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Steam_Julie

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  1. Steam_Julie
    I find when building micro layouts and operating them at exhibitions one need to think carefully about their design to make them more interesting to watch and operate. On Clovelly Road I have decided that I'm going to have working catch points on the entrance to the goods yard.
     
    On the prototype these were installed to prevent runaways. These were wagons who had not had their manual brakes properly applied running away down the gradient and causing problems further down the line. This was a serious and every present risk before the introduction of continuous braking on goods trains in the early 1970's.
     
    The catch points simply derailed such a wagon or collection of wagons before they got onto the main running line, by derailing them. They are not often modelled and very rarely are they operational on model railway layouts.
     
    On Clovelly Road, I am using a cut-down Peco LH Settrack point to model the catch point. This has the advantage that the catch point is sprung, in the same ways as normal Peco points and can be operated using the same technologies.

    It has the advantage that the cut-down point can be made shorter than the ready made Peco catch points and therefore take up less baseboard space. This is critical on a layout like Clovelly Road.
    The goods yard entry point and the catch point will be worked in tandem, just like the prototype.
     
    Julie
  2. Steam_Julie
    I've been looking into an alternative to cork sheet, as it is unobtainable locally! I have a sample, obtained free from a local printing firm, of 5mm thick foamboard. It has caused much scratching my head, because I wanted no more than 6mm between the rail top and the surface of the canal.
     

     
    This imformation was gained by looking at pictures, of Cromford Wharf and measurements taken on a field visit. the canal edgeat he wharf, is now steal piling, but from photographs, I know that in the 1950's the edging was stone.
     
    The area between the canal edge and the open siding and the side of the transfer shed, which still exists at the prototype location, was cobbles or more correctly, they were called stone sets. When the rope worked railway was built, it linked two canals, one from the Manchester area and the other linking into the North Midlands network via the Erewash Canal. The line was later conected at the North end to the LNWR at Buxton and the Midland Railway at the South end.
     
    I think I now have a solution, I'll have photographs to follow soon!
     
    Julie
  3. Steam_Julie
    I have been looking for a coupling system that will allow hands free shunting on a N Gauge layout for several years. This has been without success until I walked into our local hardware shop yesterday. I have previously, looked at B&B, DG and even Greenwich couplings, which are intended for OO narrow gauge. When in the local hardware shop I realised that a magnet sold for general applications could be the solution to my quest.
     
    The solution was under my noise all the time, and was found in the Peco catalogue. I have used the standard Elsie couplings and the Coupler Lift Arms. The breakthrough is the use of a moveable magnet, allowing uncoupling to take place anywhere within a desired area and the realisation that the lift arms can be fitted on one end of a vehicle. When building a shunting layout, like an inglenook, this is not a problem. I have found a magnet which is sufficiently strong to act through a single piece of 5mm plywood, which I use for the trackbed of my layouts.
     
    ]
     


     
    There is the added bonus, of being able to using the same magnet, to hold a wagon in place when buffering up, because of the steel weight under the Peco wagons. On the prototype the brakes are left on until the coupling is complete.
     

     
    The first photograph show that there is no modification to the track required. The second photograph shows the reverse of the baseboard. The strip of wood across the layout is there to prevent the movement of the magnet damaging the wiring. The only extra consideration required is the careful design of the wiring, to keep the shunting area clear of wires.
     
    Julie
  4. Steam_Julie
    I am currently very unpopular with my sister! I was doing some modelling at her house recently. I was painting a culvert which I constructed from a Peco Bridge kit. I was using model paints and therefore needed to use a brush cleaner.
     

     
    I was working at a table, with a plastic table cloth, and then I spilt the brush cleaner. When I went to wipe it, I found that the pattern also wiped off. Oops! The bottle was not designed for pouring and the cleaner had run down the front and onto the bottom and had splashed onto the table cloth too.
     
    I though that I was going to be eaten alive, for my mistake, but luckely not.
  5. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    I live in a small bedsit, with the use of shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen and also a common room, with a television. My room is about 2m by 4.5m. In that space there are two large fitted cupboards for general storage, a wardrobe, bed, hand basin, desk and chest of draws.
     

     
    If I am going to have a layout, it has to be able to be put up in my room. They layout has to be very small. It also has to be able to be stored under the bed, when not in use. My desk can easily double as a bench. I have a piece of 9mm ply which has a edge around it to catch small pieces which tend to fly, and a small model maker vice. I also have a desk lamp to provide extra illumination when required.
     
