RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted January 19, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 19, 2023 Luke your layout build is looking great, definitely a source for inspiration.👍 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oncomin5torm Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 4 hours ago, luke the train spotter said: Thank you! The loco shed is a kit from Stoneybridge Structures who attend a lot of exhibitions in the North East but also sell online through their website. I'd highly recommend their kits, they just go together like Lego. Thank you for the information. I may have to get one for a micro at some point. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted January 19, 2023 Share Posted January 19, 2023 I've just found the thread and I'm loving the new look for the micro, great stuff! 👍 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathaniel Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Very nice to see more work on this layout Luke, inspirational. Enjoy your layouts. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidparker172 Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 I have to say this build log has done wonders for me ..... that first page comparison between the original layout and the new plan just shows the difference context makes, its like a different layout And now it looks like you've been doing this for years Keep up the good work @luke the train spotter 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share Posted January 21, 2023 Thanks for all the nice comments, much appreciated! I've started work on the YouTube video so had the camera out today. Here's a snap with the sentinel coming off shed. Big fan of the low down camera angles. 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidparker172 Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 @luke the train spotter are you using dc for this layout? Are you using insulefrog or electrofrog points? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share Posted January 22, 2023 5 hours ago, davidparker172 said: @luke the train spotter are you using dc for this layout? Are you using insulefrog or electrofrog points? I use DCC with the NCE Powercab system. Track is all code 75 electrofrog peco points controlled with wire in tube. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andrew D Posted January 24, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) On a similar subject Luke, do you wire the point blades and switch the frog, or do you leave it down to the point blades making good contact and not worry about the frog because they are dead end sidings? I’d like to use wired-blade electrofrog points with a switched frog, but manually controlled. The frog switching stuff I’ve seen seems to rely on a point motor to switch it. If you do wire the blades and switch the frog, what do you use to switch the frog (and where can I get one?!) I’m a DC dinosaur by the way :) Cheers, Andrew Edited January 24, 2023 by Andrew D 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 25, 2023 Author Share Posted January 25, 2023 20 hours ago, Andrew D said: On a similar subject Luke, do you wire the point blades and switch the frog, or do you leave it down to the point blades making good contact and not worry about the frog because they are dead end sidings? I’d like to use wired-blade electrofrog points with a switched frog, but manually controlled. The frog switching stuff I’ve seen seems to rely on a point motor to switch it. If you do wire the blades and switch the frog, what do you use to switch the frog (and where can I get one?!) I’m a DC dinosaur by the way :) Cheers, Andrew So for the points I wire the blades and frog separately. The frog is wired to a simple SDPT switch which are widely available and very cheap. I think I purchased a bag of 200 for about £3 a couple years ago on eBay so that's plenty of layouts! I use switches like this one below. The switch has 3 contacts, the middle is wired to the frog and the 2 outer contacts are wired to the positive and negative rail. The contacts need to be the right way round for the frog to change to the right polarity if you're connecting these to the wire to pull the point blades across. In terms of modifying the point blade you might want to refer to the quick diagram I made below. Essentially you want to remove the presoldered wire between the point blades and frogs, I normally lever these off with a screwdriver. I then solder a thin piece of wire between the exposed point blade contact and the outside rail so the point blades are now always live and are not electrically connected to the frog. At this point I wire up the frog to the switch. Note that it is very important you use insulating fish plates on the outside of the frog otherwise you may get short circuits else where. I hope this is of use. I find that this is the most robust way of wiring electrofrog points together and I've never had any failures. I do refer to this method in my YouTube video on wire in tube point control which you may find useful. 4 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Andrew D Posted January 25, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 25, 2023 That's absolutely brilliant, thank you Luke. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 28, 2023 Author Share Posted January 28, 2023 Been working a bit more on the layout this evening. My focus has been the other back corner of the layout with the rough hill shape created out of foamboard and plaster cloth. On top of that is a texture paste made up of paint, plaster and a dash of water. Then I started on the fence that runs against the backscene. This is just coffee stirrers glued and taped together from the rear but is removable for now so I can paint / weather it. The billboard is tactically angled to hide the corner in the backscene and I think it suits the space. 18 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Blenk Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 11 hours ago, luke the train spotter said: Been working a bit more on the layout this evening. My focus has been the other back corner of the layout with the rough hill shape created out of foamboard and plaster cloth. On top of that is a texture paste made up of paint, plaster and a dash of water. Then I started on the fence that runs against the backscene. This is just coffee stirrers glued and taped together from the rear but is removable for now so I can paint / weather it. The billboard is tactically angled to hide the corner in the backscene and I think it suits the space. Great work, love the Metro poster 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted January 29, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 29, 2023 Nice work on the layout Luke.👍 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathaniel Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Your current project is really looking great. Hiding the corners really works well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 Base layer of grass down and fence weathered. A shot of the layout, all 2ft of it. 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Very nice work Luke 👍 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevo Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 Hi Luke the build is really looking the part . can i ask track plan wise is it a right hand and two wye points 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 30, 2023 Author Share Posted January 30, 2023 1 hour ago, kevo said: Hi Luke the build is really looking the part . can i ask track plan wise is it a right hand and two wye points It is indeed a right hand and 2 Y points. Here's a picture though it's difficult to get a top down angle without the lighting blocking some of it out. There is a 30cm ruler for scale. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oncomin5torm Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 What have you done for a fiddle yard luke? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 6 hours ago, Oncomin5torm said: What have you done for a fiddle yard luke? The fiddle yard is currently in a fairly primitive state. There is a small plywood toped baton frame that has been screwed and glued onto the original baseboard which supports the other side of the point that I added. Bolted onto that is a removable section which is very simple. Currently the trackwork is just a straight piece of spare flexi track taped on which I hope to replace with a longer piece and make it so the track comes apart when the fiddle yard extension board does. A 30cm ruler for scale. Woodwork is definitely not my strong point but it works so I'm happy. With the fiddle yard and extension board the whole layout comes to about 3 1/2 ft long. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oncomin5torm Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, luke the train spotter said: The fiddle yard is currently in a fairly primitive state. There is a small plywood toped baton frame that has been screwed and glued onto the original baseboard which supports the other side of the point that I added. Bolted onto that is a removable section which is very simple. Currently the trackwork is just a straight piece of spare flexi track taped on which I hope to replace with a longer piece and make it so the track comes apart when the fiddle yard extension board does. A 30cm ruler for scale. Woodwork is definitely not my strong point but it works so I'm happy. With the fiddle yard and extension board the whole layout comes to about 3 1/2 ft long. Superb Luke. It doesnt need to be fancy if it works, it looks like it does the job. I find too many people (myself included) try to over complicate fiddle yards and want it to fit the biggest thing ever, and then it doesnt work all that well. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Oncomin5torm said: Superb Luke. It doesnt need to be fancy if it works, it looks like it does the job. I find too many people (myself included) try to over complicate fiddle yards and want it to fit the biggest thing ever, and then it doesnt work all that well. As long as you're happy quickly popping wagons on and off the track by hand this solution works perfectly well. I will put down some pieces of thin foam (chopped up super cheap yoga mat) onto the plywood which just lets the wheels sit on something softer rather than having the flanges on a hard surface. Its the same foam that I use to line my stock boxes with so one yoga mat goes a pretty long way. 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted February 1, 2023 Author Share Posted February 1, 2023 Finally got round to sorting out a YouTube video. It's a sort of mix between a layout update and a running session but I hope its an enjoyable watch. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Love the video Luke, the layout is superb! I like the use of view blockers and the presentation, all good stuff! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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