Dagworth

Only the electric was powering; the surrogate was only on tickover for hotel power if I recall rightly. Otherwise too much power : weight.

according to the 125 group website here both were powered.

Operation of the Class 91/'surrogate DVT' formation on Kings Cross to Leeds service commenced in March 1988 and after a few weeks of operation it was found that the power cars were suffering from spending all their time idling on just 1000rpm, and their traction power was reinstated creating 8000+hp formations capable of quite brisk performances! As the deliveries and commissioning of Mk 4 sets took place the later in 1988 the DVT modified power cars were released back into normal duties.

Similar info from traintesting.com here

Initially the DVT's power unit was only used to supply ETS for the Mk3 coaches, as they differed from the Mk4's, and hence the engines were only running at approx 1000 rpm, just above idling. However, prolonged use of the power cars in this way lead to an excessive build up of un-burnt fuel in the silencers and this eventually lead to fires. One occurred at Hornsey, just outside Ferme Park, and this brought the OHLE down too. After a repeat performance it was decided that the PC engines should be powered up as normal and this then meant the test trains had a combined available power of over 7000 HP. A modification to the TDM control arrangements allowed the engine to be controlled from the class 91 and an increase in speed up to the maximum of 125 mile/h was accomplished with ease!

Andi

Good old Southern innovation. Where else in recent times could you find rostered mixed-mode traction with diesel and electric on the same train*, both powering and both controlled by the one driver which ever unit (or loco) was leading?

Surrogate DVT HST power cars and class 89 or 91s?

Andi

What am I doing in early risers?

I'm one of those people who goes to bed when it gets light and gets up when it gets too hot to stay in bed any longer.

Off to Chesterfield today for work though. Three hours sleep isn't enough

Andi

About the only thing missing will be a DCC programmable micro LED and smoke generator unit attached to an arm at the cab window for the drivers cigarette which will glow and emit a puff when stopped at a station!!!

Will the driver have long black and purple hair?

Looking very good so far, that southern EMU layout is getting VERY tempting.

Andi

While not a REP I have driven a 4CAP at over a ton. ECS move from Vic to Rochester IIRC. Once we got past Swanley the thing just flew and Farlingham Road viaduct (on a slight curve and limited to 80MPH) was taken at 105MPH. That was with a minder driver in the cab too, and before I passed out as a driver proper.

Andi

The Sun Always Shines On TV - Aha

I don't have the time or the skill with Photoshop to do these, some of you are fantastic with your abilities.

A request from me if one of you could be so kind, I'd like to see what Kestrel would have looked like in Loadhaul livery please?

Thanks

Andi

It's the ETH jumper socket. The coach will have a cable similar to the one on the RHS of the loco which plugs into it.

 

I haven't put any parts on yet but I too made the same assumption. Given the limited swing of the bogie I cannot see why it could not have been moulded. But then I think that a RTR loco should have the nameplates fitted, something Dapol disagrees with!

And something I agree with Dapol on, it makes life much easier for those who wish to renumber, and we are modellers dont forget... this is not MTCweb (model train collectors web)

Andi

The Alarm's new album, Direct Action has been getting far too much time on iTunes here recently, its a cracking album and One Guitar is amazing

andi

I don't like third rail, on the few occasions I've been on track with a third rail, I always feel a little bit vulnrable - especially if I've had to cross it.

(my underlining)

That's the reason James, once you get used to it you don't worry about it so much. I was the same at first but got used to it being there and it became second nature. Simple answer is that you should never step on ANY rail, but you will know that anyway

andi

The modellers who have built their own OLE which looks good will have gone to great lengths to reduce the upward force of their pantographs.

If the pan can hold much more than its own weight up then its too strong. Mine are weakened enough that they will not support a pencil laid across them.

Andi

Avoiding the question about which is better, the old or the new model, here are some links to how I've got my old ones to run reliably

Firstly a couple of bits from the old RMweb

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=51158&p=783463&hilit=HAAs#p783463

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=45920&p=696771&hilit=HAAs#p694704

My workbench thread from the DEMU forum

http://www.demu.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,8462.0.html

Andi

I always thought that the new HAA is a better, more accurate model but...you live and learn!

Anyway as someone who built up scale length mgr trains with both new & old - the new model is FAR superior in that it will actually roll along the track.

