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  1. 10800

    A concept emerges

    By 10800,

    John and I have been bouncing some ideas around and I've sketched out a possible layout concept. Effectively two dioramas, one of the station itself and one containing the viaduct. As if this is not enough, John has proposed making the join between them adaptable, FREMO-style, so that additional scenic sections could be added at a later date. Well, let's see how it goes with just this for the moment!
     

     
    Meanwhile I've ordered some 25-inch OS map copies from West Sussex County Council archives, and we will hopefully be off on a field visit in about three weeks to, well, visit the site in the field .
     
    The viaduct we have is 14 arches, as against the 37 of the real one, so it will be an impression rather than a full reproduction (it's still nearly 8 ft long as it is).
     
    Once I have the maps it will be time to fire up Templot again and we can scare ourselves as to how long the layout is going to end up. And if we want to run a 12-coach PUL/PAN formation (as we do ) the fiddle yards will need to be 12 ft long as well - each end. Either that or the fiddle yard operators will have to be very very quick, Gromit-like, in receiving and sending out trains!
  2. 10800
    John (Re6/6) and I had a very constructive day today planning some layout configurations out and deciding on a few design criteria. More of that anon, aside that I checked with David (Bigcheeseplant) Lane how big the hall is at Railex , but here are some pics of EMUs on the short-term version of the Ouse Viaduct which will form one of the centrepieces of the layout.
     
    4CEP comfortably dwarfed (the short-term version was built by the late Nigel Hunt for his home layout and is about 8ft long with 14 arches - the longer-term bespoke version will be to scale, with 37 arches).
     

     
    OK, it's a 5CEP with a Hornby Pullman, but you can imagine it as a 6PUL can't you?
     

     

     

  3. 10800
    This is the first actual part of Balcombe station. One of its features from the period we are modelling is a cast iron footbridge - not the one there now, which is an Exmouth Junction concrete product. It is shown here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Balcombe_railway_station_1745357_cc3c259a.jpg . Of note is that at one end there is a conventional landing and staircase, but at the other the bridge connects with a covered staircase coming from the road above. The main bridge deck is also quite long as a result.
     
    This type of bridge is very common across the country and was bought as a 12in:ft kit from suppliers by many companies. Many years ago I had bought a Kemilway brass footbridge kit at an exhibition, and this was basically ideal as a starting point (there are many detailed variations). But one was not long enough, so I acquired two more to give the right length for the main horizontal bridge section. So here is what you get in three Kemilway footbridge kits (most of two on the mat, the rest in the box:
     

     
    These are superbly designed etches that make up solid looking lattice sections. The basis is the laminating of two lattice sections with opposite diagonals to make the x-pattern lattices. To make the length required I used the curved and horizontal sections from one kit and the horizontals from the other two:
     

     
    Half-etched channel provides the upper and lower stengtheners, and eventually you end up with this:
     

     
    At this stage I don't know how long exactly it needs to be, so for the time being I can't add the remaining detail and join the two sides. So I made a start on the landing and staircase which can be completed. The sides of the landing illustrate the same construction process as the main bridge section.
     

     

     
    These will attach to the landing, seen here with the appropriate under-arches.
     

     
    More to follow, probably as quickly as the 10800 loco progress (!)
  4. 10800

    A trip round the circuit

    By 10800,

    Tonight's entertainment included plonking a Lumix TZ30 camera on a bogie well wagon and filming a trip around the outer P4 circuit on TT2. Two circuits in fact, one facing and one pointing backwards.
     
    The whole train (CK's) comprised wholly rigid wagons - no springing or compensation. There was quite a lot of other traffic running at the time too.
     

     

     
    How many trains, voices and faces can you identify?
  5. 10800
    John and I had been thinking about Balcombe as a modular end-to-end layout on which we could run full-length EMUs etc including a representation of the Ouse Viaduct. I then thought about the attraction of seeing these trains snake over some nice P4 trackwork, and Lewes floated into my head again, as it is wont to on occasions like this.
     
    So, having Templotted Balcombe
     

     
    (OS map is over 50 years old so out of copyright)
     
    I then had a go at Lewes - 'just for a bit of fun' you understand
     

     
    and thought wouldn't it be great to join this on to Balcombe and see those trains traverse the junctions from the London end to the Newhaven end and vice-versa? But then it would leave two stub ends and a possible lost opportunity to run trains on the route between the Oxted lines and Brighton. So, in a moment of inspiration/madness I came up with the following 'structure' which would enable all four lines at Lewes to be used.
     

     
    The "Brighton" fiddle yard is double-ended, so that it can receive trains from the Oxted lines via Lewes, and also Brighton-bound trains on the main line which would 'disappear' after crossing the viaduct.
     
    Still with us? People who know my background might guess what's coming next - instead of just having a fiddle yard for the Oxted lines, what about joining the Eridge layout on? And so I arrived at
     

     
    Now to have all these joined together in an exhibition would be a fairly gargantuan affair, but we're quite serious at having a go at this (the Eridge team think we're mad, but haven't said no in principle - we'd use the Eridge stock in any case! ). Baseboards for Balcombe itself are being designed, and I'm planning on getting started on the trackwork in Lewes later this year just to get some momentum going.
     
    Should all keep us busy for a while!
  6. 10800

    Backdrops and invasions

    By 10800,

    00 roundy-roundy - Tawbridge
     
    by 10800
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by <H3 class=first><A href="#p313532">Re: Proposed 00 Withered Arm (or anywhere) roundy-roundy on Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:59 pm
     


    A solution to this is to file a soldering iron bit to the shape of the wheel profile, and run it along the top of the rail. This will melt just enough plastic off the top of the chair jaws to clear the wheels.
    Or you could use SMP and save 50% of the cost?
     
    Tim
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:26 pm
     
    Last week I started looking for places to take a photographic panorama from for the backscene. After studying OS maps for likely viewpoints I found a couple and took some trial shots. This is just one of 15 in a possible 180-degree panorama that gives the impression of what I am looking for. I may go back and repeat them later in the Spring in varying light conditions, but the muted effect at the moment is quite good, with the Dartmoor hills coming out purplish which is just right. I also note the view is very similar to that on Jon Winnett's father's layout 'Chagford' (viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16682) which is not surprising since these were taken near Drewsteignton.
     

     
    I also took some photos at Fingles Bridge near Castle Drogo (what is this, Lord of the Rings? ) of the River Teign which shows the width and form of the river that will be crossed on the layout. Forget the bridge here, nice though it is, and the wooded valley - I'm just looking at the colour, rocks and patterns of turbulence characteristic of a peat and humic acid-laden moorland stream. Sometimes the bed is almost bronze in apparent colour - has anyone ever used metallic bronze paint as a component of the stream bed colour, or mixed in with varnish for the water itself?
     

     

     
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:46 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    beast66606 wrote:
    it will be DC

    From the decoder to the motor only I hope
    No final decision yet on that one Dave! Initially this one will probably be DC throughout, but who knows later on! With the trackplan the way it is, wiring it in such a way that it is easily switchable from DC to DCC will be a doddle, which is exactly the same as what we will be doing on the DRAG Mk2 test track. So guest appearances, whether chipped or not, will be easily accommodated - even DC on one line and DCC on the other.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by SweeneyTodd on Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:57 pm
     
    Probably shouldn't post this , but i've been watching and reading all post's in the layout topic area for weeks and i thought i'd say what a perfect layout idea this one is ....
     
    It's got everything , a scenic area , a fiddle yard , a bench , it looks part portable , and it's a roundy where trains can run round and round for ever if the mood takes ...
     
    So i'd like to say "Brilliant" will be watching this develope.
     
    Shaun
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:21 am
     


    Alan Smithee wrote:
    A solution to this is to file a soldering iron bit to the shape of the wheel profile, and run it along the top of the rail. This will melt just enough plastic off the top of the chair jaws to clear the wheels.

    Or you could use SMP and save 50% of the cost?
     
    Tim I agree, this seems to be the more obvious solution, particularly if Rod doesn't need to depict the full thickness of the sleepers, which the Exactoscale stuff would provide (would not be an issue if modelling fully ballasted track, well-maintained with proper shoulder etc.)
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:47 am
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    I agree, this seems to be the more obvious solution, particularly if Rod doesn't need to depict the full thickness of the sleepers, which the Exactoscale stuff would provide (would not be an issue if modelling fully ballasted track, well-maintained with proper shoulder etc.)
    This is the plan - I have some Carr's chamfered cork strip somewhere which I will probably use for this. Incidentally, just checked one rail of some Exactoscale P4 fast track with a Bachmann N, and there don't seem to be any clearance problems with that, nor even the Limby 121.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:57 am
     


    10800 wrote:
    Incidentally, just checked one rail of some Exactoscale P4 fast track with a Bachmann N, and there don't seem to be any clearance problems with that, nor even the Limby 121.
    That makes the problem with C&L track all the more frustrating!! Grrrrr!!!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:41 pm
     
    No, I haven't finished it already, but here is some of the fresh-out-of-the-box stock posing on 'Wouldham Town'.
     
    Ivatt tank on passenger (Van C, Bulleid SO and two Maunsell BSKs)
     

     

     
    N rescues failed Bubblecar
     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by davidpk212 on Sat Apr 12, 2008 7:26 pm
     
    Bloody hell, I thought that was it for a moment.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Forevagrey on Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:15 am
     
    Nice layout
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Metropolitan on Tue May 13, 2008 5:18 am
     
    So it's true! I never though I'd live to see the day!
     
    And what a great design Rod. You'll get plenty of fun for your bucks without doubt!
     
    It's not dissimalar to my layout. If you are going to go DCC I'd do it from the start. Despite all my efforts I haven't been able to convert my layout from DC.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by nevardmedia on Tue May 13, 2008 5:48 am
     
    I seem to have discovered this one a little late
    Fab idea, simple is best! The time saved by not having to worry about complex pointwork etc could be put into some really hot scenery - a sort of super sized moving diorama........
     
    I'd like to do something like this, but shoe horn Midford and the viaduct in - one day, and just one point where the double track becomes single.
     
    Wouldham Town ....mmm, probably my favourite 'biggy' this year, it's so fresh (despite its age) and photogenic.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by D.Broad on Tue May 13, 2008 7:24 am
     
    There is a lot of hidden area in relation to the scenic part, and the crossover looks unusable, perhaps crossovers on the curves at the ends of the layout would be more practical.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue May 13, 2008 7:51 am
     


    D.Broad wrote:
    There is a lot of hidden area in relation to the scenic part, and the crossover looks unusable, perhaps crossovers on the curves at the ends of the layout would be more practical.
    Hi, and welcome.
     
