richscylla

Yeah it's the power output. I have removed the CDU and everything works properly. So I need to get a new power source. Thinking of a laptop charger, but will that be too powerful to use for lighting and signals on my layout? Thanks, Rich

It looks as though it might be the power output being too low - seems it's 15v AC and needs to be 16v AC.

Wait... it's a 15v AC output. Could that be the issue?

Yes - that's right. It's an old Hornby controller with a 16v AC output.

I have been working on the ballasting (which is coming along nicely, but I will save the photos for now). I don't want to ballast the points until the point motors are working correctly and installed. So I have tackled one of the jobs I'm most scared of - point motors - and it hasn't gone that well! I wired it all up and it doesn't work. And I'm not sure why. Can anyone see if I have done anything wrong?

I actually don't find the polyfilla too hard to work with - but I'll certainly give the other stuff a go when I need some more! Thanks for the tip! Much appriecated!

Hi everyone! After a little assistance if possible! I've just spent a little time wiring up my first ever point motor. It's a SEEP PM1, and I've use the Guagemaster CDU. Everything is (I think) wired up right, I'm feeling proud, I flip the switch and nothing. Can anyone see anything obvious that I've done wrong? I have swapped the wires from the CDU to the power source over and that didn't help. Is there anyway I can test to see what is causing the issue. Please use short words when replying, when it comes to electrics I'm at a child's level of understanding!! Pictures below: Thanks in advance for any help offered! Rich

I have been working on the platform over the last couple of evenings and have made some good progress! I have used textured plastikard on the edging to get some texture akin to the one at Patchway Station which I'm pretty pleased with. Once it's been painted I hope that individual tile effect will be a little clear like it is on the canal tow path. I have then filled the rest with a very thin layer of polyfilla. I need to tidy up where the polyfilla has got onto the plastikard, but I'm really happy with it as a start!

Thanks for everyone's input! I have also been told an old analogue Hornby controller with accessory connectors via a CDU would also work, and I think I have one lying around somewhere! Rich

Electrics are very new to me and I'm always panicking that I'll electrocute myself or burn down the house! My questions are basic - so basic that I can't find the answer despite much searching. The answer is either so obvious no one has ever had to ask it, or are too afraid to ask for fear of looking like a complete moron! So here we go!! Question 1: I'm using a Bachmann EZ Command (because that's what I could get very cheaply on eBay - although I do have my eye on an NCE Power Cab if I can get everything working properly! It has a connector like this: My question is... how do I connect my controller to my DCC bus wires (3.3mm overall diameter wire rated at 21A). Also, I assume that the other end just goes into a terminal block? My second question is similar... I'm wiring up my SEEP P1 point motors, and after a lot of research and confusion I think I understand where everything goes. A and B go to the switch. C goes to 0v (negative on the DC), the circuit is completed by the positive DC to the centre point on the switch. Then D and E go to the DCC bus wire and F goes to the frog to supply power to the track in the correct polarity. The thing I don't quite understand is where is the DC power coming from?! I'm looking to set up DC bus wires, as I'm hoping to run signals, platform lights and other non-DCC powered lights on the layout (all controlled from a control panel). But what powers the DC bus wires? I understand I need an adaptor to turn mains power into safe 12v DC power but what is the best thing to use for that? I see some people say using phone chargers and things like that - but that sounds like dangerous bodging and that scares me! So what is the best thing to use, and again, how does that connect to my bus wires? Sorry for my ignorance! PLEASE HELP!

I really like the layout Mike! I'm just off to read through the thread to find out how you did the platform surfaces - it's the next job on my layout!

Sounds like an interesting project! Looking forward to seeing how this progresses!

OK - I've had a little bit of time over the weekend doing some more wiring - but I'm a little stuck and could really do with some help. Electrics are very new to me and I'm always panicking that I'll electrocute myself or burn down the house! My questions are basic - so basic that I can't find the answer despite much searching. The answer is either so obvious no one has ever had to ask it, or are too afraid to ask for fear of looking like a complete moron! So here we go!! Question 1: I'm using a Bachmann EZ Command (because that's what I could get very cheaply on eBay - although I do have my eye on an NCE Power Cab if I can get everything working properly! It has a connector like this: My question is... how do I connect my controller to my DCC bus wires (3.3mm overall diameter wire rated at 21A). Also, I assume that the other end just goes into a terminal block? My second question is similar... I'm wiring up my SEEP P1 point motors, and after a lot of research and confusion I think I understand where everything goes. A and B go to the switch. C goes to 0v (negative on the DC), the circuit is completed by the positive DC to the centre point on the switch. Then D and E go to the DCC bus wire and F goes to the frog to supply power to the track in the correct polarity. The thing I don't quite understand is where is the DC power coming from?! I'm looking to set up DC bus wires, as I'm hoping to run signals, platform lights and other non-DCC powered lights on the layout (all controlled from a control panel). But what powers the DC bus wires? I understand I need an adaptor to turn mains power into safe 12v DC power but what is the best thing to use for that? I see some people say using phone chargers and things like that - but that sounds like dangerous bodging and that scares me! So what is the best thing to use, and again, how does that connect to my bus wires? Sorry for my ignorance! PLEASE HELP!