I went to all efforts with the old wagons, metal wheels, Kadee couplers etc - no amount of (simple) improving could make them work reliably.

Maybe if i'd gone down the route of re-engineering them with new, floating "W irons" etc, it may have worked but i was not prepared to do that to 24 wagons!

Now, i have a train of 36 of the new wagons, i do put kadees (19/20) on them all and weight the first wagon but i never have a problem and at one point on my layout, the train is going through about 420 degrees of curvature!

HTH,

John E.

You obviously weren't at Members day a couple of years ago... had you been you would have seen some of my vast collection of the old HAAs running in long rakes on Ravensclyffe.

Andi

If the point motor continues to buzz, you have the wrong sort of switch or have wired it up incorrectly. Turn the power off before it burns out ! The switch should be a "passing contact" type.

If you are using the Hornby switches you need the black ones for point control

Andi

Errrr isn't the main thing about Mk1 that it is the only OLE with an auxiliary catenary wire, or does Mk 2 have one as well?

No, Mark 1 equipment is characterised by large encumbrances of 6ft plus (the height between the contact wire and the catenary wire) and heavy supporting portals on multiple tracks. Mark 3 equipment has a much smaller encumberance, and multiple track equipment is more commonly supported on headspans rather than portals.

That's the two most obvious immediate differences, some mark1 stuff was compound wiring, with the additional wire between contact and catenary but by no means all of it. Most Ex DC equipment now converted to AC use also has the auxiliary catenary wire but is not mark1 or mark3 as it predates both.

Very little mark2 exists, I believe only a short stretch in Scotland.

The next few issues of DEMU's UPDate magazine will carry articles about scratchbuilding Overhead Line Equipment.

Andi

Thus it is quite possible to (in US parlance) piss away all your air; not really that desirable if you're dropping down Cajon pass which is why North American locomotive engineers rely so much on their dynamic brakes.

Not just in the US! The EPBs, CEPs, VEPs etc (and I'm guessing the AC EMUs with EP brakes) also had Westinghouse air brakes - known as 'the Man's brake', EP being for boys

With these you had to allow seven seconds for the reservoirs to recharge after an aplication or you could find yourself with no brakes. The EP brake could be applied and released at will. In order to keep your hand in on the Westinghouse all empty stock movements were meant to be made using the westinghouse rather than the EP.

Andi

Hi Andi,

 

This layout is amazing - aspirational.

Thanks

I notice that you've attached the track straight to the baseboard. Did you glue it and if so is it noisy or have you have any probs?

 

Thanks

 

Dave

Track is glued with PVA direct to the boards. Yes it's noisy, but so are real trains and I like the noise an 87 on load 13 makes at full pelt!

Andi

APT HydroKenetic brakes used a hollow large diameter axle with vanes mounted inside. The were vanes that rotated with the wheel and fixed vanes that remained static. The axle had fluid (water I believe) pumped into it to produce the braking effect. See http://www.old-dalby.com/images/APT-E_HK_Brake.jpg

No other stock in service has ever used this system.

Andi

The Electrak works by generating a high voltage, high frequency signal that is current limited to about 2 mA.

Due to the current limit, almost anything that is attached to the rails (e.g. a motor in DC or a decoder in DCC) will act as a short circuit to the Electrak.

Presumably this unit would not work with stock that has resisted wheel sets present on the track, or on systems that had more than one loco on the track, the high voltage would never be generated as there will always be some form of continuity across the rails.

Relcos were always fitted one for each controller so were only ever (normally) trying to power one loco at a time, in DCC this situation is very rare as all locos share the same power source.

Andi

I've finally got round to moving the old layout and level crossing topics over to here, Martin's transfer utility is excellent!

For a short time the DEMU forum topic that gives a lot more detail of the construction of the crossing barriers is open to non members. http://www.demu.org.uk/forum/index.php/topic,9221.0.html

Andi

Ravensclyffe Level Crossing

by Dagworth

original page on Old RMweb

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Comment posted by Nile_Griffith on Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:34 pm

Glad to see somebody is considering how sounds "scales".

I presume as well as eq 'ing out a proportion of the low frequency you will also take the edge of the High frequency too, as over the perceived scale distance High frequency energy will dissipate more quickly than mid and low frequencies!

