Jack

Members day in July could be a better plan, jut found out i won't be available for the Swag meet

Nothing is planned as I haven't got the boards sorted yet ... I have, however, acquired the track! A proposed meet would give us a target to work too (something i often need to get things done).

Time flies when you're working procrastinating! Right, having marvelled at the works of the Cheshire Modellers On30 layout I'd like to propose we go with Stu's (Stubby47) idea of joining the modules with a short piece of track. So, the rules ... 1) Use of standard Peco Bullhead Code 124 Rail [ref. SL-700BH] at the module 2) The join between modules is made with metal fishplates and a 6" or 150mm single section of Peco code 124 rail (or compatable) on some form of supporting base (ie not just 6" of track suspended in the ether) 3) The base of the rail should be 6.5" / 165mm above the 'table' height - this is to allow the use of Tortoise or other slow action motors, or to allow a more interesting gradient to the scenery (ie culverts, over bridges). 4) Point control and isolating sections are to be controlled locally to each module 5) Track power is in the form of two wires with the positive (red) wire to the rail at the front of the layout. Modules should be electrically joined using 'choc' blocks. 6) All wires used on the layout for track power should be a minimum of 16/02mm to cope with DCC power ratings if necessary. 7) Modules can be whatever length and width the builder likes as long as the can be joined using rules 1-3. I have plans for a self contained module just under 8 feet in length and about a foot in width, details will appear hopefully in the next few weeks. Does anyone have any comments or suggestions on the above before i ask our glorious leader for a sticky thread? Since a single line seems to be the most popular i think we should follow that.

I believe he dropped one of the domain names ... this works : http://www.hobb-e-mail.com/

I think the weathered look is pretty good ... and by the time you've put some weeds, pallets and general detrious around it'll look spot on ...

I can't either which is why i was toying with the idea of getting a few machined out of good grade plywood ...

Stu, you posted just as i was writing mine. I like the idea. Would we need to do something to prevent ware and tare on the joining tracks? I've seen this sort of thing done on some OO exhibition layouts and after a wile the ends do get rather warn.

Alrighty, below is my first attempt at an end plate ... any thoughts? The shaded area at the top is a 12mm section to allow for the top of the baseboard. Peco track would thus sit on top of that. Or perhaps we should just be defining the distance between rail top and bolt centre? I envisage the modules having an end back scene of some description rather than flowing from one to the other scenically. As cromptonnut pointed out, it would look odd if the snow covered module ended up next to Dawlish Warren! I have made the connection board 6" deep so those of us wishing to use tortoise motors don't get into trouble (something not considered when the GOG came up with their standard). Electrickery wise i suggest we keep it simple, two wire through put with the red (positive) wire facing the front of the layout. Not sure what type of joiner to use yet tho. ALL points need to be electrofrog and wired to the accepted standard for DCC. Not doing this might exclude those using DCC. Points and signals to be controlled locally for each module. If the layout is DCC, these need to be able to be isolated from the track bus in case we have a DC meet up. The only other thing i can think of atm is the issue of rail height to floor or table top? What do we do about legs?

The SAG proposals for a 7mm NG modular system on RMWeb v3 seemed to come to very little. I think one of the difficulties of including narrow gauge is which one to pick O16.5, O14, O9 etc. However, there is nothing to say a 7mm standard gauge modular couldn't be a straight through piece of standard gauge track with the rest of the module being a self contained O14 layout ... i'm toying with similar ideas in O16.5! My proposal, including drawing of a connecting board, is nearly finished ... everyone may ridicule it, but atleast it will be a starting point for us. The fact that 5 people have now shown interest via the poll is helpful

A good point! I think the GOG specify a 6" section but i'd have to go back and have a look.

Nice weather ... i must be in a different UK Its British Summer Time here, which means ... cold and wet Keep up the good work and the piccies as this is definitly a layout thread i like to follow.

Glad there has been some interested ... specifically towards a single track connection standard. Another thing to consider, which occured to me 'tother day. What about electrickery? Do we try and cater for Analogue and DCC? What about dead sections for storing locos? Should all point, signal and magnet control be local? Any thoughts?

A good point, thank you Martyn!

Edit : I've seperated the rules here, which can now be found here There seem to be a lot of really good O guage layouts appearing on RMWeb. This seems especially the case with the micro layouts. So how about some form of connection standard? If we agreed on a universal connector then at events such as the members day or local meet-ups we could hook layouts together Freemo style. This might also make it easier for others to build a module rather than a whole layout. The Gauge O Guild do have a double track standard in their reportoire however I would have reservations about this ... 1) its double track ... 2) the board design would make it limiting for anyone wanting to use the open frame method, tortoise motors etc. ... 3) only one of the GOG groups ever used it! I was therefore thinking of a single track connections 6" long. One end would connect to the members layout in whichever way they saw fit, the other would be a standard connector, specifying the following ... ... inside front rail position in relation to the front of the connector. ... position of the clasps or coach bolt holes. ... rail height above floor or table. As an added interest we could consider making it either dual gauge or double track with one line being narrow gauge? I know the SAG narrow gauge scheme didn't get off the drawing board, but perhaps things have changed in the 7mm world sufficiently to give this a go?

Drove past today and the cable laying wagons were in the barracks par of the complex, with cargo vans lined up in the yard ... good to see its still being used.

Whats Ludgershall used for these days, last time i went past the warflats didn't look like they'd turned a wheel for a while? (apologies for the blatant hijack)

DCC is evil, it turned me into a newt ... ... now, as an amphibious salamader I have experienced several problems with DCC. Firstly, your wiring needs to be 100% otherwise shorts will turn a good operating session into a damp squid. Secondly, the cheapo chips arn't that good and therefore it can be quite expensive when you do decide to digitise. Thirdly, you'll get sucked into the wonderful world of sound and end up spending sooo much money you'll get love letters from a bloke called Darling. And finally, the ergonmics of most throttles arn't set up for lizards ... Do you really need it ... naaaaaa ... you can obviously build a fantastic layout without it!!! Keep up the good work Peter, think of all the lovely new trains you could buy instead of the DCC chips and throttle B)

Thought I'd just mention this shop tucked away in West Street, Faversham. Its been my local since it opened over 20 years ago. Good service and competitive prices. Harvey's fair on the postage as well, including BFPO ... something of a rarity by all accounts. Hasn't had much luck getting Heljan stuff, but the other main manufacturers are well represented and he does a good line in other useful 'bits'. Also very good for the continental stuff. The link is here if your interested.

If that is the case they'd better hurry up, by the time New Labour have finished there won't be anything left worth sabotaging