MattWallace Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Hey all! So here's the new thread for the layout that is most likely to be built this year! Whilst I change my trackplans as often as Coachman changes his track, I think I really have nailed it here (with the help of others on the forum!). The trackplan for my layout is as follows: OilTerminalSectorPlate by ProfFalken, on Flickr This layout has the following: 1) A traverser (manual to begin with but will almost certainly be motorised at a later date) 2) Sector plates large enough to take a single Bachmann 66 (to allow the loco to pull in to the FY and run around the service) 3) A "half-station" hiding the entrance to the traverser 4) A "tunnel" that will allow passenger (up to 4 cars) and small freight (i.e. LE/ECS) moves to switch from the UP to the DOWN 5) A Fuel Terminal As you can see from the following picture, I have a single "rare as rocking-horse sh*t" Hornby Fuel Terminal gantry and I'll be looking for more soon! Class 92 gantry and buffers by ProfFalken, on Flickr The layout will use the same electronics as Marshfield/Blockwall Junctions (i.e. MERG CBUS, JMRI) although I may switch from solenoid to servos for the points. *** DO NOT EXPECT REGULAR UPDATES *** Those of you who have followed my previous threads will know that time is sparse for me and will probably be so for the next few years (hence the title of the layout!) *************** I will also be breaking this down into a number of sub-projects to prototype the more "interesting" parts of the build that I will link to here, starting with the sector plates and then moving on to the traverser. Thanks for looking and I hope to have something worth seeing shortly! Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdw7300 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Hi Matt. The new track plan looks good. Looking forward to following this, especially the oil terminal construction as i'm planning to have oil too. I know what you mean by time (or more accurately, lack whereof!).... Happy modelling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 My first "sub-project" - building the sector plates - is available at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85023-building-an-automated-sector-plate/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I will continue to watch this project as an when with interest David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold fishytrains Posted April 23, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 23, 2014 I will follow as and when I get time to do so, so your updates will probably look like good progress to me! Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted May 2, 2014 Author Share Posted May 2, 2014 An update has been posted to the sector plate thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85023-building-an-automated-sector-plate/&do=findComment&comment=1427362 Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 Right, so in order to progress the layout, I need to tidy the loft.In order to tidy the loft, I need to setup some storage for all the things that won't fit around the edges of the loft. If I have to have some storage in the middle of the loft then it might as well be useful, therefore it should have the ability to "run-in" new trains on it as a "roundy-roundy" Presenting.... My Loft (courtesy of SCARM): The black boxes are the water tanks, the purple one is the loft hatch. The main layout (after which this thread is named) runs around the outside (or at least it will once it is built), the table in the middle will actually be storage with a single loop of track on top and a workbench over that for me to do modelling/soldering/whatever on. To give an idea of scale, the workbench/cupboard is 6ft long x 4ft wide x 3ft high... I'm hoping to start on the cupboard tonight. Matt P.S. The layout doesn't really float in thin air, I just couldn't be bothered to put in the rafters/beams/legs for it to be attached to! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold fishytrains Posted June 25, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 25, 2014 I like the plan and the running in loop in the middle of the loft. Good luck with the progress. Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Thanks, I started the first frame for the workbench last night then ran out of timber. I'm hoping to complete them over the next week and then start on storing stuff in the loft properly instead of just scattered all over the floor. The plan is to make four frames that are 3x2 in size and then bolt them together to make the 6x4 cabinet. I'll then attach the sides and lay the loop of track before fabricating the worktop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 The first frame is almost complete: I just need to add another two corner braces to the other side and then I can use this as a template for the rest. The good news is that it is surprisingly stable and solid considering the frame is from 21mm PSE Softwood, the base is 9mm ply and the top is 9mm MDF! Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdw7300 Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 Looking good. (Hopefully) a stupid question, but is your loft hatch big enough....? ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 Heh, not a stupid question at all - actually, it's not big enough, no. The main reason I've assembled this outside first is to make sure that the concept works. It's all held together with screws so I'll charge the electronic screwdriver today and then take this one apart move it up into the loft in bits and put it back together. It's designed to break down into the following parts: End Frames Base (battens attached) Top (Battens attached) I know that these bits will fit through the hatch as I've had to move the 9mm ply in and out of the loft and all of the above parts are 3ftx2ft. Eventually, I hope to add some more ply as sides, re-enforcing and providing places to store tools etc. and the final thing should all lock together as follows: +------+-------+ | | | +------+-------+ | | | +------+-------+ Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 And here we are - the first unit is in place and assembled! Take a base: add some ends: and a top: Put them together: and fill it with boxes whilst burning your ear on the dangling lightbulb! Now to build three more and get the track to go on top, then I'll make the work surface! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 And here all four of them are assembled together, with the beginnings of the trackwork resting on top: I'm quite pleased with this... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted July 14, 2014 Author Share Posted July 14, 2014 I completed the loop of track today, just need to fix it in place. My Bachmann 66 has already completed numerous loops around the track and is showing real signs of improvement in current pick up and smoothness of movement with every circuit it does! I'll post photos/videos later on this week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted August 23, 2014 Author Share Posted August 23, 2014 So it's been well over a week (more than a month infact, but you're all getting used to this by now!) and I've managed to get into the loft and get a couple of circuits done with my converted class 92 and 66071 actually doing some work for once! The motor in the 92 is horrifically noisy but appears to be getting better with each circuit - I think I need to give it a bit of oil. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClZXI0882HI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD75ccf-CgY I still love the sound on the 66, but I do need to look at the 92's motor Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 Who the hell am I kidding? This layout was always going to be way too much to get done. I have a new track plan, I love it, I'm about to post it into the "layout plans" and watch people tear it apart. It's still 16' long, but it's only 1' wide, making me think seriously about exhibiting it if I'm happy with the quality at a later date. Skinny by ProfFalken, on Flickr Cheers, Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattWallace Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 A new track plan: New Baseboards: and a new thread: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/90847-this-might-even-get-built Please follow the new thread if you're interested in where I go next with this - I promise that I won't be doing any other large layout threads again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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