    The scenic part is relatively short because I don't want any sharp curves on view. The crossover is only there to enable me to 'shunt' trains occasionally from one circuit to the other without handling - operation will just be a sequence of runpasts.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:11 pm
     
    I'm mulling over the potential for running the Ilfracombe portion of the Devon Belle in due course, using Hornby's past, present and future Pullmans. Based on recent issues of BRILL and my Pullman bible, I've come up with the following formation for the late period of the Belle (1953-ish). Whilst not all of these cars ran together at this time, they all ran on the Devon Belle at some point and the configuration is correct. So, from the locomotive for the down train:
     
    Brake 3rd 54 (new Devon Belle add-on pack - the info on the box is right, the publicity saying 64 is wrong, different type of car)
    Kitchen 3rd 61 ('old' Devon Belle train pack with Watersmeet)
    Kitchen 1st IBIS (from VSOE pack but bought singly)
    Parlour 1st ROSEMARY (from Bournemouth Belle add-on pack)
    Parlour 3rd 208 (actually a Guard 3rd - from new add-on pack)
    Kitchen 1st MINERVA (from VSOE pack but bought singly)
    Kitchen 3rd 31 (from Bournemouth Belle add-on pack)
    Brake 3rd 27 (from new Devon Belle set with Wadebridge)
    Observation 13 (from new Devon Belle set)
     
    MINERVA was actually rebuilt for the Golden Arrow in 1951, but the layout will also be a fictitious place, so there!
     
    The question now arises, before I get too carried away, on whether the West Country will pull nine coaches? I can improve the rollability by removing the pickups for the lights which I don't really like anyway - too yellow, dinner by sodium light! - but since I haven't got a Bulleid Pacific yet can anyone advise on their haulage capability? If marginal, is there space inside the casing to stick slabs of lead sheet to increase the weight?
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Graham_Muz on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:51 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    The question now arises, before I get too carried away, on whether the West Country will pull nine coaches? I can improve the rollability by removing the pickups for the lights which I don't really like anyway - too yellow, dinner by sodium light! - but since I haven't got a Bulleid Pacific yet can anyone advise on their haulage capability? If marginal, is there space inside the casing to stick slabs of lead sheet to increase the weight?
    Hi Rod
     
    I have had a Hornby West Country pulling 6 Hornby Pullmans along with my 00 works brass observation car on my club layout with no apparent issues.
    I know that a friend of mine George Reeve had one struggle with a full 14 coach Belle rake on his garden railway but that included a gradient or two (he has since fitted a Teshendo Spud in place of one of the bogies on the Brake 3rd Pullman and the rake copes fine!) I would have thought that nine up would be OK especially if you do remove the coach light pick ups.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:59 pm
     


    Graham_Muz wrote:
    I would have thought that nine up would be OK especially if you do remove the coach light pick ups.

    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by sunshine coast on Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:09 pm
     
    Rod ,
    I can check out the haulage of the West Countrys on my circuit in the loft later on this week with a pile of Pullmans ....it is currently running a T9 6 wheel tender with 12 Maunsells on ..! 70'+ round and round ...
     
    Regards Trevor...
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:34 pm
     
    That'd be great Trevor, cheers!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:20 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    I'm mulling over the potential for running the Ilfracombe portion of the Devon Belle in due course, using Hornby's past, present and future Pullmans.
     
    Brake 3rd 54 (new Devon Belle add-on pack - the info on the box is right, the publicity saying 64 is wrong, different type of car)
    Kitchen 3rd 61 ('old' Devon Belle train pack with Watersmeet)
    Kitchen 1st IBIS (from VSOE pack but bought singly)
    Parlour 1st ROSEMARY (from Bournemouth Belle add-on pack)
    Parlour 3rd 208 (actually a Guard 3rd - from new add-on pack)
    Kitchen 1st MINERVA (from VSOE pack but bought singly)
    Kitchen 3rd 31 (from Bournemouth Belle add-on pack)
    Brake 3rd 27 (from new Devon Belle set with Wadebridge)
    Observation 13 (from new Devon Belle set)
    And just think how long it would take to convert that lot to P4......!!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by nevardmedia on Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:02 pm
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    10800 wrote:
    I'm mulling over the potential for running the Ilfracombe portion of the Devon Belle in due course, using Hornby's past, present and future Pullmans.
     
    Brake 3rd 54 (new Devon Belle add-on pack - the info on the box is right, the publicity saying 64 is wrong, different type of car)
    Kitchen 3rd 61 ('old' Devon Belle train pack with Watersmeet)
    Kitchen 1st IBIS (from VSOE pack but bought singly)
    Parlour 1st ROSEMARY (from Bournemouth Belle add-on pack)
    Parlour 3rd 208 (actually a Guard 3rd - from new add-on pack)
    Kitchen 1st MINERVA (from VSOE pack but bought singly)
    Kitchen 3rd 31 (from Bournemouth Belle add-on pack)
    Brake 3rd 27 (from new Devon Belle set with Wadebridge)
    Observation 13 (from new Devon Belle set)

    And just think how long it would take to convert that lot to P4......!! Could always stick to OO and build a whole layout instead in the same time
    I'm running for the coat stand .......
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:03 am
     


    nevardmedia wrote:
    Captain Kernow wrote:
    And just think how long it would take to convert that lot to P4......!!

    Could always stick to OO and build a whole layout instead in the same time
    I'm running for the coat stand ....... That's the beauty with this layout - due to commence construction sometime soon - instant gratification
     
    (Eye level viewing, no pointwork in the scenic section, no-one will ever know ... )
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by BlazeyBridge2 on Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:31 am
     
    Hmm the North Cornwall Line...
    Engines the wrong shade of green.....
    Signals that go Up, not Down....
     
    But apart from that its perfect!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Jim49 on Wed Feb 18, 2009 12:17 pm
     
    Rod, you shouldn't have any problems with a Spam Can hauling 9 Pullmans. Mine will comfortably handle 10-12 Bachmann Mk1s which are fairly heavy and not the most free-running coaches available.
     
    Jim49
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by sunshine coast on Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:55 pm
     
    Rod,
    experimental haulage with Unrebuilt W/Cs on my circuit which is not perfectly flat ,with 9 pullmans on ..they do not like it !!
    7 no problem ..8 beginning to slip ...9 slip to a halt in a couple of areas with slight adverse grade ....
    suggest more weight required...
     
    surprisingly the T9 ...had the same results ...
     
    will do more tests with other locos later on ..
     
    Regards Trevor ...
    __________________________________________
    </H3>
  7. 10800
    Eridge (P4) rebuilding
     
    by 10800
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:27 pm
     
    Yes, physical work is almost complete, test trains due before the end of the year, official opening next Spring. Spa Valley will use both the down main and loop platforms. NR/Southern will sell joint tickets to Eridge and the Spa Valley and promote tourism to Groombridge Place, Tunbridge Wells etc.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:20 pm
     
    Not the whole layout you understand! Last Thursday night we had a bit of a play with some of the Eridge loco stud (and some interlopers) on a powered-up bit of the plain track. First though, just to update on sleepering and ballasting progress:
     

     

     

     
    Pointwork will be built off the layout and ballasted after emplacement.
     
    Then Mike brought out his nearly-complete J class, which performed beautifully (about time we had a proper Brighton loco on Eridge)
     

     

     

     

     
    We also gave runs to the D
     

     

     

     
    and the Standard 4 Mogul
     

     

     
    Pinkmouse's M7 was also there, unfortunately I don't seem to have taken any pics of it.
     
    Then there was this nice little High Level industrial
     

     
    before the diesels made an appearance
     

     

     
    The difference between a 33/2 slim jim and a 33/0 is quite obvious here
     

     
    At this rate we'll be able to run the layout in a hypothetical blue diesel mode
     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by timlewis on Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:59 pm
     
    Excellent: looking good Rod. And Mike's J looks fantastic, nice to see something a bit out of the ordinary.
     
    Are you using the 'dilute PVA applied with dropper' technique for securing the ballast, or do you lay sleepers and ballast into PVA in one hit for plain track? (one of the many things I'm currently pondering how best to do).
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by number6 on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:42 pm
     
    Honestly you P4 boys! Obsessing constantly about the width of your rail thingies but quite happy to have black lamp brackets on a Crompton!
     
    The J is lovely. When is he doing the other one?!
    cheers
    Raphael
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Penrhos1920 on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:58 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Not the whole layout you understand! Last Thursday night we had a bit of a play with some of the Eridge loco stud (and some interlopers) on a powered-up bit of the plain track. First though, just to update on sleepering and ballasting progress:
     
    061108_eridge 002.jpg
    How do you manage to get the rails in the right place, can you see through to the track plain with all that ballast?
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:35 am
     


    timlewis wrote:
    Are you using the 'dilute PVA applied with dropper' technique for securing the ballast, or do you lay sleepers and ballast into PVA in one hit for plain track? (one of the many things I'm currently pondering how best to do).
    The latter I believe Tim, especially given the amount of excess ballast that gets swept off and recycled, but I'm not the one doing it so I can't be 100% sure - Pinkmouse might be along later to confirm though.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:38 am
     


    number6 wrote:
    The J is lovely. When is he doing the other one?!
    That will be down to me Raphael - at least Mike's made my job a little easier by doing the Walschaerts one! One day we will be able to run double headers with two I3s or J+I3
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:41 am
     


    Penrhos1920 wrote:
    How do you manage to get the rails in the right place, can you see through to the track plain with all that ballast?
    Good question. On the plain track the sleepers are prepunched for rivets (even though it is all-glued) so the rivet holes are used together with the track gauges as a guide. Pointwork will however be done before ballasting (which will use the dilute PVA/dropper method) so that issue won't arise.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by david_ford_85 on Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:19 am
     
    Love the pics. I'm amazed at how good EM looks, wouldn'd have thought that the extra 2+mm would have had such a huge effect! Can't wait to see how the layout comes along.
     
