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traction

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  1. traction

    Put In My Place!

    By traction,

    How typical is that!!
    Not updated the Thomas Blog for ages then lots all at once!
     
    Mansfield Exhibition was excellent and the layout got mobbed as usual.
    It really is nice to watch all the faces of the children playing trains.
     
    What fascinates me is when a few of the children start playing who are autistic and they put their head in a certain position to watch the trains just run by.
    I wonder just what it is that they are seeing or what it is that they pick up on that they need to see, that we completely miss.
    One mother was a little worried saying that she kept telling her son not to touch and then I say feel free and have a go, his face summed it all up for me and made me realise that building Thomas & Friends was 100% the right thing to do.
     
    Then disaster struck, a little boy came up and was having a play and then told me off for having Henry running with Jame's coaches!!!
    I consider myself completely told off and unworthy, my dad thought it was highly amusing me being told off by a 5 year old!
     
    Well Ian Clenton at Mercig has done me proud again!!
    As you can't buy much N-gauge RTR Thomas items, I bought the Tomix coaches in red/cream along with a number of Thomas wagons and then a suitable loco off Ebay which I asked Ian to respray for me.
    I can't thank him enough, his work is outstanding in detailing and weathering and then he does items like this for me!
    So we now have a new loco and coaches to join the merry band:-
     
    I give you Gordon:-
     

     
    Along with Gordons coaches:-
     

     
    I know Gordon isn't 100% accurate 4 wheel tender etc but it's bright blue with a smiley face looks like Gordon and will be pulling the correct coaches!!
     
    Hopefully I won't get told off next time unless it's by any of you who know
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  2. traction
    I have been playing about with the Hornby Elite and Railmaster and thought it would be a great way to operate Wold's-End.
     
    I have now removed the traverser and added an extension which I intially thought would be a nice long fiddle yard.
     
    Having now fitted the board and laid the track I'm thinking I could actually use the last 400mm as a hidden fiddle yard and just use a loco lift or DCC concepts storage MPD to swap locos.
    The area which connects up to Wold's-End can have some scenic treatment on it.
    I'm thinking about an all open countryside type of scene to make a big contrast between the enclosed station.
    I'm just not sure if it will work though or how to try and blend it in, or infact keep it as it's own module.
    I know it's not the most protoypical, highly detailed or high quality layout there has ever been, but it's the only OO layout I have room for that I can run my OO locos!!
     

     

     

     
    What do you guys think, any input would be great.
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  3. traction
    I might remember to put photos on this time
     
    After wiping everything out and getting back to the bare minimum I really needed to disguise the fact this is just a round circle of track.
     
    So I came up with this:-
     

     

     

     
    John Wiffen (Scalescenes) came up with a quick aqueduct kit, no instructions and I did a lot of playing about with it, but I think it's come out rather well.
    The railings are a ratio kit.
    Now do I leave the backscene that high or do I cut it down so it sits just below the aqueduct so it can't be seen from the front?
     
    I still need to varnish the canal bed and then do loads of static grass, backscene( I have a photo to glue on to the foamboard back board and all the rest of the finishing touches.
    The polystyrene blocks that the trees are currently standing in really need to go as well!!
     
    This was also a time to practice tree making so got a kit from Treemendous models, these are what I've built.
     

     
    Not really happy with the leaves but as these are the first two trees I've ever made they are not too bad.
    These ones are from the model tree shop, I removed all of the green foliage so I could try and create a autumnal scene, this shows one complete and one stripped ready for the leaves.
     

     
    I think they are turning out quite good.
    I will try and get some more photos of the canal, but it's a little cold in the loft at the minute, hence no much progress from this point.
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  4. traction
    I had forgotten I had written a blog about Thomas & Friends!!!
     
    I hadn't really done much on the layout until the end of 2010 start of 2011 where I went round and upgraded the grass to static grass and generally made the layout a little neater for the Mansfield exhibition.
     