    I wanted to be able to run in locomotives, so I needed a continuous run for this. With the size constrains I then did the basic design of the layout. I worked out that small 0-6-0, 10' wagons and 4 wheeled coaches would go round 2nd radius, without looking too unrealistic.
     
    I am building a model of an intermediate station, on the light railway between Van and Cearsws, a station still served by Arriva Trains Wales, on the line between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth.
     
    The station I am going to model is Trefeglwvs Road, which as the names suggests was a long way from Trefeglwvs itself. The track and buildings at the end of the lines existence, in June 1949, in many way resembled it more famous neighbour the Bishop's Castle Railway.
     
    The station has a short platform, with wooden building which provided goods storage, and an office for the station agent and two short goods sidings, including a grounded covered wagon for a coal merchants accommodation.
     
    There are very few photographs of the railway, so most of my modelling inspiration will come from the numerous articles and books published about the Bishop's Castle Railway.
     
    Julie
  6. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    New photograph added 15:50 21-09-13
     
    Since the last post I have been working on the fiddleyard. The photograph below shows a birds eye view, with a train in the back siding.
     

     
    The back siding is designed to hold the passanger train and the general freight train, both without thier engines. The middle siding is designed for a loaded mineral train and the guards van between trains. The front siding is designed for the empty mineral train.
     

    The train arrives from Van and drives onto the cassette. The working cassette will be longer, by 80mm, this will allow the full train to be accommodates.
     

     
    The cassette is then moved onto the track, where the train is to be stored and then the is driven off.
     

     
    I am unable to join the two compounents of the cassette, because currently don't have a working soldering iron, following dropping it.
     
    To access the earlier blog entries you can click on blog name at the top right of the blog entry, or the link below.
     
    When I finish track laying last night, the thought occurred to me that if the fiddleyard tracks were slightly nearer, then I could fit another in.
     
    A journey into town, on the bus, another yard of track purchased from the model shop, and another hours work and we now have four fiddleyard roads, as shown below.
     

     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1394/entry-12410-trefeglwvs-road-cambrian-railways-4/
     
     
    Julie
  7. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    I said to my friend Lisa, 2mm Lisa that is, a few days ago.
     
    There's a hole in my backscene, dear Lisa, dear Lisa …...
     

     

     

     

     

     
    Well there are two holes really but you get the idea. These holes are vital, because if there were not, trains would not be able to be run.
     
    Julie
     
    There is a link to the find out more info about Pack Lane at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85857-pack-lane/page-2
  8. Steam_Julie
    Hi All
     
    It's been a long time since I've had the time and inclination to work on my model railway. However I recently been working on coupling design for Holloway Goods.
     

     
    Mr Peco's nuts are used to hold the wagon body to the chassis, with the weight, held in position, between them. This method is better then glueing because it allows the components to easily be disassembled if required!
     
    My design criteria are that the train should be able to negotiate a 75mm radius curve reliably without derailing. The actual minimum radius will be 90mm, but if the above condition is meet, then I shall have no problems on the actual layout.
     

     
    The picture above, was taken on a friends micro layout, which has 75mm curves to minimise the area taken by the fiddleyard.
     
    I have no objection to the coupling system being single ended, that is to say different couplings on each end of vehicles. In this project I kept the peco coupling on one end, but I have filled the thickness down to half the original. I tested a coupling to see if it remained coupled and it passed the test. The thinner coupling is less obtrusive, then the original.
     

     
    The other coupling is replaced with a simple hook, made from stainless steel G String, purchased from the local music shop.
     

     
    The front angle of the hook is about 60 degrees, it is important that there is sufficient gap to allow the modified Peco hook to drop under it's own weight, even when a magnetic dropper is added.
     

     
    I wanted the train, composed of loose coupled wagons, to close up when the train comes to a stop, say at a signal, and open up as the train started again.
     
    Lisa
  9. Steam_Julie
    When the track was laid a paper template was made by placing a sheet of paper over the track, using the outer rail and a pencil a line was drawn. Then the process was repeated for the baseboard edge. The template was then cut out and checked against the track and baseboard edge. After several iterations, it was used to cutout the platform base.
     
    The photograph below shows the site of the platform at Clovelly Road, just before the overbridge on the Hallwill Junction side.
     

