DAVE1562

Hi all.....had a from break ballasting and spent the bank hols re-laying the lifting section track, it now has better alignment and runs smoother over the join... I also got around to making a programing track on a separate board and fit its shelf. it allows easy removal so it can be used at our local train fair and club as a test track, I have fitted oo and n gauge track and a dpdt switch to allow dcc or dc running, handy for when I fit my own or clubs decoders! I also received the first imp servo controller from GFB designs to try and a relay for frog switching or route leds, once I am happy how they work I will order more... highly recommended for service and delivery!.. shelf and B & Q shelf supports... dcc panel and dc socket imp servo controller with attached relay back soon...

Hi all......have a browse at Colletts models of Exmouth website or facebook page...lots of bargains to be had and now Leigh(owner) has introduced a points loyalty card scheme, upon a purchase you will get points to collect for discount... you need to register at the website... COLLETTS MODELS OF EXMOUTH... Well worth a visit ! Dave...

Hi steve,did not know you could buy as a fret.. i have only used staples, they work very well on Bachmann and Dapol couplings but not Hornby due to the different arms length and pivot point, I ballasted over the neodyms and painted black the staples.. have a look at little marley for pics.... dave

Thanks John....lifting section works well , found the idea from a post on rmweb and on utube and thought I would give it a try.... just needs a bit of fettling with a sander on the alignment blocks underneath now the wood has settled.. started rubbing and gone a bit tight when lifted or lowered but keeps the alignment well...

Hi all.....busy weekend just gone ballasting and weathering track, a couple of problems have been found which I need to rectify. I have noticed where the curved board joins are that the collett tender wheels are lifting... I feel, when I have soldered and cut for the joins it has distorted and closed the rail spacings, you can feel the tender wheels binding tight so this has gone on the re - do list. I have also have a stutter problem on one of the d/slips at slow speed,its had a good clean so the loco pickups are being looked at as others run fine over it. red spot marks the magnets for auto uncoupling.. I have also gave some stock an airing out of the cabinet, all local to me ready for weathering and load to be fitted... back soon....

nice job Mikkel....will look a cracker on the farthing layout...

Hi all.....main bus circuit and all droppers are in...I finished the station area and goods shed sidings last night, all track is now live, I just need to fit point motors now. one change I made was to remove the Tamiya connectors at the board joins as the I feel there was bad contacts and felt loose, I have now replaced them with gold r/c 4mm bullet connectors... a vast improvement! some of the point droppers to the frogs have been temporary connected for polarity and it allows me to run trains and shunt the sidings as the points were converted to be dcc friendly, all the modifications to the couplings work really well...sat for an hour last night shunting stock... great fun! station passing loop and sidings.. sidings, engine shed and turntable area back soon....

Hi all...... we now have double slips so track laying has re-commenced, managed to get 2 fitted last night and droppers in place, the sidings,headshunts and engine shed/turntable lines have been prepped and just need droppers fitting. I have also pre-cut the lengths for the station sidings and goods yard, this is work in progress! At this moment electrics are good and all working!!! some pics.... sidings and headshunts turntable and engine shed siding The next job will be fitting of servos driven by imp controllers.. like the look of them and fancied a change from seeps...once they are fitted I suppose we have to do the boring bit of ballasting back soon...

Hi all..... while i am track laying i have had the thoughts of suitable auto uncoupling, i did not like the horendous ramps you can buy and did not want the hassle of wiring in magnetic uncouplers... most of my stock have nem couplings fitted so it has given me a few options to try.... while browsing the forum i found this idea from Brian kirby which works very well, i have used thin 1mm neodymium magnets under the track place in pairs at suitable locations as required,when ballasted they would not be seen, modification to the arms is by fitting staples.. shaped to suit and then painted black....takes about 5 mins to convert both couplings.......and lot cheaper than kadees! magnets in position.... couplings at working position.. couplings lifted at magnets.... showing how they look...

