YorkshireLad

Just started a blog with pictures of my plans

Ayup Yorkshire Lad,

 

I'd be very happy to host a visit down my big shed where I can show you around my fully automated layout. There's a link to my layout build thread on here in my signature block below.

 

I live in North Yorkshire and can be free anytime if you fancy a ride up.

 

Btw going on holiday next Monday so either before or after is fine with me.

 

PS - if you do come for a look - you'll want it! As another chap on here said after a visit ' the most expensive free lunch' he's ever had ...lol.

 

Cheers... Alan

Now that sounds like a very kind offer thanks and I think I'll take you up on that haha. I'll just wait till I get my new phone because then I'll know if I have enough cash left to put diesel in my car lol

You dont need a scanner, just take a piccy of the plans with a phone or tablet and post here. I often do this with hand drawn scrawls.

Rob

I dont have either of those. She took those too so at the moment I'm using a mobile that cost me 75p brand new from EE that only does calls & texts. I've been waiting toll I got my debts under control which I now have, so tomorrow I'll be getting a new phone

Best hope she isn’t reading this thread then as she will put a claim on that money

I find it funny because she even emptied out the "Crap Drawer" in the kitchen and even took the door mat too haha. I was born with severe arthritis and last year I was struggling with depression caused by the arthritis and my medication and had a breakdown. After talking to my mum I agreed to go to a clinic to get my mental health sorted, so I was away for 5month. This was the moment she chose to leave. The thing is my health is now the best its ever been, im average weight which I've never been (I've never been over 7stone, I'm now 10.9), my arthritis is under control and my mental state is the best its ever been.

What I love about model railways is that there is always something new to learn and its pushing me to try new things, such as I'm building my own furniture that will not only display my slotcar collection but also doubles up as a baseboard for the railway. My hands are deformed due to the arthritis but that hasn't stopped me buying a circular saw to do all the wood cutting myself. Im doing so well that my rheumatology Dr has also asked to use pictures of my hands and the work I've done in her lectures to show her students at uni how its still possible to do things with a disability

But as its been pointed out automation is not a cheap option but is well worth it

 

Andy

Guess its a good job I'm woman free now then as I have more money to play with now hahaha, bet my trains will be more reliable too!

You might want to look at free software, such as RocRail and JMRI. Both will operate with a large variety of DCC Command Stations, and both can run on a Raspberry Pi, which could be built into your layout. Your tablet could then connect to the Raspberry Pi to set up and control the layout, and/or automate it.

 

If you are not frightened by a soldering iron, check out Merg for lots of advice, and cheap DIY kits for various modules you might require.

I was thinking of a Raspberry Pi system but I've never used one, I'm not scared of learning new things though. Also soldering doesn't scare me either, I'm not great but I can do it haha. If you want to see some of my other crazy projects search Youtube for "Pimp My Wheelchair Project", I can't copy and paste the link because at the moment I'm browsing the forum using my smart TV which doesn't allow copy&paste. But I think you will like it

Sounds like you are making the best out of a bad situation and channelling your inner "Roy Cropper"!! Well done that man!! 

 

Ian

Well she left me with a completely empty flat so I figured this was the perfect time to do something that will keep my mind occupied and she's left me with a completely black canvas. Just means I have to spread my funds between refurnishing my flat and this project, so this gives me extra time to plan everything so I do everything right the 1st time

You will need a computer to do the processing and appropriate software, but that can only do the work if you have some form of occupancy detection that feeds the software with the information about the state and positions of the stock and tracks. The computer would then issue appropriate commends to change points, signals and stop start trains.

 

This can be very expensive if not done right, and when it is done right it can still be expensive!

 

There are some command stations that can do a level of automation for you, but again cost is a factor here.

 

You are making the right thoughts now as getting it wrong now could prove a nightmare later, planning for the future will definitely help

I actually get a lot of enjoyment from just making the plans so I'm taking my time with this. Ive started making the unit for the window ledge and have been working just on that for weeks to make sure its perfect. As Ive had to extend the window ledge from 280mm to 500mm the unit will also have shelves under it to display my slotcar collection so it has multiple uses. This using is also on caster wheels so I'll be able to get behind it as all the electronics will be hidden behind this too. Really wish I had a scanner now so I could share my plans hahaha.

I know its going to be expensive but that is fine as it means I can just do a bit on it at a time and learn as I go. I didn't want a plan that would be done in a couple of month

Hi everyone.

In another post I've mentioned my plan to build a layout that will run on 180mm deep shelves all the way round my livingroom. There will also be a small figure of 8 layout on my livingroom window ledge which I've extended to be 500mm deep. Where the shelving layout runs across the window I will be making that into a replica of a local tram bridge to go over the window ledge layout. The idea is to have a layout that will be visible from outside so others can enjoy it too, so I want to make it fully automated so every hour the layout will run for 5-10min automatically. The shelving layout will run round the entire livingroom with the trains going back and forth automatically (not a full circuit layout due to the door). My local MP is helping me get a copy of the plans for the "Sheffield Park Square Tram Bridge" so my replica can be done perfectly to scale.