     
    Below is the photograph showing the basic construction of the platform. The strip along the inner radius top will eventually form the basis of the coping stones, when the individual stones are scribed onto it's surface.
     

     
    This photograph shows the platform placed in position, on the mounting blocks.
     

     
    The view below shows the platform with the width of the end section trimmed. This was done on the prototype to save money, as the company was in financial difficulty.
     

     
    This view shows the platform mounting blocks trimmed and glued in position.
     

     
    This next photograph shows the platform glued in position. It took many iterations of trying to run the train through. Then marking where it hit the platform. Then removing excess material, using a scalpel as a plane, before the train ran smooth through, without any hesitation.
     

     
    The view below shows the relationship between train and platform, when the above process was complete.
     

     
    The attached thumbnails are views of the primitive waiting shelter provided for passengers at Clovelly Road. Since the prevailing weather is from behind the shelter, it worked well.
     

     

     

     
    Below is a photograph of my best friend, who kept me going through my recent problems with a rough cyclist. See is siting on the floor of one of our local buses.
     

     
    Julie
  10. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    Today I have been working on the backscene. I decided, some time ago that I did not want a flat backscene. The first stage, of building backscene was to built a sporting structure onto which I could fix the curved backscene.
     

     
    I decided that I wanted the backscene to extend into the bridge box and hence the it was not to be a simple rectangle.
     

     
    The structure of the backscene is made from 4mm MDF, which was wet and then bent to shape, then allowed to dry for more than 24 hours.
     

     
    The strap across the top was to hold it in shape, before it was wet, and then when it is drying. If the strap was not there, the force exerted, which would tend to make the board flatten itself, may have broken the end supports. Once it has dried it then holds the curve.
     
    Once this was done I put a framework in place to prevent the backscene tearing or becoming damaged, whilst the train entry/exit holes were cut. This also makes the backscene stronger.
     
    I still have to counter sink the screw heads and fit a card surface to the backscene, and then paint it sky blue. The card will give me an unblemished surface, because the MDF is not thick enough to allow both the screw beneath the surface and then apply filler to hide them!
     

    This done I ran a train to check that then holes were big enough. This done I relayed the number 2 siding, because as laid originally the 0-6-0 locomotive derailed nearly every time.
     
    Julie
  11. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    Since I last posted I have continued to work on the layout. I added the facia, the shape will need to be trimmed when the overbridge, platform and the bridge over the stream are fitted.
     

     
    What do you think of my legs? It now looks more like a model railway layout now the legs are fitted. They are placed into pockets on the bottom of the layout, and are held in by simply friction and gravity.
     

     
    Julie
  12. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    The following sequence of drawings show a sequence of fiddleyard operations on Trefeglwvs Road
     
    The first part of the sequence allows the engine to run around it's train, keeping both the locomotive and it's train, in this case two coaches the same way around. This is more Prototypical
    than turning the whole train around!
     
    A similar process will be used when running around the pick up goods train, but it will be slightly more complex because of the requirement to change the brake van over too.
     







    Or change trains by












     
    All trains will be stored in the fiddleyard is the correct direction for their next duty.
     
    Julie
  13. Steam_Julie
    It occurred to me after reading November 2015 edition of BRM that Clovelly road could be operated as an inglenook puzzle, as well as using an operating sequence which simulates the operation of the prototype. It has all the track elements a main line, which is where the train is assembled and two short sidings, which can hold 3 wagons each.
     

     
    Using a set of hidden sidings, several other trains possibly including a passenger train could be run, giving more variety. The direction of exit of the hidden sidings is designed so that the passenger train operates in the opposite direction to the pick-up goods, i.e. the trains that shunt the yard. The operation of the passenger train could be controlled by a shuttle unit, which has been interlocked with the siding points. I envisage the trains being pulled by a small diesel loco such as class 22, a 33 or a small 0-6-0 steam locomotive.
     
    The operation could still be determined by the same methods i.e. the use of a pack of cards which are shuffled to determine which wagons are left in the sidings after the train moves off. I envisage that coal wagons would have removable loads, allowing them to be removed when nobody was observing. At the end of a shunt sequence, the wagons are redistributed according to the following rule. The first 3 wagons in the pack could be assigned to siding 1 nearest the main line and the second 3 to the back siding.
     
    To fully understand how an inglenook puzzle works, I have produced a short animation.
     