    While I was doing it I thought about extending the layout so keeping within my initial reasons for building the layout I went to the Hornby track plans book 11th edition and built the TraKMat extension 3 layout "The Grand Terminus"
    There are 3 extensions in the track plan book for the full TrakMat layout and as I had already built the Large Station building thought I should use it.
    The Scalescenes overall large roof canopy was also built....all three of them along with the subway steps, I think once it's all been completed it will look pretty good.
     
    Went for it to try and get it finished for Mansfield and almost succeded, why do we think of these ideas at the last minute.....always when it needs to be done for an exhibition?
     
    I didn't realise just how much there is to do with ballasting, scenery and then the electrics!!!!
    Get things to run wasn't too bad, but making up the mimic panels takes a fair time, I also fitted two SMD82 accessory decoders to control all of the point motors.
    I like these as they can be programmed to do many things, and are easy to program.
    Whats really nice is they can be used with push button or toggle switches along with the DCC controller.
    They have a built in CDU so a nice power boost to operate the point motors.
    To make sure that I had reliable point operation on the extension I fitted the Peco low power point motors so they don't need so much current to throw them over.
    This has worked well, but they still take a fair amount because of the switches that you have to fit on the bottom of them for frog polarity change or in my case as they are insul frogs, I use to operate the LED's in the mimic panels.
     
    I have attached all of the point motors to the points themselves I've just found them to be more reliable that way, if not time consuming cutting out the base board!
     
    A word of warning when fitting them as a cross over the holes are close which does weaken the baseboard a bit, I would advise using something more than 6mm mdf if cutting holes close to each other!
     
    So it almost got completed for Mansfield with only the station needing finishing, still it ran all weekend very well and got mobbed as per usual!
     

     

     

     
    It's getting there!
     
    Must remember to keep this one up to date now.
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  5. traction

    What have I Done!

    By traction,

    Mr Redgate Models has a lot to answer for!!!
     
    Having met up with him today at Nottingham exhibition, a small passing remark was made........how about making Wold's End in T-gauge!!!
     
    Now the T-gauge folks from Edinburgh were there:-(website) http://www.tgauge.co.uk/
     
    With the T shaped layout as shown in the video on their web site.
    Everything was running very well, they had a finished prototype Deltic on display which looked fantastic.
    Had a nice long chat and points should be available next month.
     
    Now I had spoken to John Wiffen(Designer of Scalescenes) about the scale factor for the kits to T-gauge, which is 33% some time ago.
     
    So temptation got the better of me, I now have the 120mm radius start set! and a Train pack, it comes with everything including power supply for £92.75
     
    Now I have printed off some of the required sheets to build the warehouse in T-gauge.......watch this space, hopefully I can do it, but it's very very small!!
    This shows my N-gauge Class 08 and one of the T-gauge power cars!!
     

     
     
    I will end how I started......Mr Redgate Models you have a lot to answer for, I'm sure this will drive me mad!!!
  6. traction
    Well trying to get everything done and dusted ready for Mansfield Exhibtion in April.
     
    Lights are now wired up!
    Still waiting for some more passengers to turn up, but it's very close to getting there.
    Takes a bit of time before things start to run OK...with the small shunters anyway.
     
    Here is the photo of the two layouts together, just to prove I'm not taking photos of the same one
    I just need to make the final finishing touches to both.
     

     
    Here are a few of mini Wolds-End lit up, I've already posted these for the OO gauge version.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Still a few final touches to add, but hopefully now it should be finished for the exhibtion.
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  7. traction
    Well, as N-gauge Wold's End is starting to come together thought it about time I posted some pics.
    Instead of just printing out a piture of the small terraced houses, I made enough room to actually have them as low relief.
     
    I think it adds to the whole layout.
     
    The book stall under the canpoy does have a figure inside and a light, just need to wire all the lights up!
    Figures still need adding and the terrace houses and back of main station building to start and finish.
    Busy weekend instore to try and get as much finished as possible as exhibition date looms near and I'm working away alot.
    Still have time for Nottingham exhibition though next weekend.
     
    I do have a N-gauge fork truck to put in front of the warehouse and I will take photos of the two layouts together, need to pull my finger out and get some models built.
     

