lmsforever Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 You are going to have to wear sunglasses down there ! Very good looking baseboards will watch as you build. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 7 hours ago, gordon s said: A real work of art, William and that’s just the woodwork! Sometimes the skill in producing such quality work is overlooked when compared to other aspects of our hobby. Really looking forward to watching this develop. I dont know if it's a work of art, but thanks for the compliment. I was lucky to know a guy who has a CNC machine, made things alot easier. Also painting the boards white will help the old eyes when stuck under the layout with a wiring challenge. The challenge is now getting my head around DCC. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 So today the very first piece of track was laid. I am starting on the helix, since it most likely will cause me grief. I'm gluing the track down this time, and I will reinforce the track in the helix with nails. Making sure that they are ever so gently nailed into place through per drilled holes. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEngineShed Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 On 12/03/2021 at 21:14, bickybtrains said: And so it begins, I spent the evening installing the baseboard modules. My wife came down and just looked around and said I should make the layout smaller and have s nice guest room. I looked at her with a face of disdain, the dog looked at us and ran upstairs. If you make the helix bigger, you could put the guest room inside. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 A nice evening down in the railway room, I started laying track for the helix. Pretty happy how it is turning out. I just didn't feel like building baseboards today, just wanted to get some track down. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 More work on the helix today, trying to get it level and a constant grade has been a bit of fun. Progress so far today. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted March 21, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 21, 2021 Bill: I've always feared that if you get one spot of the helix level across, it will fight with the bit 90 degrees around the bend. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 minute ago, BR60103 said: Bill: I've always feared that if you get one spot of the helix level across, it will fight with the bit 90 degrees around the bend. That has been a bit of a problem, spent all day getting it level. Then another area goes out of level. A bit of cursing and swearing but I finally got it. I am using a digital level that also gives me my grade. I'm staying around 2 per cent. The nice thing about the level is it beeps when i am square, level. I ended up putting more legs under the helex, and cross braced the whole lot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) That is certainly a quality build, Bill. Just two things. Will you be running steam locos? If so at 1:50 you may find limitations on the length of trains a steam loco will pull up that level of gradient on a curve. Diesel loco’s are far less of an issue, but traction with steam locos drops considerably. The second issue Is one of track cleaning and derailments. With five tracks across and what appears to be quite tight headroom, are you able to access all tracks to deal with those issues? I probably sound like a party pooper, but having had problems with gradients and clearances before, I’d hate to see your good work pose problems for the future. Edited March 21, 2021 by gordon s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 12 hours ago, gordon s said: That is certainly a quality build, Bill. Just two things. Will you be running steam locos? If so at 1:50 you may find limitations on the length of trains a steam loco will pull up that level of gradient on a curve. Diesel loco’s are far less of an issue, but traction with steam locos drops considerably. The second issue Is one of track cleaning and derailments. With five tracks across and what appears to be quite tight headroom, are you able to access all tracks to deal with those issues? I probably sound like a party pooper, but having had problems with gradients and clearances before, I’d hate to see your good work pose problems for the future. Not being a party pooper, all diesel, layout is set in the 70's no steam. Access to the helix will be on both sides, I have 3 1/2 inches, I have already tried cleaning the track from inside the helix, I can reach all the track. I was hoping for 4" But that put the gradient a little steep. My last layout had a 2 percent grade, all my Bachmann and newer Hornby could handle with 7 coach trains. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Dealing with derailments on my helix, and the gradient of the helix as I continue to build it has been a concern. I managed to reduce the gradient to 1.7 percent with a height of 3 1/2 inches per level. The outside radius is 34 inches. The inside track will be for the coal mine, so it's a tighter radius. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 27, 2021 Author Share Posted March 27, 2021 It's been a busy few days on the Bickley Central. I managed to lay some track on the lower storage/fiddle yard. Also the lower loop was installed. I managed to start the second level of the helix, but ran out of sheet cork. I also started Covid Jct, the main junction into the Terminus Station. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Covid jct. has been laid. And it looks like I can accommodate 8 coach trains in the terminus. I will of course have to do all the electrics and install all the tortose motors a project in its selve. All the points are tacked in place for easy removal when I install the tortose point motors. I will have five platform faces in the terminus station from left to right 1,2,3,4,5 . Platform one being the longest to accommodate a HST. A couple of coach sidings and then some goods sidings finish of the station area. Covid junction is a large y junction Most trains will go to the right and terminate in the lower fiddle yard under the terminus station. I think the total run is about 120 feet including the helix. If I don't terminate at the storage siding I can still go back up the helix and terminate at the terminus station adding another 60 plus feet of run. Don't quote these figures until I'm done,they will change. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Some of you might have noticed that I have painted the baseboards. There is a reason for this and that is to stop the boards from warping and expanding. I also find it is easier to do wiring and work under the layout when I can actually see stuff. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theakerr Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Painting also minimises dust pick-up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 14 minutes ago, Theakerr said: Painting also minimises dust pick-up. Never thought of that. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Spent the afternoon soldering up tortose motors. Later points need to be looked at and modified. Once done I'm going to be a busy guy installing point motors. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted April 2, 2021 Author Share Posted April 2, 2021 (edited) Boy what a frustrating couple of days, managed to wire up and install a bunch of motors and points. Never thought that my double slips were going to be a problem. Soldered all the wires to that piddly little wire supplied by peco, I proceed to install the point and I ended up holding a loose wire in my hand. The darn wire had broken off at the frog. Not desoldered but broken. I rewired two slips, cursing and swearing as I soldered them back in. The last slip soldered when it was installed went better. Edited April 2, 2021 by bickybtrains 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted April 2, 2021 Author Share Posted April 2, 2021 I'm back at the helix, tommorow I'm hooking up the dcc unit onto the helix to test it before I go any further. Just want to see what the maximum train length will be, and of course to play. I'm planning g on getting the next level done, and be at the halfway point of the helix build. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium BR60103 Posted April 3, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 3, 2021 Billiam: I often wire my frogs using the rail beyond the frog if I haven't put a plastic rail joiner on it. Cheaper than replacing the whole point with my soldering skills. We were up near your place today as someone thought the swans might be out, but they were still penned up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 I was down at the river as well taking the dog for a walk. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 Ran the first train, also did a test train to see what size train I can handle. Good news a nine coach train can take the helix with ease. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted April 3, 2021 Share Posted April 3, 2021 That’s good news, Bill. Diesel loco’s always perform so much better. I see you’re also an ECoS convert....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 A friend of mine suggested it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickybtrains Posted April 3, 2021 Author Share Posted April 3, 2021 I'm slowly running out of track, I have an order in for a bunch more. I dont know when I will get it, but I think I have enough projects to keep me busy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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