    To repeat the simulation, just click on the link below.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/monthly_03_2016/blogentry-20065-0-60055600-1458046087.gif
     
    To return to RMweb simply click on the symbol, at the top of your browser window.
     
    What does this prove, that 'there are many ways to skin a cat'. Not that I hate cats, it's just a figure of speech. And also that the same layout can be used in several different ways. A small layout can also be used a photographic background, because it is quick and easy to setup.
     
    Julie
  14. Steam_Julie
    I stared to think about micro shunting layouts as a result of reading the article on Ruston Quays.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/102137-ruston-quays/page-6&do=findComment&comment=2367143
     
    This seemed to have very limited operation possibilities, despite having a upper level operated by a shuttle unit. I wanted the possibility to run the goods train on and off scene between shunting sequeces. My first design is shown below.
     

     
    I was impressed by the idea of building a micro layout, that could be transported and stored that fitted into a toolbox. This offered he posibility of storing the layout, stock, mdelling tools and materials in a single unit. The layout above was designed to fitinto a very small really useful box for storage and threansport. I was inspirated, by the blog found at the link below.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/111658-a-model-railway-in-a-toolbox/
     
    This new format gave me significantly more space to play with and I then set about redesigning the scenic section of he layout.

     
    I felt that I needed to check that the proposed track plan would meet my requirements, before starting to lay track. I therefore decided tobuild simulations to check this out.
     

     
    So far I have built the simulation for the operation of the rope worked incline, I am crrently working on the simulation for the local goods, from the junction to the quay side sidings.
     
    Julie
     
    Larger versions of the layout plans
     

     

  15. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    I've now reconnected both sides of the circle, following the cutting of the baseboard into two. This was a more lengthy process than expected, because of the very small radius curves used on the layout.
     
    I have also started the proper DCC wiring of the fiddleyard board, since red and black wire are difficult to buy, in the correct gauge, for the power bus, I have substituted brown for red and Blue for black. The DCC standards are set in the US, where power cable use red and black coloured wires.
     

    The dropper to the track are the correct colours, of Red and Black. The electronic board adjacent to the DCC input plug is an NEC Auto Switch. This switches between the main and the Programming Track automatically, my controller does not have a separate Programming Track output.
     
    The cable clips were made from styrene sheet, because none of the standard one meet my needs, there are two types on for securing the ends of the run and one used for the rest.
     
    When I turned the layout over to work on the electrics I accidentally damaged the stove chimney on the station building, not a disaster because the repair was easy, and it is now at a jaunty angle, more in keeping with a light railway structure. This has prompted me to add a protector board to prevent any further damage to the scenery whilst working on the underside.
     

     
    In now need to add the droppers to the fiddleyard sidings and then install the Power bus on the scenery board, and the links between the two boards. I will need to be very careful not to damage the track when fixing the power bus in place.
     
    Julie
  16. Steam_Julie
    The expression is really true, "If you really want muck things up, then use a computer. The point templates were designed using trax version 3. To print out the templates you require a working printer, of course.
     
    I've spent the last few days fighting with my computer, to install the new printer. Now I've suceeded and I can now proceed to point build! Horay!
     

     
    Julie
  17. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    Since the last posting, I have continued working on the scenery. I built the basic station buildings, using a Peco kit, which has been modified to suit the location.
     

     
    The bridge that carries the farm track, still needs much work. The slope of the embankment which will carry the road is still impossibly steep, and there is no road surface yet. The front of the bridge structure exists, but not the back yet!
     
    The light railway, didn't go in for fancy fencing to enclose it platforms, they used simple farm type fences, as the local knew how to construct and maintain these.
     
    I have enlarged the train exit and entry, opening at the Van end of the station to allow the back wall of the Mill Farm barn to continue through the backscene. This is an attempt to make the transition work better, I leave you to judge how successful it is.
     

     
    After completion of opening out the stream where it breaks through the fascia, I then built the baulk bridge, complete with it's abutments. Mill farm barn of course needs to be covered in stone cladding, and the roof in tiles.
     
    Julie
     
    Previous entries in the blog cane be found, by clicking this link.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1394-steam-julies-layout-blog/
  18. Steam_Julie
    I considering what to do to allow the points to be moved. I am considering using the Peco PL11. But using them upside down to may them easier to hide. I've asked questions of the Peco Tab, Technical Advice Bureau, but have not recieved an answer to my question. This is probably becuase my idea is too radical!
     