     

     

     
    Need to have a practice running session to see how it will all operate!
    Could be a good idea, bit dubious about how this will go down, read many reports of people going to exhibitions and being bored at the lack of constant movement, these two shunting planks may well fall into that, as alot of movement will be in the fiddle yard sorting wagons and rolling stock.
    Hope it goes ok, don't want folks to think it's boring or rubbish.
  8. traction
    Well the N-gauge Wolds end is coming along quite nicely and when I actually get some time at home instead of working away will get some photos!!
     
    Thinking towards the future, looking at building another Wold's end, this time to complete the set it would be in O-gauge.
     
    Now looking about have found that I can get most of the modern diesels that I require, but prices are somewhat scarey, along with building and painting them!
    As I have already bought the Scalescenes buidlings I should be able to enlarge these by the correct amount to take them up fromm OO to O gauge.
     
    The other alternative is to go 7mmNG which does appeal to me a little more as the kit locos are cheaper!
    I also really like the SmallBrook studios kits, I know they wouldn't have all run together but so what they just look good. This would mean a huge difference in rolling stock, to that of the other layouts, but same layout different rolling stock and gauge...should work......shouldn't it?
     
    Now would Wold's End look ok as a 7mmNG layout I just don't know.
     
    It's a tricky one O-gauge or 7mmNG
     
    Any thoughts or suggestions from any of you guys, what do think?
  9. traction
    Wolds-End is now virtually complete.
    Had a bit of a running session, it does take a long time to work things out to move, so great operating potential.
    Picked up my Class 24 with sound from Digitrains yesterday, although not allowed to run it as it's my christmas present.
    Looking around the shop I saw that you can actually get the Class 24 in N-gauge, which got me thinking, and on my return home, checked to see what was available.
    Having scanned the usual online retailers, thought what about building a 'Mini Wolds-End but in N-gauge?
    It will only be just over two foot long and about 300mm wide, which I can accomodate, so for a bit of fun I'm going to build 'Wolds-End' in N-gauge!
    Will look quite odd seeing them both next to each other!
     
    I have got virtually all of the same rolling stock(picked up my decoder fitted Class 08 in EWS livery from Digitrains as well yesterday) just waiting for one or two bits but apart from that I can start the build, putting off going into the garage at the minute to cut everything to length....only a fair weather builder me.
     
    As I have already built the N-gauge canopy and the large station building, from Scalescenes, this will be one difference, instead of having the parcels office running across the front, I will have the large station building instead.
    I will also have the Scalescenes small terrace houses actually built going across the back, instead of the pasted on pictures.
    It's nice having built one, as those little things that I would do different will be included in the second one.
    Apart from these two differences everything else will be the same, asI don't want to stray too much away from the original.
    Pictures will be posted when I've got something to show.
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  10. traction
    I thought I'd put this up, just as a guide really to show how I did it, there are other ways I just find it easier to do it this way.
     
    First off I print out all of the base layers at draft quality(uses less ink and the base layers will be covered over), then print out all of the SEEN texture sheets at best quality.
    Now I would normally then spray them with inkjet fixative, this protects them from the glue you end up with all over your fingers!!!
     
    I didn't have any inkjet fixative left so carried on with the build regardless, as this is a flat wall I knew I would be able to spray the fixative on when all was complete, but before I glued the windows in place, still in the light close up you can see all the excess glue :-
     
    The base layers are glued to correct thickness of card and cut out, you will notice I have printed off a full A4 sheet of red brick paper, as I'm not fitting any windows into this side it made it easier to do this, just glue the sheet to the base layer showing the window arches, but dont cut out the windows, then trim off excess sheet.
    You would normally print out blank wall texture sheets on to the correct card which you then cut up to fit the individual spaces where you don't want windows, looks like a mosiac until you put the front ledges on, to hide all of the joins.
     

     
    Once this is all assembled I sprayed the wall with the inkjet fixative then glued in the windows, the inkjet fixative makes the windows go frosty, so if you want that effect thats an easy way of doing it!
     

