AlfaZagato Posted April 15, 2020 Share Posted April 15, 2020 (edited) I'm finally committing to a long-standing concept I've had. Martinson & Co will be a micro-layout with a gauge of 9mm. I plan to represent a small yard with two spurs. The whole of the operation will sit inside a shoebox of about 15x14". For a little added convenience, I will have a fiddle 'stick' out the side of the box, just to allow off-scene management by the 'Hand of God.' I will plant a couple of uncoupling magnets to allow for hands-free operation on scene. This is about the arrangement I've seen will fit so far; And I've posed it here with the only bit of railway scenery I have built. The goods shed is a Peco item, if I remember correctly. Like I've said above, I plan to show this yard as packed ashes or similar. Part of that plan is burying the track almost up to the railhead. I've seen a handful of recent articles in Model Rail about the subject, but I don't recall solutions for the points. Does anyone have any tips? What would I need to do to assure reliable operation? As I plan to bury the track, I don't fancy digging up the cover to solve faults. The point is a Peco Streamline item, with a wire connecting the two lines. Some of you may have noticed I only referenced the gauge, not the scale. I've also mentioned I wish to represent something like packed ashes. That's my trick. I want to peg or magnetize any buildings & scenery. Doing so, I wish to make such things modular. I'll be able to switch scales in a heartbeat. Go from OO9 to HOe/HO 2 1/2 to UK N to Japanese N to N, just by running a different train and buildings! I went with the name of Martinson & Co for two reasons. My name happens to be Martin, for one. My other reasoning is Martin seems to be a reasonably consistent name amongst European languages, as does the suffix -son. One name plaque covers most prototypes. What does anyone think? Edited September 13, 2022 by AlfaZagato Replacing files 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ian Simpson Posted April 15, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 15, 2020 I think I'd use thin card in-fills between / outside the rails. They're easy to remove if you need to get at the board, and you could glue a thin layer of ash on top. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 (edited) I still haven't gotten that far yet, though I picked up what was a mildly difficult item to scrounge here stateside; Shutdown is partially lifting here, but the shop I'd have liked to pick these up from hasn't reopened yet. I have concerns they did not survive the shutdown. Edited September 13, 2022 by AlfaZagato 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 (edited) I added feed drops. I have a drop off of the entrance curve, and then a drop between each piece of track on each spur. I soldered the drops across the joint, above the fishplates. I've also fitted insulated joiners between each spur and the switch, and cut the circuit across the frogs. I don't plan on fitting such a small layout with DCC. I'm not entirely ashamed of the soldering, either. I need to do more. Next, I need to drill holes for the feeds, along with rout channels underneath the baseboard to accommodate the feeds. I should probably also figure out how I'm actually wiring this. That might be important. Edited September 13, 2022 by AlfaZagato 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted September 16, 2020 Author Share Posted September 16, 2020 (edited) I redid the feeds. Friend in a local club drew me a superior wiring diagram to my 'drops everywhere.' I picked up some Kato Unitrak-to-snaptrack connectors, too. I may need to shorten one for the space. I plan to use Unitrak and the associated connector as a quick-attach fiddle-stick. Seems better than contriving some alignment system made from angle. Edited September 13, 2022 by AlfaZagato 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted February 12, 2021 Author Share Posted February 12, 2021 (edited) I think I finalized my trackplan. I'm not so concerned about entering the layout obliquely. As I've mentioned before, I'm using the Unitrak due to the quality of the connection. There's a reason T-Trak is a thing. I think I will need to pack in under the entrance to the point. Not good to have it floating. Should I just cork the rest of the track? I wasn't going to originally. Figured it would be more needless depth to a compact layout. Could I just mount the Dapol decoupling magnets in a layer of cork, though? Edited September 13, 2022 by AlfaZagato Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 Very early testing. I haven't finished the wiring yet. Short test video. I mean, that works. I need a switch to connect the spurs. I have a half-dozen old SPST switches. On/Off, no center. According to my friend's notes, I need...not that. I don't have the notes to hand. I should write that down... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted September 13, 2022 Author Share Posted September 13, 2022 (edited) Small work on the layout tonight. I cut the exit for the fiddle stick. Used Yew as a guide, as she'll be my largest loco I expect to use. Not the prettiest cut, but the only thing to hand was a box knife. I also have the recommended switches available - Single pole, double throw. Once I figure out where I want the wires, I can hook that up and go. Edited September 13, 2022 by AlfaZagato Duplicate file, cheating file size limit 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfaZagato Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 Getting ahead of myself on this idea. I may develop the idea of 'Martinson & Co' beyond just this small shoebox layout. I've been having ideas on livery for PO wagons and/or locos. My question is, would Zinc Chromate ever be used on wood bodies? My thought was a small industry, should it have 'own' stock, might use just a primer coat? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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