    I would require to design a different spacer to allow it to be fixted to the baseboard. I can't see any reason why my idea should not work.
     

     
    Julie
  19. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    I have brought, my highly transportable layout with me, when I travelled to Scotland to stay with family at Christmas.
     
    Look up into the sky, and you see wide open spaces. The plywood backscene support has corners, something the sky does not have. I have use a layer of 2mm thick card to remove the corners from the front surface of the backscene support.
     

     

     
    The actual backscene will be a think sheet of card, thin enough to be rolled up and held in a tube to protect it for transport. This will also allow the backscene to be higher than the backscene support. The height of the latter is determined because the layout has to fit into the case for ease of transport.
     

     

     
    There will therefore be a small gap between the backscene support and the scenery. The backscene support will be painted to seal it, against ingress of moisture and thus make it more able to withstand wear. The colour will be light blue.
     
    Julie
     
    For a full description of the building of Pack Lane follow the http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85857-pack-lane/page-2&do=findComment&comment=1710003 link.
  20. Steam_Julie
    Sitting, as one does, when waiting for a train at Birmingham New Street. I had nothing to read, so like many others I resorted to playing with my phone. I selected the camera, and was about to take some train pictures, when I spotted the Panorama option.
     

     
    I played around with the option, with little success. But I then remembered that you can search for phone manuals online, at first with little success, because the first 2 I found were badly written. I eventually found a well written PDF. One section of which is reproduced below.
     

     
    My phone is a basic Android Pixie phone, so my assumption is that these type of features are available on other smart phones. So why is this useful in railway modelling I hear you ask. The answer is in the production of photographic backscenes. Traditionally you take the pictures and then stitch them together at home using a computer. But there are pitfalls, if you make a mistake when taking the photographs, you may require to retake them. This is a problem when the location is hundreds of miles away from home.
     
    The advantage of using a smart phone is the images are stitched together, in the phone, then and there. You can check they work, before you leave the photo location. They are also rendered into a single graphic file. By selected the SD card as your preferred storage location, a large file can easily be handled. You can also check the image in detail, by magnifying it when looking at it.
     
    You need to practice before taking images for your project. I found that after about six practice panorama shots, I was getting reasonable results. An example of a panorama shot is shown
    below.
     

     
    I had to reduce the picture size to very significantly to enable it to be loaded onto RMWeb.
     
    I took the shots, by rotating the camera through an angle. By choosing the photographic locations carefully, I think the results were excellent. You could take the panorama in a strait line using a bicycle saddle, on a smooth surface as a substitute track and dolly. If a single panorama shot is not long enough, you can stitch two shots together or stitch parts of a single shot on either end of a single panorama. You can always reverse a shot, within a graphics package to aid the stitching process.
     
    You might have problems if something moves quickly whilst you are taking the panorama. When I was playing around on the concourse at New Street, I took a panorama and a lady in the left middle had three eyes, two mouths and noses! This was because she moved rapidly whilst the shots were being taken.
     
    Because I took the original photographs at the highest resolution of the camera on the phone, I was able to enlarge the panorama by a factor of over 5 times and the image was still good enough for a backscene!
     
    Julie
  21. Steam_Julie
    In the previous post, I used a micro baseboard to test the use of a hand held magnet to activate a Peco Elsie coupling with a Coupler Lift Arms. The baseboard was originally built to prove that it's possible to operate N Gauge points, using Peco surface mounted point motors. In the catalogue they are only shown being used with OO gauge points.
     

     
    The secondary objective was to prove whether or not analogue points could be powered from a DCC bus signal, without interrupting digital operation. The circuit consists of several components, these are a rectification circuit, complete with a capacitor. This does not operate as a capacitance discharge unit, but prevents current surges when a point motor is operated. The capacitor is under the baseboard.
     
    The DC is feed via a centre off double throw switch, to the left to select the branch, the non straight road and left for the main. The points are of course held in position using the over centre spring, installed on the point.
     
    The third component is a circuit which is driven via a micro switch operated by the no driven end of the point tiebar. This shows a red illumination of an led for the branch and green for the main. The led is a two input red green led, connected round one way it glows red and the other way glows green.
     
    I have also increased the size of the pip on the point tiebar, because having a larger on, with a smaller gap between it and the activator on the point motor, this reduces wear and also increases point motor life.
     
    Julie
  22. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    I recently been hacked, and for a short while, untill I had removed the virus I was getting unorthorised adverts when viewing RMWeb. One of these was for brest enlargegments at a clinic in Bulgaria.
     