     
    Finally on the layout, still need to practice on weathering as I'm basically crap at it!!
     

     
    What do you think I should put behind the large warehouse windows?
    Just a blank colour, or something else, can only be a thin bit of paper or print out, just haven't found anything suitable to put behind them.
     
    Cheers
  11. traction
    Well, progress has been a little slow, but needed to adapt the Scalescenes warehouse a little, the complete structure is now built and on the layout.
    This needed to be built first so I could work out where the track would need to be placed to go into it.
     
    I have left the back of the warehouse as blank card on the outside but on the inside have finished it off, this is so that when you look through thr front of it you can see the back wall as block work.
     
    In reality there is a great hole in the back to allow me to get in and swap stock about etc.
     

     
     
    These pics show how I used the parcels office pitched roof on the warehouse.
    I'm currently making the low profile front wall of the warehouse to place against the backscene infront of this one, will take pics when done.
     
     
     
     
     

     
    Now that all of the track work is in place had a test run of the shunters and guess what.........they don't cross the point!!!
    It's an electrofrog point so I had to take it up and wire it so it could power switch the frog through a Seep point motor PM1 with built in switch.
     
    I did all of this and it worked....but only when the point was set for straight running.
    Spent ages checking everything....then realised I was only moving the point by the blades, not the point motor so the switch wasn't moving all the way across in one direction
     
    When it gets connected to the snap-it that will provide enough of a thump to make sure the switch does actually move all the way over in in both directions.
    Still got done at 1.00 am then changed the clocks back so not too bad.
     
    Anyway, thats my progress so far. Gave it a bit of a run through and it takes a lot of moves and working out to move things about, you must have at least two shunters to push and pull things about!
    It's also proved that I must have better couplings ideally the delayed type so it's either going to be Kadees or Spratt&Winkle type.
     
    So before any ballasting can get underway, it's going to be convert the rolling stock then locate the magnets.
     
    Cheers
  12. traction
    I have completed some of the buildings, and wanted to see what it would like with them in place.
    The first image is of the XtrKcad file layout.
    Excuse the backscene....it's a work in progress!
     

     

     

     
     
     
     
    Where the images are of the warehouses these wil infact be replaced with the Scaelscenes large warehouse.
  13. traction
    Thought I'd post another blog to see how it works and to include my Thomas and Friends exhibition layout.
     
    Sometime ago, reading one of the forums I came across this:
     
    "Just got back from the WHOLE day at the show, we were reasonably pleased with the layouts present although, many of them seemed a long way off what I remember exhibition standards used to be, but it is around 7-8 years since I last attended a Model show, I enjoyed the trade presence and found lots of little goodies but no major purchases.
     
    One last thing, my 11 year old son has just summed his day up with " Really enjoyed it Dad, but not sure I will go again, totally "fed up" (not the words he really used ) of being pushed out of the way by Ignorant Smelly Old Men".
     
    Now that got me thinking and It really did hit home how inconsiderate some people can be.
    So I thought about making a layout just for the kids, as most exhibitions I've been to if they don't supply a box for them to stand on they can't even see the layout!
     
    So the seeds were set, it also had to meet certain criteria that I had set myself:-
     
    1. I wanted it to be amusing for the kids so I thought Thomas the tank engine and friends always onto a winner!
    2. I not only wanted them to see it but also have a go a playing trains, the easiest way for me to do this was to make it DCC operated.
    3. I have loads of Scalscenes kits so all buildings had to be made from the kits I had or scratch built.
    4. As I already have a 'train-room' It had to be fairly small so I also went for N-gauge.
    5. I wanted the layout to be fairly easy and straight forward so that if any parents saw it they could think, yeh I could do that. As I'm pretty sure that after they have strolled around an exhibition the quality of the layouts is enough to put anybody off!
    Thinking I'm never going to get anything to lool like that!
     
    So that little lot was my target!
     