    David
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:53 pm
     
    Er, David, as it says in the thread title it's P4 not EM - glad you like the pics anyway!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by david_ford_85 on Sun Nov 09, 2008 12:57 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Er, David, as it says in the thread title it's P4 not EM - glad you like the pics anyway!
    Whoops Sorry
     
    David
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Sun Nov 09, 2008 3:13 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    - Pinkmouse might be along later to confirm though.
    Indeed I can confirm the latter method. The strange thing is, despite nearly finishing all the straight track ballasting, we seem to have just as much, if not more ballast left in the bucket!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:46 pm
     
    Last week, with tracklaying on the first board virtually complete, Mike's C class appeared on a short trip goods working
     

     

     
    And Pinkmouse brought along his Caprotti Black 5 which is coming along nicely (it's not likely to see much use on Eridge though!)
     

     
    When I'm next up in the New Year I should be able to collect this board for return to Devon for wiring and first signal installation.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Mon Dec 08, 2008 8:00 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    ...it's not likely to see much use on Eridge though!
    Yeah, one run a day with an RCTS railtour headboard on I think. Still I could build one of these instead!
     
    Oh and as it looks like Rod forgot to take a pic of the M7 again, here's one with its nice new lining. I should really have wiped off the dust and fingerprints first though, the harsh winter sun really shows them up.
     

    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by beast66606 on Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:41 pm
     
    Where's the pacers
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by dave_long on Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:55 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Last week, with tracklaying on the first board virtually complete, Mike's C class appeared on a short trip goods working
     

    I hope the PW gang have spotted the missing chair?
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:42 pm
     


    dave_long wrote:
    I hope the PW gang have spotted the missing chair?
    Yup, I'm just waiting for the chair threading crew to break the correct facing one as they put it on. So far, the only ones have been wrong handed.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:44 pm
     


    beast66606 wrote:
    Where's the pacers
    What's a pacer?
     

    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by jim s-w on Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:54 pm
     
    Its a white and green chewy mint. Like a chewitt
     
    Remember 'em?
     
    Cheers
     
    Jim
     
    Good work on the layout chaps!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:56 pm
     


    pinkmouse wrote:
    Oh and as it looks like Rod forgot to take a pic of the M7 again, here's one with its nice new lining.winter.jpg
    sorry Al - the M7 was running very nicely too!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:58 pm
     


    jim s-w wrote:
    Its a white and green chewy mint. Like a chewitt.
    Gotcha' - spearmint!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:08 am
     


    10800 wrote:
    sorry Al - the M7 was running very nicely too!
    'S okay Rod, you're forgiven.
     
    Still can't find a cause for that minor clicking noise though...
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Horsetan on Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:59 am
     
    The loco pics are amazing. They almost could be 7mm scale....
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by London cambrian on cambrian</STRONG> on Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:08 pm
     
    Thats very nice. Interchangabiltity would be nice but I don't know if its been said before, you'd either have to make a detachable tree scene or ahve removable trackwork! depending on the state of Eridge at that time!
     
    Do you have a black Motor to go on that freight train?
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:33 pm
     


    London cambrian wrote:
    Do you have a black Motor to go on that freight train?
    Nice though they are, Black Motors (700 class) never got over here. We make do with C and (eventually) C2X for most goods trains, with a K to come sometime as well.
    __________________________________________
  8. 10800
    Some snaps of some of the results of today in trial fittings of balustrades and refuges on the viaduct track base:
     

     

     

     

     
    And a couple of reminders of the real thing
     

     

     
    We're still thinking about how best to do the brackets
     
    So there will now be an awful lot of laminating of pairs of bits of 2mm MDF at 10800 towers - just the job to do on a work tray whilst watching the telly
     
    And we haven't forgotten about the coping and plinths for the balustrades
  9. 10800

    Basic Templot done

    By 10800,

    Spent a pleasant hour or three doing the basic Templot plan for Balcombe station yesterday, using the 1910 25-inch OS map as an underlying picture shape together with some photos in the 1950s to modify some of the detail/errors in the map and changes due to the subsequent elapsed time - notably the change in position of the trailing crossover between the two main lines from the platform area to north of the entrance to the down refuge siding.
     
    FB on the main line (thanks to Martin Wynne for pointing me at the correct switch option ) - nice D12 crossover! - and BH in the yard.
     
    Will probably leave the detailed tweaking until we get the available photos from Lens of Sutton.
     

     
    At full size this bit alone is about 9m long - but we should be able to compress it a bit by reducing the length of the two refuge sidings.
  11. 10800
    A few recent photos to show we're still progressing on the Eridge rebuild.
     
    The southern (country) end of the layout. Those four tracks will converge into two before the fiddleyard, but how much further it will go is still a subject of discussion - there's another trailing crossover not far beyond, and more signals . I'm sure the trap point on the up loop (left hand track) should have appeared by now ...
     
    The platforms are dummy templates, and those canopies may need to be rebuilt because of the new alignments.
     

     
    Mike then brought out his 'new' Q1 - Hornby body, SE Finecast chassis - which pottered about with a pickup goods with Chivers brass Dancehall brake van.
     

     

     
    Back at the London end, Richard was busy with the outriggers for the scenic bits - looks like binoculars will be needed for watching the trains in the cutting!
     

     
    Finally, Mike was confident enough to bring out the bogie ballast train - Southwark Bridge LSWR brass kit and Cambrian plastic ones - and recklessly (but successfully) propelled them all into the up siding a few times. Very pleasing to watch! The board wiring isn't finished yet so driving is done by wires running straight to the motor - like taking the dog for a walk . Meanwhile Simon is adding yet more cosmetic chairs to the rivetted sections.
     

     

     
     
     
  12. 10800

    Brighton Belle

    By 10800,

    Needless to say we are quite pleased that Hornby have announced an RTR 5BEL . Hopefully in due course all three units with appropriate names and numbers will be made available, but a 10BEL crossing the viaduct will be something to look forward to - and conversion of this to P4 will be somewhat easier and cheaper than the other current options!
     
    Merry Christmas all
  14. 10800
    Inspiring (or daunting) as the whole thing might be, we will obviously be taking this a step at a time with a view to proving the concept in exhibition conditions with just some of the possible whole.
     
    Balcombe itself will be first, with the viaduct, and a fiddleyard each end. The fiddle yards will need to be able to accommodate 12 coach EMUs so will have to be around 12 ft long each, so that's the length of four shunting planks before we even get to the scenery! Uncompressed, Balcombe is about 30ft long, although that could be reduced by up to 6ft by shortening the refuge sidings. The Ouse Viaduct section would be about 20ft I should think, so even a basic set up would be about 70ft long.
     
    Just for reference, Eridge is a similar length to Balcombe, plus a 6-8ft fiddleyard at the end (both ends when operated on its own), but would be at right angles to the rest because of Lewes. To see what a 30ft layout looks like, here's a shot of Eridge Mk1 in an early exhibition incarnation, and Mk2 under construction (both foreshortened by the camera).
     

     

     
    Lewes is fairly compact at about 22ft long, although all the real action takes place in about 16ft. But you start to get an idea of how big an 'L' would be needed for the Full Monty set-up.
  15. 10800
    Eridge (P4) rebuilding
     
    by 10800
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by OgaugeJB on Thu Jun 19, 2008 2:25 pm
     
    Looking good... I don't think those boards are going to bend at all..!
     
    A quick question on the ply you are using if that's okay, as you seem to be pretty well versed on the best timber to use now, and more specifically, what NOT to use...
     
    I see you are using 6mm russian ply, but looking on the B&Q website, I noticed some 12.5mm Tropical softwood ply. Would this do the job? The application is a 7mm test track.
     
    Any info appreciated. Thanks.
     
    Jonathan.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:02 pm
     
    Hi Jonathan
     
    Only comment I would make is that 12.5 mm might be a bit OTT even for O gauge, and also that received wisdom suggests that DIY superstore plywood is rarely of good enough quality for flat and stable baseboard needs. I would seek out advice from a proper local timber merchant, who likely as not can also cut it for you as well to whatever plan you provide.
     
    HTH
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:24 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    maybe even some drinking in one of them
    Ah, so you'll be having a cup of tea in the old station masters house, will you?...
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:35 pm
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    10800 wrote:
    maybe even some drinking in one of them

    Ah, so you'll be having a cup of tea in the old station masters house, will you?... Doubt it, there's a bl**dy fierce-sounding guard dog in residence!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by OgaugeJB on Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:36 pm
     
    Thanks for that Rod (10800).
     
    Jonathan.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Jun 28, 2008 7:16 pm
     
    Latest developments - the trackbed boards have now been kitted out with Exactoscale camping mat foam trackbases
     

     

     
    And an impression of the track plan with a draft Templot print out on top
     

     
    Over-centre catches hold the boards together (there are dowels for alignment as well of course)
     

     
    The support frames are fixed together in pairs by x-pattern struts. This makes them extremely stable. The fixing points are slotted so that the retaining wing-nuts only need to be loosened slightly to dismantle them, rather than laboriously unscrewed altogether.
     

     
    Mike's prototype for a system of strengthening rail fixings and board ends. Two pairs of brass rod pass through the ply and a piece of copperclad ###### to it. They also pass through the ply sleepers (only one so equipped in this demo piece) and are then soldered to the rail. Ballast is then built up. Why is this any better than just soldering the rail directly to brass pins or copperclad you ask? - well, it means the end sleepers can be properly chaired and ballasted, without (hopefully) compromising on strength.
     

     
    Regarding the plug-in scenic boards, which will be very lightweight using foamboard carcasses, Chris had the excellent idea of using magnets to attach them to the trackbed boards. There then followed an increasingly silly conversation of using mini rare-earth magnets to hold the trackbed boards together, and ideas of from how far away you could throw the scenic boards at the layout when assembling it at shows
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by ullypug on Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:43 pm
     
    Mmm interesting. I've used the cast brass chairs at baseboard ends myself but your solution's got me thinking...
     
    I wondered whether your system could be modified to allow a degree of re-adjustment by soldering threaded bar to the underside of the rail, passing through a larger tube through an oversize hole in the baseboard with a plate/captive nut underneath.
     
    Then I wondered 'but would you need to?' It's one thing I worry about with P4 exhibition layouts (I haven't done a show with mine yet ).
     
