Hunters Lane WCML in N

[AndrueC]

O gauge has radio control with batteries, doesn't it?

 

I suppose one problem we'd face would be how big a battery we could put in our locos. For N scale we might need to hide extra batteries in the rolling stock. Wireless charging points under the track in stations and sidings would help but then you're getting complicated again and certainly more expensive.

 

For me just having a simpler 'many wires to one' connector would help. I'm currently thinking about joining multiple droppers together in a terminal block then connecting the block to the bus thus reducing the number of suitcase connectors. It'd also help if Peco gave us a pigtail for frog power on Electrofrog turnouts.

 

But you've done a good job of keeping it tidy. I'm afraid all I'm going to do is connect the wires then clip the bus to the underside. The droppers will be left to hang as they see fit.

Edited April 7, 2022 by AndrueC

[MarshLane]

3 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said:

A lot of work later and the left hand board is fully wired. Once the second board is complete I will go through a period of extensive testing before moving on to painting rails and ballasting just to make sure all the soldered connections are good enough.
 

There surely has to be a better way to control model railways now - the level of skill required just to wire this fairly simple layout is mind boggling. DCC just adds more complexity if you ask me, and what I’d really like is battery powered stock controlled wirelessly. Then the track literally just sends the trains in the right direction with no wiring needed at all.
 

David 

 

Hi David,

Nice neat job of wiring there, looks good. This may be me (and I am honestly not trying to be argumentative!) but how does DCC make it more complex?  In its base, it is simpler than a separate DC feed for each running line, as they all come from the same bus, if you want to add detection in, its no different than separate feeds for cab control on DC really.  Plus with an accessory bus, point motors etc, can be powered and controlled from two wires, it has to be easier than DC!

 

Having said that, I do know what you mean about modern day.  There is a an American system, which can be purchased through Digitrains at Lincoln (no connection) that gives you a PCB that you connect to the track power on your DCC command station, and that broadcasts the DCC signal as a radio wave.  Locos then pick up power either from standard DC/AC power to the track or batteries (or swap around) and have a small radio receiver for the DCC signal.  Very clever and simple and would save 90% of the connection between boards, just needing a straight forward track/bus power.  However, it may need a few more years of electrics and battery technology before its small enough for N gauge - but I have seen it working on OO.

 

Anyway, great progress with the layout both above and below the boards!

Rich

[Melangoose]

David, The layout is looking amazing, you have done so much in such a short time. Your standard of modelling is off the scale.  When you are testing could we have some pictures and maybe a video, please.  
 

Look forward to future updates 

[bmthtrains - David]

The Down Fast is now fully wired on both boards so the 390 has had its inaugural run!

 

David 

 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

Both fast tracks now under testing.

 

David

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by bmthtrains - David

[bmthtrains - David]

With the slow lines closed, a bit of freight on the fast tracks.

 

David

 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

And one more before the boards get tidied up. Through the evenings this week I’m aiming to get the slow lines wired on the right hand board but this involves a lot of work so may only get the Down Slow completed. Overall I’m pleased with the running qualities though - my track laying and soldering skills seem to have improved!

 

David

 

 

[Melangoose]

Some great Video’s Dave, Thank you for sharing.  The layout is looking great.  Keep up the good work.

[shanks522]

Excellent David, this is my favourite part of building a layout, running trains with lots of imagination.

 

look forward to more.

 

graham. 

[bmthtrains - David]

In trying to avoid more of the boring job of wiring I did another boring job instead today - painting rails! So far I’ve just done the Down Fast on the left hand board but it’s gone better than I anticipated given the tiny rail height of code 55 track.

 

After that I started to think about what needs to be in place before ballasting can start, so laid out some concrete trunking, trackside lights, point motors etc to work out where they need to go.

 

Tomorrow hopefully a little bit more wiring will get done if the motivation hits me.

 

David

 

[bmthtrains - David]

Down slow now fully wired on both boards.

 

David

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2022 by bmthtrains - David

[bmthtrains - David]

Enough of the wiring is complete now that I can start on a few more scenic bits. The yard and inner track electrics on the right hand board will be a big job but this weekend I’ve taken a break and started some detailing on the left hand board: painting points concrete colour, some rail painting, building the second bridge, and laying out some of the lineside troughs and concrete bases for OHLE, signals and electrical cabinets.

 

Before I can contemplate ballasting this board I also need to add the tiny trackside lights, ground signals, and drainage catch pits.

 

David 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

A little more progress over the weekend with the bridge painting underway, the track painting on the left board completed, and I’ve now added the trackside lights ready for ballasting to begin.