    1. First the layout, fairly obvious really to me......the Hornby TrakMat, lets be right mum and dad go out at Christmas buy little Johnny his first Hornby trainset and it will be the TrakMat, it just so Happens Hornby do a Thomas TrakMat as well!!
    This is the OO Thomas TrakMat, the only difference between this and the other TrakMat that comes with the other sets, is the locos that are run on it!
    I thought this would be perfect, kids can have Thomas running about when they want to play, then dad can get his grown up locos out when he wants ago!
     
    ANY OF THE SMALL PICS CLICK ON THEM TO MAKE BIGGER!
     

     
    So there was the plan, a full TrakMat including all accessory packs A-F, with aq bit of working out copied this layout but using all set-track in N-gauge.
     
    Which gave me my N-gauge TrakMat Layout:- Oh and the red and black dots was working out where to put power feeds, although with where they are positioned here nothing much would work!!!
     

     
    I started laying the track, but fitted the point motors to the points while building, made sense to do it now so if I wanted to I could power them up later.
     
    I built the baseboards in the usual way, but made the height very low, perfect for my nephew to sit at and play trains!
     


     
    All of the buildings are Scalescenes, I adapted the terrace houses, to try and give a cottage type feel to them.
     


     
    After reading another forum on "build a layout in 6 weeks" Thought that the idea to build a transport box was excellent!
    So I did the same thing for this, will protect the layout when put away or transported!
     

     
    The front flap I fixed with hinges so this could swing down and hold the controllers, worked much better than I thought it would!!
     
    In the end I went for electric control of points, as it's the EZ-command I used switches and indicator panel, which I actually prefer having used accessory decoders in DCC
    I also made them easy to disconnect by fitting 15 way plugs to the back of the control box, the switches are just spring loaded toggles.
     


     
    The layout complete, the EZ-command is at the back hidden by the trees.
     

     
    This is from Mansfield exhibition:-
     

     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  14. traction
    After starting in OO and having too many compromises I changed to N-gauge.
    A month or so ago after visiting Grantham exhibition, I really wanted to get a small OO layout together.
    As I can only have a very small layout a trip to Carl Arendt's micro-layout website was called for.
     
    Searched around a bit and having bounced a few ideas of Shortliner I saw Stubbier Yard, this layout really took me, so that was it!
     
    A quick use of XtrkCad gave me the layout just flipped over.
     
    I will get round to finding and posting a photo.....
     
    Here it is so far!
     

     

     

  15. traction
    Well, both 'Wold's-End's' layouts are so called finished, Yep I know there are things that could be improved, but they seemed to go down ok at Mansfield exhibition, although I did have to point out that they were the same!
     
    I have the roundy Thomas and friends layout, so I can give the N-gauge locos a good run round on that when required.
    What I don't have is a OO roundy layout to give the OO locos a stretch of the legs when required.
     
    When I say required I do actually mean I can't be bothered to do any shunting so switch em on and watch em go.
    So the small spare bedroom is now almost full of layouts and other train related equipment, so a OO roundy is going to have to be on the small side.
     
    First thing, it's not going to be anything flash just a simple roundy that I can sit and watch trains go by, so first thing I set myself was to use set track and try and keep everything to a minimum cost.
    As I have the Class 153 and a Lima Deltic, it had to be a minimum of 2nd rad curves, and even that is pushing credibility a little too far!
    I would liked to have used 3rd rad curves but set track point work doesn't reallyhelp in that score.
     
    Having subscribed to Hornby magazine from issue 1 had a check through to see what I could find.
    There it was in issues 2,3 and 4, good old Peter Marriott was building 'Horndale', using set track components very small and simple roundy layout.
    One thing that didn't look right to me although perfectly ok for what it's going to be used for is the platform inside the circle of track.
    He does mention this in the write up, but because of using 2nd rad curves the platform has to sit back a long way from the track, due to the centre overhang of any long rolling stock, making the gap an equivalent of about 8ft!
    Once all the scenery detail is done it's not too much of a problem though.
     
    Anyway to try and overcome this I thought I'd move the station to the single siding and have a double length straight which will hold the Class 153 DMU.
     
