hoover50008 Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Evening all, Small update, yesterday evening i spent a couple of hours (stabbing my fingers) sorry, threading third rail insulators onto code 60 rail and then fitting them to the layout, Now my third rail EMU's can go wherever they choose, not the greatest of achievements by a long chalk but one of those jobs that i've found very satisfying now its complete. Next job is to get on with ballasting. Also a little question, How do i go about getting a bespoke printed backscene? From what i can gather it's me who would have to lay it out etc then get it printed by a specialist company, Only trouble is my computer skills are very limited, Rm web and E-mail are about my limits. third rail.jpg Cheers Graham. Hi Graham Did you drill the sleeper ends to take the insulators or did you glue them in to position? E Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Nice work Graham! It's good to see Halstow on the go again. Cheers Simon Cheers Simon, To be honest i've had lots of idea's and things i've wanted to do but just haven't had the time, plus the N gauge layout was taking priority. Seeing your update's always sparks the enthusiasm to crack on with the layout, I'm very envious of your trackwork, so much so that i may try my hand at constructing some in the near future. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted February 27, 2013 Author Share Posted February 27, 2013 Hi Graham Did you drill the sleeper ends to take the insulators or did you glue them in to position? E Hi hoover50008, I drilled every fifth sleeper then fitted the insulators with a dab of super glue. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldlugger Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Cheers Simon, To be honest i've had lots of idea's and things i've wanted to do but just haven't had the time, plus the N gauge layout was taking priority. Seeing your update's always sparks the enthusiasm to crack on with the layout, I'm very envious of your trackwork, so much so that i may try my hand at constructing some in the near future. Graham. That would be great Graham; if you do have a go at hand built track, you'll probably never look back... All the best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoover50008 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Hi hoover50008, I drilled every fifth sleeper then fitted the insulators with a dab of super glue. Cheers Graham. Thanks Graham, did you use a jig or just freehand? E Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted February 28, 2013 Author Share Posted February 28, 2013 Hi Hoover 50008 I drilled them all free hand, there all centred so it was fairly easy to do by eye. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted March 3, 2013 Author Share Posted March 3, 2013 Hello all, Lets go through the key hole. Today i finished off the woodwork that will form the supports for the removable workbench, In my grand scheme of things this area is what's going to keep the modelling magic alive, The workbench area is roughly 4x2 give or take an inch or so and will just sit on the frame with a couple of screws holding it in position, when removed a baseboard the same size or slightly wider will fit in its place. A point on the circuit will feed a track towards this board and let me build pretty much any working diorama's i fancy, I'm not going to integrate this with the main layout as such but i've got plenty of idea's of what i'd like to build, Nothing will be constructed for a while but i'm putting in all the necessary timberwork and trackwork so its ready when i want to use it. I've also fitted the point motors and things are not going well! Three out of four are fine, one keeps sticking for no apparent reason then resorts back to normal and what is really driving me up the wall is switches, I'm no electronic expert by a long way but i thought i could have a very simple control panel, five push to make switches for track 1 track 2 etc but no, I know this involves a little more complex wiring and i tested the theory this evening and low and behold it didn't work, I may need a 24 volt CDU which i'l try, if not I'l wire each point individually. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted March 19, 2013 Author Share Posted March 19, 2013 Helllo all, I've finally got my head round the electrics for the fiddle yard, some kind members on here have pointed me in the right direction and i'm now in the process of wiring a diode matrix which will switch each fiddle yard road at the touch of a button, Things would have progressed quicker this evening if i hadn't wired the diodes the wrong way round but i'm still learning so i'l get there in the end. The small control panel for the sidings was built this afternoon and i'm just waiting on some more wire to turn up and then i should have a fully functioning storage yard. Whilst buying bits and pieces for the wiring i also bought some LED lighting (Pinching the idea from Phil, Beresford Junction) to illuminate the fiddle yard, All i can say is WOW, a very simple but very affective light and very bright as well. I plan to fit a pin hole camera in the hidden sidings so needed some small lighting and this fits perfectly. I've fitted it above the upper fiddle yard just to give me some light when checking the sidings or working on the track so this section will have an ON/OFF switch. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Oh no, not another disco diva!!!Joking aside, It's looking good Graham. I like the crossing too, a very useful addition to the fiddle yard. Hmmm maybe I could incorporate one on my layout. Cheers Scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Cheers Scott, I think i'l leave the lightning affect to beresford though. Pity the crossing is hidden in the fiddle yard as it would look good with the third rail all around it. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 Hello all, It's been a fun week, I thought i had the fiddle yard pointwork wired correctly but when fitted to the control panel nothing worked! A few hours of head scratching and a day or two away i came back with a fresh eyes and managed to fix it, although quite frustrating i'v learned a fair bit so all is not lost. Once that was all done i had a few enjoyable hours testing it, the next job was to install a pin hole camera so i can keep an eye on things from the from the station side of the layout, When all the construction is finished the whole fiddle yard will be covered so i've also installed some LED lighting. The lights and camera are all fitted now but i've yet to fit the television on the wall and run cables etc, More testing was done yesterday evening and i made a short video. TV just on a stool awaiting fitment. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold McC Posted March 29, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 29, 2013 Inspirational! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beresford Junction Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Hi Graham The lights are looking good - really easy to 'install' aren't they. The camera is a great idea too. Phil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted March 29, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 29, 2013 A great idea, but "This video is private" it said when I clicked on the link. Crikey - what sort of fiddling goes on in your yard?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Inspirational! Thanks McC for the compliment. Hi Graham The lights are looking good - really easy to 'install' aren't they. The camera is a great idea too. Phil Cheers Phil, The lights are excellent, when i think of all the years struggling to screw in light fittings into difficult recesses, The LED's are simple and fantastic. A great idea, but "This video is private" it said when I clicked on the link. Crikey - what sort of fiddling goes on in your yard?! It is the Isle of Grain you know Ian! Only joking, have adjusted the settings now. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
emt_911 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Cracking. Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 Hello all, Been a bit of a railway weekend, I've worked on both layout's over the last few days and also had a big tidy up so while i'd cleared a fair bit of space i was able to work on the approach to the station which is normally out of reach. When i first built the layout i used Hornby curved points as it was only going to be a scenic test track but now things are a little more permanent i wanted some better flowing trackwork, I took out the Hornby points then replaced with Peco curved ones which have been slightly modified to make them a little sharper and also eased out the siding curves. View from the station throat. The line that heads to the bottom left is the return from the loop. Two storage roads on the left, headshunt, then points for loop and one dropping down to the hidden sidings. Now the incline is fitted i've got to fit more woodwork around the points for support and point motors etc. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 8, 2013 Share Posted April 8, 2013 Wow you have been busy this weekend haven't you Looking good! Oli Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 Looks very impressive layout your building.... wil watch how this comes along... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Hello all, Few hours work on the layout this weekend, Finally fitted the top section of plywood in place for the circuit and i have filled in all the gaps with some polystyrene which stops the LED light escaping from the fiddle yard. I Have also finished all the track alterations in the top fiddle yard and have only got a couple of yards to fit on the front section and its finished, Typically i ran out of fishplates with only a little bit of trackwork to go, last job of the evening was to wire in a reverse loop module. Eventually there will be a signal where the 33 stands so i can bring trains up from the lower fiddle yard and hold them here before entering the station. 20 minutes and some paint later, Just need to decide what type of retaining walls to install. Latest purchase, although the layout is set late 80's to mid 90's i have enough stock to run up to the 2000's just to add to the variety, This one's sound fitted but i need to work out how to turn the volume down, its far to loud. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldlugger Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Nice work Graham; what about a retaining wall a bit like the flyover outside Clapham Junction? http://www.semgonline.com/structures/struct_26a.html All the best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted April 14, 2013 Author Share Posted April 14, 2013 Cheers Simon, Thanks for the link, I need to think carefully what i'm going to do here as i need a bridge or tunnel either end as a scenic break. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 You have some very nice stock!! more super photo"s too Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 Hello all, Few more hours work on the layout this weekend. I ordered some more point motors and switches etc so i could crack on with a big chunk of the wiring that i have been putting off, After a few mishaps with the fiddle yard wiring i've learnt a little more about the electronic side of things and feeling a bit brave i have wired a couple of signals in with the point motors, Its not anything amazing to most but i'm really pleased with my results, not only does it cut down on the switches it also does what it says on the tin. The new signal on the mainline has a set of feathers for the junction that completes the return loop, when i throw the switch not only does it set the points it also illuminates the feathers so i know what route is set, this means i now have to run the trains by the signals which is great. Only downside was running out of wire so i couldn't connect the main aspects. Also had to replace the PLS this weekend as it lost an aspect, this now is connected to the points so all done with one throw of a switch. Lastly i ordered a sound chip for my CEP which should be here next week, quite looking forward to that. Cheers Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oldlugger Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 That looks the business Graham! Very nicely done. All the best Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.