 

Getting the weathering of the ballast right is going to be tricky as I want this to look fresh and evocative of the heavy renewals on the WCML rebuild, but also to not look ‘fresh from the shaker’. A while until I need to start mixing colours for the airbrush but whatever I do will need to be a light touch.

 

David 

 

 

 

[shanks522]

Looking very nice David, the trackside lights are excellent!
 

Graham. 

[bmthtrains - David]

Time for the scary bit - saturating the ballast and trying not to think about scraping all that glue out of the point mechanisms in a couple of days time…

 

David 

 

[AndrueC]

I think I'm a convert to foam underlay now (Gaugemaster's is apparently closed cell so won't degrade). It can have its fiddly moments but the result is much quieter running - I can now hear the motor whine over the sound of the wheels. However for turnouts I'm using cardboard. GM do offer a solution but it's a couple of sheets of foam (which has to be doubled up to match the rail height which I find odd) and a bag of ballast. On my last layout I avoided the turnout mechanisms and was happy enough with the result so I'll probably do the same.

Edited May 10, 2022 by AndrueC

[Melangoose]

8 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said:

Time for the scary bit - saturating the ballast and trying not to think about scraping all that glue out of the point mechanisms in a couple of days time…

 

David 

 

Looking good David 

[bmthtrains - David]

I’ve roughly ballasted a set of spare short sections of track so over the weekend I can hopefully try some weathering tests. Looking at reference images I can see getting it right is both easy and difficult. The easy bit is ballast colour is incredibly varied depending on location, age, what runs on the track, the time of year, the weather, etc. so pretty much anything goes. The difficult bit is capturing the specific ‘renewals and rebuild’ feel of the WCML I’m after.

 

 

I will try a few light base coats of ochres, greys, and browns to blend it all in and introduce some tonal variation, and a thin coat of a darker brown between the rails first but I don’t want a heavily weathered look as this is all supposed to be recently ballasted track.

 

David

 

 

[Davexoc]

I don't know if this image is any help, but the track through platform 6 at Milton Keynes was relaid over Christmas 2018, and this image was taken 21/3/19. I think you can see the join where the realtively new has been replaced with brand new just in front of the train. You can see different colours on the rail either sides of the weld. The ballast is still clean with the join blended in. This section was relaid because problems with drainage IIRC.

 

Note white painted rails on the points in platform 5...

 

[bmthtrains - David]

That’s a really helpful photo, thanks! It’s close to what I was thinking.

 

The ballast has thankfully dried well, and bar a power feed to one rail that needs re-soldering the points and track are cleaning up well. A class 66 has been testing the newly laid ballast this evening.

 

I’m also learning why so few people model trackside lights and other tiny things like axle counters - they keep pinging off whenever I clean the rails!

 

David

 

[bmthtrains - David]

Doing a few weathering tests with my airbrush I’m learning it’s actually much easier to represent old ballast than it is ballast that has been recently laid. I don’t want a squeaky clean look as if it’s been down a few hours, but at the same time it needs to feel recent - a few months old perhaps.

 

From the tests below I think I’ve come up with a suite of colours to lightly spray on the track - a fine mist of an ochre, then a thin coat of grey, and a touch of a concrete colour between the tracks. My best attempt on this sample board is bottom left. 
 

 

I will also add a little more of the darker concrete colour to the reception track and anywhere diesels might linger. Not as strong as the far right sample but that kind of colour.

 

Placing the sample next to the fresh ballast gives a good idea of the subtle difference. Just adding some tonal variation across the tracks will help them soften into the scene more.

 

David

 

[bmthtrains - David]

I’ve also been continuing my experiments to create a decent buddleia using grass tufts, some leafy scenic powder, and some purple flower mix, and I’m finally happy with these. I will have a lot to make over the next year or so!

 

David 

 

[bmthtrains - David]

This morning I’ve been playing with some scenic materials. Much of the layout will be urban but there will be two areas with trees and grass by the bridges. Having come across the excellent Martin Welberg range of products I ordered a couple of packs to see what they are like. A simple test scene with them mixed in with lots of different bushes and grasses from my scenery box has shown that actually I need to go bigger. Much larger bushes are needed to give the right sense of scale for overgrown embankments etc. Come payday I shall order a few more items to continue experimenting with.

 

David 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21, 2022 by bmthtrains - David

[woodenhead]

The tree is impressive, double take on the first image as it scrolled into view.

[bmthtrains - David]

I finally found the motivation to do a bit more wiring so all through lines are now powered. Just the 4 halves of the yard sidings on the right hand board to do next.

 

David