    I don't think the infection passed to RMWeb or anyone else, but it might be a good idea to check! I had a unauthorised plug-in installed on my web browser.
     
    The infection came from a software download server of a large software company, which has a footsy 100 listing in London.
     
    Julie
  23. Steam_Julie
    Hi
     
    I had a frustrating weekend, attempting to paint a rectangle of MDF sky blue. In the last 6 months the two local art shops have gone bust, leaving us with no other option than buying paints from an internet supplier. The company sells a range of art products aimed at children, poster paints etc.
     
    I purchased a bottle of white poster paint and mixed in a small quantity of blue artists acrylic paint, the colour in the pallet was good, it had the correct consistency, BUT when applied to the MDF it didn't stick!
     
    Using a range of art techniques including adding PVA to the paint didn't help either. A friend came to see me yesterday, and he subsequently lent me some acrylic paint from a well know art supplier and that worked as I expected, and thus this posting has finally happened.
     

    Besides my fight with the paint, I have also pained the wooden baulks of the stream bridge, added the stone to the bridge supports, and clad the Mill Farm barn and finally added the stream surface in the area upstream of the weir.
     

     
    Have you also noticed how it happens, you have your trains operating smoothly over your layout, and as soon as a camera is pointed toward them they come off all the time. Well that happened too when I was taking these pictures. I believe this is an application of Murphy's Law, if it can go wrong, then it will.
     

     
    Below is a short movie of a train from Van entering the scenic section. This video was taken from the normal viewing position of the layout. The join between the main backscene and the fiddleyard one is designed not visible from the this position, but due to the need to place train cassettes in position to access the number 1 fiddleyard track, it is visible from positions to the right of it.
     

     
    Sorry for the repeating of the video, this is a function of RMWeb and GIF animations.
     
    With a little more attention to the colours and lighting used the join between the backscene and the become near invisible.
     
    Julie
     
    PS Previous entries in this blog can be found at
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1394-steam-julies-layout-blog/
  24. Steam_Julie
    Hi New photograph of DCC wiring added 26-11-13
     
    Since the last blog entry I have wired the scenic board, in similar fashion to the fiddleyard board. I have also wired both boards together at both track crossing points. Some people may say that this is over the top!
     

     
    But I remember from electronics at college, that if you have 2 resistors of value R and you connect them in series then the total resistance is 2R. However if you connect them in parallel the total resistance is 1/2R instead.
     
    The main power bus is single core wire, whilst the links are multi-core cable. This allows the cable in the links to bend without damaging it. But the cable has slightly higher resistance than the solid core cable.
     

    The programming switch is arranged so that when the switch points towards the programming track, the programming track is selected, and therefore when it points away from it, the main is selected.
     



     
    Now after the track over the joints has been fettled, I can turn my mind back to the task of doing the scenery again.
     
    Julie
     
    PS An animation of running around a passenger train in the fiddleyard can be found at :-
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1429-steam-julies-general-blog/
  25. Steam_Julie
    When the blanks were cut out and they were offered up to the toolbox to check they fitted, the design size was found to be over optimistic. The final size is 500mm x 160mm. The total outside measurements of the box will be 510mm x 170mm. The above size is narrower than the expected during the initial design study.
     
    Below is the previous design.
     

     
    This has been made necessary because, it is difficult to accuracy measure the dimensions of a tapering container. It is critical that the layout will fit into the toolbox for transport, with damage occurring during insertion or removal, as well as in transit.
     

     
    In order to get the desired track and scenic features into the available space, I will have to use forced perspective. Using this technique objects, that are further away from the viewer, have their size decreased, thus increasing the sence of space. The canal will have to be narrower than the scale width, but if any barges are narrower too, this will not be obvious the the viewer. This allows more space for features which cannot be reduced in width, such as the track.
     
    The distance between tracks and the between tracks and buildings can however be slightly reduced. This is turning into an exercise of squeezing a quart into a pint pot!
     

     
    There is a stone wall between the canal and the railway line, DMU Shuttle, line. Currently I am relaying out the track and scenic components to check that they will fit. Once this has beencompleted the baseboard board will be cut, to allow for the differnt levels.
     
    The baseboard will then be assembled and pained a neutral grey colour, track laying will then commence, starting with the DMU Shuttle track.
     
    Julie
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