John57sharp

Thanks Jim, all input welcomed. The line is only a scenic boundary, to fit into tthe DJLC dimensions, so the baseboard won’t be split there. Thanks for the advice though. Hope to get going with some actual building soon. Cheers John

So after an “interesting” life period, and a battle with Windows, having given up on Ubuntu, I have now got a working version with Templot installed... this is my first take on the upper layer in Templot, grateful as ever for any feedback at all. Cheers John

First look at David’s clothes peg interference clamp, took longer to find a peg than to make. Genius!

Indeed he did, search in the members section on Interference Clamps to see the article and diagrams. Really useful, thanks again Chris and David. Progress report to follow when I have got over my embarrassment! John

Thanks Chris, I’ll look that out, and fix the part too, I had a feeling there was a problem there, thanks for your correction. Cheers John

Evening all, just wondering if anybody can recommend a method for holding small parts, eg the buffer cage assembly on the 08 pictured while they are soldered up? TIA

Good work!

Keep the updates coming Jim, they are really inspiring. Thanks John

Well a huge response to that! I have been on to the manufacturers and it appears to be beyond repair. The gauze on these does become brittle with use, and I haven’t been able source a replacement. Buyer beware!

This looks like a great idea Pete. I'll be interested in any solutions to the hight issue, I have plans for a DJLC entry that needs to be viewed from a certain hight, so I imagine that some overall hight adjustments may be needed. Something like an ironing board, but smoother in adjustment would do. Cheers

Hi all, I have a Wolf butane gas soldering iron that has just failed to work properly. The flame now spurts out of the air hole at the the side of the bits rather feebly, rather than roaring hard. I think it may be related to a small piece of gauze that was lodged within the flame tube but appears to br breaking up. I don't have a working one to compare, can anybody advise please? TIA John

Thanks again Mim and Jim, I can take a hint, spent today's modelling time getting my xp netbook up and running with Xubuntu, nearly there.... will then have a crack with Templot, but if this fails, I will be taking up your kind offer Mim! The lower level will be FBR, I may even go concrete, I may even add a third rail.... I may also be getting ahead of myself! Pete, I may be over reaching, in any case your KISS approach will be successful I'm sure. Cheers all. John

I hope some of you will be able to advise here? I created the top level plan based on A6 turnout templates, only to spot that the Easitrack kits are only B sized, and as I think I should go this way as a beginner, I have redesigned using B7 size. This means that I can't get the runaround in as I would like, though it could be done off scene. My questions then are: Which is most prototypical? This is meant to be a freight only line serving several customers somewhere in north London, including the 2 sidings top left. The line goes off scene top right and bottom left. The siding middle right will be a loco stabling point for a small shutter, probably an 08. Would the rail be flat bottom or bullhead by the BR blue era? These are straight templates, would the reality be more a gentle curve, in which case I could use the methods recently described in the Magazine? Am I missing anything obvious? Cheers in advance again John

Andy and Ian thank you both. Done! Phew.

Just to be sure before I cut metal, is it ok to slice off the shaft at the contacts end of the motor, and are there any measures I should take to protect the bearings etc? I plan to use a slitting disk. TIA John Just to be sure before I cut metal, is it ok to slice off the shaft at the contacts end of the motor, and are there any measures I should take to protect the bearings etc? I plan to use a slitting disk. TIA John

Thanks for this Mim, I'll have another look at xubuntu and wine, I really should know more about this given my 30 odd year career in IT! I've been doing some old fashioned 3D modelling today, which has revealed some areas that need more thought before putting anything down.

They look a treat on that bridge. Cheers

Thanks for the helpful cleaning suggestions. John

Thanks Echo and Martin for your assistance. I'll have to sort out a machine to run Templot. My current thinking is below, I'm hoping to tuck the cabin in against the retaining wall on the top right hand side. This is a fictional location but somewhere in London, with a Widened Lines feel. The top level will have all the shunting, with a stabling point for the shunter and parcels or newspaper sidings top left. The lower level is shown by the pice of track, which will be a 2 track plain line gasping for air between tunnels and will allow me to run through trains. Lots of notes being scribbled on as ideas develop. Cheers John

I'm just curious what is recommended for cleaning soldered assemblies prior to painting? Everything is so small I worry about damage with anything other than running water? I'm not used to this scale yet! I'm mostly using solder paste from a syringe, but there must be some residue? Thanks again John

I've had some further assistance regarding the signal cabin, thanks MRFS, but I'm now looking in more detail at my track plan. Templot won't run on my old xp devices or the Win Surface or iPad so I'm using the old style cut and paste version! This is the upper layer of my idea, basically a single line with a run around and a spur, with a couple of works sidings top left. The board is cut to the maximum size allowed for the scenic section. I'd welcome any thoughts regarding the layout, I've never really attempted anything this real before, usually I'm free form narrow Gauge or working to a plan. Cheers

That's a great start Echo, thanks

Thats my power source for the layout!

First up I want to say how inspiring you all are, experts and newcomers alike, this is a great group, showing some great work, and I hope to contribute in a small corner somewhere eventually. I'm trying to get my DJLC thoughts to crystallise, so I'm going to start on here and hope something develops. I'm almost certainly going urban, and there may be some water involved if there is space, however I really like this building and would like to find out more about it, but searching on East London Junction doesn't show it up at all. Any offers?

Maybe this should be in a new topic, "What's not on your workbench?" - I made some progress on the CCT today, but one of the four axleguard/spring etchings decided to go into low earth orbit and hasn't be seen since. I guess I'll be trying to knock one up from plastic card unless there is a source of replacements? It's a lovely piece of work the kit, a real pleasure to build. Meanwhile I'm still pondering if I can manage a layout to enter the DJLC..... Now. To do one more check of the kitchen floor... Cheers all John