###### I'm getting my work head on now!

Not sure if you can rig it Andy with what you have available. But when editing sound files for other peoples loco's (can't quite get the DCC sound bug myself) I have an output from my audio interface running into a small amp feeding a speaker in a defunct loco.... A bit like having a pair of proper studio monitors...... but more crap! Sure you've possibly had the same thought but if you could rig it into your layout it beats shuffling your sound files back and forwards because of the difference between your PC/monitoring speakers and the actual driver in the layout.

Cheers

Nile

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Comment posted by beast66606 on Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:52 am

Hi Chesh,

it's a bit on the loud side - if Andi's method isn't suitable maybe I could make a recording of the sounds ... but won't be in the immediate future

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Comment posted by dan griffin on Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:27 am

outstanding level crossing, wish i had the skill for something like that. i just hope they dont fail as much as the real thing!! on a seperate note, where did you get your catenary from?

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??? posted on Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:55 pm

Catenary is a mix of scratch with parts from the N-Brass range and pulley wheels from Shawplan. There are some more details in the main layout thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12011

Andi

__________________________________________

Ravensclyffe Level Crossing

by Dagworth

original page on Old RMweb

__________________________________________

??? posted on Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:53 pm

More progress, all four barriers now in place, as well as the barrier lights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cq3qAxq4ek

Andi

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Comment posted by Pitbull1845 on Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:56 pm

Pure genius.

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Comment posted by ShedcombeUponFrome on Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:51 pm

Very nice Andi !!!! Looking forward to DEMfest.

Regards, Michel

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Comment posted by Fosterboy on Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:22 am

Superb. Just need a five minute wait before a train rushes through now...

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Comment posted by signaller on Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:14 am

Very well done indeed! You havn't mentioned how the booms are driven? the speed is perfect. The hanging grids defy patience.

I have made many in 0 and 00 but yours has got to be the best yet. How many would you like to make?

All the best

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Comment posted by signaller on Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:16 am

I have just noticed you even have the lamp test built into the sequence..................................excellent!

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??? posted on Thu Jul 23, 2009 10:56 am

I presume that is where both lights come on together before they start flashing? I copied what the real thing does

Andi

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Comment posted by 10800 on Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:30 am

That's astonishingly good Andi - hope to see it for real sometime

I hope they're Siamese-proofed!

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Comment posted by signaller on Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:47 am

Yes, you are right all red lamps illuminate first which performs a lamp test on all the red lamps. If there is a filliament failure it causes an alarm in the controlling signal box.

I am still keen to know how your booms operate!

Cheers

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Comment posted by dave_long on Thu Jul 23, 2009 12:37 pm

Great work Andi, so when do we get the sound?

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Comment posted by ajdown on Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:23 pm

That's just amazing. Well done. I bet if you offered to make them for people you'd make a fortune.

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Comment posted by RedgateModels on Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:23 pm

Just had chance to watch your vid Andi (can't get youtube at work)

stunning pure genius, love it.

Just to finish off the vid, a loco passing would be great!

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??? posted on Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:11 pm

Once I get the whole layout up again I'll get some video of the crossing with trains... and hopefully the sound of the crossing too...

Andi

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??? posted on Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:01 am

The booms are driven by RC servos controlled by the MERG servo operating kit. They run at the slowest speed the module can run. The timings of the whole sequence are as close to the prototype as I can get them.

I'll have another try at the sound file tomorrow, the crossing has a module that I bought off eBay buried underneath it, the sounds are loaded from the PC via USB and stored in flash memory on the module. In the era when Ravensclyffe is set the crossing would have had bells rather than warblers, I've been able to find a suitable sound file on the web that I could edit to make it up to the required 23 seconds for the whole sequence but at the moment the version on the layout is too loud and has too much low frequency in it. I've had a play in 'Audacity' this evening to reduce the bass so I'll re-upload it tomorrow and reduce the volume at the same time. (There is an option within the computer control to mute the bells, the default is muted)

In the meantime here are a couple of close up pics.

Barriers up and folded

Half way through the sequence

Andi

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Comment posted by ShedcombeUponFrome on Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:45 am

Truely Superb Andi.

Looking forward to DEMfest more and more .....

Think a Routemaster, a tent and a venue could give it a well deserved outing IN FULL.

