Focalplane

Thank you so much for your kind comments - the project does at least seem to be coming along at a speed I am now happy with! The ruling gradient originally was going to be 1:50. This is the same ruling gradient as Andrew Pearce has adopted for his Somerset & Dorset Model (which is featured extensively on the Gauge O Guild Forum). His limit is about 5 coaches per locomotive but prototypical double heading allows for some exceptions on Summer Saturdays. The same applied in Mid-Wales as in Somerset. My ruling gradient is now somewhat less due to the change to a double slip under the scenic layout instead of three levels there I now have only two. This allowed me to reduce the overall range of levels by 6 centimeters. I find the woodworking a lot less daunting than future work with the wiring. I rather think that the wiring will be "old school" without the high tech stuff. Though I would hope that ultimately I can incorporate something like the Megapoints system. Right now I have some time to do more research as the first non-scenic areas will use up the 8 Tortoises I already own. Some time back I also stated that I wanted to have the points and signals operated by prototypical lever frames and have 7 such levers already in stock, so the Mimic control panel would render them unnecessary. As noted above, I don't like to waste anything! Paul

Not much progress today, time spent on the beach! But a much needed rest from the woodwork. However, I did start taking down the old shelves and took this photo while so doing: The shelves are going to have a new home in the garage/workshop. Not much gets wasted around here! Paul

Last evening's idea has borne fruit: I have added a cork track base and fixed the DC test track. This has a 1.8 meter (6ft) radius reversed curve. A second piece of track represents the programming track that will be fixed and wired up later. The DC test track is powered by an old 110 volt controller, shown at left. This requires a step down transformer of which we own several, having lived in 110 volt country for many years. Some more photos: These show the MOK 14XX, still without a decoder fitted, first running on the track, then on the rolling road. These form the first running session, if it can be called that, in the new railway room. I blame Andy P for getting "sidetracked", but actually the achievement is all rather exciting - thanks, Andy! Paul

Andy I really like your station buildings, perfect for the layout. The details are coming together nicely. Keep up the good work! Paul

Some thoughts on my L Girder system now I have had some experience working with the design: Planning is essential but don't think that everything has to be set in stone before you begin. That is one of the advantages of the system. But do think about modular construction of the leg supports and the L Girders. Think about datum(s) when designing a multi-level layout. I made a datum stick from a length of 2" x 1" with penciled markings. Having a level floor was a great help but if the floor isn't level then the system can still be leveled at the top of the L Girders which ideally should be the same height everywhere and therefore designed to be at the lowest point envisaged for the layout design. Layout height is important and no two people will find the same height ideal for them, so do some tests (stretching and leaning over an object that represents the finished level of your layout). In Gauge O it is quite probable that reach will be a problem, so think about access hatches in the corners of the room. If all the leg supports are the same design they can be constructed very easily. I found power tools to be almost essential in speeding up the process. A good table saw and chop saw were both worth their purchase. Timber for the L Girders should be selected carefully and this was a major problem. If any of the timber used for the framework is not planed to 90º corners then there will be problems. Warped timber should not be used. I use two screw sizes and have adopted Torx headed screws as the electric screwdriver likes them more than the crosscut design. They are 4 x 40 and 4 x 30 (metric) using a T20 Torx driver. I countersink screw heads into the plywood where necessary but on regular fir timber the driver does the countersinking for me. In contrast the actual track supports can use any timber available. I have not used MDF at all even though it would probably be stable enough in my railway room which does not have wide temperature or humidity changes. Instead I am using old well seasoned timber I have collected and stored (under the living room sofa) for several years. Thick plywood is also used but the quality of plywood is not as good as it used to be. My track bases are made from reasonable good 10mm plywood with a good surface finish. If there are enough track supports any warping can be reduced to acceptable levels. If supports cannot be spaced equally, consider some under plywood strengthening as long as it does not cause clearance problems. I am putting down cork sheet on both scenic and hidden areas. The latter has cheaper cork sheeting. After the glue has set I run over the cork surface with an electric sander to eliminate any rough or uneven spots. Cutting the plywood track bases is essential to the concept and for this I recommend a good modern electric jig saw. The difference between an old one and my new one is amazing. I think this is because of the anti-vibration mechanism. But whatever the design, it cuts through 10mm plywood like it was butter. It should go without saying that the lowest track levels should be built first and in my case they will be fully tested before the upper scenic levels are added. I hope this may be of interest. The system can be used for any scale (in fact I previously used it on an American HO layout when living in Houston) and it really comes into its own in multi-level designs. Paul

While adding to the structure this evening I realized there is space for some storage tracks below the scissor crossing. These would not be connected to the layout so would simply be a place to put locos and stock not being used. Then I thought about another use. Why not make one track a DC test track and another a DCC programming track. The DC track would have the same configuration as the one I currently use - a 1.8 meter radius reverse curve included - but would be built in and wired in. The programming track would be a simple straight section with no need for running space so could be at the back. Here is the space, it is 1.7 meters long: The entry door is to the left and there will be a lifting section there. Paul

