TheGhostofNigelGresley

Good afternoon folks. It's all very exciting, it now works ! I used Scotch blocks to connect the droppers to the bus for the first time - well, it was the first time ever wiring a 'layout' and I couldn't have told you what a scotch block was a few weeks ago. They were also very cheap scotch blocks, which weren't the easiest to work with, I suspect there are much better available. I struggled with them initially, eventually devising a method that worked, but not before damaging the inside bus in two places. Once this section of wiring was replaced, it all worked like it should. So, those who suspected a damaged wire, you were right. Not damaged by the design, damaged by the designer in his haste and uncertainty. So, I now have a 'portable test bed' with continuous running to move forward. Did someone mention kinks :-( Thanks for your help Folks. C.

Morning Gentlemen, (well, it is here) This whole exercise is an experiment. In carpentry, in electrics, in loco maintenance and stock construction and , yes, in re-engaging with the online community too so nice to hear from you all. Loco's stop in their own length when crossing the gaps, it is an entirely bog standard Peco code 100 OO oval I am afraid. It is designed to test loco's and stock and to mindlessly watch trains go round and round, for the time being. So, we can say that the original plan was sound but does not work and the fix was logical but does not work. Therefore, the plan and the fix have not been carried out correctly. Won't be able to examine it until tomorrow, when I will report, 'warts and all', I promise not to spare my blushes for the benefit of those kind enough to contribute... Have a good day/evening, C.

Thanks Gents, Robert, that is what I started with, a bus that terminated after the last set of droppers, but a loco that would not cross the gap at either 6 or 12 o'clock, nor work anywhere on the left hand half of the clock. My second attempt, which is where it is at the moment NH, was to link the bus up into a continuous circle as you suggest. Same difference. So, now that you Gentlemen have been kind enough to validate my thinking, I am reassured to a degree. Obviously I have made a mistake somewhere, but what mistake is possible that would result in a working right hand half only with a continuous bus ? As Sherlock would say ' once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable...' It must be 4 bad solder joints in a row ? I must go to bed also, to be continued....

Ah, The fog rolls back in. Forget an oval, call it a clock face. The split is between 12 and 6 o'clock. The power enters at 5 o'clock and goes anticlockwise all the way around until 7 o'clock, leaving appropriate slack to allow the fold. Droppers are wired to each piece of track outside and inside rail, rail joiners are used on every joint bar the 'jump' between boards. Only the right hand board has power. Where it's going wrong is after 7 o'clock, how does the bus finish ? I'm actually starting to enjoy this ! C.

No Sir, it is not. Thank you very much for your time - what a wonderful resource these forums are for the idiot beginner. I'll try that and report back in a few days, once I've had the chance to tinker. I can feel the Slough of Despond lifting already... C.

Hello Folks, I thought I would be clever and have built a 6ft by 4ft oval which is hinged in the middle for space saving purposes. It isn't clever, it doesn't work. A wagon will jump over 'the join' between boards as if it wasn't there, but a loco will not, it stops and only one half of the oval has power. Each board has 4 pieces of track each of which has power via a dropper and a Bus which goes all the way around. It would seem that the power is going up to the 'gap' (very small) and instead of carrying on along the Bus wire it seems to be returning to the controller through the track, thus powering only one half of the oval ? Any idea what is going on and how do I fix it ? Words of wisdom greatly appreciated, as I am now officially without clue :-( Chris.

Hi Martyn, Good to see you managed to get some momentum going again, trying myself after two years sat in a darkened room with a bucket on my head. Layout looks like it will be as good as your stock, but bejesus there are some technical posts on your thread, no ? Made my face melt, some of 'em......

Personally, I'm starting to form the opinion that 'O' and 'N' go together quite well - they fulfill different needs in a railway modeller......

Possibly they could be of different sizes, at the moment they look a little symmetrical. Maybe toss in one big one ?

Happens to us all Howard. Know what I'd do with that room you have available ? I'd have a 13' 11" scenic test track along the far wall, maybe 2 to 2.5 ft wide and then turn the rest of the room into a temple of all things railway and engineering, workbenches, machinery, display shelving, period railway posters, maps etc, etc and then continue to do as you do and help out on more ambitious projects elsewhere where there is designated space for them. Large O gauge projects don't mix with normal life and houses I believe, they belong in sheds, barns and lofts. I'm jealous of your room now, I want it......

You could try one of those mini blowtorches, they are supposed to be good for cleaning excess solder from hard to reach places - haven't had the balls to try it myself yet - but have my eye on the Silverline one available on ebay for a tenner. If you were just wanting to clean it up to ensure the paint keyed properly, you could try giving the whole assembly a bath in a mild acidic solution such as white wine vinegar - don't drink it afterwards though

I think something a lot of us on here have been through, is the gradual dawning of realisation that any layout in 7mm is quite an undertaking, let alone one of the size and scope of yours. I agree that a thread serves as a motivator for progress as well as a chronicle. I have no idea what that complex looking electrical box is - I haven't even got any motive power yet at this end......

Rattling along at a ferocious pace Peter.

The most oft heard lament in the 7mm section of RMWeb......

Took me a while....... But eventually, I saw him. Yes.