3 link Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 (edited) Hi Ian, Crumbs you have been busy, can you tell me as to where you got the adjustable feet from? Regarding your thoughts as to making the layout double tracked, in my opinion I would say no because I have roughly 16' width and I found it just to tight. Unless your happy to have the curves close to the walls you need at least a couple of inches for some sort of scenic break. I went for a single track and just doubled it throught the station and yard for a passing place, I'm glad I did because sometimes less is more, and it doesn't look so cluttered. This is just my opinion but I hope it is of some help to you, who said the planning was the easy bit !! ATB, Martyn. Edited February 15, 2014 by 3 link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted February 15, 2014 Author Share Posted February 15, 2014 Hi Martin Found the feet on Ebay here - http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=171229524693 HTH Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 You have been let out of your day time box, nice work Ian. I will try to find time to pop by, looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted February 16, 2014 Author Share Posted February 16, 2014 (edited) Hi all Any suggestions please for a cheap form of O gauge ballast other than commercial varieties Ian Edited February 16, 2014 by ianwales Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Depends what look you're seeking to achieve. You may find a coarse sand - if you have a local beach - suitable. I have some finer sand which I've used for road surfaces and it would probably do ok for an 'ash and crap within a yard' situation. I've personally never found 'commercial' ballast that expensive, what is usually the killer is the cost of postage so you really need to pick it up from a model shop or a show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 Garden centres and the like sometimes sell decent sized bags of small gravel/chippings for things like bonsai tree pots. I don't recall seeing anything small enough for 7mm (I've been looking with a view to 16mm narrow gauge) but it may be worth a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 In addition to the above suggestion, aquarium sand/gravel may also be available in a suitable size at a pet shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
66C Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 (edited) Hi Martin Found the feet on Ebay here - http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=171229524693 HTH Ian There is a selection of adjustable feet here: http://www.stationroadbaseboards.co.uk/cart_feet.htm I would advise against buying a version that does not have a lock nut or a nut next to the foot for making the height adjustment in situ - from experience! Regards. Edited February 16, 2014 by 66C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share Posted February 20, 2014 Hi I would welcome some opinions please on my first attaempt at ballasting, First shot is the storage yard after having sprayed the track with a light earth colour, actually a khaki spray I found in Halfords. Then I went to Pets at Home and bought some aquarium gravel, but I am just wondering if it is a bit coarse for a 7mm layout so I have only laid it dry at present, if it is no good then I can hoover it up and pass it on to my son for his tropical fish tank. what do you think Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 link Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) Hi I would welcome some opinions please on my first attaempt at ballasting, what do you think Ian Hi Ian, My honest opinion is to donate the gravel to your Son's fish tank, I usually find that what most suppliers sell as 4mm ballast is usually spot on for 7mm ballast, just my input. ATB, Martyn. PS. If you want a really fine gravel to represent ash and small chippings for sidings, I find kiln sand works well, kiln sand is what they use to lock in the blocks in block driveways. Edited February 20, 2014 by 3 link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted February 20, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 20, 2014 Hi what do you think Horrid. Gotta be a better ballast than that. Cheers Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Last year I came across the Polak range via All Scale Models in Ireland (http://allscalesmodels.com/). I settled on 5354 Light Brown (pictured below) as I felt it best suited what I needed for my layout, but 6 different colours such as granite and limestone are available. Bags contain 300g of material and are priced at €1.75 which works out at about £1.50 (plus of course postage). 'Scuse the unweathered Peco track. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted February 24, 2014 Author Share Posted February 24, 2014 Well folks, I know its not much, but I've wired up the 4 sidings and courtesy of a couple of leads and crocodile clips I've got a working storage yard, all 12ft of it! Ian 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 One small step for man and all that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Wiring is so bloody daunting - it's the only thing slowing down the progress on my exhibition layout! So congratulations on getting yours up and running - always a great feeling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 Hi all I am putting together the Springside signalbox detail kit and my query is - one of the parts in the kit is a Webb Electric token machine which I want to put in as the terminus is at the end of a single line, did these machines incorporate the block bell or would there still have been a block bell on the instrument shelf? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) Hi allJust a couple of pics-2nd attempt at the ballastingThis looks a lot better to me than the first attempt and means that Baseboard 1 is essentially finished, I start on baseboads 2 and 3 next which will be slightly more difficult given they need to be angled across the room to give me the width for the end curve.Also this week an addition to the stock list -A Siphon JIan Edited April 29, 2014 by ianwales 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted March 23, 2014 Author Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi all Next question is, How do folk deal with track at a baseboard joint on portable layouts please? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted March 23, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 23, 2014 Hi all Next question is, How do folk deal with track at a baseboard joint on portable layouts please? Ian popular options include: a. just cut the rail and slide fishplates across the join b. solder the rails to a bit of copperclad which is attached to the board ends c. screw some brass screws into the edge of the boards and solder the rails to the screws 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmudriver Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 popular options include: a. just cut the rail and slide fishplates across the join b. solder the rails to a bit of copperclad which is attached to the board ends c. screw some brass screws into the edge of the boards and solder the rails to the screws Ian. I'd agree with 2ManySpams's suggestions but 1) is not the best as the rails can get easily bent if caught while moving the boards. My personal preference is 3) - I've used it for years on club layouts and it takes a mighty hard bang to shift the track!! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted March 24, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 24, 2014 Ian. I'd agree with 2ManySpams's suggestions but 1) is not the best as the rails can get easily bent if caught while moving the boards. My personal preference is 3) - I've used it for years on club layouts and it takes a mighty hard bang to shift the track!! Rod That's the option I'm going to use on Pencarrow too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nth Degree Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I've seen 3 used quite a lot, along with 2. Option 3 is much more natural-looking if the heads are not much wider than the rails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianwales Posted March 29, 2014 Author Share Posted March 29, 2014 Hi all I had a visitor to the layout yesterday, Andy Jack aka Two Tone Green dropped by to have a look at the layout room and to give me some o guage DCC tips, he also brought along this little beauty. I even managed to rig my DCC system up to the boards so I could actually hear the loco albeit just on 6ft of track, thanks Andy. Ian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 2ManySpams Posted March 29, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 29, 2014 Very, very nice. I trust you kept the loco and buried the visitor under the patio. ;-p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUTLER2579 Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Very, very nice. I trust you kept the loco and buried the visitor under the patio. ;-p If he did he is not going to let on on here is he ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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