dj_crisp

I've had a bit of fun (?) installing my first C&L TOU; To be fair i think the job would have been much easier without the point already being installed as attaching the droppers to the point blade was a little tricky. I had to remove a bit of the baseboard strengthing to make space which I'll replace shortly as soon as I have installed the motor. I think I'm going to mount it to the right of the TOU on a bit of wood. A job for next weekend as I dont' have anymore small screws! Above the baseboard a few things have been happening; A couple of new holes have been drilled for the droppers which have been soldered to the point blade and when everything is working I'll fill in the hole in the middle. I'm planning on fitting some costmetic tie bars which I'll simply glue on as getting the droppers soldered on wasn't the easiest of exercises. I've also attacked the point blades with a file so they sit a litte tighter to the rail, and also rounded the ends off. So far so good and it works nice and smoothly. You may notice some missiing track... well due to space constraints I plan to use a traverser and so to make life a little easier the track will leave this board straight and square to enter the fiddle yard. To slightly change the alignment it seemed easier to simply lift and relay a gentle curve to allow this. I've got some track bed filing to do before i lay the new lengths which to make it look like it'd been relayed will be concrete sleepers. I'm beginning to plan what to do about a back scene, which I want to be fairly sturding so as to protect the layout when stored. At the moment the boards are super light so I don't want to make them too heavy. I think these and some removable boards will be essential as there is some damage to the track by the baseboard ends. I also haven't made up my mind as to how tall it should be.. Something to think about on a cold and damp weekend!

Thanks I think the Kadee 309 might be a bit on the high side Kadee insrtuctions Operates: 16 volt DC. We recommend a 16 volt DC power source (at least 3 Amps) or 18 volt AC power source (at least 2 Amps) converted to DC with bridge rectifier.

Hi. I'm just wiring up the layout and have opted for a digikeijs command station. So far so good and I didn't expect it but rather like using my phone as a throttle. Anyway im now looking at point operation and already have some standard colbalts. I just wondered if anyone has successfully used a digikeijs dr4018 and adapters? On face value it looks rather neat. I see that the unit is effectively switches and was also wondering if I could use it with a kadee elecro magnetic uncoupler. Also interested in their servo controller for operating semaphore signals. It seems like you can program a bounce.... Anyone do that? Many thanks Will

The easiest thing I've built... a C&L TOU Actually there is nothing to build apart from sticking it squarely together with superglue. The idea is to use the supplied wire to attach to the two point blades which then drop through the baseboard and then attach to a point motor. I have yet worked out to attach it to the Colbalts that came with the layout though! Second plan is to use cosmetic tie bars but keeping everything a bit springy. Will hopefully experiment at the weekend! cheers Will

It's fair to say I don't get on with track design software.... so far Ive tried a number of packages and cannot get on with any. Imo you can't beat plonking a few points around on a board and seeing if it looks any good. While being a little bored watching some football I've drawn up a Z21 plan to try and show some ideas I have for tweaking the plan. It doesn't look great and tbh I can't really use the app but is a doodle of my thoughts. The flow of track looks a bit better in reality.... hopefully isn't too much track or stuff crammed in. I should have space to include a small board extension to the left to allow a part station to be modelled. I suppose the only difference to the current plan is the addition of two holding sidings. I think I'm going to use the old bridge cliche to hide the storage sidings as in the space I have I can't think of a better plan! My biggest unknown is the back of the layout as there's not much space between the backscene and the branch line. I'll need to have a think of possible ideas. One to sleep on

Thanks both! Martin has given me an good kick start which is what I needed. Although I imagine progress won't be quick but I do want to get things running soon cheers Will

I've just set up a seperate thread for Bisley Junction and will keep this one focussed on Stock. If you're interested please do have a look and input will be greatly appreciated ! https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/143501-bisley-junction-1990s-em-gauge/ I imagine it'll be slow progress but I hope to get locos running on it soon for some playtime