Er... My mistake, Larry, it will be the Dukedog 9017, 89A, shiny black to bring out on special occasions! And the Midland Compound I mentioned on your Carrog Road topic, it won't be running on Penmaenpool except when Rule 1 applies. I started building LMS locos a few years ago simply because I like them! Paul

A few pounds have been parted company with in the past weeks. The parcel post generally takes a week from England, so in order of arrival: Youchoos ZIMO sound decoder for the 14XX tank engine Two Minerva vans, one Mink, the other the necessary Gunpowder van for Mid Wales operations Some Peco points from Tower Models And lastly I just paid my deposit for the David Andrews Bulldog Dukedog kit due at the end of summer; I'll buy the extras then In June I will buy the Warren Shephard 43XX/93XX kit and hopefully all the extras to go with it. As Andy says, I will soon have some trains running but exactly when depends on how quickly I can build the layout. The weather has not been friendly recently so there is every excuse to disappear into the railway room. Given some early summer weather that may not be so easily done. But I would like to see summer truly arrive and not tease us with one day over 20º then reports of high winds and rain for the next four days. Heck, I could just as well be in Wales! Just kidding! Paul

Andy Many thanks, that is, by the by, my intention! But good things don't necessarily happen yesterday! Paul

It is about time I added a few construction photos, and these focus on the non-scenic corner with the Dolgelley fiddle yard in place. This shows the corner with three levels. At base level is the three siding Dolgelley fiddle yard with the autocoach. Over this are two inclined tracks. The one closer to the camera is the "main line" with Penmaenpool station loop off to the right. This has nearly reached the scenic datum of the layout and the loop point will be just off photo. The inclined track at the back is the feed to the Barmouth fiddle yard and also the hidden continuous loop that will allow two trains to run (for the grandkids!) and also provide storage for Saturday excursions, etc. This is diving down to below the platform area of the station and will be screened off from the scenic layout (that's why it is at the back!) This is a view of the same corner but from the entry doorway where there will be a hinged section. The Marcway double crossover is temporarily added. This is necessary to give complete freedom of movement between the two circuits And a slightly different view. The uprights for the main line are temporary but I have set up super-elevation to see how it will work when screwed down. Paul

But this evening I did get two hours of woodworking accomplished. The heat pump engineer had a car accident, hence the no show. Maybe tomorrow? I completed the benchwork for one corner so now I have about 75% of the L Girder framework completed and about 20% of the hidden track bases. Progress and hopefully there will be more done this week. Paul

Finally! I was able to buy the rest of the L Girder timber this morning. Now I am stuck waiting for an engineer to show up at my apartment to service the water heater. So far 2 hours late. It’s cold and with no furniture not very comfortable! 12 deg outside and very windy, there was even heavy snow yesterday in the centre of France (Lozere). Paul

Well, Larry you have been busy and your followers even busier! We had a two day Fiesta Friday and Saturday, though it rained Saturday evening which was the finale and we stayed in. I did do some modelling though, but nothing like your efforts (of course!). Today we had relatives visit from the next department (Herault) so a quick opening and closing of the railway room door was the closest I got to a drill, screwdriver or length of timber. Coming back to the Youchoos Midland Compound sounds, they are indeed more appropriate to an original Patriot with a definite three beats to the revolution sound. I pointed this out to John Gymer a couple of years ago but no change as yet. Now I have bought his 14XX sound file I may have a bit more influence! He also needs to change the Fowler 4-6-2T to 2-6-4T on his web site! But I should add that I like his approach to selling sound files. The comment recommending the Irish Compound sounds is a good one - many thanks! Paul

I agree with Larry about the various sound files available for particular locomotives. I was checking out Youchoos' Midland Compound sounds as I have built a David Andrews kit which is ready to receive a sound decoder. They are simply wrong, in my opinion. The Fowler 2-6-4T sounds, on the other hand, are much closer to the real thing (there are no useful recordings of a LMS Compound so you have to compromise). At least Youchoos allow you to listen to a complete start, run and stop sequence on line before parting with cash. I am also not a member of the public, Larry, no movie to watch this evening! Paul

Ah, no, there's another option! MagClic couplers between coaches within a rake. The latest version even looks like a coupler. I don't think they will be able to release a 4mm scale version but you never know. Paul

The yard looks better with each modification, funny how a simple thing like Kadees can force an improvement in the yard layout. I can see similar problems with Penmaenpool when I come to laying track in the station/yard and the engine shed areas, not to mention that I also have inclines and hidden tracks below the scenic section. I feel sure that I will have problems when it comes to the finer details, so the scenic areas where such complexities may arise will have to be easily modified, both spatially and if necessary vertically. The L Girder approach will help but not entirely. Fingers crossed! As to mixing track, this should not be a problem in Gauge O as Peco, C&L and Marcway all promise that they are compatible. We shall see! Paul

