EnglishElectricFan

All the point motors on this board are now wired. PROBLEM !! All points work when switched from the controller......... One point works perfectly, the other 3 short when the loco's wheels run onto the point. I have attached isolating fishplates to the frog rails, with power to the toe as instructed, with the frog wire attached to the motor in the correct clip. One point works when the blade is switched incorrectly and allows the loco to run over without shorting, but obviously de-rails. All wires are fully co-ordinated and wired to the main bus correctly. So its back outside at the weekend to check all the wiring again. Im no expert on electrics, so this could be a bug bearer!! Watch this space folks!

Good morning everyone, hope you are enjoying the bank holiday weekend. More wiring today, bit of juggling with track alignment on one of the baseboards, and maybe time to have a go with the new airbrush. Got plenty of things waiting to be weathered, being a one man band makes progress slow, but fully enjoyable. I Was out on the ELR 37 bashing last weekend, 40106 looks in fine fettle, hopefull get some thrash at the gala in July, with some Cumbrian coast mixed in for a hopefully good week off work ! See how easy it is for the modelling to slip into go slow, far too much to juggle with, but we wouldnt have it any other way would we! If I get any models sprayed, I will post some pics, as well as posting some of the wagons I have done so far. Many thanks to all who keep me motivated by your kind words of support. Simon

26 and 20

New addition 40129

Hi Peter Thanks for the kind words. Have you started the new layout layout yet? It looked a great idea to do. Im struggling to find noses for my split box 37 at the moment, as I want a model of 37012 in large logo before the square headlamps were fitted, as it worked the Stranraer-Glasgow Central service back in the 80s on Sealink stock. Contacted Bachmann, but no reply for spare noses ! Anyway, nice to hear from you and keep me informed of any news on your layout, as I will follow with interest. Cheers Simon.

Just a couple of pics to show the problem encountered with the point motor and the baseboard. I have used whiterose baseboards for this project as they were purchased many years ago. I am fitting DCC concepts digital point motors, which is quite straight forwards , even for me with little skill in this catogory!! Now the problem ! Under the baseboard, the company have fitted fire retardent polystyrene to quieten surplus noise when trains are in operation. So to fit the motor, I have had to gorge out a hole to fit the motor with longer screws. This has worked, but is very messy to do. I have tried one motor to see how things fit,all works!!! so will now be doing the same for the 8 other motors. The board has been put against the next for alignment of track, then its onto the next. First train has run over all the pointwork, in the photo, so Im pleased and relieved things have worked out !

Heres a little project I have completed for the layout. I bought a rather run down and poorly weathered Bachmann class 37 408 for £30. Stripped off all the weathering, tidied it up and weathered it with my airbrush. Hope the pictures show what was achieved, before ,during, and afterwards.

Hi Martyn What a fabulous layout, it oozes West Highland atmosphere. The station reminds me a little of the old Fort Bill with the open canapy and lattice work. Great stuff. Simon

Hi Martyn Thanks, theres a long way to go yet, but things are moving if somewhat slowly! Simon

Cheers Dave If I can get anywhere near your standard I will be more than happy.Your photographs are very inspiring to us all ! Simon

Hi ian The actual description is 'Brighton Docks' by ID backscenes. There is a company in the USA who sell harbour backscenes of European ports, some Irish ones which are quite good, but they are very expensive.Unsure of their name. Cheers Simon

Morning all, just a few snippets of this weekends work on the layout. This baseboard has now had all dropper wires attached to connecting blocks under the baseboard. The 'mess' of blue wires are for the live frog on the Peco code 75 points. All excess wire will be trimmed once the point motors are attached underneath. All points have been soldered across the running rail and switch rail to enable better electrical contact.The track plan has slightly changed by replacing the 3way point with a single point, as it looked too cluttered. All thats left to do now is run the bus wire underneath and connect the wiring for the point motors. The 3way point is now on the station throat which has given more of a gentle curve to the bay platform, and straightened the line running into the main platform. This board is next on the 'to do list'. Sorry for the lack of pics of the blue diesels,, but will try and upload some more in due course. Simon

Just a quick update to those who follow my thread. Things have been slow this last week or so, but I have managed to solder the points at the station throat ready for the DCC concepts point motors. Just need to drill the baseboard, drop the wires, and attach the motors. All dropper wires are now intact on the two station boards, so next is to wire the power bus along these two boards. I will add more photo's of the wiring under the baseboards as things progress. On the traction note, I now have a Bachmann split box 40 (at last!) 40129 in weathered blue. i will be adding a sound chip at some point. (Be rude not to!) Many thanks to those of you who have commented on my thread, keeps me motivated!

My new layout is finally making a start................Newton Harbour , Ayrshire , Scotland. Period modelled is based on two periods. BR blue c1980's and BR sector c1990's. June 9th Some new pictures added

Morning everyone. I need help (most of my friends would agree!) I was wondering what is the best way to produce a platform surface using the Peco platform edges. I have the plastic surface that come in the packs with the edging, but this doesnt look real enough to me. Any suggestestions would be gratefully received. Simon

Starting on the station throat tomorrow. Clear all the mess off and get the points and trackwork wired.

Just a few pictures of the stock which will be used for the different time scales.

26 stabled.

Thanks Jim

Hi, I have the final plan but not on paper or drawn up on pc softwear (im not great with softwear etc), I will post a pic of the complete layout once all boards are connected to show the track layout from both ends. There are two scenic boards 130cm by 40cm each (station area), and another two 110cm by 30cm each (warehouse/sidings area).The fiddle yard is two boards of 100cm by 20cm each. (6 boards in total) Cheers

A picture showing how part of the backscene will look once perminantly fixed into place.

Photo attached oops!

Work underway on the 2nd baseboard. The 3way point is for the warehouse and two sidings. The passenger platform runround where the 27 is,is accessed by the warehouse and sidings to enable running round etc. The unfinished line will be the freight loop at the fron of the layout. The station platform will finish where the peco logo on the track is. Wiring is underway, and once all the dropper feed wires are done, the point motors will be wired in. (DCC concepts )