My first priority is getting the "mainline" (i.e. crossover) up and running. The crossover itself has Colbat point motors installed underneath but the screws to mount them have raised the trackwork so will need looking into. Also the tiebars are broken so I'm trying to find a neat solution for these. At Ally pally I purchased some rather nice loooking turnout operating units from C&L which I plan to try out over the next few weeks. The layout was supposed to operated by a Digitrax Zephr that I use to use for my test track. However I find my Spog so much easier to program so haven't used it for a while. On trying it out on the test track it's shorting.... and it shorts on its own.... which is rather disappointing. Anyway technology has moved on so came home from Ally Pally with this; Remarkably I've got it up and running on my test track using my mobile and Z21 software. It seems rather neat and I think opens up potentially quite interesting operation ideas. Current Track Plan I can't use Templot but Martin kindy provided me with his track plan; At present I have about 16-17ft for the layout to be operated at home. So my current ideas are to create a through line layout but operate it at home as a terminus. Current thoughts are the crossover end (Right Hand Side) will be the entrance to a traverser and one of the sidings in the yard (RHS) will be a passenger/clay industry branch. I think I can create a smaller board (LHS) which will be the station and a few extra sidinings to hold China Clay wagons. The refuge siging at the bottom I think could make a small fertiliser loading siding (like Lapford). There might have to be a bit of a re-jig of trackwork in the sidings but the "main line" will stay as it is.

Occaisionally opportunites come along that are too good to be true. I've long held an ambition to build a layout thats a bit like goonbarrow sidings but with a station. In the cupboard I've got quite a bit of stock for a china clay layout that hasn't been converted to EM and haven't got round to building a layout it as two things have previously put me off... these being baseboards and flatbottom points. My plan called for a main line with flatbottom crossover with a branch and holding sidings made up of bullhead track. I saw an advert for an EM layout "Bisley Junction" which Martin wished to sell and was rather surprised to see that it's very close to my plans...  The "crossover" board And a close up of Martin's excellent flatbottom crossover which was the clincher for me going for it! Martin's plan was for this to be a SR terminus with some oil sidings and this would have been rather excellent. I'm going to have a crack at changing it's location, have a small re-jig of the bullhead rail and hopefully do it all justice. Lots to learn about electrics.... DCC... TOUs etc etc. which are definitely not in my comfort zone! Mind you it was fun at Ally Pally asking lots of questions! cheers Will

Occaisionally opportunites come along that are too good to be true. I've long held an ambition to build a layout thats a bit like goonbarrow sidings but with a station. In the cupboard I've got quite a bit of stock for a china clay layout but haven't got round to building a layout it as two things have previously put me off... these being baseboards and flatbottom points. My plan called for a main line with flatbottom crossover with a branch and holding sidings made up of bullhead track. I saw an advert for an EM layout "Bisley Junction" which Martin wished to sell and was rather surprised to see that it's very close to my plans... The "crossover" board And a close up of Martin's excellent flatbottom crossover which was the clincher for me going for it! Martin's plan was for this to be a SR terminus with some oil sidings and this would have been rather excellent. I'm going to have a crack at changing it's location, have a small re-jig of the bullhead rail and hopefully do it all justice. It does mean that stock might be a bit slower in the build time though as I'm just learning about electrics.... DCC... TOUs etc etc. Lots of new stuff to learn and definitely not in my comfort zone! Mind you it was fun at Ally Pally asking lots of questions! cheers Will

And it's not all been about 60s as the 56 project has progressed a bit... but rather slowly as I'm trying to think of the best way of illuminating them... and also to get the side windows looking ok. I've managed to fit my own front glazing which i think improves the front. My duffs have been left but I'm experimenting with new "eyebrows" on my NSE example; I've taken a photo to see if they look ok... or perhaps they're a little thick? Not sure myself.

