Daveloco1

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Hi Jamie I think my explain went a bit astray, confusing terms. The Cobalt motor will move the point blades whilst it's internal electronics magic changes the frog feed polarity. Three wires two from bus, one to frog from Cobalt IP, all I have to do, I hope. Anyway attached are a few photos, showing ECoS 50200 in 'driving' mode with a couple of locos, note the green indication in the middle of the dial as this loco is in consist with another(which at the moment is in the workshops for a 'dose of weathering etc. The second ECoS photo shows the simplified track plan, in reality the central track is laid to a radius of 4.5m and everything else is worked from there. Point radius is around 1800mm. The other photos show the two completed locos, wagons I am happy with, some I bought weathered, some I've added more weathering. All have had 'Dinghams' fitted with a three link coupling chain added to the 'hook' end and had their weight lifted to about 105 gramms. The coke wagon is a Skytrex model with the brake gear removed, sliced in half to reduce it thickness them put back on. I think pretty effective for not a lot of work. The hardest bit is getting the brake rigging assembly off in one piece. Jessica is in workshop for further weathering, 'Dingham' fitting and crew. Ladysmith is in workshop for 'Dingham' fitting I must get this track work started!! Thanks for following Dave

Hi Jamie Thanks for reply and interest. Water board line will be narrow gauge to pick up my interest in Lynton & Barnstaple Railway and the nice coaches produced by Slaters. I am inclined to go for the Cobalt IP motors switching a copper clad strip fixed to the point blades by droppers. C & L are advertising a clear plastic base that appears to fit under the point blade and carry the moving copper clad strip, it's that or I have got it completely wrong and it is just a jig for setting up the droppers, time will tell. But knowing me I got it all wrong and it's neither. Dave

Hi Alan That would be useful thanks. Having watched 47606odin's instructional videos I think Cobalt IP motors are the way to go. See you tomorrow night mate Dave

Hi Rich Thanks for the reply. I thought there must be a easy solution but being fairly new to this DCC thingy just need a bit of guidance and to be honest the guys on here are pretty good at that! Cheers Dave

Hi all Got a bit further, two boards now bus wired and connections between. Watched a couple of really good, clear 'how to do' it videos on 47606odin's thread about wiring track, Cobalt IP point motors, programming Cobalt IP's and creating a track plan on ECoS 50200. This inspired me to create my layout plan on the ECoS, dead easy when you know how! Points and un-couplers in place on screen plan. Signals may follow! BUT must get the track built first. I'll post a photo of ECoS screen later. I am slowly working through my wagon fleet weathering, fitting 'Dingham' couplings (with 3 link chains to the hook end only), applying transfers and cleaning wheels while I wait for my track parts to arrive. A couple of questions 1 I presume I can get decodes to operate the electromagnets under the uncouplers operated from the ECoS track plan, any ideas what to use and how to wire them? 2 is there a easy guide on the rmweb somewhere on how to apply 'presfix' transfers? I've done loads of water slide but never these type. Thanks Dave

Hi Al Good to hear you passed the test. Does this mean the taxi is no longer required for the week trip to the pub sorry clubhouse? If you still need a lift let me know mate and NO I didn't get to Doncaster show! Dave

Hi I am new to O gauge baseboards too but after considerable thought this is my solution. My boards are all 1200 x 900 two trestles under one board others 'piggy-back'. Similar to Danemouth's post. Dave

Hi Alan Thanks for that, I had a quick look on C & L web pages early and spotted that one also the alternative of turning the copper clad through 90 degrees and soldering brass tubes to the strip under the baseboard that would be fun! Thanks all the same. Hi Rich Thanks for the pointer. I had read somewhere about JLTRT producing tie bars but was not sure how things stood there. Anyway ordered a set from MM1 Models and will give them a try. Thanks again for comments, hopefully progress will increase, just need to retire from work NOW! Regards Dave

Hi Been awhile since last posted, not much happened really. Installed the bus wires for one of the boards through those nice big holes! Also been building a C & L point turnout kit. This is again a trail run has all my turnouts on the layout are on a curve these will have to be constructed as I go to form nice sweeping curves and avoid the 'wheel drop'. Attached are photos of work so far just needs part chairs and check rails installing and the stretcher bars. What or how have you tackled this the bars supplied by C & L in the kit don't appear up to the job of switching the blades. I have thought of using a piece of copper clad, soldered to the blades and cut in the middle to achieve electric isolation. Any thoughts welcomed. Dave

Hi Alan Just caught up with this. What were you doing? too much red wino mucho conlapso over dinner? So society meetings cancelled for now. The things people to do to avoid buying a round in the club house eh! Seriously though Al, sorry to hear about your misadventure. I'll drop in some time soon for a catch up. In the meantime take care and get on building those kits while you recover. Best Wishes Mate Dave