    Best of luck with your project
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:22 pm
     
    Thanks Andrew - as you say, not sure why any 'adjustment' would be required; the function of the soldering is to hold the rail firmly in the same place and avoid risk of catching them on carpet, trousers etc (there will be end-protector plates as well). The expectation is that the soldered connections will be stronger than the alternative reliance on soldering to rivets and/or glue holding the sleeper to the trackbed.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by philip-griffiths on Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:25 pm
     
    Rod,
     
    I like the X-struts and their fixing mechanisms, excellent. Novel, or plagiarised?
     
    regards
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:11 am
     
    Thanks Philip. The x-struts weren't my idea, so I don't know whether it was a new or 'plagiarised' concept. Doesn't really matter, we all take inspiration and ideas from others, and we're not marketing it commercially!
     
    Regards
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:49 pm
     
    There may be a bit of a hiatus at the Kent end of Eridge (Reconstruction) plc due to summer holidays, but down here in south Devon (where it's always holiday time! ) there is still plenty of design work going on, mainly for the new panel. Beast66606 can look away temporarily , but Eridge will continue to be DC/Cab Control for the time being, although there will be some refinements to the earlier boards - nothing too fancy, but the option of route selection LEDs on the panel indicating whether or not a section is switched in, and to which controller, seems to carry favour. I have also developed a conceptual lever frame, based as closely as possible on the real one, and which coincidentally also comes out at 32 levers. This will be represented by a bank of switches along the bottom of the panel, although in the future it would be nice to replace it with an actual model frame.
     
    DCC may happen in the future also, especially when steam sound chips improve, and the wiring will be done so that the changeover is a doddle.
     
    So I will set to work on the panel down here, and will bring each 8 foot trackbed board down to the south west once tracklaying is completed (plus TOUs and rail droppers) so that I can do all the wiring and testing at home in relative leisure.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Brinkly on Sun Aug 17, 2008 5:43 pm
     
    Hi Rod,
    I was just looking through your thread and there is some excellent information here. I saw the orginal Eridge in Railway Modeller and thought how excellent it was, along with your advice reading lofts and model railways! I am currently thinking of planning and building a layout built to P4 standards and I look forward to seeing Eridge MK2 progressing.
     
    Nick
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:05 pm
     
    Hi Nick
     
    Bit of mistaken identity there - I am not Vivien Thompson and Eridge Mk1 was not the one that appeared in RM!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Brinkly on Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:21 am
     


    10800 wrote:
    Hi Nick
     
    Bit of mistaken identity there - I am not Vivien Thompson and Eridge Mk1 was not the one that appeared in RM!
    Oh Whooops! Very sorry!
     
    Well Rod your version of Eridge is very good and I hope that it will also appear in a railway modelling magazine in the future! She certainly is a beast! What will the total lenght be once completed?
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:41 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Bit of mistaken identity there - I am not Vivien Thompson
    Not even when he's at DRAG!....
     
    Edit - go on, you were expecting some inconsequential bo**ocks from me like the above, weren't you?!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by 50007 on Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:44 pm
     
    That is going to be a great layout with those huge boards!
     
    Can I please ask what the black mattings purpose will be? Is it for noise reduction?
     
    Thanks
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:16 pm
     


    Brinkly wrote:
    10800 wrote:
    Bit of mistaken identity there - I am not Vivien Thompson and Eridge Mk1 was not the one that appeared in RM!

    Oh Whooops! Very sorry!
     
    Well Rod your version of Eridge is very good and I hope that it will also appear in a railway modelling magazine in the future! She certainly is a beast! What will the total lenght be once completed? No problem Nick, and thanks, although as I mentioned on here when the RM article came out I was a bit disappointed with Vivien's rendition given her pedigree as one of the top modellers of buildings from the 70s and 80s. But at least hers is finished and she is building up a huge fleet of locos and trains to run a day's authentic service.
     
    Total length of our scenic section will be 26ft, and with an 8ft fiddle yard at each end that will be 42ft in total. Not sure when we will be ready to exhibit, although we are booked at least for Scaleforum 2011 already.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:20 pm
     


    50007 wrote:
    Can I please ask what the black mattings purpose will be? Is it for noise reduction?
    It's just an alternative trackbed material to cork - not specifically for noise reduction, which in exhibition conditions is a bit pointless, but should be easy to carve out a ballast shoulder in due course. It's like camping mattress material, although this comes from Exactoscale.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:22 pm
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    Not even when he's at DRAG!....
     
    Edit - go on, you were expecting some inconsequential bo**ocks from me like the above, weren't you?!
    I would have been mightily disappointed otherwise
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by 50007 on Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:28 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    50007 wrote:
    Can I please ask what the black mattings purpose will be? Is it for noise reduction?

    It's just an alternative trackbed material to cork - not specifically for noise reduction, which in exhibition conditions is a bit pointless, but should be easy to carve out a ballast shoulder in due course. It's like camping mattress material, although this comes from Exactoscale. Oh i see. Thanks for explaining it to me. That stuff must be easy to cut and provide a smooth line. Is it cheaper than cork?
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:45 pm
     


    50007 wrote:
    [is it cheaper than cork?
    This stuff is ??????‚??5 for a sheet of 1.5m x 0.5m x 1/8in and is called 'Foamlay' - see http://www.p4track.co.uk/
     
    I don't know what the equivalent in cork sheet would be.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by 50007 on Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:02 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    50007 wrote:
    [is it cheaper than cork?

    This stuff is ??????‚??5 for a sheet of 1.5m x 0.5m x 1/8in and is called 'Foamlay' - see http://www.p4track.co.uk/
     
    I don't know what the equivalent in cork sheet would be. That's really good. So you could do a whole layout, then lay your track and just cut away the foam. I dont like when with the cork you have to lay your cork as you lay the track!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Brinkly on Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:35 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Brinkly wrote:
    10800 wrote:
    Bit of mistaken identity there - I am not Vivien Thompson and Eridge Mk1 was not the one that appeared in RM!

    Oh Whooops! Very sorry!
     
    Well Rod your version of Eridge is very good and I hope that it will also appear in a railway modelling magazine in the future! She certainly is a beast! What will the total lenght be once completed?
    No problem Nick, and thanks, although as I mentioned on here when the RM article came out I was a bit disappointed with Vivien's rendition given her pedigree as one of the top modellers of buildings from the 70s and 80s. But at least hers is finished and she is building up a huge fleet of locos and trains to run a day's authentic service.
     
    Total length of our scenic section will be 26ft, and with an 8ft fiddle yard at each end that will be 42ft in total. Not sure when we will be ready to exhibit, although we are booked at least for Scaleforum 2011 already. I am sure that it will be ready on time Rod, bags of time between now and 2011!
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    10800 wrote:
    Bit of mistaken identity there - I am not Vivien Thompson

    Not even when he's at DRAG!.... Do I need to know something about DRAG CK!? I don't want to have to wear Hannah's clothes!
    Nick
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:48 am
     
    Here's a pic of the front of the new Eridge control panel before I cover it with transparent film and start drilling holes in it for switches, LEDs etc.
     
    Everyone has their own needs, ideas and preferences on panels ranging from Chris Nevard's tobacco tin to Railroad&Co 'no panel required' - this is a 'conventional' panel for DC cab control. Each section (15, separated by black marks) will have a rotary switch which can be allocated to any of four controllers. The 'lever frame' emulates the real one as far as possible in terms of numbering, and the appropriate numbers for points (doubles for crossovers where appopriate) and signals are marked on the diagram. There will also be a LED-based route indicator system linked to the rotary switches which will show which sections are linked to which controller - not essential, but something indicated as a 'nice-to-have' by team members.
     
    The red, blue and yellow sections of the track diagram mean nothing other than a convenient visual separation of up, down and yard sections.
     
    I'll put up more on the behind-the-scenes progress as I work through it if this is of interest.
     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by martin_wynne on Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:23 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Each section (15, separated by black marks) will have a rotary switch which can be allocated to any of four controllers.
    Hi Rod,
     
    That's not always a good idea. It means that you cannot change a section from controller A to controller C without momentarily connecting it to controller B. Which may be in use at the time.
     
    The simple solution is to add on-off section switches for each section, and remember to switch a section off while changing controllers.
     
    Other solutions are latching push-buttons (as in old-style car radios) where pushing one releases all the others. Or you can emulate that with solid-state circuits and/or relays, but doing that 15 times over would be a lot of work.
     
    Another solution is a plug panel. 4 jack sockets in a row. Insert a shorting jack plug into whichever one you want. This doubles as an on-off switch by removing the jack plug and putting it into a 5th dummy socket, or your pocket.
     
    er, DCC?
     
    regards,
     
    Martin.
    __________________________________________
  16. 10800
    Eridge (P4) rebuilding
     
    by 10800
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by London cambrian on cambrian</STRONG> on Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:38 pm
     
    More south west and central engines were they then. Shame. mid hants are planning to turn their 'douglas' into a Black motor look alike.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:49 pm
     


    London cambrian wrote:
    More south west and central engines were they then. Shame. mid hants are planning to turn their 'douglas' into a Black motor look alike.
    Yes, ex-LSWR design, tended to stay on ex-LSWR metals
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by London cambrian on cambrian</STRONG> on Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:52 pm
     
    Fair enough. Saves moving the things too far!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:15 pm
     
    Boring myself stupid at the moment wiring up the LEDs on the panel for the 'route selection indicators' (no sniggering at the back now Mr Skipsey). At least I can do it in the dining room listening to music (Grace Jones, Kevin Ayers and the Ting Tings so far today), but I can only do a couple of hours at a go and it's too early to get the whisky bottle out. Was pleased that the first section worked exactly to plan first time though .
     
    Will alternate with connecting up some of the tag strips for variety .
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:55 pm
     
    Moon Safari - Air
    Yohimi Battles the Pink Robots - Flaming Lips
    Seventh Tree - Goldfrap
    The Soul Sessions - Joss Stone
     
    Oh,and I've put in my order to Exactoscale, so you can do a bit of Templotting if you want a distraction.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:03 pm
     
    I can't remember what it was you wanted Templotting, Al? For the moment I've got plenty enough to do for Eridge, but by all means remind me
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:33 pm
     
    Some work in progress photos:
     
    Some of the forest of LEDs pushed into the pre-drilled holes
     

     
    Two sections (fortunately two of the 'longest' ones) wired. I had tried to anchor the LEDs by drowning the backs in Copydex, but that didn't work. Now they are wired, easiest way to stop them tending to work their way out is to tape the wires down between them as a restraint.
     

     
    Some of the tag strip connections done. Trying to keep things as neat as possible as I go.
     

