bcnPete

:icon_clap: :icon_clap: :icon_clap: And of course revolving number plates...007 in a Moggy Minor at Highclere.....Schplendid!

Nick - thanks....although Coombe junction has been withdrawn from the Expo and the 75 days refers to a small exhibition in sussex that Kyle is debuting at...so my pacemaker remains connected I am afraid!...

Missy - thanks - my limited track building skills are making a right dogs breakfast of this but I will get there in the end! Yep....and of that 75 days, I am currently only getting two spend 2 evenings a week on it!

Update - Well with the recent probs with the server, one would think a perfect opportunity to catch up with some modelling, right?...wrong Unfortunately, this was timed with a work deadline which has taken all available day and night hours from my modelling. However, by way of an update..... You may recall that I decided to redo my EASITRAC turnouts as I was having trouble with the common crossing. I decided to remove the premade turnout base and rebuild the turnout using EASITRAC sleeper strip, possibly substituting a few PCB strips around the common crossing to strengthen it. The requisite order was made to the 2FS shop however, knowing that I would have to await for International post timings I decided to experiment in the meantime. I have made a hybrid of glueing the EASITRAC chairs to PCB strip using cyno adhesive and then adding the frog initially which will be followed by the wing rails. I had made the common crossing in one piece but I seem to have trouble removing it from the jig without collapsing it in the process....hence this strange approach. This was done about 2 weeks ago, following my last entry, however in the meantime, the EASITRAC sleeper strips have arrived. I am tempted to keep going with this though, strange as it is and see how it turns out. A few pics will be attached when I work out how to do it via a remote link 1 March tomorrow, which means 75 days until the BHMRC exhibition...and still no trains running....Yikes...

I am speechless Missy....enough said...

Donw - thanks - the screw is an interesting technique - may well try that. Your right in that I am getting problems from the frog area not staying together as well as I would like however this is down to my own inabilities as I have seen many a good Easitrac turnout constructed. David Mallott seemed to crack this rather nicely (Refer to Kylestrome blog) by overlaying the frog with a sleeper template to allow a decent size piece of material to be soldered to which was then obscured by the sleepers. Time to have another go...

Kris - Thanks - Gonna have an experiment tonight with Easitrac meets PCB and will hopefully report back...when the server is up + running again :-p

Update - First a simple equation. 89 / 7 x 2 = 25.14 [Days left until exhibition divided by days per week multiplied by amount of modelling time spent at present] Which equates to about 25 modelling sessions [averaging 3 or 4 hours] to get this layout exhibitable :icon_eek: :icon_eek: Granted, it's not a small layout but each session is critical and after a good start last night installing two point blades and droppers to a 'Heath Robinson' type arrangement beneath which worked...it then all started going wrong. I couldn't get the rolling stock to run smoothly through the crossing, which to be honest is the bit I struggle with most. I have only ever built one point prior to this so am severely lacking in the experience department when it comes to track making Following a good nights sleep, and a read up of fellow colleagues 2FS blogs, I have decided that I need to redo the turnouts but perhaps incorporate some PCB sleepers in the mix to strengthen the area I am having trouble with. Not as I hoped things would go, and the clock is ticking, but if I can't get the trains to run smoothly, then it will be a road to disaster. Step back, rethink and prep new plan. One good bit of news though...the swear box [at 1 Euro per word] now has enough money to buy another class 24 or 37

Don't despair Missy - its all looking fantastic from those phots. I would put off the signals and uncoupling mechanisms and finish the basics to allow some time to be able to run some trains and enjoy it. The items above could be added a bit later with I'm sure only minor mods to the scenics and when you feel ready to take them on. Hang on in there... Pete

Hey Mark - With my location, it's more a case of if ever I am over in Scotland rather than up in Scotland!! However, that said, many thanks for the kind offer...would love to run some trains...both on Rannoch Moor and Victory Road!! Pete

Bryn - Thanks - I use PVA and in fact this time, as it was close to hand, the EASITRAC glue. I never used to, previously using a mixture of UHU and double sided tape however I think I read the PVA tip on the forum here, possibly from Mr Nevard.