Regards, Michel

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Comment posted by signaller on Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:21 am

I though as much, it works very well indeed. I made a four boom in "0" scale using the same method. Up until the servo innovation I used tortoise motors but they were tricky to adjust with lots of linkages and heavy on the maintanance!

The problem with timings is in the model form everything happens much faster than the prototype or it gets very boring!

How about a Faller roadway over the crossing then?????

Cheers

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Comment posted by signaller on Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:27 am

Making more than one is a whole new ball game, making lots is tedious to say the least, take it from me I've done it!

The main problem is, the cost of these things in parts and especially time works out more than people are willing to pay!

So it fails all round really.

All the best

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Comment posted by cheshepe on Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:38 pm

Those skirts look great. So much so that I have asked Brian if he can recreate an etch in O Gauge for our club layout. Your crossing is looking brilliant and would be an asset to any layout.

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Comment posted by signaller on Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:54 pm

Talking of level crossings is this the ultimate?

Cheers

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Comment posted by beast66606 on Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:02 am

Looking good Andi - we have a prototype yodel machine if we ever make a crossing, might get those who think DCC sounds are loud complaining though

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Comment posted by cheshepe on Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:38 pm

Dear Beast66606, I managed to persuade Brian Hanson to make us the barriers in O Gauge and would be interested in your 'yodel' unit if you wouldn't mind sharing your knowledge with us. Our crossing is to be installed on the layout donated by the widow of one of our much loved members during our refurb of his layout. It would be great to add sound as well as the lighting and working barriers.

thanks Chesh

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Comment posted by jim s-w on Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:58 pm

Hi Andi

Got any more info on the sound module? Been thinking about something like that for layout based 'wheel squeal'

Cheers

Jim

__________________________________________

??? posted on Thu Jul 30, 2009 10:44 pm

Jim,

This is the unit

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...-second-USB-sou ... .m63.l1177

The only difficulty with it is that when you load the sounds it has an automatic level control, I'd hoped to be able to edit my sound file to reduce the volume and reload it, when I tried the volume was the same but the background noise was louder

Plan B is now ready to be tried, fitting a volume pot to the speaker of the module.

My unit runs from the layout's 5v bus, lack of power when switched off doesn't affect the memory of the module.

Andi

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Comment posted by Nile_Griffith on Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:05 pm

Glad to see somebody is considering how sounds "scales".

I presume as well as eq 'ing out a proportion of the low frequency you will also take the edge of the High frequency too, as over the perceived scale distance High frequency energy will dissipate more quickly than mid and low frequencies!

###### I'm getting my work head on now!

Not sure if you can rig it Andy with what you have available. But when editing sound files for other peoples loco's (can't quite get the DCC sound bug myself) I have an output from my audio interface running into a small amp feeding a speaker in a defunct loco.... A bit like having a pair of proper studio monitors...... but more crap! Sure you've possibly had the same thought but if you could rig it into your layout it beats shuffling your sound files back and forwards because of the difference between your PC/monitoring speakers and the actual driver in the layout.

Cheers

Nile

__________________________________________

??? posted on Thu Jul 30, 2009 11:20 pm

I've already taken out everything below 200 hz, there's no way that driver will reproduce it anyway...

I will have more of a play with it once I get that board back out, it's been put away cat safe at the moment while I work on the next one.

Andi

__________________________________________

This is the Ravensclyffe Level Crossing thread merged into the main layout thread

The topic started as part of the 2008 challenge which was to have an operating feature

by Dagworth

original page on Old RMweb

__________________________________________

??? posted on Tue Jan 01, 2008 9:51 pm

Two things that I've been planning on doing for Ravensclyffe look as if they qualify for the challenge, so count me in. Having something to work for might encourage me to actually build them instead of just thinking about it. First stop will be to MERG for some of their wonderful servo drive kits......

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??? posted on Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:07 am

My challenge entries will be two items on the new layout, both long planned.

One of them I had already started some of the more detailed planning, and it is already included in the signalling software for the layout. This is working a level crossing, four barrier type, with the lights and bells. This will explain my recent wanted post for an electric bell. This also ties in with a recent comment in the "things I've learned at exhibitions" topic

The second project is not railway related but will be another feature of the layout.

Andi

__________________________________________

??? posted on Wed Jan 02, 2008 6:22 pm

Seems as if Ozlander has the same idea as I do, but a very different approach.

