Mitche01 Posted May 11, 2023 Author Share Posted May 11, 2023 So finalised the track plan based on the build so far. Major changes - 1. Dropped the single slip and combined the transition points into 1 location. 2. I have been able to add an additional 3 lines into the fiddle yard, with 2 extra tracks for the fast lines, and 1 extra line that connects the branch line and the inner mainline. 3. Added a lower fiddle yard for the branchline - to store 3 DMUs and 2 steam trains. Additionally I have successfully completed one loop around the room, and have trains running!!! So fiddle yard is starting to fill up with test trains. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinofLoxley Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Amazing rate of progress! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted May 25, 2023 Author Share Posted May 25, 2023 Track testing ongoing... The fiddle yard is starting to fill up. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted May 27, 2023 Author Share Posted May 27, 2023 (edited) Two loops working now Edited June 14, 2023 by Mitche01 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 Just finished the 3rd loop now, 1 more to go!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted June 18, 2023 Author Share Posted June 18, 2023 (edited) Some shots of the testing ongoing... Problems found: 1. points and track have some undulation - root cause - drilling holes for point motors/dropper wires created some cork to sit between wood and cork base giving some "lumps" that pushed the track up in places. reason this happened - drilling holes too quickly after laying cork. Advice - give glue setting at least 8 hours before drilling if using copydex. 2. some wheel on old stock do not like modern track - 1 coach in particular derailed every point. Back to backs OK - but wheel depth is NG. Advice - swapped old wheel to newer Hornby wheels on a MK2b in regional railways livery. NOTE - wiring still to be done! All the dropper wires and frog wires are connected up for testing using croc clips. Edited June 18, 2023 by Mitche01 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted June 21, 2023 Author Share Posted June 21, 2023 4 lines now working! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted July 5, 2023 Author Share Posted July 5, 2023 (edited) Finishing the branch line track, just the return passing loop to do and also finalising the plans for the branch line fiddle yard. Edited July 5, 2023 by Mitche01 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Snooze Posted July 6, 2023 Share Posted July 6, 2023 I'm looking forward to seeing how this progresses. Best regards to you 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted July 21, 2023 Author Share Posted July 21, 2023 Fiddle yard for the branchline is progressing well. 1. Table top made 2. Adjustable legs added 3. Cork laid 4. point work almost finalised Looks like I will be able to have 6 forward sidings and 3 reverse sidings (1 of those can accommodate a 156 at least). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted October 4, 2023 Author Share Posted October 4, 2023 (edited) OK, All branch line storage sidings now completed. All track is now laid!l, on to the wiring now!! Edited October 4, 2023 by Mitche01 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted November 8, 2023 Author Share Posted November 8, 2023 Starting on the electrics now. As I am running DC and have electrofrog points, I realised that I need to some how allow a loco to move over a set of points from line 1 to line 2 for example. if I just plugged in 2 controllers to the 2 lines I would have to match the controllers to make a smooth transition between lines. Well I sat and tried to work out a way of allowing 1 controller to manage 1 train over many tracks so I came up woth this idea: Having mocked it up on cardboard I have now made the basic board ready for testing above...four lines from four controllers Above...controllers 1 powers line 3 only. The wiring, incluing the LEDs to highlight the path of the controller. Basically I have 6 controllers, a model Q 4 track and model D 2 track, 4 mainline and a branch line + I can independently manage the branch line sidings. still to be done, a nice facier to make it look nice. not sure how/what I want yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted November 22, 2023 Author Share Posted November 22, 2023 Tidying up the dropper wires on the fiddle yard boards. making sure I label all wires so I can fault find if needed. Colour coding in place: Red - line 1 Green - line 2 Blue - line 3 Orange - line 4 Purple - branchline Then each line in the fiddle yard has its own identifier, eg F1A = Fiddle yard, line 1, track/siding A. This way I can isolate each track and give it a switch to cut power to the siding when not in use. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted November 29, 2023 Author Share Posted November 29, 2023 (edited) TOP TIP Cutting the point motor rod on seep point motors is quite challenging when the motor is in situ. After trying a few things out, I found these cheap heavy duty top down cutters on amazon for around £14. Saves having to mark up the steel rod in place, remove the point motor and dremmel the rod off, risking over heating of the 2 coils and a way more tricky refit of the motor. official name SPEEDWOX END CUTTER PLIERS 8 INCH. no affiliation, just did the job well after trying 6 other methods. Edited November 29, 2023 by Mitche01 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted December 14, 2023 Author Share Posted December 14, 2023 Designing the switch control panel now. The track plan will have green LEDs for power and red for point direction. Then the bigger circles are for the switches, green for power and red for points again. I will print onto glossy photo paper, stick them onto 3.6mm plywood then drill the holes out for the LEDs and switches. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 (edited) Having drilled all the holes for the switches and LEDs, I found I needed to neaten up the holes for the LEDs, so I trimmed the excess paper with a sharpe blade and then fitted a simple o-ring...143 times! Dimensions are - LEDs 5mm outer diameter, orings are 4mm inner diameter, 6mm outer diameter. Looks a lot neater now. Onto the finishing edges now, plan on fitting some wooden end finishers, then I can wire it all up! Edited January 15 by Mitche01 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 (edited) On to the relays now for the point LED indicators. Edited January 16 by Mitche01 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 (edited) Slow but steady progress on the wiring. This is the power feed for the bus wires In order for the track power feeder to work to allow me to use each controller on each track, I am using a common return. note the black looped wire. Edited January 23 by Mitche01 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 Keeping up on the wiring (grabbing 1 hour here and there) mimic board return wires for all LEDs now finished. Next to do is the LED feed, white wire (with 10k Resistors to be added to each LED leg) and then the Point feeds, Blue wires (coming from 4 CDUs). 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 Bit by Bit the wiring is being compelted! I am logging these just to record how long it has taken me to get on and complete this!! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Nice neat work 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitche01 Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 (edited) I'm concious that I don't have many examples of the running to give a sense of how the layout has developed. Edited March 2 by Mitche01 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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