I haven't been posting much recently which has been down to being somewhat busy. But at least I've sneaked in a bit of modelling To gain some sense of achievement I've had a blitz on my 60 fleet as the base model is rather good so doesn't need alot of work. As the thread shows I started these a while ago and really should have finished them by now!! They've all had the same mods being; - conversion to EM - laserglaze - new lighting using an express models kit but with warm white led. - lovely zimo decoders fitted - fitting of kadees to the chassis - weathered and varnished. - Shawplan nameplates, plaques and railfreight logos. - removal of GPS - some sunblinds fitted And the Triple Grey locos were all originally Canisp but have been renumbered using the excellent DRD transfers which make life so much easier! The rest of the transfers are mostly Fox. 60018 Moel Siabod in Construction 60042 Dunkery Beacon in Mainline Grey 60077 in the rather striking Mainline Blue (possibly my favourite livery) . Backdated it to 1995 so changed the overhead flashes and removed the GPS equipment. And the nearly finished... 60037 Helvelyn. Just further weathering and numerals to go. 60064 Back Tor. Yep I made a mess of removing the mainline lettering... I couldn't face respraying the lower grey so just got a big sticker! I rather like this one as it didn't carry a full loadhaul brandings and a few photos on flikr show it as a bit of a mess. Still got some more weathering to go and numerals but nearly there! Cheers Will

Lenz or zimo for me. Very happy with them and no failures. 10 (!) DCC concepts failures so will never go there again. I'm replacing them with lenz standards. One of the problems in buying bulk is choosing wrong... alot of cash up in smoke.

Cracking stuff Lewis. Really liking the track... I'm just about to embark on my own attempts of track laying and was wondering about rail joiners. Did you use anything? Cheers Will P.S. liking your 60s on your thread/flickr

Good logical thinking! I disconnected the unit from the track and it still has the short message when track power is applied. Had a spare power cable so tried that... still shorts. So I guess it's unit or the transformer. Both emit a low buzzing sound to match the flashing rate. Cheers Will

Thanks Ian I've double checked for shorts on the test track and cant find any... its just a single length of teack and my sprog works fine. When the unit is flashing orange with the walking o it doesn't make a difference whether the loco is on or off. I'm thinking the unit itself must be shorting somehow. Cheers Will

Hello Continuing my love hate relationship with DCC I'm experiencing problems with my Digitrax Zephr DCS51. I've not used it in a while and just thought I'd have a play with it to check it's ok for a layout that I'm begining to build. I've wired it to my test track which works fine with my sprog and set a loco address. All ok but when setting power to the circuit the unit continiously flashes orange, with a small circle moving left to right on the display. If I then press the power button again power is applied to the tracks so the loco rns away on it's own....with no control. (If i turn it around it moves in the same direction so feels like it's running in analogue??) Loco works well with my sprog. Any help greatly appreciated cheers Will

I'm feeling a bit naff this morning as missed going to parkrun this weekend. Never thought I'd ever say that about running

Great to see some sleepers As soon as you've got some laid I'm sure you'll motor through the rest. I've even bought some myself to kickstart my (in comparison) very modest project. Hopefully you'll still have a few moments rest to keep the transfers going. Best in the business IMO. Cheers Will

Your lever frame is a true work of art.... way beyond me! Please keep up the great updates

You've got a great layout that I always enjoy looking at There is always something to improve and I'm now judging my projects as being complete when I'm happy and can live with my mistakes. Problem with selling layouts is that you never get much back... always easy to sell a loco or 2 cheers Will

Hi Jack Great stuff as always. How did you make the lighting board? I've been thinking of trying to do something better on my lighting installs and DIY circuit boards cheers Will

Hi Lee A fair price - please pm me with how much you want including P&P. I assume it's sealed? Many Thanks Will

I'll have to have a watch it on catchup. An investor should probably never invest in a company like Hornby as they don't seem to judge the market well. I'm surprised they've lasted so long tbh. I always thought Hornby were way too slow adopting the high-end models... and also missed a trick with O gauge. When there is a popular product it seems to sell out straight away and then not be available for years. (To be fair this could be applied to Heljan/Bachmann etc). I'm surprised they haven't focussed more on block trains for the modern era.... surely there is a product there that if you make one tooling you can sell a trainload (I'll get my coat). Funny though it's Hornby stuff that I've been recently working on... (60s, 56s & 50s). Not that they need anymore work than Bachmann or Heljan efforts just I happen to rather like their attempts. Although their judge of colours will keep Lee in business for a long time

Hiya! Just catching up with your thread... some excellent DMUs! ! Really like your approach to destination blinds which I'm definitely going to have a go at myself I'll admit to rather liking a heritage NSE DMU... must get round to finishing mine off. Please keep inspiring me Cheers Will