    I carried on looking for inspiration and found in Hornby magazine 14 a layout by Chris Singer called 'Two Square'
    Again this is a small N-gauge layout, simple circle of track with sidings off, and down one siding is the station and platform.
    So I will try and get a combination of the two.
    There will be a back scene/scenic break so that the back two loops are hidden, that way I can bring a second train out and leave the first in one of the loops.
     

     

     

     
     
    The back scene will run diagonal from the back of the board near to the start of the curved point across to the start of the other curved point down the right hand side, sorry not too clear but will try and knock something up. to show what I mean.
    Tested all the track work using Anyrail and using the parts listed in the Hornby magazine for Horndale nothing would join up!! I have no idea how he managed to do it in the magazine, a slight bit of tweakingm me thinks.
     
    Using Anyrail I was able to select the right track parts to give me a complete circuit as shown above, although I will need to pack the outside edges up a little as the locos tend to lean some what, has anybody else done this, what did you use?
    It's all 2nd rad curves with the double curved points all Peco set track.
     
    Still it's a start and as you can see I've had everything running around without any problems or derailments....bonus!
    I can now cut the baseboards to the correct size and get them on the frame.
     
    If you have the Hornby magazines take a look, like I say issues 2,3 and 4 (Aug, Sep & Oct 2007)for the 3 part series on building Horndale and for Two Square issue 14 August 2008 page 92.
     
    I will see if it's ok to scan and post the pics up here for those that don't have them issues, may take a while for Mike Wild to get back to me though.
    Yep it is running on a DC controller just to make sure all is ok, as the power is at the end of the siding, I needed to make the insulfrog curved point DCC, no Hornby point clips, so had to use homemade ones otherwise known as staples!!! worked a treat.
     
    Any comments or suggestions most welcome before I commit to anything major, and no I can't leave the board that big, it won't fit in the spare room otherwise I would.
  16. traction
    Ok, so no photos of N-Gauge Wold's-End but thought these are far better!!
     
    As I wanted to try and make the OO and N layouts as close as possible, I have used the same rolling stock and locos on both.
    The only locos I'm missing in N-gauge are the Class 24 D5038 and a Class 121 bubble car in BR blue/Grey.......come on Dapol.
     
    So while items went for respray thought I'd have them weathered as well:-
     

     

     

     

     

     
     
    Got to say Ian at Mercig Studios does a bloody fantastic job!
    He also fitted the wire hoops for me for the Spratt&Winkel couplings I'm using.
     
    Yes I could probably buy the gear myself, but I can't buy the skill to get this sort of result.
    I know the quality of work and service I get is second to none so Mercig Studios gets my vote every time.
     
    Just need that Class 24 and 121 Bubble car and all will be well.
  17. traction

    The Warehouse is busy!

    By traction,

    I have now added the lighting to the inside and outside of the warehouse and added a few store operatives
     

     

     

     

     
    I hope nobody has been up to no good, the police are on the case so not to worry.......I think!
     

     

     
    I think the Guards Walkie Talkies are broken......shouting across the tracks just doesn't look good!
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  18. traction
    Where to begin?
     
    Thomas& Friends has been running for a while now using the EZ-command and two command companions at the front of the layout, which has proved very good, a few problems arise, when lots of button presses at once corrupt things, nothing a power cycle can't solve!
     
    I have bought tried and tested and sold on many DCC controllers for use on the layout but nothing really seemed as simple and straight forward as the EZ-command.
    As the layout has expanded and I have a few more sound locos I wanted a little bit more power and started looking at what I could replace the EZ-commands with.
    I have the Powercab and initially thought of using this with a couple of engineers cabs at the front a few issues with this!
     
    1. No way of knowing if anybody has selected a different loco.
    2. At the exhibitions I've been to and taken along the Powercab nobody was interested in it, all I get asked is "what about Hornby"
     
    Going back to my initial concept of providing a layout for the children to operate I really had to go with the Hornby stuff.
    Lets be right at Christmas all the children want is a train set, undoubtedly that will be a Hornby train set and what will be in there but a Hornby Select.
    The new Railmaster software also had an impact in this, as I'm sure it will appeal to alot of the PC generation and as it's specifically designed to work with the Eilte it left me with little choice.
     