     
    And one of the sections lit for Controller A. Should have done this before Christmas and used it as part of the decorations!
     

     
    Tomorrow I'll lay a couple of busbars to connect all the LED power feeds to, so that I can then test them together rather than just one section at a time.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Brinkly on Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:43 pm
     
    That is wonderful!
     
    Rod you must teach me! I want a pannel like that!
     
    Nick
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:50 pm
     
    Looking good Rod.
     
    Hot melt glue may well be the best way of securing the LEDs, and if you use low temperature, it can easily be removed for servicing.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by philip-griffiths on Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:04 am
     
    Well Rod, I think you've just put up a good advert for DCC !
     
    I've spent some quality time reading Nigel Burkin's book on the subject, a nice present (even if I had to buy it myself!). I've have always liked the idea of DCC but not found the decisive clincher in anything. Sound is good but too expensive and anyway there are not any modules for a Super D or a Coal Tank. My desire for prototypical operation leads me to a mechanical interlocked signal box (whether it is working signals and turnouts using electric motors is one thing, to capture the feel of a locking mechanism in a real box is the objective). So DCC has not had much to recommend it, until you come on the scene with your Strowger look-alike panel. I started to consider the turnouts in the fiddle yard and all the wiring required. I think I've found good enough justification!!!
     
    Have a Happy Devon New Year
     
    regards
     
    Philip
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:06 am
     
    I thought it was going too well - just realised tonight that the tag strips around the edge are all a mirror image of where they should be!
     
    Nothing fatal, options are 1) unsolder the work done so far (only three strips used so far out of eight) and start again; 2) put up with longer wiring because the tags are at the opposite end to the D-connector sockets from where they should be; 3) unscrew the tag strips used so far and move them to better (though not ideal) positions and reconfigure the reference schedule.
     
    Obviously 3) is the correct answer, half an hour editing on Excel and reprinting should do it without too much drama!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:11 am
     


    philip-griffiths wrote:
    Well Rod, I think you've just put up a good advert for DCC !
     
    <snip>
     
    So DCC has not had much to recommend it, until you come on the scene with your Strowger look-alike panel. I started to consider the turnouts in the fiddle yard and all the wiring required. I think I've found good enough justification!!!
     
    Have a Happy Devon New Year
     
    regards
     
    Philip
    Hi Philip, I know, at one point we were thinking of doing the rebuild with DCC but there wasn't the driving consensus to justify the initial outlay in hardware. Fortunately I have a masochistic attraction to the intellectual (to me anyway) challenge of doing this, maybe it just satisfies the logic part of my brain. And the lights are pretty ...
     
    And a very happy New Year to you and the family as well
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:15 am
     


    Brinkly wrote:
    Rod you must teach me! I want a pannel like that!
     
    Thanks Nick . I'll bring it along to the next DRAG meeting - should be done by then as far as I can without the layout itself - and go through common return/cab control with you if you like, so you have the option of choosing which way you want to go.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Penlan on Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
     
    10800, Is there a reason why you have chosen 3 individual coloured leds for each track section rather than a tri-coloured led. It would reduce the wiring slightly and if using other than say 2.5V, the number of resistors too. But otherwise, like you I enjoyed the challenge of designing and putting together the panel, even wrong way round tags - got the T shirt......
     
    My panel from the front - which you can see at SWAG 2009 at Taunton. The two rotary switches are for the Yard and Platform magnetic uncouplers - the ammetre is for the yard controller. There are 3 hand held controllers, Up, Down and Yard. The Up and Down controllers plug into positions near their respective fiddle yards (Up, Down) by their own ammetres. Actually I've just realised looking at the photo, one of the spare (white) levers has now been allocated another signal.
     
    Penlan
     

    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Dec 31, 2008 1:21 am
     


    Penlan wrote:
    10800, Is there a reason why you have chosen 3 individual coloured leds for each track section rather than a tri-coloured led. It would reduce the wiring slightly and if using other than say 2.5V, the number of resistors too. But otherwise, like you I enjoyed the challenge of designing and putting together the panel, even wrong way round tags - got the T shirt......
    These LEDs are 12V and have built in resistors - there didn't seem to be a tricolour option for this size of LED (3mm diameter) that would have the same spec, but no doubt someone will prove me wrong!
     


    My panel from the front - which you can see at SWAG 2009 at Taunton.
    Look forward to seeing it there (and you, and the layout!)
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Brinkly on Wed Dec 31, 2008 7:44 am
     


    10800 wrote:
    Brinkly wrote:
    Rod you must teach me! I want a pannel like that!
     

    Thanks Nick . I'll bring it along to the next DRAG meeting - should be done by then as far as I can without the layout itself - and go through common return/cab control with you if you like, so you have the option of choosing which way you want to go. Excellent!
     
    Nick
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:38 am
     
    Some more work spread over the last few days has got me to this stage.
     
    I haven't connected any more of the route selection LEDs yet, concentrating on getting the other internal wiring out of the way. Although I have laid the two busbars for the power feeds; this is just copper wire stuck down with blue or red insulating tape (tape doesn't stick well to the rough side of hardboard, but it's OK if you prime it with Copydex or PVA first).
     
    Tried to minimise the number of cable routes and keep them gathered together where possible, but it's still bit of a cat's cradle. Still, not unexpected when I have chosen to use more intermediate tag connections than strictly necessary just for the sake of order and management of cable distributions to the layout boards. And with 15 sections each selectable by four controllers, plus 12V DC and 16V AC power distribution, 38 points and signals (not started on those yet) and various isolator and PTM switches around there is a lot of wiring to do. I'm glad I planned most of it in advance and colour coded (and documented) everything!.
     

     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Brinkly on Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:48 pm
     
    That is very impressive Rod! I am looking forward to seeing on the 12th!
     
    Nick
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:14 pm
     
    At the risk of boring you all stupid, here are some more photos of work in progress on what looks to the uninitiated more and more like a growing tangle of wires.
     
    All the 'internal' wiring is now done, leaving just the route indicator LEDs and the connections to the outbound D-connectors (which I will do one at a time as I get the boards themselves). I have used copper wire to 'bus' the outer terminals of the point/signal switches, but I am a bit concerned about connections breaking with temperature fluctuations so I will keep an eye on them in case I have to revert to a set of more flexible omega loop-type connections. The loops connecting all the controllers with the 15 rotary switches have deliberately been kept 'high' to facilitate access to the route selection LEDs.
     
    I have installed the input plugs for the external 12V DC and 16V AC supplies using mains-rated choc-block type connectors. The supplies may come from a variety of sources so this will be the most flexible arrangement. Plugs because the 'live' sockets will be on the wandering leads coming from the transformers and 12V power supplies.
     
    The supplies required are
     
    12V DC - two for the bipolar Tortoise supplies, and two for the LED circuits
    16V AC - four controllers and a utility supply for uncoupling magnets
     

     

     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Penlan on Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:58 am
     
    At Taunton, we saw the top of the Control Panel - though not shown in any of the day's photo's (so far) at viewtopic.php?f=43&t=33785&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=175
     
    Bearing in mind the leds still needed wiring on the view below, what does it look like now? Had I realised the potential to view the underside at Taunton, I would have had peek.
     
    Nice to chat to you there, 10800.
     
    Penlan
     

    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by ajdown on Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:11 am
     
    I remember building a similar control panel to that years ago but accidently wired one of the point push buttons into the route indicator lights (which were only 3v with one resistor on the input feed... yes I know it was wrong).
     
    First test... changed a point... BANG 40 LED's explode as 36v from a CDU pass through them. They were very bright though, albeit briefly.
     
    I guess it wasn't helpful using a 100m reel of red wire for absolutely everything.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by The Fatadder on Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:24 am
     


    Penlan wrote:
    At Taunton, we saw the top of the Control Panel - though not shown in any of the day's photo's (so far) at viewtopic.php?f=43&t=33785&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=175
     
    Bearing in mind the leds still needed wiring on the view below, what does it look like now? Had I realised the potential to view the underside at Taunton, I would have had peek.
     
    Nice to chat to you there, 10800.
     
    Penlan
    Glad to see that the wiring is no longer looking so perfect as it did the last time I saw it!!!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:24 pm
     


    ajdown wrote:
    I guess it wasn't helpful using a 100m reel of red wire for absolutely everything.
    never do that, you can never trace anything when there's a fault!
     
    Penlan, nice to chat to you too , I haven't wired any more LEDs yet since the photos above, so it looks the same - only a couple of sections of LEDs are wired at the moment. I ought to get back and finish before I lose the will to live ...
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Penlan on Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:32 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    ajdown wrote:
    I guess it wasn't helpful using a 100m reel of red wire for absolutely everything.

    never do that, you can never trace anything when there's a fault! I rewired a layout for a friend a few years ago, a couple of other people had had a go before me.
     
    In the previous attempts, at some stage they had run out of Black wire for the DC common return on the tracks and substituted white, then it seems they found some black and used it for the point motors AC com., (previously green), meanwhile it appears there was so much white it was used where ever there was a short 'jumper' wire required, be it the track common return or section feed, or on the point motor circuits.
     
    It would have helped if they had started at one end and completed each board as they went along, but no, it seems they followed the, say, Up line all the way through, then the down line and then various siding as it took their fancy. There was also plenty of wire left looping about under the baseboards in case of changes......
     
    Basicaly it was a mess with very little colour coding evident. I understand the original 'temporary' wiring was pretty good with coding, it was somebody else who came along to 'fix-it' that resulted in a mess. Basically, I had to start almost at zero and colour code everything making sure I had plenty of wire.
     
    Never mix colours, I always keep a specific colour to a specific function. This was helped when I had about 30 metres of 64way cable come my way a long time ago., every wire covering has a differnt coding colour combination. I have some left, plus numerous lengths of 32 way cable as well.
     
    Penlan
     
    Penlan
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Apr 27, 2009 3:15 pm
     
    I'm using six colours which all have defined functions, and this will carry onto the layout from the panel (in fact Pinkmouse may already have done this for the first board). See halfway down page 4 of this topic for a portion of the tag strip schedule.
     
    I'll be up in Kent later this week so should be able to post a progress report after that.
    __________________________________________
  17. 10800
    Despite John's excellent forestry experiments, it's probably true to say that we've 'relaxed' a bit since the intensive run-up to Scaleforum last September - see http://www.rmweb.co....post__p__496055 for a refresher.
     