My second project then is the lock on the canal. This one may well not get finished in time though.

Andi

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??? posted on Wed May 20, 2009 2:07 am

Well, it's now mid may 2009, nearly six months after the 2008 challenge officially ended but my entry as was has finally had some proper work done on it.

The barriers as fitted at the moment are only temporary but the mechanism and electronics work! I still need to sort out the bells, and I have some ideas for how I want to do the barriers properly.

For some reason the lights on the right hand side are not as bright as the ones on the left

Andi

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Comment posted by Gordon S on S</STRONG> on Wed May 20, 2009 6:08 am

Wow Andy, that's really impressive. You've captured the lights and movement really well...

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Comment posted by 10800 on Wed May 20, 2009 7:42 am

Top stuff Andi - I must have blinked when the train went by though

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Comment posted by Pitbull1845 on Wed May 20, 2009 9:16 am

Very good andi, it certainly looks the part. Are the right hand lights angled slightly to the right? (or their left) Maybe thats why the lights seem faint on the video. Unless of course in the flesh they are faint aswell, in which case I'll shut up. lol

Cheers Scott

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??? posted on Wed May 20, 2009 10:29 pm

Thanks for the nice comments

The lights on the right really are dimmer than the left, which makes no sense as they are in parallel on the same set of resistors. I may revisit that section and fiddle with the resistances to try to get them more equal.

Andi

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Comment posted by The Fatadder on Wed May 20, 2009 10:44 pm

Brilliant!!!!

Look forward to seeing the final version...

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Comment posted by Brinkly on Sat May 30, 2009 6:00 pm

Excellent work Andi, if I had a modern image layout I would want that!

Nick

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Comment posted by Captain Kernow on Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:59 am

Superb Andy, quite superb! It's a CCTV or MCB, presumably?

And if so, very prototypical indeed!.........................(I mean the lowering and raising of the barriers by the signalman with no train about!! )

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Comment posted by MartinWales on Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:34 pm

Impressive! Well done that man!

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??? posted on Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:01 pm

More progress, I've now got the first of the proper barriers working, with folding skirts.

These were from an etch that I asked Brian Hanson of Shawplan to do for me.

Andi

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Comment posted by 43003 on Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:05 pm

They look the dog's danglie's Andi! Top Job.

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Comment posted by Brinkly on Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:22 pm

Truly excellent work, shame Horrabridge wouldn't have had a set, even if it had survived into the present day running 150/2 and 153 DMUs!

Nick

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Comment posted by richardabrown on Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:49 pm

nice I like it

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Comment posted by Pitbull1845 on Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:59 pm

Quality.. I want one....

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Comment posted by Yarnham on Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:23 pm

Thats great! Take it the etched barrier took a while to knock up? Thats damn realistic. you just need some irate yuppy in his capri waiting at the gates!

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??? posted on Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:26 pm

There's probably about five hours work in that one, the rest shouldn't take as long now that i now what I'm doing.

Andi

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Comment posted by mrscorn78 on Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:35 pm

Hi,

thats cracking Andi.

Works just like the real thing (yes obvoius thing to say )

you just need a faller car to put its foot down whilst the barriers are lowering and it would be spot on

cheers

Simon

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Comment posted by Pugsley on Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:10 pm

Very impressive indeed Andi I presume the etch is just a miniature version of the real thing? I can imagine that being a real swine to put together...

__________________________________________

??? posted on Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:15 pm

Here are some better pics:

The barriers in the lowered position.

half way.

Up and folded.

Andi

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??? posted on Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:42 am

Now two barriers in place, the second one is much better than the first, so much so that the first one will get replaced.

Andi

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Comment posted by ShedcombeUponFrome on Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:48 am

Very nice Andi.

Looking forwars seeing it in the flesh ( and actually run trains !!! )

Regards, Michel

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Comment posted by poindexter on Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:13 pm

Very very nice. oh if only I had the patience. Well OK, the patience and the ability!! Excellent job Andi

Guy

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Ravensclyffe 4mm OO 1980s WCML

by Dagworth

original page on Old RMweb

__________________________________________

Comment posted by MRDBLUE17 on Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:42 pm

Andi that is some very impressive work not only on the OHLE but that level crossing is amazing and I don't think I have ever seen one done better that operates in the way yours does! I will certainly be reading the workbench article on it for future layout planning.