Thanks very much! The track is fixed now, so I'll have to learn for next time and disguise as much as possible in the mean time. I'll certainly give the cling film and blue tack ago for protecting the platform edging.

I have taken a big step and started the wiring process. The droppers to the bus wires seem fairly easy! Next up will getting a DC bus wire running and then it will be points I guess, followed by signals and then street lights! It all sounds very complicated, but I'm just taking one job at a time and hopefully it's less intimidating than when you feel a spaghetti junction under fully wired layouts! As well as this I have added some detail to the track side and have weathered up the platform edging a little bit, adding some what I assume are engineer's marks that I spotted at Patchway station. I'm very aware that when it comes to ballasting I have to be a little carefully of the brick paper and paint work on the side of the platform. I'm thinking about hitting it with a coat of matt varnish, although I'm not sure that will be enough to keep it in good condition. Does anyone have an ideas or advice? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the kind feedback! Very kind and keeps my spirits up!

I started off the weekend laying the track and soldering the droppers. I found the whole process a little tricky, but I think they have gone OK in the end. Then I built up what is going to be a road crossing as a bit of a scenic break, simply put together with card and then a mix of toilet paper and watery glue to make some sort of filling and then when it dry I used polyfilla on top to dry it hard! I LOVE using the polyfilla to make the scenery. It just works and feels good. I have also started on the platform - using peco edging and building a simple card frame. I'll use thin card to top it and then add a mix of plaster and plastikard for the top. You can see the final shape of the hill around the bridge mouth in the distance: Next job will be to fit the cosmetic point motors, cable trunking, relay boxes etc - then I'll be ready to ballast! Although I want to wire it all up and test the points etc. before ballasting! The scary job is almost here! Finally here is the Class 37 I have hard-wired a DCC decoder into! Just needs some detailing and weathering, although I will do all of that stuff later in the year when I can get the airbrush outside!

Yes - I would have liked to have used 75, but as this is a project for getting back into the hobby I wanted to do it a little cheaper. So I have picked up a load of second hand Lima stock which I read wouldn't fare too well on 75 without new wheel sets. I actually got my first DCC train running this weekend - I hardwired a Lima 37 with a Hornby chip and it worked! I was stunned! The electrics are not going to be my strong point and I'm already panicking about linking everything to bus wires, wiring points and putting signals and lighting in!

That's good to know - as Temple Meads was the inspiration for that! Picked bits up from Temple Meads, Filton Abbey Wood, Patchway, Bristol Parkway and Yeovil Pen Mill - as well as the lines around the Bristol area.

I have made loads of progress this weekend, the track is now down, the droppers have been added (badly) and I have built up the area around the tunnels. Photos to come very soon!

It's time to start laying the track! I'm a little bit nervous about this as it leads to wiring - the job I'm most out of my depth with! But it has to be done! For better or worse I have decided to mess around with sleeper spacing on the track - seeing as I don't have that much to lay, and it's going to be a little bit destressed and under-loved anyway so if it all goes wrong I can blame that! The piece of track on top is the standard spacing and the one below is more like how it will be spaced when I've fixed it done.

Another weekend where I had some time to get on the layout! Started making some good progress. I got the banking down to the canal covered in the glorious green stuff which makes all the difference! It feels weird doing this so early, but I need to do the canal scene so I can stick the bridges down and start laying the track. I've add some more detail to the canal tow path, with some graffiti and some greenery along the wall where there is some overgrown weeds. I'm really happy with how it all looks! I've also got the bridges stuck down, added the brick supports and have filled the recess behind the wall on the tow path. I think I'm ready to start laying the track, which feels like where most projects should start!! Progress might be a little slow over the next week as I don't think I'll get any time next weekend to work on it. I'll try and steal some time of an evening!

Thanks for all the feedback - it's really encouraging. I feel pretty inexperienced compared to most of the amazing layouts on this forum. I'm hoping to learn very quickly!

Another modelling night! I have taken part of a Wilks kit to make the butresses for the bridges over the canal. These will need painting and weathering at some point, but I think that they will work well. I have done a lot more work on the bridge and given it the first coat of paint. The red is taken FOREVER to go on, it'll take many, many coats. One of the butresses gives an idea of how it'll look. I have also added some girder detailing underneath the bridge. It's getting to a point where I'm getting an idea of how it's all going to look and I'm pretty pleased. Needs some details added and the foliage added! I have also planned out where the tunnels are going a little more. I have stuck down the wall at the front and started to build the landscape around it too. More pictures will come at the weekend, I won't get much time to work on it before then.

I have done a little more on the layout this weekend. Firstly I have painted up the swans which I think look pretty decent! They're starting to look at home on the canal, which I have now painted and started to add the clear varnish to. I needs a few more layers, which I'm occasionally adding watery layers of paint to give a little more depth to the colour and the effect. I have also given the boats a paint. They need a few more details, and I'll probably give them a coat of gloss varnish. I have also started to add the tunnels that are going to lead to the fiddle yard. The openings are peco faceplates, that I will build the scenery around. More updates coming soon!