    This hasn't been helped by diversions due to work, other projects, work etc although John and I have been busy at times mulling over some of the lessons learned and ideas stimulated from the exhibition. One of these was to add between 0.5 and 1m scenic section at the front and another 0.5m at the back to really give the structure some context and depth, and to force the viewer (not that force is really needed) to look at the viaduct from some distance away. More on this in a future blog entry.
     
    Another lesson taken (or rather realisation dawned) was that the summits of the pavilions were too low in relation to the trains - because we were still deciding on track bed and ballast thickness on the fly - and that somehow the pavilions would need to be raised by about 4mm. We thought about, but rejected, the possibility of cutting out the upper 3mm section of the viaduct deck, and eventually decided to add 2mm to the bottom of the balustrade plinths (and the refuges and pavilions) and another 2mm at the pavilion roof slabs above the columns. Some testing determined that this could be done without destroying the overall 'proportions' (remember this is all being done without any prototype drawings and we can't access the viaduct deck to measure directly).
     
    The first phase - adding to the base of the plinths - is now well underway, following another purchase of appropriate limewood sections from the excellent Cornwall Model Boats. All the balustrades have now been done, and as the photos show I am well into the 72 refuges as well. Limewood is lovely to work with, and quite therapeutic, and the photo of the balustrades shows that I have gently sanded the rectangular section upper coping to a gentle arc as per the originals.
     

     
    Otherwise here are the 72 refuges in various stages of augmentation (all but one upside down). 17 of them are complete top and bottom, the remainder are work in progress.
     

     

     
    And a length of balustrade and refuge together. There is still some trimming, sanding and feathering to do before I get a close fit due to the additional plinth material, and the upper coping on the refuges will need to be shaped to match the newly-contoured balustrades.
     

     
    There will be quite a few gaps and seam lines to fill, probably by PVA mixed in with sawdust.
  18. 10800

    Consultation

    By 10800,

    00 roundy-roundy - Tawbridge
     
    by 10800
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:25 pm
     
    It's a nice idea Alan, but doesn't feature in the plans at the moment
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:12 pm
     
    But Rod....... just think how nice it would be to have a cute little signalbox and a couple of working signals.... (interchangeable, to suit different company styles, of course)....
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:13 pm
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    But Rod....... just think how nice it would be to have a cute little signalbox and a couple of working signals.... (interchangeable, to suit different company styles, of course)....
    Get thee behind me, Satan!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by John B on Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:13 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Captain Kernow wrote:
    But Rod....... just think how nice it would be to have a cute little signalbox and a couple of working signals.... (interchangeable, to suit different company styles, of course)....

    Get thee behind me, Satan! And a cute little crossover and branch line junction to give reason for said box and signals
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by philip-griffiths on Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:20 pm
     
    Rod,
     
    The Ulster MRC built a layout with a similar philosophy, just for exhibiting, a few years ago, but then added some refuge loops.
     
    http://www.freewebs....exhibition2.htm
     
    It was built on doors as these were found to be very robust and didn't warp. Very successful. It replaced a similar layout which was yonks old, constructed in a similar fashion and called the 'Doors' layout! very original.
     
    regards
     
    Philip
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:27 pm
     
    Some interesting parallels there Philip, but a bit more complex than what I have in mind! Still, goes to show how few genuinely orginal concepts there are around.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by philip-griffiths on Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:11 pm
     
    Rod,
     
    I've been planning and re-planning something similar with my botched 1883 entry - i.e. a roundy layout, but in P4.
     
    (Yeah, I've lost the "New Poster" label!)
     
    regards
     
    Philip
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:11 pm
     


    philip-griffiths wrote:
    ... but in P4.
    OK, make me feel guilty why don't you!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by philip-griffiths on Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:13 pm
     
    Well it wasn't supposed to make you feel that way Rod.
     
    I should feel guilty in that I still am expressing my 1883 layout in the future tense.
     
    The baseboards are built and some of the trusses are constructed. I'm still trying to finalise the pillars, when I get them sorted I can build them, finalise the trusses and put it all together.
     
    I really would like to finish this. Though it has moved on a bit and the idea is to match a Crumlin type viaduct structure with a Bargoed setting.
     
    regards
     
    Philip
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by number6 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:33 pm
     
    Rod
    Are you sure about only having an 8ft scenic section? Seems a bit small for all that effort in construction and space. If you had one long gentle curve across the front you could push those scenic breaks out further. Trains always seem to run smoother on curves... or certainly you'd not be bringing attention to the curve to straight transition. I also wonder if you can't squash down those fiddleyard loops - if you are going to be using RTR its all very capable of going through less smooth pointwork and the big curved points could go? Maybe you've been in P4-land too long?!
     
    I'm not adverse to a the addition of a cute little diary, quarry exchange sidings and etc. off the country junction either.
     
    best
    Raphael
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by jongwinnett on Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:37 pm
     
    Rod,
     
    Not wanting to add to your dilemma/waverings etc, but have you seen the latest shots on nevardmedia's Catcott thread? If anyone ever wondered if 00 could look "the business" then this surely answers them!
     
    http://www.rmweb.co....=312155#p312155
     
    Having a serious rethink about not-rewheeling my M7s etc. as I type this!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:59 pm
     


    number6 wrote:
    Rod
    Are you sure about only having an 8ft scenic section? Seems a bit small for all that effort in construction and space. If you had one long gentle curve across the front you could push those scenic breaks out further. Trains always seem to run smoother on curves... or certainly you'd not be bringing attention to the curve to straight transition. I also wonder if you can't squash down those fiddleyard loops - if you are going to be using RTR its all very capable of going through less smooth pointwork and the big curved points could go? Maybe you've been in P4-land too long?!
    Hi Raphael
     
    Well, I'm open to ideas on minimum radius in the non-scenic section which might enable the scenic section to be stretched a bit, but it would be quite a feat to bring it down to the layout frontage less a foot and a half at each end wouldn't it, giving nine feet or so? I'll have a play though - thanks for your interest!
     
    (Inevitably I am influenced by P4-land, which is still my real home!).
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:00 pm
     


    jongwinnett wrote:
    Not wanting to add to your dilemma/waverings etc, but have you seen the latest shots on nevardmedia's Catcott thread?
    Mmmmmmm ...
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:24 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    jongwinnett wrote:
    Not wanting to add to your dilemma/waverings etc, but have you seen the latest shots on nevardmedia's Catcott thread?

    Mmmmmmm ... You know you want it.....
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by number6 on Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:36 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    Well, I'm open to ideas on minimum radius in the non-scenic section which might enable the scenic section to be stretched a bit, but it would be quite a feat to bring it down to the layout frontage less a foot and a half at each end wouldn't it, giving nine feet or so?
    If you are adverse to the idea of a tighter curve out in the scenic section then you are stuffed but there must be a way with a more egg-shaped plan to have the trains coming out of the tightest part of the curve into the scene. And you could definitely get down to 2.5ft curves with no problems. That withered arm had a few kinks in it didn't it?
     
    Raphael
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:59 am
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    10800 wrote:
    jongwinnett wrote:
    Not wanting to add to your dilemma/waverings etc, but have you seen the latest shots on nevardmedia's Catcott thread?

    Mmmmmmm ...
    You know you want it..... Badgering me in two threads at once isn't going to work you know - I'm made of sterner stuff!
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by SweeneyTodd on Sun Mar 23, 2008 1:35 am
     
    Hello Rod ,
     
    Quote "roundy-roundy layout in 00" if you have the space it makes much more sence than a " parallel-parallel in OO" in my opinion
     
    The bench for beer time / pencil an paper time / fiddle yard time / looks great / model building / laptop time / whatever / is a fantasic idea .....
     
    The no station no signals idea is super ...
     
    The fact that you will be able to run any loco pulling any wagon or coach on your layout is wonderfull , and be able to just watch them run around , with sound or not , and no theme , is as far as i'm concerned a utterly and brilliant idea and "theme" in its self ....
     
    Shaun
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:53 am
     
    Thanks Shaun - it won't be permanently erected unfortunately (not in the current house anyway) so will remain as an occasional bit of playtime and/or exhibition material, and also a learning programme for Camberhurst and Eridge Mk2 scenically. I may change the line of the curve at the front (following comments by Raphael and Alan Smithee), bringing it closer to the front edge, but possibly allowing for additional plug in scenic bits on the front to increase the depth. I'm also thinking about ways to disguise the river as it heads off the back. Might put up a revised plan later on.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by beast66606 on Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:24 am
     


    it will be DC
    From the decoder to the motor only I hope
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:46 am
     


    beast66606 wrote:
    it will be DC

    From the decoder to the motor only I hope No final decision yet on that one Dave! Initially this one will probably be DC throughout, but who knows later on!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:14 pm
     
    I've had a further play with Templot and the frontage curvature and have decided to leave it as it is - whilst you can extend the scenic section a little and have a long curve, the radius of that curve is still about 5ft and less than what I would want.
     
    As is my wont, I've put together a 1/10th scale mockup of the layout with backboard (18in high) and proscenium arch. The arch is supported in the middle by a gantry extending from the rear (to avoid an obstruction half way along the front). Light-weight lighting (possibly halogen tracks) can be suspended between the outer arch supports and the middle gantry. It will obviously be a lot higher off the ground than the 1ft suggested by this
     
    I was out yesterday looking for possible scenic views that I can photograph, print and stitch together for the backdrop - some possibilities off the A30 between Crediton and Okehampton, but the weather was not very good! When I eventually get them, the photos could if necessary be adjusted for blueness to enhance the distance effect.
     

     

     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by martin_wynne on Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:58 pm
     
    Hi Rod,
     
    I've just discovered this topic. Nice one.
     
    For a P4 modeller thinking of dabbling in 00, have you made any decisions about the track standard to use? Exactoscale are known to be working on something for 00: http://groups.yahoo....-SF/message/298
     
    I don't know what standard Len has settled on, but 00-SF gives you the best pointwork appearance and running quality with no need to modify RTR wheels and interchangeability with Peco turnouts on the same layout, e.g. in a fiddle yard. Brian Tulley has just sourced some superb track gauge tools for 00-SF, although you may have missed the first batch.
     