Mark

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??? posted on Fri Jul 31, 2009 11:13 pm

My camera doesn't like focusing on things that hang mid-air so this was the best I could do.

Note that there is no tension on this joint as it's mid board pre soldering solid.

Something else I've been playing with: section insulators.

This one is built from the scrap edges of the N-Brass portal etches.

I need four for this board alone, then a similar number at the other end of the yard, I wonder if these would be worth an etch?

Andi

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Comment posted by dave_long on Sat Aug 01, 2009 11:41 am

Thanks for posting the images Andi. The insulator looks really good, bet you had fun fitting that correctly, I'm not sure but I reckon there might be a need for some of those on Stechford so if you do plan on an etch then do let us know.

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Comment posted by jim s-w on Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:16 am

They are already on the list Dave

Cheers

Jim

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Comment posted by dave_long on Mon Aug 03, 2009 9:16 am

I thought they might be! I bet that list is nearly as long as the layout though!

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Comment posted by Grimleygrid on Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:18 pm

Absolute quality, the level crossing really is top notch. I love the way the skirts come down with the barriers, superb. Excellent work Sir.

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??? posted on Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:30 pm

Finally with sound.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDSB8r-Y7Q

Thanks to Andy Jupe for the footage.

andi

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Comment posted by wayne 37901 on Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:39 pm

Excellent stuff Andi, the first time I've ever seen a level crossing modelled as a working item... And with sound too

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Comment posted by big T on Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:19 am

Inspiring stuff Andi!

The level crossing is superb, and the OLE looks amazing. Very intricate and lifelike.

Cracking work!

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Comment posted by redbaron on Tue Aug 11, 2009 7:28 am

the level crossing is fantastic. I wish someone would make a RTR version of it for those of us who do not have the skills / patience to scratch build. Suspect it would sell in big quantities....

__________________________________________

Ravensclyffe 4mm OO 1980s WCML

by Dagworth

original page on Old RMweb

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Comment posted by jim s-w on Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:34 pm

Hi Andi

Just wondered if you have got anywhere with your class 58's yet? Have you removed the roof pods yet and if so can you recommend a colour match for the Heljan railfreight grey?

Cheers

Jim

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:04 pm

would love to see some pics of the APT

Mike

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??? posted on Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:10 pm

Mark did one for me, but the grey used didn't match

As yet I've not done anything more with them.

Andi

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Comment posted by baggiebloke on Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:11 pm

Hi Andi

I've just had a look on your website. Looking rather good indeed, especially the colliery buildings and rakes of HAAs with Bones at the helm!

Alex

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Comment posted by Grimleygrid on Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:28 am

I have to agree with Baggie, fantastic photos of a truly stunning layout.

Although the 58s do look good, the blue Grids in the sidings on HAAs really are superb and do it for me! What a fantastic layout. Can't wait to see more photos.

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Comment posted by olddudders on Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:14 am

This must be one of the most impressive single-owner layouts I have ever come across - you are doing what N scale does best, in 4mm! Your progress has also been substantial - I only have 20' x 17', and know how much work that takes! Your range of abilities is enormous - baseboards, DCC, signalling, yet still able to do fine engineering on the OLE. A landmark layout and builder, if ever I saw them!

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Comment posted by Ajax on Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:04 pm

I've done two 58's so far; one that started off as 58001 and by the time the loco has been weatherd there is no appreciable difference in colour shade http://ravensclyffe..../p52285142.html. The other one I did started out as 037, the one with the cantral orange stripe, - The result was a very noticable difference in shade. When compareing the two original loco's there is a difference in the grey! I used Railmatch 1226 Railfrieght grey in both cases.

HTH

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Comment posted by Ajax on Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:07 pm

Pic of the above referenced modified 58001.

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??? posted on Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:56 pm

Quite a bit of time has been spent recently trying to perfect the level crossing next to the closed station. The main thread on the construction is here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14510 but I thought I'd add it into the layout thread as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cq3qAxq4ek

Andi

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Comment posted by Rammy on Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:51 pm

That's fantastic Andi. I'm off to read the construction thread now!

Now where can I fit a level crossing into Chadwood ??

Dave

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Comment posted by Trainsrgr8 on Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:21 am

fantastic work on the level crossing!