    I don't rate the Hornby controllers much, not very intuitive, clunky function operation and very expensive for what they are, I mean RRP £199 for the Elite and £99 for a Select!!!!!!
    PowerCab, Dynamis, Digitrax all offer something for that sort of money which is way better!!
     
    Still I can't convince people about which DCC controller to buy and it's not about that, the layout was to let the children play trains and maybe start them off in the hobby, if using Hornby makes that happen so be it, if they stay interested and want to upgrade, the original controllers can soon be sold on.
    Most of the time you can pick the controllers up for much less than RRP and the Selects coming in a train set make them fairly cheap anyway.
     
    So that was it, Elite and two Selects were bought off Ebay.......less than RRP I might add :-) took a while to find and win them but it does happen.
     
    So there we go, two Selects will be at the front of the layout with the Elite at the back, I suppose it's sort of an upgrade as I now have a program track ouput and can read/write cv's, can control all of the points with the controllers as well as using the push buttons on the mimic panel.
    I programmed the two SMD82's with the Elite starting at address 60.....and you know what it all works, the Selects will operate the SMD82's things are looking up.
     
    The Elite has to be in Classic mode though, then I found one of the Selects wouldn't operate the same point, it always had to be the address plus 3...it had version 1.0 of the firmware, the other Select had V1.1
    I had a reply about this from Hornby it's all to do with the way this version of firmware assigns the address, I have a two page explanation, if anybody wants a copy PM me.
    Suffice to say, both Selects are heading to Hornby for a firmware update to V1.2....I hope, I just asked for the latest firmware.
    It's an easy check, reset the Select and on power up it flashes 30 in the display then a number 10, 11 or 12 these are the firmware version numbers.
     
    So there we go, I know I've slated the Hornby controllers but they do work and I will be setting up the Elite with loco and point names as soon as I can.
    I will also have a play about with Railmaster, just to see what it can do.
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  19. traction

    Hornby Railmaster

    By traction,

    Having replaced the Ez-command and the two command companions with the Hornby Elite and the two Select units I just had to try Railmaster!
     
    First off I tried using it with a Samsung N110 Notebook and it does work but the screen really is too small, OK to use sort of but a bigger screen would be much better, so I treated myself
     

     
    There are a number of Multi-Touch screens available which all say Windows 7. I believe that they need Windows 7 for the multi-touch function.
    Railmaster works perfect with single point touch, and it just so happens that using Windows XP with this monitor the single point touch works perfect and it was just plug it all in to the Notebook switch the monitor on then turn on the Notebook, touch screen functionality!!
     
    This Touch Screen monitor is the AOC E2239FWT and varies in price from £127 upto £213.
    I think this is the way to go, get a cheap second hand laptop/notebook then pay this sort of money for a 22inch touch screen after looking about it's the cheapest way of doing it.
     
    I went for this touch screen as I like the built in stand it allows the notebook to be slid underneath so only the keboard is showing.
     

     

     
    It also comes with VGA, HDMI, USB and a power cables!!!
    The power cable is just a standard kettle type lead, the only problem is that it has a plug for Europe moulded on the other end.
     
    I had a spare adapter, which proved ok for a quick test, but as it only has a 1amp fuse, it blew on the second power up.
    Still I just chopped the plug off and put a new plug on the original lead, heaven forbid someone actually knowing how to change a plug!!!!( sorry I did read a review somewhere that gave it a big negative because they had to get a new UK lead )
     
    A few shots of the Railmaster operating screens, the main op screen showing the track diagram, the red/green actuator buttons operate the points, when you select the buttons from the design screen you can select which address they will be.
     

     
    The loco roster down the right hand side of the screen,
     

     
    By touching one of the loco rosters you pull up a large controller.
     

