RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 28, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) Having started modelling in 7mm scale, and decided I'd never go back to anything smaller, I made the fatal mistake of ordering a Hornby Peckett, just because they're so gorgeous. In ex works livery, it sat in it's box for over a year, while work on my O gauge layout had almost stalled as I'd been spending time on commissions and making resin and CNC cut 7mm scale buildings that I produce on a short run basis. I started to wonder about producing a little "photo plank", to give the little Peckett somewhere to shuffle about and perhaps as a presentation piece if I scaled down some of my buildings to 4mm scale. While I was thinking about this, I came across the Norfolk Heath Works Micro Modules baseboard kits, intended for 009, and wondered if I could squeeze a little OO gauge micro onto them, so ordered 3 modules (including a sector plate) which duly arrived. They went together very easily and I can report they are a very nice piece of work, and reasonably priced. Then came the challenge of whether a believable little scene with a bit of operational interest could be made to fit. I had a few bedraggled old bits and pieces of track from a previous stalled layout lurking in corners of the garage, which were enough to come up with this basic plan. Edited December 28, 2020 by Gareth001 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kevin Johnson Posted December 28, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2020 I agree the Peckett is a lovely looking loco and is one I hope to purchase very soon. I like your idea of a small photo plank and the design of your layout. I will be watching with great interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 29, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 29, 2020 Track now laid, and held in position by blobs of superglue prior to painting and ballasting. The point at the exit of the fiddle yard is a cut down curved Peco point to save space....it was the only way I could get a run around loop in the tiny space. 3 wagon trains will be the order of the day. Track is all doctored Peco code 75. 9 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechnicArrow Posted December 29, 2020 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Very ingenious track layout, and one with plenty of operating potential - I used a similar one for Arrow Paints, and regularly enjoy running it. I do especially like the use of the point crossing, although I can't help wondering if you'd have more capacity if you simply ran both tracks to the sector plate separately. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kevin Johnson Posted December 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2020 The baseboard and traverse look great and I love your layout design. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2020 8 hours ago, TechnicArrow said: Very ingenious track layout, and one with plenty of operating potential - I used a similar one for Arrow Paints, and regularly enjoy running it. I do especially like the use of the point crossing, although I can't help wondering if you'd have more capacity if you simply ran both tracks to the sector plate separately. I am using a similar track plan on my micro Span Yard, my fiddlestick is your right hand siding. I also think that you could have gained a bit more elbow room, but by replacing the 2 nearest RHS turnouts with Ys, and come off with 2 separate tracks therefore saving on the butchered turnout, this would give a bigger run round loop. Looking good though. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 With a sector plate in the fiddleyard, I would have left out the point in front of it. Seems a complication too far. Rule 1 of course, your layout etc. Just an observation. steve 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 30, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2020 (edited) Thanks for all the replies....all very valid observations. I did think about running the tracks separately to the sector plate...that's a good point. But because of the limited width and the limited movement of the sector plate itself, the tracks on the plate can really only line up to a single track along the centreline. I've pushed the envelope to get the alignment on the 2 exits on the truncated point....and if I'd left the point out I would have lost the run around loop. I did also originally plan on using y points throughout, but being a skinflint adapted things to suit what I had in the junkbox. Should have called it Scrooge Lane Sidings. Quick squirt of paint and the addition of a check rail on the tightest curve follows. The pic shows the particularly naff condition of the recycled pointwork, but a lot will be buried under the usual industrial grime. Edited December 30, 2020 by Gareth001 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 30, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2020 Hi Jim....they seem pretty rigid to me. They are designed to be bolted together, but Ive permanently stuck mine, and there isn't much in the way of twist, at least not without risking damage. I have noticed a very slight sag in the 3mm mdf baseboard though, so I'm going to add some bracing as you suggest. I think they're up to the job though. I'm in the process of designing some card baseboard kits (made from mounting board, well braced) which I think I'm going to make in 2' x 1' modules to start with...I'll post updates on here to let you know how I get on! They'll be light, strong and cost effective. I'm also thinking about fitted backscenes and presentation arches to suit. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnaby Posted December 30, 2020 Share Posted December 30, 2020 Your layout is very impressive with some inventive track formation to the fiddle yard. Well done so far Gareth and as the saying goes "where there's a need there's always a way". I add this to my ones to follow list and to accompany your 7mm layout build. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 30, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 30, 2020 Good to hear from you Mark, and hope you're well. I've made a little progress on the O gauge layout, but I've spent quite a lot of time on commissions...plan to do a bit less in the new year. I'll update soon, and I have a new terraced house kit nearly ready. All the best to you and yours for a happy and healthy 2021. Cheers, G. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2020 Hi Jim..always interested to learn from someone else's ideas, so very grateful for the pics. I'm looking at a die cut or CNC cut solution, so I can produce an accurately repeatable square and rigid module. Of course the design has to be right, so lots of planning and prototypes to make. I'll post updates, and thanks for your input Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted December 31, 2020 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 31, 2020 (edited) Thanks Jim. If I needed reminding why I moved up to 7mm scale, cutting chairs in half for the check rail certainly provided it: more on the floor than on the bench, and several more pinging off as I tried, with maximum magnification, to fit them in place. Railway modelling is not supposed to be this close to extreme violence, but having resisted the urge to launch the lot into the field, we got there in the end. Now for some sparky bits and see if we can get some movement. Edited December 31, 2020 by Gareth001 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnaby Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 On 30/12/2020 at 15:21, Gareth001 said: .......and I have a new terraced house kit nearly ready. Sounds interesting Gareth I look forward to seeing it when ready. I'll have to see where I may be able to fit one in my scenic build. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted January 6, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 6, 2021 (edited) Some basic wiring done with a couple of simple bus bars and micro switches on the sector plate.... Edited January 6, 2021 by Gareth001 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted January 6, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 6, 2021 The first little waddle of the Peckett across the yard. It really is a lovely piece of work by Hornby, and with a bit of fettling runs smoothly over the recycled pointwork. Point control next, which is again going to be courtesy of old bits and pieces from the back of the cupboard: this time some servos courtesy of Heathcote Electronics. Dangerously close to playing trains, or would be if I had any rolling stock. The wagon in the background is all there is at the moment! 7 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kevin Johnson Posted January 6, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 6, 2021 Nice little running session Gareth, two lovely locos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted January 6, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 6, 2021 Well, I have an excellent supplier! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnaby Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 Great stuff Gareth. That Peckett is perfect but not in 00 for me as I'll stick with 0. Bantam Street Yard is spreading its wings. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) Hi @Gareth001 Great looking plan. You've managed to squeeze a lot into a small area, and in rather neat fashion, it doesn't look cramped - that's a neat piece of careful design. Looking forward to seeing this project progress Edited January 11, 2021 by marc smith 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SZ Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) On 06/01/2021 at 11:40, Gareth001 said: I'm interested in that fiddle yard, to line up on all tracks surely the pivot point needs to move, maybe along a slot cut in the top sheet (an arc?). The sector-traverser is invented! - or maybe re-invented? Edited January 11, 2021 by SZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnaby Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Hello SZ. I'm sure Gareth will answer your query but I notice that the traverser tracks are curved at the ends. That is to ensure that they align when pivoted so you should have nothing to worry about.. Best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SZ Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Barnaby said: I'm sure Gareth will answer your query but I notice that the traverser tracks are curved at the ends. That is to ensure that they align when pivoted so you should have nothing to worry about... I think that works only with near parallel entry tracks. The closer the entry tracks converge the closer the pivot point needs to be to the entry point, eventually crowding out the possibility of having multi-tracks on the sector plate. Which is why some traverse movement on the plate is needed. Edited January 11, 2021 by SZ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted January 12, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 12, 2021 Hi SZ....all the tracks do line up (very closely) from a single pivot point. Some aspects are slightly better than others (see pics below), but the angle is close enough that even the little Peckett runs over at a crawl, with a wheelbase of only about 22mm. There isn't any noticeable "kink" as trains run across...I say trains, but I only have one wagon so far! It's saved me about 6" on the length of the layout....important on one this tiny. It all works reliably with the microswitches isolating and energising the tracks as they line up. I don't think it's a new idea. 6 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gareth001 Posted January 12, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted January 12, 2021 Bit more wiring done today while I should have been working. In the general spirit of using up any old bits I can find, the point actuators are made of a bit of rail running through the brass bits cut out of terminal strips and soldered to brass strip, simply driven by a servo. The end of the rail works a microswitch to change the polarity of the frog. Bit Heath Robinson, but it works. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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