered to the bus. For the bus I’ve used copper tape. I’m not 100% convinced on this method so it’s subject to change as to whether I’m going to rip it out and do it with copper clad for more reliability. 
 

Most of the rest of my weekend has been spent playing around with Megapoints and JMRI. I’ve managed to install the three C&L servo mounts with in built frog switches and wire them up to the Megapoints board. These mounts are absolutely awesome and I can’t recommend them highly enough. I’m not 100% on the C&L tie bars though - I’ve replaced the wire that comes with the kit with piano wire but it’s still temperamental. I’m quite averse to going back to the copper clad sleeper tie bar so any suggestions as to a solution on this would be much appreciated!


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After a long weekend working on the layout it was nice to finally have a little play on the straight sections. 37710/56006/60500 all got to stretch their legs which was nice!

 

0550BBD9-5156-41AB-801B-F3C9FE1F9299.jpeg.0d1a1e0aba44a65b3cc80f2e461deef7.jpeg0B216E26-E819-4265-A4B3-51FB7B5C8022.jpeg.f9483ca316be37957dc8810c4801c662.jpeg7ED14030-D393-416B-98F5-3FBA10256A54.jpeg.90dc575f2fb26fe4bc7654c1caee0f8b.jpeg6E58120F-719D-4014-BE6D-6264749CCF31.jpeg.b0494cc88598dc3108cf519c2fd5d691.jpeg8E379239-7CE3-45C3-BCF6-B1C70F57E950.jpeg.2ef3f986a1e7ab88f5f2e11ecba49ab8.jpeg97A44E87-07C9-4F2B-8B88-A839D7987560.jpeg.b7c827c786cae07084867f607272cc9d.jpeg

 

Finally as I was putting the layout away I thought it would be good to show the right hand board with the three way point on it:

 

66E7246B-4E7F-4096-874C-4C0F060231AA.jpeg.282c93efc408917b3689a1fd03dd721a.jpeg

 

The cork on the right will be cut out in the place of some scenery!

 

Hopefully over the next few weekends I can get the layout up with the fiddle yard to finish wiring and more importantly have a play! 
 

Thanks for looking - any comments would be much appreciated!

 

Will

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Had a nice productive afternoon this afternoon soldering up the Bill Bedford W Irons for my two EWS VGAs, they run really nicely now they are sprung! Just needs cosmetic axle boxes now so any advice on how to do this would be much appreciated.

 

BC6C2727-E79F-4FF4-A470-27F8D5927FBD.jpeg.4a4cf83f61461ffe882cc5d70d731f18.jpegEBF66344-8A6E-4D46-92CA-C2918D6F0822.jpeg.a2c5312a68d15a6c944bc429d9f75478.jpeg310006FE-C091-4252-87BD-1E8D9EA7D289.jpeg.f0abb9e6ae8c7feb0d31db4979cb5a4b.jpeg

 

Also got a Stenson models Y25 Sprung bogie kit so hoping to make some progress on that this evening.

 

Kind regards,

 

Will

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Hi Will,

 

On my VGAs I think I used Wizard Models Timken (hooded) axle boxes.

 

It helps to put a small drop of oil on the top hat bearing to prevent the glue jamming the assembly solid, then glue on the axlebox. You may also need to open out the back of it to allow space for the bearing to fit.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Cheers

Wayne

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https://www.hamodels.net/4mm/oo-gauge-romford-pin-point-waisted-bearings.html

 

These are the bearing to use on suspension systems, saves having to hack great lumps out of the axle box casting, then solder on the casting to save the danger of superglue seizing everything up solid.

 

Mike.

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1 hour ago, Wayne 37901 said:

Hi Will,

 

On my VGAs I think I used Wizard Models Timken (hooded) axle boxes.

 

It helps to put a small drop of oil on the top hat bearing to prevent the glue jamming the assembly solid, then glue on the axlebox. You may also need to open out the back of it to allow space for the bearing to fit.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Cheers

Wayne


Hi Wayne - thanks for this that’s great. Don’t suppose you have the link to the ones you’ve used do you? I’ve just scrolled through 12 pages on Wizard and can’t seem to find them! 
 

Thanks in advance!

 

1 hour ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

https://www.hamodels.net/4mm/oo-gauge-romford-pin-point-waisted-bearings.html

 

These are the bearing to use on suspension systems, saves having to hack great lumps out of the axle box casting, then solder on the casting to save the danger of superglue seizing everything up solid.

 

Mike.


Thanks Mike - they’re going to be invaluable; I’ve just had to hack apart one of my Gibson ones to get it into my Stenson’s Y25.

 

Managed to get one soldered up late last night, just need to put the finishing touches to the other bogie and attach to the BDA. Very please with the result on these, despite them needing cleaning up!6B8F6265-922C-4EA1-B11B-99E79169AAB9.jpeg.7dade0a4dc6f76b41aa800e18428b56b.jpeg962945CC-AEA1-4C84-86C7-BC75230EDE2E.jpeg.a0778c8f55ac4dc2f5054b03c46fc159.jpeg

 

Thanks again,

 

Will

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I think I used the axlebox and spring from the Cambrian "compensation kit" for the first VGA that I did; not sure why I felt it necessary to replace the spring and axlebox, usually with VDAs, OBAs, etc I leave the Bachmann spring in place and just replace the axlebox.  I have another VGA that if currently awaiting axleboxes though so need to have another look at that.

