Trofimow

I use an industrial closed cell foam, similar to the plastazote referenced above. It can be obtained in strips just the right width for 00 track, and self adhesive on one side. Comes in 10 metre rolls and an be quite economical if purchased in bulk. The downside is you have to cut it for curves.

If you have an old unused wireless router, you might be able to use that as an extender. That's what I did to get wifi into the railway room. Tried the power line units, but found them both slow and flaky.

The correct and reliable functioning of these 3 storage levels is essential to the success of the finished layout. The design is a little unusual in that the storage is in effect a one way system in that it is entered and left at the same points regardless of the route or direction that a train used while "on stage". Entrance and exit routes are grade separated. All this has been designed in SCARM, which has been a great help in ensuring that necessary gradients can be achieved. Ensuring that the gradients as built are actually as designed is vital. to help in this, I am using these aids; The first item is a spirit level with a digital readout of slope as a percentage. The Piko Messwagen is most useful in discovering unexpected humps, dips or twists in my tracklaying. It gives a real time readout to a smartphone as it runs around the layout.

I've standardised on the Gaugemaster juicers for my current layout build, (30+ fitted so far). I find them easy to use and they just work every time, no fiddling or adjusting required. I've not noticed any arcing when they operate. I use servos for point operation and these are for my requirements the simple and reliable solution to frog switching. Other options are available...

Time for a bit of an update on the progress on Effingham Mk2.... Around two thirds of the lower storage deck has been built so far and track laid. This is the track plan. What is not apparent from the plan is that there is a difference in heights in the top right hand corner, shown more clearly in this 3D view. This is the lowest of what are planned to be three identical storage levels, with a return loop on yet another lower level. The whole multi level storage system is on a ruling gradient of 1 in 100 throughout. The principles mentioned in previous posts have been incorporated into the design, the simplest possible pointwork, resulting in standard length storage loops in a parallelogram pattern. A standard length train is a pacific and 6 BR Mk1's. A standard length storage loop holds one such train, and double length loops will hold 2 of these or one 13 coach train. DCC concepts power base principles are being used throughout, even on falling gradients, though a home brewed alternative to the proprietary system is used on non visible straight track for reasons of economy. Initial testing of track laid so far indicates that a magnet fitted Hornby Bulleid pacific can comfortably handle the maximum length 13 coach train, including restarting on the 1 in 100 gradients.

I had similar trouble with my Lenz system after a prolonged period out of use. I dismantled the handset thinking maybe one of the cores of the connecting cable had come adrift. It turned out to be the main IC slightly loose in its socket. A good finger prod to re-seat the chip and all came good.

A bit more progress.... The basic structure of the second third of the bottom level storage loops begins to take shape..

There's no mystery.... It'll be one of those ginormous antipodean spiders....

Suede tan is in stock. https://www.amazon.co.uk/PlastiKote-Suede-400ml-Spray-Paint/dp/B07JYQYD6B/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=plastikote+suede&qid=1584286523&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExV0haTE1TQzhEN1owJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTA5OTAwV1AxTDFJUkFCMzZGJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5MjQ0NDUyWU5IQ1FXU1FHR0MyJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

It's still available on Amazon, sold by Plastikote.

Several times this morning it took 30 secs+ to load a page. Right now it seems to be loading almost instantly. You never know what to expect...

Track laying starts at last. The first one third of bottom level storage loops.

Progress does happen eventually! The first baseboard structure is beginning to appear.

Well, amazingly it's just over 2 years since I last posted anything on this thread, but life has eventually moved on to the point where a rebuild of the layout might be possible. Effingham has been completely dismantled and is no more. Much time and effort has gone into planning Effingham Mk2 in the hope of avoiding the shortcomings of the previous layout. That was originally designed as something relatively simple and evolved over time into a much more complex automated layout with many issues as a legacy of that evolutionary process. Much will stay the same. Effingham Mk2 will stll be SR 1960ish, it will still be a 4 track main line splitting into 2 double track routes and will still have an additional single track cross country branch. It will still have storage on lower decks, but this is now purpose designed for automation rather than having just sort of happened. Building this monster single handed will take a while. The first problem is what to do with everything that's been removed from the old layout in the meantime...

You might get more than a driving licence here....

38g

Well, Mr Postie just delivered.... I am impressed at the quality that has been achieved for a 3D printed item. It's not quite up there with an injection moulded item, but it's pretty good. There is visible banding on the handbrake levers, but that's the only area where the process shows itself. The only real criticism is that the buffers are not quite level and point upwards slightly, but that is being picky. I'd certainly have no hestation in buying future products made this way.

I have to agree. The only way I get an acceptable performance on RMweb these days is by using my desktop on a wired network. The laptop whether via wifi or mobile data is slow. The android tablet and phone are painful whether on my own wifi, or via mobile data. The problem of the page taking forever to load and bouncing about as it does so, meaning you don't get what you think you clicked on is infuriating. No other website seems to suffer from these effects on any of my devices.

Anycubic have announced a new plant-based resin, supposed not to have the nasty smell.... https://www.anycubic.com/pages/photon-sold-100000

As per melmerby's comments above, I don't see ads on RMWeb, even though Adblock plus is off for this site, so I decided to investigate a little. I tried Chrome instead of the usual Firefox and the result was the same, so not a browser issue. I then logged out and looked around the site that way, and voila - ads. As soon as I log in again, the ads disappear. Intriguing.

Ditto. The only ads I see are are for BRM.

Yes, at Wolsztyn. You are right that the opportunity won't always be there, and also it's not as affordable as it used to be, so if you can find the cash from somewhere, go for it while you still can...

I used to volunteer on my local heritage line back in the day, cleaner, fireman, and committee member for a while. A back injury put paid to the physical work for a while and business and work commitments eventually robbed me of any time to give the necessary commitment to the railway. Now retired, I still don't have enough time to get involved again, I need to get a layout built! For the past few years, I've been getting my regular footplate fix in Poland, driving and firing steam, with the occasional go on diesel.

I installed a basic system some years ago after a local epidemic of thefts from gardens and have never since had cause to use any of the footage. Last autumn, as we were planning to go away for 3 months and leave the house unoccupied, I replaced it with an up to date system - not expensive and quite easy to DIY install. Our insurers were happy to cover us for the long absence without the usual additional premium and stated that the CCTV system was a significant factor in their decision, so for us it has been worth doing.

https://www.anycubic.com/collections/anycubic-photon-3d-printers/products/anycubic-photon-3d-printer?variant=28767658442812 Download the 4.2.17 beta firmware