Hi Alan You got that metre gauge line sorted out yet or are we on version three? Never mind hiding in the house or Chrimbo shopping, get on down to that nice big warm shed. We all want to see some thing cross the MASSIVE bridge! All the Best Dave

Hi Next up Lumden - The Back Story Lumden lies in the fairly narrow, steeply sided valley of the River Lum, somewhere in the Cleakuddersfax area of West Yorkshire. In the late 1800's the local mill owners, fed up with the strangle hold of the local canal interests, together other interested parties subscribed to the building of a single line up the valley to meet their needs. This was duly built and later taken over by The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, who promptly re-equipped the line with their own standard infrastructure, with very little LMS or BR expenditure since. I have an interest in The L & Y Railway and have already acquired some stock, so one possibility is to be able to back date the layout on certain running days. I'll just have to be careful with the details or have interchangeable accessories. Lumden is a intermediate passing station has the line continues further up the valley. The stations importance was increased when the local water authority decided to construct a new reservoir in one of the Lum's tributary valleys. A two foot narrow gauge line was constructed from Lumden to the site of construction to assist with the movement of men and materials. On completion of the works a benevolent local dignitary purchased the line 'lock, stock and barrel' to provide the locals and day trippers with a means to enjoy the local area and improve their well being. Water board staff visiting the reservoir also traveled by this means. After a number of years of neglect a local society took over the running and up-keep of the line for leisure use and very occasionally the transfer of a standard gauge wagon via a transport wagon up the line. I also have an interest in The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, so by the way of a subtle move we have a narrow gauge railway in West Yorkshire. The layout sets out to depict one end of the station with narrow gauge lines, a very small yard with transfer into nearby buildings, together with a slightly larger private yard for wagon transfers to manufacturers 'off scene' by the private lines. The station sits on a road over bridge to form one scenic break, the other is formed as the line leaves the town over a canal bridge between tall mill buildings. Motive power on the main line will be early BR diesels together with a 4 wheel railbus (slightly out of region but Rule 1 applies) and single or two car diesel multiple units (when someone produces a suitable models). The private yard will be operated by steam locomotives (the might 'Victory' class 0-6-0 will certainly not be straining itself here) and very early or industrial diesels (including the brilliant Fowler 0-4-0's) Selector boards either end of the layout provide 'the rest of the world' and access to the local manufacturing clients premises via the private railway. Now I just need to get on and BUILD! Apologies for the rather long and drawn out description. Cheers Dave

Hi sir douglas Thanks for your suggestion, I had seen your arrangement while reading your thread. I am trying to leave the boards clear of any controlling equipment. The idea being to operate the layout through my ECoS unit and it's on screen track diagram. To be honest at the minute I've enough on building baseboards and building my own trackwork to really make a decision on turnout motors although I do understand I cannot leave it too long. My test layout used Peco points with micro switches mounted in the housing provided between the point blades which powered the frog which work fine BUT that looked pretty naff. More thought required I think! Cheers thanks for following Dave

Hi Tim This what happens when domestic chores get in the way of modelling a bit like having to go to work also gets in the way! Dave Hi Alan Me too our clubhouse! it's that or balance it up with a couple of pints on one end! Dave

Hi Graham Thanks for the comments. The trestles came off the well known auction site, it seemed easier than build them and they are adjustable, so depending what I'm doing at the time I can lower them to reach the far side or lift them for a better eye level view. Getting the trestles to sit and locate in the baseboard depth was an interesting little problem but I got there. As regards adjustment errrmmmm, it's not intended to leave the house (that does mean not it never will be exhibited, you never know) and my home floors are level, but I see what you mean. I suppose I am rather hoping that when they are all bolted tightly together they will act like a beam (single unit) and span any dipping of the mid span support trestles. The only other way is the chew-on putting packs under the trestle legs! unless anyone as some bright ideas? Cheers Dave

Hi Duncan Thanks. Forming the holes before construction was one of my better thought out ideas! Originally they had no bracing at all but twisted badly so I cut the braces slightly oversize, planned the corners off for a nice forced fit, a bit of PVA and bang them home, then blocked them off the base board top. Result - absolutely rigid, so decided not to insert the middle braces. Nice big holes for the wiring and nice and deep to hid the point motors. Cheers Dave

