TomKett

Hi Guys, I have another post discussing the best ways of operating the point motors from my control panel see here - Post: Best way to wire the point motors My panel will be hosted on an internal website, but for now I have it hosted on an external website to allow for people to have a play and provide any feedback. My Control Panel Tom

Hi all, Thought I would update my blog, I have now managed to make my first 4 baseboards. As discussed previously I am using the polyfoam technique. The polyfoam was finally purchased from B&Q and measures 1200mm x 500mm Polyfoam Link. I braced the edge of the board using 32mm x 17mm wood. The first board I made the frame and then tried to attach the frame to the foam, this was not easy as the foam wasn’t 100% square. Therefore for the remaining boards I measured and cut each length of wood and fixed this to the foam using 50mm screws and PVA glue. This technique has given me a better finish. The following images show the creation of one of the boards and with track laid on top to give a better perspective. My next aim is to make the trestles to rest the railway on, once these are done I will connect the boards together and then I can think about laying the track. Happy modelling

Well the ribs and elbow have finally mended so time to start the baseboard. I have been planning on taking a trip into Northampton to the B&Q Warehouse to get my space board, this is a round trip of nearly 40 miles so takes a while. Today however I found that my local Wickes also supplied the same space boards according to their website. I popped in on the way home from work and purchased three space boards, I had already brought the baton I was planning on using to make the frame. After getting the kids into bed. I then cut the baton lengths to the 1200mm and then measured the width of the board to finish the frame. To my dismay the spaceboard is only 450mm wide and not the 500mm wide as advertised on the website! Whilst 50mm is not a lot its enough to drastically change my plans. I will therefore be phoning B&Q tomorrow and getting them to check the size of their space board before I return these to Wickes and take the previously planned journey.

Happy New Year. My plan for getting this railway started made a good start on christmas day with the receipt of some track and turnouts with a couple of point motors as well. Boxing day, things took a turn for the worse when I managed to slip down two quarry tile steps at my parents house. Such a small fall but somehow managed to fracture the radial head of my right arm and a couple of ribs. The arm is well on the mend and already typing again howver the ribs are a killer! I have therefore not been able to make my baseboards as originally planned. I have amended my station plan very slightly and am now planning on making my baseboards in February. Will update you all again when I have made some more progress.

I Wish It Would Rain Down - Phil Collins

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I am planning on starting this railway during the forthcoming festive holiday and money and time allowing hope to get it running during 2011. Me: I am a happily married 34 year old with 2 young children. I am employed as a computer programmer specialising in designing bespoke solutions for small businesses to aid their daily tasks. I am also a qualified domestic electrician and I have a little experience with electronics. Having had a model railway when I was a child, I am now eager to bring the joys to my own young children. My two and a half year old daughter is fascinated by her grandfathers N gauge circuit. (First started for my older brothers fifth birthday, 31 years ago. I have been reassured it will be finished for my daughters fifth birthday!) Circuit Name & Overview: I currently live in Kettering in Northamptonshire. I was born in Colchester, Essex and my wife is from Clacton. Therefore the circuit is named Ketterton. The circuit will be based on my childhood memories and I hope that this will help when explaining different aspects to my children. My father worked next to Colchester North station, this is an impressive mainline station, which at the time held the record for Britain’s longest railway platform. http://en.wikipedia....railway_station . One set of grandparents lived in the centre of Colchester and my grandfather would often walk us down to the level crossing at the bottom of East Hill and the Hythe to wave at the trains. My other set of grandparents lived in London and I often got excited about looking up at the trains rumbling above our heads across bridges. A very happy two week summer holiday was spent boating on the Norfolk Broads, the working swing bridges are still etched into my memory. My circuit is therefore going to be based around these memories: Baseboard Design: Space is limited in my house, however my father in law is keen to relive his childhood and has agreed to set up a circuit within his garage, on the provision, that he can still get his car in there. I am therefore planning on making the baseboard in sections. His garage does have a loft, with a standard trap door entrance. The boards need to be designed to fit through the hatch for storage. The 'new' polyfoam principle, as used by Gordon Gravett on Pempoul and also reviewed in Matford ‘NEW’ circuit seems like an ideal and cost effective way of making the boards. Track plan: I want a nice loop circuit, with a station and a working swing bridge. If I am able to perfect my carpentry skills I like the idea of a top section on the baseboard to give additional interest with tunnels and viaducts. This raised section will be added at a later date, but my track plan is being designed with this in mind. Front Section: Main through station with 4 platforms, 2 main lines, a passing loop and platform 4 as a terminus. At the back of this front section is a raised line going round the board, I am unsure if this will be one or two tracks at the moment. To the right of the station the main lines go into a tunnel entrance (such as at Ipswich) and the raised line will cut across the top into open fields. First design: With upper level: Right Section: This side of the circuit will deal with the up and down ramps onto the raised circuit. The lower mainline will pass through an old factory. Back Section: The top section will have a country station and the bottom part will be the fiddle yard. Right Section: Working swing bridge across a river and a viaduct for the top section of track.