     
    The little mouse shown here is quite novel, if you have a mouse connected turning the thumbwheel increases/decreases the speed of the loco, pressing the mouse buttons switches left/right.
    If it's a wireless mouse you in effect have a wireless controller, you can see which loco you will be controlling as on this mouse symbol it has the loco address number on it.
     

     
    In the instructions it does recommend covering the optical part of the mouse so that there is no possibilty of accidentally changing the loco or switching off the function.
     
    After playing around for 10mins this really is the way to operate Railmaster, it makes life so much easier.
    Saying that if you have a standard 15.6inch laptop display it will be no problem at all!
    The touch screen adds a new dimension to it......and lets be right it's a big boys toy
     
    Here is a poor video(I'm crap at taking videos!) that I captured of my first automation program, which was written and setup/tested with the Notebook!
     

     
    Till the next time!
  20. traction

    Oh Dear- no change!

    By traction,

    I Can't believe it's been that long ago since I did anything on this.
     
    Sorry I can't give an update as there is none.
     
    The baseboards and legs are made but it's all sitting in the loft, not doing very much.
     
    Time and space have taken priority, so not too sure if I will ever get this past the baseboard stage.
     
    I've moved to a bigger room and seem to have less space!!
    The OO Wold's-End layout is also in the loft, really need to get that down so I can at least run my OO locos.
    Need to have a serious think now, should I carry on with this roundy layout or alter Wold's-End and bolt on a fiddle yard, this would probably be better as it would be long and thin taking up less room.
    It would also mean Wold's-End actually gets some use!
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  21. traction
    Well I still can't decide what to do with the blank baseboard, it's a nice long fiddle yard at the minute that everyone can see.
     
    I created this to see how well it works, on an end to end layout and the answer is very well.
    You can slow the engines right down and have them creep up and hit the end platform under the station canopy which basically gives you a zero point to work from.
    Not ideal but a good work around as the feedback detectors are not yet available.
    Also when you run up very slowly it's not too bad, at the far left I will fit buffers and that will be hidden from view so who's to know!
     
    [media=<iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CojK7T4I9y8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe&gt]
    [/media] 
    The only issue I have at the minute for reliability is the Kadee couplers on the wagon not quite lining up.
    Need to experiment and get a few different packs with the overset type arm so it lowers the knuckle.
     
    Still it does work, sorry for me jumping about all over the place, a slight movement causes a massive jump!!
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  22. traction

    A start at long last!

    By traction,

    Well, after much messing about and numerous redesigns, I've actually got something to show!
     
    I did the usual thing of trying to cram too much into too small a space, then sat down and actually thought about what I actually wanted.
    This layout was supposed to be small and simple purely to run my OO locos on, it didn't need anything else.
     
    So I removed all the sidings apart from one which will be hidden behind the back scene, as this was only put on so I could have a straight piece of track to make it easier to swap locos.
     
    Everything else is just 2nd radius curves.
     

     
    I also wanted to try out a few things so the baseboard is 10mm foam-board, with lots of wood added to the frame for support.
    I also wanted to try the woodland scenics foam track bed, which I have to say works very well.
    It deadens the sound and creates a nice raised track bed.
    I used the Woodland scenics foam glue which also works really well, but dries VERY fast!
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
  23. traction
    Well, getting there very slowly!
     
    Quite a few lights added to the layout, along with some people.
    The figures are the Bachmann Scenecraft ones, not cheap at ??5 for 6 but very effective and excellent detail.
     
    A few more station staff to fit, then onto populating the warehouse.
     

     
    The picture below shows the Scalescenes Newspaper stand that came in the Hornby magazine, you can just make out the folded newspapers on the counter.
    I just glued a figure inside and added the light into the roof, alos connected a resistor to bring the brightness down, I think it looks quite effective.
     

     
    The following picture is looking into the opening between the parcels office onto the platform, again you can see the Newspaper kiosk, typical take a photo and someone gets in the way! How very dare she read the timetable.
     

     
     
    Slowly getting there, why does it cost lots of money to do all of the little finishing touches than anything else?
     
    Cheers
     
    Ian
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