Hi all....managed to get a fair bit of wiring done, with a few bits of slave connections to the frogs i managed to have a collett running with a few coaches and goods stock, have also fitted some copperclad on the lifting sections and they hold the alignment better now,with a bit of final tweeking these will be eventually fixed into position..... a few pics....

Hi all.....We have a continuous run..... have now started to connect the droppers through to each bit of track and connect to the main bus, this time i have soldered them and not used suitcase clips like i did on exe valley..found them to be very troublesome for good running so i dont want the same problem(lesson learned).....the lifting sections have worked very good, just need a tweek or two for alignment but this will be cured by copperclad sleepers once they arrive, am also waiting for the three double slips for track laying to re-commence when funds allow

Hi all.....baseboard adjustable feet finally got fitted today...all nice and level now, i also filled in the holes where the hinges were drilled using pva mixed with cork shavings....once covered in groundcover you would not know they are there...

Hi all.....ok after a bit of info from wagonman , i sat for a couple of hours and had a shuffle around with anyrail with the 3way point and sidings... have managed to remove the 3 way still giving me the same length of passing loop and improved the sidings operationally... the plan.....

Thanks for the info wagonman, the 3 way is only used because of space restraints and i had to use a bit of artistic licence to get around the problem

Hi all ....cork is down, found a good seller(ebay) 4m x 1m x 3mm thick sheet for £27 and track laying has commenced,i also fitted the first utp panel from coastal dcc...1 day delivery.. full marks and highly recommended for service..

Hi all...main bus circuit is now installed and also ran through an extension rj12 lead to the opposite side of the layout, at some point i will also fit two NCE UTP panels. While waiting to decide on cork or depron as a sub base, i have started to pre-cut track and loose lay on boards to see how it looks and just to re-check the point positions dont clash with frames for the point motors (good decision!)..already i had to move a double slip about an inch as it would clash... station area and small goods yard... main junction for goods sidings, engine shed and turntable to be continued.....

Hi all....ok all boards are now finished and both lifting sections align just right.. very pleased how its turned out, have now started installing the main bus using 32/02 wire,16/02 will be used for droppers when track is laid. i am going to try some tamiya r/c connectors at each board join on the main bus for quick release if i need to move a board for some reason.I have also built a power distibution board and box which houses the SB5 and power supply... SB5 shelf.... lifting section showing bus wire ready for tywrap bases first bit of track cut to lengths..... I am trying to decide wether to use 3mm cork or 3mm depron as a trackbase, i used cork last time but after ballasting there was not much difference..... any opinions on depron???

Hi all.... nearly there, a bit of trimming, adjustment and some hinges for the 2nd lift up section required...... but the temptation was too much,i told her indoors that i was checkin the boards were level !.. a bit of track laid on and gave the collett a good run ... now for some serious modelling! back soon....

Hi all.... another good day today, four frames have now got fitted tops and the first lifting section complete and im glad to say ... IT WORKS! lifting section with top fitted,legs are removable to stow up....2nd lift up board support fitted on side with locating dowells for precise alignment, might just fit a small latch to hold it in place... showing board join, hinge cups will be hidden using 1/8 thick cork..... as you can see board swings away to allow track clearance..... fitted hinges.... progress so far.... three more frames to cover and then can start track laying!!! to be continued.....

Hi all.....more progress today after a good day out at the Exe mrc show at Exeter yesterday, again a good turnout and well done to all involved .... i progressed on with the two lifting sections, all the boards are ready for surfaces now, i can then align these two sections properly with the hinges..... view looking from kitchen into utility room,lift sections down to position.. legs removable to allow board be stowed up.... as they say.. work in progress

Hi all..... a bit more progress today, finished and fitted the joining end board and completed the leg bracing, all frames have been drilled and now connected using bolts and wing nuts to allow dismanling if required i am now building the lifting sections to allow access through to the conservatory, i have found a good hinge method on utube which i will use using kitchen cupboard hinges, it allows for the gap required for the rails without binding....

Hi all... another good day today, boards 3 & 4 ready for center legs, leg bracing and tops..