    My guide to the available track standards for 00 is at: http://groups.yahoo....-SF/message/254
     
    regards,
     
    Martin.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by <B>
    Re: Proposed 00 Withered Arm (or anywhere) roundy-roundy on Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:37 pm
     
    Just a note of caution,
     
    C&L in OO does have a slight drawback, the rail fixings are just too high for some Bachmann items* whereas SMP rail fixings on their plain track are just that touch lower and much cheaper .
     
    Tim
     
    *surely Rod doesn't want to rewheel his stock otherwise it rather defeats the purpose of a simple OO layout?
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by martin_wynne on Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:10 pm
     


    Alan Smithee wrote:
    C&L in OO does have a slight drawback, the rail fixings are just too high for some Bachmann items
    A solution to this is to file a soldering iron bit to the shape of the wheel profile, and run it along the top of the rail. This will melt just enough plastic off the top of the chair jaws to clear the wheels. Surprisingly, after painting this is barely noticeable -- visitors who have seen this EM railway have never noticed it:
     

     
    regards,
     
    Martin.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:58 pm
     
    The pointwork in the fiddle yard (all six of them) will be Peco code 75. Plain line in the fiddle yard will probably also be Peco code 75. For the scenic section, I am aware of the C&L/Bachmann wheel issue, and may try either SMP or more likely Exactoscale fast-track bases (should be an interesting conversation with Andrew when I buy them off his stand!).
     
    As Tim points out, the whole basis of this is convenience and playing trains straight out of the box.
    __________________________________________
    </B>
  19. 10800
    You may be forgiven for thinking we had taken our foot off the pedal recently. Far from it, as work has been proceeding steadily both at DRAG meetings and especially at John's (Re6/6) premises, as these photos will show.
     
    Here you see the full collection of five tracks on some of the curve boards, with 00 on the inside and then four P4 tracks. The middle two (fast) P4 tracks have been superelevated using Tillig 'styrene wedges', the whole track bed has been sprayed a red-oxide colour for uniform appearance and additional protective upstanding strip has been put on the board sides.
     




     
     
  20. 10800
    It's been a while since the last update, but progress has continued nonetheless - even if not much of it has been by me (work just continues to get in the way). And John seems to have lost his ability to post to the blog directly (Andy is looking into it).
     
    After finishing off some of the outer piers (where the plinths don't come into play) John moved onto, or rather returned to, the inner ones. This is where the tapered piers are inset slightly on the rectilinear plinths, and we now seem to have arrived at a workable system of ensuring that the 'inset' is even all round. There are a couple of points that have caused a bit of a problem - irritation with one and Doh! with the other. The irritation comes from the Slaters brick card where the straightness of the brick courses can no longer be guaranteed and so squareness and matching of blocks of brick is a bit of a lottery - we can only assume the tool at Slaters is old and worn, in any event there is a market opportunity out there for an accurate replacment. The Doh! is because I forgot about the inset when arranging for the semi-circular etches, and the apertures are slightly narrower in the plinths - so we really should have had two sizes made. Never mind, there's always a workaround, especially when we can direct future photographers to ones we know are better than others! Yes we could have had more etches done or had all the brickwork laser etched to start with, but there are budgetary limits!
     

     

     
    Meanwhile, up in Kent, Mark has been busying himself with resin casting and 3D printing, the technology for which goes straight over the heads of John and myself. We just marvel at the results, and Mark deserves huge thanks for all his efforts here - largely spontaneously too.
     
    Firstly, we now have the resin cast roofs for the pavilions:
     

     
    And not one, but two options for the corbels, one in resin and the other 3D printed by Shapeways. Both are very good, but the crispness and Mark's sanity probably mean that we will go for a production run of the Shapeways version.
     
    This is the resin version:
     

     
    And this the 3D printed one:
     

     
    Finally, it has now reached the public domain via Scalefour News that the viaduct will form part of a themed demonstration on modelling BR (Southern) at Scaleforum at Leatherhead in September (24th and 25th). It won't be completely finished of course, but the objective is to have the whole basic structure up, with some run-ins at each end, and one end at least sceniced and detailed as far as we can. And some form of train movement will be available, even if one of the temporary tracks might be (sshhh) 00 for the occasion.
  21. 10800
    This blog covers the doings in the Devon Riviera Group of the Scalefour Society, aka 'DRAG'. Not to be confused with 'SWAG', mind, which is the South West Area Group of RMWeb...
     
    There are several members of RMWeb in DRAG, including Re6/6, 10800, Metropolitan, FatAdder and Brinkly. We meet twice a month in the Teignmouth area.
     
    Although we are an official AG of the S4 society, most of us have various amounts of OO and R-T-R stuff squirrelled away.
     
    Our current project is 'TT2' (Test Track 2 - our 9m x 4m 5-track P4 test track. This logically enough will replace TT1.
     
    TT1 is a double track oval (pretty large) in P4, which was to be put up every evening we met in a local hall, to let us run our locos and stock. However, all things are part of the learning curve, and TT1 was no exception. Differing types of P4 track and poor quality timber led to boards warping and the track otherwise not keeping it's proper alignment. Consequently we could not be sure that any derailment was due to the stock or the track!
     
    The new TT is built using better materials and by people well-versed in carpentry. A consistent track standard is being used (Exactoscale Fasttrack and copper clad pointwork). A quadruple track oval, with various configurations of crossovers and pointwork will test our locos and stock thoroughly. The outer track also has two long passing loops and on the inside of the four P4 tracks is a circuit of OO P87 track... to enable us to run all our OO R-T-R purchases so that our P87 member doesn't feel left out!
     
    Progress so far has been documented in the Layouts section of the old forum, but I will use this blog to add further photos and reports as work progresses. We have thus far completed all baseboards and have actually started to lay track!
     
     
    Tuesday 29/9/09
    A good nights work at Holcombe last night, more track laid on the first 5 straight boards - see photos below.
     
     
    Apart from mentioning the general meanderings of our Area Group, we will also be focussing on the specific progress of TT2 construction. Baseboard construction is complete (see http://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=514) and tracklaying is just starting in earnest.
     
    Last night work continued on the track on the 'easier' straight side (which only has the one B7 crossover). Firstly, CK and Andrew get to work:
     

     
    A variety of weights (some edible) was used to hold down the newly glued track whilst the PVA cured:
     

     
    At board joins, the rail is soldered to copperclad end-protectors, with bits of brass shim to match the rail height with the main run of Exactoscale FastTrack:
     

     
    The first vehicle traverses the B7!
     

     
    And some of the team admire the evening's work - David, CK, Re6/6, Nick and Brian
     

     
    (I probably need to make future gallery pictures a bit smaller for sharing with the blog).
  22. 10800
    Well yes it is, just that due to working from the inside track out the first one onto the curve is the inner 00/P87 circuit. And we had to give something a powered run didn't we?
     

     

     
     
    Captain Kernow update - 10/11/09
     
    Of course, when the Traffic Department made their hasty request to run a train, the Electrical Engineering Department belatedly realised that none of the sections was electrically linked, so the Electrical Improvisation Committee was duely formed, with the single task of holding metallic objects across both sides of the copper clad sleepers at the board joints:
     






     
     
    As regards the use of Peco code 75 track, in preference to something finer scale, we opted not to use C&L, due to the flange-hitting-the-inside-of-the-chairs problem with some R-T-R OO flanges. We also felt it might not be as robust as something like Peco. For the same reasons, (robustness), we decided not to use SMP. Peco does highlight the difference between that type of R-T-R track and P4 quite nicely (meant in a non-elitist way). We could have used Exactoscale 'Fasttrack' for the OO as well, but given that the track constructions slaves esteemed DRAG colleagues assembling the rail onto the P4 stuff nearly revolted last night, when it seemed that their Statutory Tea and Biscuits may have been threatened by more demands from the PW Superintendant for finished track, it is probably just as well that we settled for Peco!....
     
    End of Captain Kernow update
  23. 10800
    O10800WB - a little holiday modelling
     
    by 10800
     
    original page on Old RMweb
    Go to comments
     
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:13 am
     
    While I have them with me for safekeeping during Eridge's rebuild, I thought I'd put up some pics of the Eridge goods shed, built a few years ago (it's the one on my avatar) showing some more details of its construction.
     
    The model was based on photographs and a drawing of a very similar shed (but brick-built) elsewhere on the Cuckoo line. Basis of construction was stripwood, Evergreen sheets for the main walls, Wills slate sheets for the roof, and lots of plasticard strip of various sizes.
     

     

     

     
    The roof was a bit of a problem because of the small size of the Wills sheets, which I attempted to deal with (not entirely successfully) by solvent-welding sheets together. It's not as bad in the flesh as it seems here.
     

     
    This shows the interior and the stripwood frame. The platform is just ply timbering for pointwork, and the crane is another Wills product.
     

     
    The roof was based on a plastic strip A-frame concoction.
     

     

     
    Finally, some paint and weathering experiments with the humble Ratio P-way hut.
     

     

     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by number6 on Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:14 pm
     
    Lovely. I would have liked to see how a small shed like this worked back in the day... - you could get quickly overloaded inside if you didn't tranship stuff quickly. Lots of brute force required too. What was the gallows on the end wall for?
     
    I particuarly like your building corners.
     
    Raphael
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:29 pm
     
    Cheers Raphael
     
    The corners were tidied up by yet another application of thin microstrip!
     
    It took me ages to find out what the gallows thing was. I understand it is a gauge used by the p-way department when realigning and reballasting in the station, to make sure the rail-to-platform height is maintained. Previously I had thought it was something to do with wagon loads and door access, so I may need to take it off and review its length! There was also one hanging on the signalbox at Oxted.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:15 am
     
    Nothing especially exciting, but for anyone who hasn't seen it here's how you change the wheels on a Heljan 33 (same process applies to other Heljan locos).
     
    The raw materials - in this case Kernow limited edition green 33/0 and Ultrascale P4 conversion pack.
     

     
    Pull off bogie side frames from the pins which also hold the pickup strips. Be careful with the 33 because you have to negotiate around the lifting lug on the solebar positioned mid-bogie (not an issue with the Hymek or 47).
     

     

     
    With the aid of a small screwdriver, gently lever off the bogie cover plate, exposing the wheelsets and gear assembly.
     

     

     
    Lift out original wheelsets. At this stage I also nipped off the RTR coupling pocket.
     

     
    With needle nose pliers, bend out the pickup strip to ensure contact with the wider-spaced P4 wheels.
     

     
    Check back-to-back of replacement wheelsets.
     