Your weathering sir is brilliant, hard to decide model or real thing Dave

Hi Tim Thanks for the suggestion. When I built the test layout trailing my ECoS unit together with wiring points and digham electro-magnets, I rather rashly purchased a kit of the Peco SmartSwitch 4 servo motor control, then discovered you need PLS-135 Stationary Decoder (4 turnouts per decoder) plus if you wanted to feed the frog independently you need one smartFrog per point (I had read somewhere that this unit has been withdrawn after some problems) so I went off that idea. Currently having followed A Peters (Seven Mills and Dore End) thread for a while now where he is considering using Cobalt? DCC motors, three wires connected and away you go, apparently, more research required yet, I'm not really at decision stage just yet. I've three baseboards completed, constructed from 125mm deep 9mm ply blocked and braced as shown on photos, no twist. The board shown has a softwood formed 'box' at either end to located the adjustable metal trestles with a softwood shelf for the adjoining board to rest on. Subsequent boards have such a locating 'box' only at one end, the other resting on the 'shelf'. The boards will be located by dowels and bolted together. Belt and braces or what! Photographs may make the construction clearer. Cheers Dave PS the green covering is fibreboard the stuff you use under laminate flooring.

Hi Tim Thanks for the suggestion. When I built the test layout trailing my ECoS unit together with wiring points and digham electro-magnets, I rather rashly purchased a kit of the Peco SmartSwitch 4 servo motor control, then discovered you need PLS-135 Stationary Decoder (4 turnouts per decoder) plus if you wanted to feed the frog independently you need one smartFrog per point (I had read somewhere that this unit has been withdrawn after some problems) so I went off that idea. Currently having followed A Peters (Seven Mills and Dore End) thread for a while now where he is considering using DCC Concepts Cobalt digital motors, three wires connected and away you go, apparently, more research required yet, I'm not really at decision stage just yet. I've three baseboards completed, constructed from 125mm deep 9mm ply blocked and braced as shown on photos, no twist. The board shown has a softwood formed 'box' at either end to located the adjustable metal trestles with a softwood shelf for the adjoining board to rest on. Subsequent boards have such a locating 'box' only at one end, the other resting on the 'shelf'. The boards will be located by dowels and bolted together. Belt and braces or what! Photographs may make the construction clearer. Cheers Dave

Hi sir douglas Thanks for that I'm still learning how to get things on the thread. Dave

Hmmmm A tad small me thinks! So option 2 attached as a pdf file. I'll also try photographing the plan which was originally drawing on AutoCAD which my mate kindly re-drew as a Templot file. Cheers Dave Layout-No Frame shown.pdf

Cheers Alan Start building turnout kit I've had about 12 months, again tester before building the curved turnouts for the layout. I've added a copy of the plan hopefully it's readable if not I'll attach as a pdf file or photograph the drawing. See you later mate Dave

Thanks for the replies/comments, sir douglas and Chris, I've followed both your layout threads for sometime now. To everyone who has viewed, thanks also. Chris as regards the Fowler, it is DCC sound fitted by EDM with 'stay alive' and Paul's brilliant sound file but 'so loud' I must turn it down a bit especially when the black livery one is running in 'consist' with it. Close up photographs are so cruel, just spotted I missed a bit of the under frames where the motion/cranks have been, doh! and also there is some traces of T-cut on the body panels. I have being weathering then T-cutting off where I want it leaving a nicely polished finish. I know you do it the other way round Chris. This is one of the industrial railway locomotives, steam named after girls (including granddaughters) with the diesels after boys. This little sound and smoke fitted model may also be known to you Chris? but 'Elizabeth' the 0-6-0 I bought off the well known auction site, with added smoke and lights, already had sound and smoke box flicker anybody any idea what it is? 'Isobel' (one of the granddaughters) is a model you may be known to you Chris, again sound, lights and smoke fitted. Fire iron loops are a bit heavy but from a distance are Ok. Thanks for the interest. Cheers Dave

Hi Having followed various threads, I thought it about time I joined in. So welcome to my proposed layout thread. Progress maybe (painfully) slow but hopefully if I post fairly regularly some of you will tag along. Here is the prologue. Progress so far, test layout built (I'd never built O Gauge before, see photographs), having served it's purpose it's now being dismantled.Lots of locomotives, wagons acquired, some even completed, I'll post so photos later, if you are interested. Some new baseboards constructed, no track yet! Decisions made: DCC control with sound, lights and where appropriate smoke (hopefully not 'cooked' decoders). Build own track work, I do dislike the 'wheel drop' on Peco points, I know you can fit filler thingys but as most of my turnouts are on long curves anyway I'd rather build my own. Dingham auto couplings which are not too obvious once fitted. I have struggled with three links on the test rig and tried Dinghams on the test layout before making that decision. I don't think the long curves will interfere with their operation. Point motors, 'on hold' at the moment. Layout will be end to end with hopefully plenty of shunting possibilities, including small yard, transfer siding to a narrow gauge feeder line and a small works yard with access to off scene further works. So there is my opening scribe, layout design next time, hope you come along for the ride, it could be a bit bumpy. Cheers Dave