I'm calling this plan 'Going Full Roy Cropper Style", for anyone that doesn't watch soaps Roy Cropper is a character on the soap Corrie who when his wife died he went a little crazy and built a huge layout filling his entire livingroom. Well last year my partner left me while I was in hospital and totally emptied my flat of everything so I came home to an empty flat. Instead of taking her to court etc I'm using this as an opportunity to start from scratch and do what I want and this plan is part of my recovery to hope focus my mind to stop my depression taking control of me.

In my other thread I was advised that I will be able to do full automation using the Hornby Railmaster system, but before I buy one I want to check a few things 1st as I like to have everything planned before I do anything. Ive drawn plans of the entire thing and even done technical drawings with all the measurements for everything, when I can get access to a scanner I'll share them as I'm impressed with them myself haha.

1, Do I need a computer to do the automation, or can I do it using just a tablet? I only have a smartphone and tablet.

2, How do the trains know where to stop at stations before switching direction? I've read somewhere that using timers won't work because the speed trains travel at can be different each day depending on temperature etc.

3, would the tablet need to be switched on constantly for it to work?

4, Is there anything else you think I should know? I'm new to DCC

Today me and my uncle went to Rails for the 1st time since the new 2nd hand area was reopened. I could have spent hours in there, I love it

Always makes me feel proud to be from Sheffield and for as long as I remember Rails have always had a great service, I love searching through their 2nd hand section which I believe has been reopened at the store

Oh my god, think I just got a little too excited after watching a video of the Hornby Rail master system, I had no idea all that is now possible. As my ex left me with an empty flat I'm starting from scratch and making as much as I can into a "Smart Flat".  All my lighting, heating, locks, window blinds will be controlled by voice and my phone, I'm also making it so if I have a bad day with my Arthritis and I can't get out of bed I can open my front door from my bed so I can still let visitors in or accept deliveries (Arthritis at 31 sucks).

So if I can get my model railway just as automated as my flat it will be amazing with them all working together.

I've contacted my local MP and he's going to try and get me the proper technical drawings of the bridge I plan on building infront of the window so I can make it perfect.

When I can use a scanner I'll post the drawings I've done for my plans. As I'm having to expand the windowsill so the figure of 8 track will fit I'm fitting shelves under it that will also display my slotcar collection (the only thing she didn't take as I've always told her they are my nephews inheratence)

Hi everyone,

I wonder if you can help with a crazy idea I have. In August last year my partner left me and I had a breakdown and for my own safety I went to spend 5month in a private clinic to get my head sorted. I've had a long problem with depression due to been severely disabled and my medication has a side effect of causing depression.

While I was there my ex totally cleared out the flat so I came home to nothing. Now I'm not really bothered about that as I'm using it as a reason to make a fresh start and do what I want with the flat instead of getting told what to do with it, as my ex used to do. I'm now thinking a lot clearer and happier now that I've realised I'm better off without her. Part of my recovery my counsellor said I needed to think of ways to keep my mind occupied so I've decided to do what I'm calling "doing a full Roy Cropper". For anyone who doesn't watch soaps, Roy cropper is a character from the soap Correnation Street who loves trains. When his wife died he locked himself away in his flat and built a model railway covering his living room.

Originally I was planning on fitting a dado rail round the walls of my livingroom wide enough for a single ngauge track to run round the top. As usual and I'm sure many of you will know know the feeling, plans change and expand. So now I've drawn up plans to fit a 180mm shelf running round the edge of my living room starting at one side of the door all the way round to the otherside of the door. Due to the height it will need to be to go over the backs of my sofas and the radiator the shelf will run across the front window. To support this I've expanded my idea to include a small figure of 8 layout that will go on the window ledge which is 1700mm wide and will be expanded to 500mm deep so a figure of 8 using R1 curves will fit. The gap between the shelves on the walls will then be connected by a 1700mm bridge running over the window layout. The bridge will be a replica of a tram bridge in Park Square, Sheffield. So from outside my window should look amazing.

The shelf layout will have a 4track station at one side of the door that then has 2 lanes going all the way round the living room to a 2track station and 2track maintenance hut at the other side of the door.

All this I've drawn up technical drawings for and I think I've covered all the issues I'd have. My only problem is the electronics because I'd like to try and get it to run by itself. Would it be possible to have 2 trains running along the shelf track back and forth for 10min on the hour throughout the day? I know the window layout I can just use a standard controllor plugged into a timer at the mains, but how could I get the shelf trians to run back and forth and still allow me to change the points at the station so I can select which platform they will stop at?

This is a huge project for me and it will take me a while to do it as I'm going to have to buy abit of track at a time when ever I have some funds spare, but I want to make sure I have everything planned.

Sorry for the long post and thank you for taking the time to read it all.