     
    Drop them into place, ensuring the gears mesh and the pickups are not caught on the outside of the wheel.
     

     
    Snap back cover plate and refit side frames.
     

     
    Rewheeled bogie to the left, original to the right. Repeat process on other bogie.
     

     
    The first bogie took about half an hour, mainly due to the photography and being interrupted by The Archers. The second one took about 5 minutes.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:38 am
     
    Excellent Rod, my blue one will be there tonight for the double-heading!...
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:39 am
     


    10800 wrote:
    and being interrupted by The Archers
    I don't answer the door to 'em now...
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by craigwelsh on Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:44 am
     
    I didn't realise Ultrascale had full metal backs on their newer conversion packs, much better for pickup than the older ones that just had a metal tyre. I should probably swap some proper Ultrascales into my Hymek at some point and put the Black Beetle wheelsets into something that should have 14mm dia wheels.
     
    ps I see your B2B gauge is as tarnished as mine although the cutout in my Exactoscale B2B allows the gear to drop down so the whole wheel is against the gauge.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:23 am
     


    craigwelsh wrote:
    ps I see your B2B gauge is as tarnished as mine although the cutout in my Exactoscale B2B allows the gear to drop down so the whole wheel is against the gauge.
    I think you probably have the later version, Craig. Mine is the same as Rod's gauge....
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:37 am
     


    craigwelsh wrote:
    I didn't realise Ultrascale had full metal backs on their newer conversion packs, much better for pickup than the older ones that just had a metal tyre.
    They must have changed some time ago Craig - the wheels on my Hymek and 47, which must have been purchased at least 2 years ago, have full metal backs.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by craigwelsh on Mon Mar 10, 2008 5:17 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    craigwelsh wrote:
    I didn't realise Ultrascale had full metal backs on their newer conversion packs, much better for pickup than the older ones that just had a metal tyre.

    They must have changed some time ago Craig - the wheels on my Hymek and 47, which must have been purchased at least 2 years ago, have full metal backs. I must admit most of my Ultrascale purchases so far have been second hand to avoid the wait (and save some money!) so I haven't had any new production. Good to know though, will definiately have to change the Hymek wheels and put the 14mm ones in something else.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:56 pm
     


    Captain Kernow wrote:
    Excellent Rod, my blue one will be there tonight for the double-heading!...
    And very successful it was too!
     
    viewtopic.php?f=25&t=19496
     
    Faultlessly smooth running from both 33s I must say. I still prefer the green one though!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:40 pm
     
    It's been far too long since I looked at these, so I thought I ought to try and finish them before the Eridge MkII track is completed! So out they came for a rinse and a health check. This is what they looked like at the current stage of progress - from left to right: down inner home bracket (SR railbuilt post, lattice dolls); combined up advanced starter and splitting distants for the next box - also railbuilt post and lattice dolls; and up platform starter bracket (LBSCR lower quadrant arms, lattice post and dolls. Some minor repair work needed to the counterbalance pivot on the latter and the movement-limiting wire on one of the distant arms, and a couple of the spectacle plates have gone (these will probably be replaced with Kristal Klear and coloured pen).
     

     
    And from the back
     

     
    Horrendously cruel enlargement of some of the crank and wire arrangements. Real signals have cables and pulleys, so this is a compromise of course, but when all the detail is added and the signals are painted it shouldn't look such a mess. I'll also trim off the tails on the control wires (0.33 mm brass wire) a bit closer when I'm happy with everything.
     

     

     
    I didn't plan sufficiently for the actuation arrangements, so the short sections of bearing tube that the control wires pass through (the three-arm signal in this case) were too close to the plug-in cylindrical section for the method I now want to use. I didn't want to unsolder the cylinder 'casings' because of the knock-on effect on the signal itself, especially in respect to the whitemetal railbuilt posts, so I have now removed them by carefully snipping them into sections with tin snips and levering the sections off. The tubes will now be replaced by new ones in a more suitable position.
     

     

     
    The diagram below (not to scale) shows in cross-section how I now plant to actuate the signals, using Tortoise motors mounted so the movement is vertical rather than horizontal, but most importantly enabling the signals to be removed easily for safety. The basic idea is that the 3/16 inch brass bar acts as a counterbalance enabling the control wire to be pulled down by gravity, and pushed up again by the action of the Tortoise. There will be additional limit stops added for the Tortoise arm itself to prevent too much movement being imposed on the signal arms, and the brass 'weights' will be lubricated with graphite (4B pencil). If necessary the wire/bar assembly could be removed for maintenance by detaching the control wire from the signal.
     
    The black bits on the diagram are fixed, the red are the moving parts on the signal assembly, and the blue the moving parts from the Tortoise(s).
     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by pinkmouse on Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:19 am
     
    Looking good Rod, I look forward to seeing them in the flesh.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:03 am
     
    Thanks Al - next stages are:
     
    1) Finish off all the crank and wire fitting
    2) Solder on all the safety rails and ladders
    3) Fit the details - counterbalance weights, lamps, finials, strengthening plates on the railbuilt posts, track-circuit diamonds if appropriate etc etc. To avoid bits falling apart when soldering, these will probably be glued with epoxy (and some bits will be plasticard anyway)
    4) Paint
    5) When I have the track boards, build and fit the actuating mechanisms
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Horsetan on Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:17 am
     


    10800 wrote:
    ......next stages are:
     
    1) Finish off all the crank and wire fitting
    2) Solder on all the safety rails and ladders
    3) Fit the details - counterbalance weights, lamps, finials, strengthening plates on the railbuilt posts, track-circuit diamonds if appropriate etc etc. To avoid bits falling apart when soldering, these will probably be glued with epoxy (and some bits will be plasticard anyway)
    4) Paint
    5) When I have the track boards, build and fit the actuating mechanisms
    Any plans to illuminate them, Rod?
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Mon Jul 21, 2008 9:24 am
     
    No Ivan, Eridge only runs in daylight! And TBH I'll be more than pleased to have the arms go up and down. Mind you, on the down inner home and up starters the backblinders are there to stop the signalman seeing the white backlight when the signal is pulled off ...
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:41 pm
     
    Slowly but deliberately steadily progressing with the rod and crank arrangements. I'm using the cranks that come on Alan Gibson signal bracket frets, which come in two sizes - trying to use the small ones where possible but sometimes they just don't give enough throw so have to use the larger ones. There's a lot of trial and error, and moving of position to get the most reliable and efficient configuration. Also lots of frustration with the wire fitting - especially with the bending of the tails once fitted, where you can cause a bit of damage if not careful. For this reason I'm only doing a bit at a time, but the worst is now done Otherwise it would soon be a case of "right so you want to bounce do you, let's see how much you bounce off that *!@!** wall over there!".
     
    One useful tip is to use dividers and Bill Bedford's handrail bending jigs to prepare the wires. Saves the error of multiple measurements on something that rarely keeps very still.
     

     
    Just offer up the dividers to the crank-crank separation concerned, and adjust to fit:
     

     
    Then transfer the dividers to the jig and find the length that matches:
     

     
    and prepare and cut the wire accordingly. Works every time.
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by timlewis on Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:04 pm
     


    10800 wrote:
    There's a lot of trial and error, and moving of position to get the most reliable and efficient configuration.
    Hmm, don't you just love trial and error.
    Nice to see these again: looking rather good. I always think that good signals really make a layout: it seems to be the thing that everyone leaves till last (maybe you know why!) and then it's not always easy to get right (one of the advantages of modelling a real place, assuming you have a signalling diagram that is).
     
    Tim
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Hamilton on Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:23 am
     
    There are some really usefull little tips there thank you very much that I will take on board for my next signal construction project (after building some points and a loco and some rolling stock!)
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:18 am
     


    timlewis wrote:
    Hmm, don't you just love trial and error.
    Best way to learn and improve, although sometimes it doesn't seem that way I should have started with some simple single-post examples (which I now have two of to do now that the layout has extended a bit at the station end) but hey life is for living
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:24 am
     


    Hamilton wrote:
    There are some really usefull little tips there thank you very much that I will take on board for my next signal construction project (after building some points and a loco and some rolling stock!)
    Mick Nicholson of this parish has suggested pre-heating the wires with a match to make bending easier. Bending the tails round is just about my least-favourite task in modelling because of the potential damage you can do and the all-round fiddliness. I had thought about using a 1-2 cm length of tubing as a lever but the smallest I had available was 0.7mm bore and so there was still too much slop over the 0.33mm wire to make it effective. So it was back to the needle-nose pliers, perspiration and blue air!
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:38 pm
     
    The good news is that all the wire and crank fitting is done!
     

     

     

     
    Not so good is that the various crank bearings (or rather my method of doing them) means that they (and the counterbalances) protrude too far forward and so the landing rails would be inboard of them on at least two of the signals Hmmm ... OK, just another challenge and part of the learning process I guess - what I will do is graft another plank worth of landing on the front of the existing landing to provide the space and clearance without the whole thing looking stupid. I could cut off the rear of the landing and move that to the front, but then I'd have to drill more holes for the uprights in the next plank in and I don't fancy doing that in situ; I could unsolder the dolls and move them back a shade - no I couldn't, not after all that effort in getting the wires working . So the landing will just end up being a little wider - another compromise, but the least of several evils I think.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:31 am
     
    Now that they're 'working' I've decided to take each one through to completion separately. So starting with the ex-LBSC up starter, this now has ladders on the landing and the rails added (authenically wonky! ). Starting to look more like a real signal now! There's just about enough room to squeeze the lamp in between the doll, arm, ladder and backblinder on the left hand one.
     

     
    __________________________________________
    Comment posted by Horsetan on Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:00 pm
     
    The signal arms seem very similar to the GSR / CIE arms, Rod.
    __________________________________________
     
    ??? posted on Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:02 pm
     
    Indeed so Ivan, straight out of the Saxby & Farmer catalogue!
    __________________________________________
  24. 10800

    Eridge extension

    By 10800,

    A bit of trackwork that we never had on Mk.1, the down end of the platform loops have been closed so that we get an extra bit of scenic section before the fiddle yard, and a simpler fiddle yard entry with only two tracks instead of four.
     

     

     

     

  25. 10800
    I hope Mark won't mind me posting these, but I didn't even know he was doing this!
     
    Footbridge stairs by 3D printing, as part of the whole structure - photos speak for themselves really, amazing.
     

     

     

     

     

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