Good to see you posting again Bryn. The shed looks great - interesting technique for the colouring - will store that one for future use.

I do like the accompanying narratives James...very engaging...

Donw and Neil - Many thanks Mikkel - Thanks also. I am pondering dropping the 'neat' bit from my alias as this was a nickname acquired 20 years ago from my architectural model + drawing abilities, however amongst this forum, neat I am not...especially my soldering skills :icon_mutter: - lets see how this little project turns out though The card is pretty strong and the brass tubes/rods beneath are partly structural to strengthen the join however it seems to be ok lifting on and off at present. As you say, probably 2mm can accommodate that but the weight of 4mm rolling stock is significantly different so perhaps 5mm foamboard...or even 10mm could be better. Once I knew the depth I just lowered the corresponding supporting bases to align with the tracks on the scenic boards so depth was not really an issue for this. Perhaps a few quick mock ups in foamboard would answer that better? Pete

Rich - That's some very nice trackwork built there - keep posting as this looks a very interesting project - Pete

Update - This evening some trains ran :icon_eek:...but only in the fiddleyard. The second session of working on these has now finished which included making the single cassettes and also wiring between the brass sleepers and the brass tubes below. Testing was undertaken to determine if the brass connecting rods performed okay and after resolving one stubborn dry joint :icon_mutter: the class 24 ran smoothly across the joints. I now really need to get back to completing the two turnouts on the scenic boards so that detailing of these boards can commence. I have just received some nice etches of LMS/BR rail built buffers which need to be assembled and also have taken delivery of a number of Stephen Harris's terrific wagon kits. As Willy Wonka once said...so much to do and so little time to do it in... A few pics of progress...minus the wonka bars... Scenic boards left and fiddle yard boards right... Close up showing brass rod connecters... There should be just enough room to hold a variety of rolling stock in the cassettes... The double cassette will remain joined - the singles will be split as loco lifts if required...

Hey Mark, Nice to see another post from this thread. These photos demonstrate how powerful a simple trackplan with a train threading its way through the landscape can be. Can't wait to see it finished...no pressure of course Pete

"operating what is in my opinion one of the best running 2mmFS layouts ever" Ahh....that would be Stephen Harris's layout...he told me that you were going to be operating it a few weeks ago when I was ordering some of his kits...I recall Bryn did the same and he came back feeling very inspired... I guess the electrics box is seperate to the LED control panel of earlier? Can't see anything wrong with that woodwork Missy - nice work!

"by the time I got to the third one I had put it together in one evening " ...so another 47 evenings work will produce a nice long rake Great post Trevor and really informative - thanks for sharing as its really inspirational.

You mean this one :icon_drool: [it's still there if you click show all :icon_e_wink: ] I have to agree - there is something very compelling about old lines + inset track which gets the mind trying to visually rebuild the context in your head, especially if you are unfamiliar with the history. Keep sketching James...nothing wrong with having ideas for future future layouts...I have 2 floating around...for when I 'finish' the current 2. Pete

Good point that Tom. I noticed earlier this week that on my boxfile layout I pushed the 'out of the box' Dapol 156 through the almost completed EASITRAC turnout without any problems which might mean I don't need to rewheel it immediately.

That's not Messy, Missy! I'm sure on RMWeb 3 I was campaigning for you to install at mirror at floor level so at exhibitions this neatness would be revealed not concealed...go on...do it! Pete

Mikkel :icon_clap: :icon_clap: :icon_clap: What a delightful video. Not too long, very atmospheric and great attention to detail. I love the 'black n white' old movie effect - I had the impression the screen was going to go black and some Charlie Chaplin style white text on black background was going to appear! Very inspiring - thank you for sharing. Pete

Thanks Donw - once the cassette/fiddleyard storage is finished I will complete the turnouts, sort the sparks and hopefully get some trains running!

Stephen - I am sure Tom can expand further on this in relation to his detailed model but in the meantime try this link to the 2mm FS Association: http://www.2mm.org.uk/easitrac/index.html hth Pete