Danny

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Comment posted by PCM on Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:56 am

That crossing is coooooooool love it.

Cheers Peter.

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Comment posted by noisynoel on Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:04 am

Hmmmmm, now where can we fit one in on Horton???

Excellent peice of work Andi..

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Comment posted by michael delamar on Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:02 am

the level crossing is fantastic!

i always wondered why both red lights flash for a second after the yellow,before they flash intermitentley

captured it spot on, I can just feel myself driving up to it thinking nooooo

Mike

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Comment posted by Gallows Close on Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:18 pm

Hi Andi,

The crossing is just great - it is alway something I have really wanted to model, but I seem to pick locations with bridges instead. What with the LC and the tensioners I'm in awe of your work. Thanks for posting,

Chris.

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Comment posted by mines a pint on Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:52 pm

Finally found time to watch the youtube of the operating level crossing, its brilliant!

as Mike said the light sequence is spot on !

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??? posted on Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:48 pm

A few quick snaps of the latest work on the layout, I've moved on from the level crossing board to the one that has the viaduct.

The whole purpose of the bridge is to hide the offscene exit of the NCB loop on the top of the retaining wall.

The overhead across the yard entrance pointwork gets pretty busy, this portal has the switching equipment to enable the wires in the yard and goods loop to be isolated from the main line power.

The driver's view approaching the pointwork. Both portals are temporarily posed in their holes hence them not being level, I need to add some reinforcement under the end of the switching portal at the top of the embankment. I also need to replace the tortoise that works the catch point at the end of the goods loop, it had a disagreement with the ballast glue

Andi

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Comment posted by Clammgob on Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:17 pm

Not bad for a trainset.

Just aswell you know that I am kidding. Nice work as allways Andi.

Cheers

Keith

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Comment posted by jim s-w on Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:33 pm

Nice Job Andi

I think you have taken the N-brass stuff about as far as its ever going to go. The above picture just screams out for more relief in the structure itself though.

I do like the galvanised effect you have got. How did you do it?

Cheers

Jim

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Comment posted by Gallows Close on Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:36 pm

Hi Andi,

I like the gadget in the photo above (Jim's Post) - Assume you use it to set registartion arm height?? Nice idea - beats my card effort.

Cheers,

Chris.

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??? posted on Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:41 pm

Jim, the galvanised effect is unintentional, and is purely what is left after soldering. Normally I paint everything afterwards with Humbrol grey primer.

The gadget standing under the portal is not so much for setting registration arm height as for checking that the registration arms are in the right place across the track. Height is checked using a ruler....

Andi

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Comment posted by dave_long on Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:19 pm

Hi Andi

You've certainly done a great job of those N brass portals. I was wondering especially after rereading your post about the working tensions that you said that that would run for about 30'. How do you cope with basebaord joints and the OLE, this is something I've got to come to terms with for my Stechford layout and with having only the station road overbridge at one end as a place to hide ole attachment I need to cross atleast 2 board joints, atleast at the initial planning stage I have portals at the points where I feel the board breaks should be instead of just plain masts.

Kind regards

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??? posted on Fri Jul 31, 2009 1:44 pm

For baseboard joints I have removable sections of conductor. These have tiny hooks formed on the ends of the wires which hook over the registration arms. Once the whole lot is assembled the tension keeps it solid.

Wires are 16 gauge guitar string, thin enough to look reasonable but strong enough for the hooks to not bend open under tension.

The red part in the drawing is the registration arm, it has a tiny hook formed on to the end of it as well to stop the wires sliding off the end, this was a lesson I learnt with Dagworth.

Andi

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Comment posted by dave_long on Fri Jul 31, 2009 5:55 pm

Thanks Andi

Hmm had planned on using scale size wire, I'm planning a test section, both for practice building portals but also some where to test the wires too. I take that the way the wire hooks under and then over the reg arm will help avoid the possibilty of Pantograph snagging? Did I read somewhere that your having a section of compound on Ravensclyffe or was that on dagworth? Atleast the compound at Stechford was just along the main and not across the junction but it still going to fun trying that, but I do have a plan!

Kind regards

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??? posted on Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:50 pm

I built a short test section of compound to see if I could make it work, and decided that Ravensclyffe would have simple equipment. The test was /is in a demonstration box similar to my Foxglove layout.

Andi

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