Ark Royal

Its Been a while since the last post but work has been progressing Track Work After countless hours propelling wagons and coaching stock back and forth ( Its a hard life BUT.....Someone has to do the job) followed by some fettling , the permanent way gang have now concluded all major work need on the track. We are now satisfied that both coaching and wagon stock can be hauled through all the pointwork. Its been a long and sometimes frustrating journey but the reward is seeing wagons snaking through crossovers as they are being shunted (apparently something that could not be achieved on Eridge Mk1). Unfortunately the files are too big but some short video clips here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z3op670x0ntj101/38mXe2osZs Fiddle Yards This has been designed to use stock cassettes that are removable and that butt up to a track feed onto the up and down. A major improvement on Eridge Mk1 is the ability to turn these cassettes without removing them from the safety of the operating shelf. One fiddle yard has been completed and incorporates a sliding shelf to store stock formations when not in use. The other has been put on hold due to an immanent possibility that KAG HQ may need to be relocated Wiring The main track bus and feeds have now been installed. The Up, Down and Goods/Head Shunt are now separated into 3 DCC districts, mainly for the purpose of circuit protection All the crossovers have had their respective tortoise turnout operating units mounted and wired. At present this is being controlled by the temporary control panel but the new version is in build as we speak and will have a whole new feel about it ( This may become a post of its own... as it progresses) The cab bus has been installed and the utp panels mounted allowing 3 cabs to control the layout. The NCE SB3a Smart Boost Box has been trialed and it seems we get 6 cab addresses which is handy Scenery This is still in progress.. The viewing part of the layout is essentially 4 boards ( well 3 and 1/4 actually but) The "London End" board scenery form has been completed and needs the "Three Arch Bridge" upgrading. This will then have the final covering added in the form of static grass fibre. There is also two signals that need housing within this board. The "Station Entry" board also has its scenery form completed and just needs covering. This board also has the start of the river and the river crossing bridge.. both of which are in progress. The "Eridge Station" Board has little in the way of hill form but what gradients there are have been catered for. The Station platforms and Canopies are In Progress and this makes for some nice photo shoot opportunities looking through the canopies. The Station and platform building are all but complete and the Road Bridge which houses the Station is now under reconstruction. The "Country End" board (the 1/4 extension board) has had the scenery form done although this will need adjusting for the new Road Bridge, Buildings The majority of the buildings are being progressed in one form or another. With the immanent relocation of the club room it is this area that will probably be progressed until such time as we have found a new permanent club room. Which is difficult considering the size of the layout and the limited number of members and therefore resources at our disposal. Signals The majority of these have already been built ( thanks Rod). I have undertaken making the down starter only because this gave me the opportunity to design/build the unit that will operate the servo and to write the program that will interface with these servos... initial results are very promising . I will endeavour to get a video of this soon. This could well be another area on the layout that will get more focus in the next few months. So thats the progress so far Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All at RM Web (hope Santa is kind to you)

The hammer is there for those that choose to use the layout as a coffee table and has seen plenty of action !!!!! Thanks for the web updates Rod

Looking Good

Hi Rod, As Ian has suggested leave the roof as it is until it is cast and then smooth back after they've been cast. If you do it prior you're more than likely to create gaps between the fine joints which lead to the mold material will seeping into the gaps and creating an unusable mold. The better alternative method would have been to use filler to finish off the master.....wouldn't look as nice in the attached photo right enough but would create a "finished mold" Something maybe to bear in mind for the future Are you cladding the pillars to create the relief detail on them ? Keep up the Great work Mark

Wow they are absolutely fabulous Mark

I feel honoured to have seen this modelled structure last night and held it in my hands. It's a cracking bit of modelling and really sets the standard for the rest of the structure. 1 down 7 to go !! Keep up the good work

Looking Awesome, Seems a shame to hide the etches with paint Mark

Rod, Will all these be the same dimensions ? If so have you thought it may be worth taking extra time to make one quality item and then poly cast the rest from the original ? Gladly have a try if you send the dimensions Mark

Hi Jon, Great pictures We had a similar race on the way up to York behind 23 on the "Norsman" Certainly been tarted up since then, sporting her birthday suit of red buffer beams and silver tanks, Was going along on Sunday to catch her out of Paddington until it was re-routed. Mark

Rod like taking the dog for a walk Except the "dog" went where it was told without wandering off !!! Even though I see this every week it's nice to see new photos, if only to reinforce the feeling "we're getting there" Mark

Reflecting on your photo with "50th Birthday" caption Could almost be a real one in a shed on a major exam with all the different shades and bare metal part

Hi Jon, Deltic looking fantastic, Looking at the vacuum hose I wonder if next time you might be better using wire wound guitar strings. The windings being tighter than you can achieve by hand. Never the less your efforts are great. Re: Deltic out of Paddington Sunday 06 March........this unfortunately has changed to Out of Euston. Shame really as was looking forward to taking a trip out of Paddington on her Mark

Hi Jon, Yes kits will probably mean the vees are ready built and the switch blades pre-filed but unfortunately you'll still need a couple of track gauges and a check rail gauge. Down fall of kits are the price, which is ok if you've only got a couple to make. Mark

Jon, Deltics looking fab B) As a fellow P4'er if you need some help with your track issues I'd be more than willing to help you out as best I can. if that's putting you in touch with the local club to invite...just to see or templates to show the difference, guides on how to build a crossing vee....whatever feel free to PM me. It may seem very daunting, in fact not that long ago I was in the same shoes as you are now. I went along to my local club....just for a look (non-member) and ended up joining. Soon I had a go at making and building a crossing vee and eventually built the majority for our club layout. With the aid of a few jigs it's not that hard and extremely satisfying to see that they work. Thankfully they seem to work fine even with kettles trundling over them. Building the crossing vee's is is only part of the equation, correct alignment with the stock rails, correct clearances are the other ingredients. Thankfully the society has a wealth of gauges to do that along with some "workshops" at their forums should you need them. I am no expert and i'd be the first to mention that but if you don't try you don't get the rewards that follow. As for using the old OO gauge track...don't think that'll work Mark

Fantastic work Jon, B) Transformation nearly complete and what an excellent job you've made of it. Thanks also for the informative thread which I will study long and hard when I come to do my conversion. Mark

Hi Dave, That is looking tremendous and the windows are awesome...nice work. How's the roof being finished? Mark

Thanks Martin http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/35/entry-5158-draft-for-more-progress-not-that-photos-show-much/