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5 hours ago, Mark Forrest said:

I think I used the axlebox and spring from the Cambrian "compensation kit" for the first VGA that I did; not sure why I felt it necessary to replace the spring and axlebox, usually with VDAs, OBAs, etc I leave the Bachmann spring in place and just replace the axlebox.  I have another VGA that if currently awaiting axleboxes though so need to have another look at that.

Thanks Mark much appreciated - would appreciate any advice you can when you do convert it!

 

On the back of last nights toils I’ve finally fitted the Stenson’s bogies to the BDA. Super happy with the result and I the wagon runs incredibly well now. One down, seven to go! 
 

35D37D21-F30D-4A58-9374-7CAA5B255FD6.jpeg.d8386c37892972b1c5f1116b3e01d9b4.jpeg67327296-0E77-4474-8176-C1C68DDAF40C.jpeg.3b8763df8e56b5ae99173db97a35f3ed.jpegDE3CED1C-AB2A-41CB-93D7-43EA6ED6E5CA.jpeg.2a2ca31647f8c11b3bc5f23372734fb5.jpeg

 

They just need a coat of paint now! Hoping to do some actual work on the layout over the next few nights as well.

 

Thanks,

 

Will

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Managed to get some more time on the layout Sunday evening - I have successfully rewired the layout. I had originally used copper tape which I wasn’t happy with, so I replaced it with copper clad strips glued underneath the boards for the bus wire - much stronger! I also replaced the C&L tie bars underneath the points with a thinner out copper clad sleeper. They work really nicely now and don’t look too bad IMO. 
CCAB5AB0-8288-493F-9C4A-F4A492BB8A0C.jpeg.d325abb8d3a6ce11d2dc601c15e810b3.jpegC6157716-0657-48A3-96D4-C65B6AB4E285.jpeg.e5c3d66ddc3ab97fffeee2727e39b3c3.jpeg3DF93DCE-ED99-486B-B508-ADB77678D87D.jpeg.2db69e4af7a79ffcdf6f1b1e988af426.jpeg6CEAB0B4-3772-47E0-8EA5-ECBBF116BCD3.jpeg.a69dfdc7de7e63d6781e9ff5f2cf55b9.jpeg
 

Managed to catch 56006 down at Motts Lane this morning:

 

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I also managed to wire up the frogs on the run around point and 2/3 of the three way point. These run from the C&L squirrel mounts and micro switches. 
 

It was nice to play trains last night with 37710, although I think it probably needs a sound chip! 
 


Hoping to get the final frog of the three way wired tonight.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Will

82EFF0C5-0DBA-4FA6-91E5-F93EE3C7E7AB.jpeg

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A nice little project this evening - sound fitting 37710. Thanks to @Modelling Mike a friend of his was selling of a Loksound V4 with Biffo sounds cheaply so I could hardly say no! Speaker upgraded do a double iPhone speaker and away she goes - absolutely chuffed with it! 
 

 

Looking forward to having more of a play over the weekend. I’ve also managed to wire up the final frog on the three way point last night so the layout should hopefully run in all places now.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Will

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Evening All,

 

Managed to get a bit more done on the layout this week - namely the introduction of several structures for the layout. First up the Bachmann Downham Market signal box arrived, really pleased with how it fits in and should hide the fiddle yard exit nicely along with a signal gantry at the end of the platform. 
 

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Next up I had a Lanarkshire models buffer stop arrive as well - a bit of super glue later and it was assembled.

 

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With the help of my dad this afternoon we managed to get the hard standing drawn out. He will then scan the paper and create a file in Adobe Illustrator for laser cutting.

 

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Saturday brought a Pikestuff warehouse I’ve been waiting on for about a month now and the ratio crane for the steel sidings. I’m pretty happy with both and think they’ll look really good once they’re bedded in a bit more into the layout. The crane could do with finishing! 
 

Finally this evening after a long weekend it was nice to set up the layout and just have a play! A few shots and a video of the layout below:

 

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I’m pleased with the progress this week! Not sure how much time I’m going to have in the layout next few weeks - busy with work over the next week or so and then onto Ally Pally in two weekends time for the whole weekend. 
 

Any feedback would be much appreciated! 
 

Kind regards,

 

Will

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Hi Will, great to see some more shots of the layout as it develops. I’m really enjoying following your build. 

 

Really happy I was able to help you out (and John!) with the 37 chip. What a beast that loco is now! It really does sound superb. 

 

Looking forward to seeing more developments soon...

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14 hours ago, Modelling Mike said:

Hi Will, great to see some more shots of the layout as it develops. I’m really enjoying following your build. 

 

Really happy I was able to help you out (and John!) with the 37 chip. What a beast that loco is now! It really does sound superb. 

 

Looking forward to seeing more developments soon...


Thanks for the kind words Mike much appreciated! It certainly has gone to a good home in 710! Worth the speaker upgrade to the iPhone as well.

 

Unfortunately I haven’t made any progress this week due to work commitments, however I have been thinking about couplings. I want to be able to have detailing on all of the wagons and locos I have, but also have some form of auto uncoupler system to aid operation. Now my thinking is this will be best suited by the sprat and winkle method with electromagnets underneath the layout, mainly at the end of the station and the two reception sidings.

 

Has anyone had any experience with the method or can recommend an alternative? I think KDs are too expensive and obtrusive, whereas three links on their own won’t allow for the auto uncoupling. An interesting dilemma and would really appreciate any suggestions people may have!

 

Will 

 

 

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