Simon The oil industry variation on the theme was a refinery hand who retired after 40 years working. A week later he got a call from the manager that there was sonething wrong with the piping. The story runs in the same vein. The manager joked that the retiree should send in a bill, which he did, for $1,010. $10 for coming back to the refinery, $1,000 for knowing which pipe to hit with his sledge hammer. OK, back to the salt mines! Paul

Simon I have 8 Tortoises from previous layouts so I can use those and then think about other options for the scenic layout. I did look into Arduinos some years ago but felt that my "retired" mind is not up to their requirements, remember that in my career the most sophisticated tool I carried was a geological hammer which did not need programming! I have looked at the Peco system and agree that it seems to be expensive. I have two servos in stock to operate signals so perhaps I can get my head around servos eventually. Right now I can crack on with the Tortoises. Many thanks, Paul

When I compare the slow progress of Penmaenpool with other layouts in Gauge O I tend to forget that many of them are much smaller - the various shunting planks and so on. Then there are the huge layouts that have been in the making for years (and/or were assembled by a team of modellers). Today I have been doing lots of small things, none of which are worthy of a photograph but which when taken together with other days of work might actually begin to tell a story. The lack of L Girder timber has been frustrating but I am able to continue building the non-secenic track beds and have made some progress on the trackbed leading to the Dolgelley fiddle yard. It looks as though this will have three tracks with a spur off the inner track leading to the old Legge Lane turntable. The turntable will have several staging tracks for storing locomotives. The remainder of this inner track will store the 14XX plus autocoach, or perhaps a 74XX/8750 pannier and a B Set. The other two fiddle yard tracks should each be able to take a tender loco and four coach train or a mixed goods train. This is a bare minimum but there will also be a long storage loop under the layout which could hide a Saturday only excursion or two. I have come back to the double scissor crossover made by Marcway and will position this next to the lifting section in the doorway. It will require four point motors and I am open to suggestions. I like Tortoises but there are other options these days, such as the Peco system. If the learning curve is steep I am probably not interested as I am comfortable with the Tortoise concept. But do please comment on this, I welcome new experiences if they makes life easier. Paul

A general tip about installing Slaters pickups - see Jim McGeown's PDF file on the subject on his Connoisseur web site. Invaluable advice that really should have been included in the instructions by Slaters. Other than that I think Simon has given you very good advice. Also, on my MOK 14XX 0-4-2T I fitted two pickups on the rear driving wheels. That and a 17000 microfarad stay alive should keep the loco running! Paul

You are right, Larry. I meant that I would use the same sound files but not use the autotrain functions. Paul

Stymied again - no decent lumber of the size I need is available - so other priorities move up the list. The warping on one length was so bad I said something bad in English and got some very strange looks from other shoppers. Good news on returning, though, was a package from Youchoos. It contains a Zimo MX645R decoder with a Youchoos 17000 microfarads stay alive capacitor. It's for the 14XX and is loaded with the Youchoos 14XX sound file. This has all the sounds for autotrain operation included. I am sure I will install it in the next few days. I will probably use the same in the 74XX (though it was not used with an autocoach as far as I know, all photos show a "B Set" configuration). Paul

Re East Corwen and loss of trade at Carrog, yes, trade will go down if experience with the Broadway extension on the GWSR is a go by. But ridership there has risen and Toddington seemed to be just as busy on a sunny weekend afternoon. Personally, if we were to take the train, coming from Porthmadog, we would probably drive to Carrog, park and take the train to Llangollen. Why? The cafe! Clearly there is a demand judging by the above comments. Paul

I don't remember it but I have certainly heard enough about it! Last year the parking was located half way to Caernafon. We left Porthmadog the day before the festival started, just in case! To be honest (or as honest as an amateur meteorologist could be) it is said that the Porthmadog area has its own microclimate. I believe there is some truth to this in that the forecasts never turn out to be correct. But when it is good weather, then it really is! Paul

All sorts of diversions, some literally, at the moment. The village has a Fiesta on Friday and Saturday so we will be "locked down" for two days with not much chance of driving anywhere. So I have to get to the bricolage tomorrow for 6 lengths of timber to complete the L Girder framework in between visits to various eclectic street performances. Another diversion was a visit to Montpellier today to our nearest IKEA. This entails driving on A9 which is touted as the most dangerous stretch of autoroute by the local paper, Midi Presse. A couple of days ago they posted yet another video as a reminder of the dangers of mixing local drivers, European truck drivers from everywhere and tourists from everywhere on a 3+3 lane toll road. We were pleasantly surprised with the road manners - maybe the newspaper's campaign is working. Several of our neighbours have asked about the future of the old home cinema. At least two have nodded with understanding and enthusiasm when I explain that it has closed down to make way for a model train in "Echèle Zero". Paul