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Lisa

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Blog Entries posted by Lisa

  1. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Why do model railway layouts have black facia panels? Before visiting the RM Modellers day, this is not a question which I would have asked.
     
    BUT following a discussion with the person on the design desk, the above is a question that I am exploring. He pointed out, and thinking about I agree, that when one attempts to take a close up photograph of say a locomotive on one's layout, it is difficult not to have part of the facia panel showing in the photograph.
     
    His solution is to have a sloping facial panel, the facia panels are often structural members, on modern plywood layouts. Hence you cannot do without them! BUT his suggestion was to give the sloping facia panel, a partial scenic treatment. SO that when one took the close up photograph, using the macro facility on your camera, the scenic facia would be not in sharp focus.
     
    Visually this would be similar to taking a photograph of a real train, in a landscape, where the foreground would be slightly out of focus.
     
    What do other's think about this subject?
     
    Lisa
  2. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    I use lead free solder, unlike most modellers who I know who bought several rolls of lead solder when lead free was introduced. This requires a higher temperature of 370° and since the pcb sleeper supplied by the 2mm Association are designed it requires very careful soldering, if you are not going to have the copper coming away from the base material. I use 9% Phosphoric Acid flux to ensure the sleeper is very clean and therefor I get a good quality solder joint.
     

     

     
    I hold the sleepers in position on the paper template with double sided tape, this allows their position to be adjusted before I push the sleeper had down. I then cut the rails to the required size, plus an extra 20mm, from the reel of rail. This extra length allows for the fact that you cannot bend the rail to a even curvature right to the end. I soldered the outer rail into position by eye making the inside edge line up with the line on the template. Once I was satisfied with the positioning of this I soldered the inner rail in position using the roller track gauge to ensure the correct track gauge.
     

     
    I then removed the masking tape fixing the template to the baseboard. The turning the template and track over and pressing the track against the baseboard I carefully removed the template from the track. The track section was then cut to length, allowing enough extra to enable the ends to be filled square. After several fittings the track section was the correct length. At this point I applied methylated spirit, using a wipe, as a stopping agent. This works by neutralising the acid.
     

     
    Next the rail position was marked three sleepers from each end of the outer rail. Lille Pins were then inserted into 0.5mm holes, these pins will proved both fixings and power connection points. This section of track is a temporary section until the replacement point has been made. This will allow test running for the testing of chipped locos and rolling stock with DG couplings fitted.
     
    A single Lille Pin was then inserted and soldered to the underside of the inner rail, once the rail was soldered to the outer ones.
     

     
    Finally I Cleaned up the rail surface and checked the alignment using a wagon carefully pushed along.
     
    Lisa
  3. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Because I have Autism, I am unable to read between the lines of what someone is saying. Thus far more misunderstanding occur, for me that most people, who are 'neuro typicals'.
     
    I also have serious problems with equipment and software which are designed to be intuitive.
     
    Recently I have been having problems, with uploading files to RMWEB. Because of my Autism the help information provided is worse than useless to me. The only way I have of solving such problems is to experiment.
     
    This often lands me in trouble, because others think that I am trying, to misuse one of the sites options. My last blog entry on RMWEB, for some reason was viewed by the majority of the moderation team, within a hour of putting it online.
     
    The technique of making a 'test entry' draft, and not clicking the publish button is so that it will not appear on the blog list, but can be fully tested, before proceeding further. Incidentally this technique was suggested by a member of the moderation. team.
     
    I hope this entry, clears the air and will lead to there being less misunderstanding of me and my actions in the future.
     
    Lisa
  4. Lisa
    The 1st Buildings - Back
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11543-st-ouen-jnwr-the-1st-buildings/
     
    Prototype for Everything Department
     
    The question that has been the buzz on the 2mm virtual Area Group has recently been how sharp can my curves be. Below is a photograph of a prototype with very sharp curves.
     

     
    If this was modelled in 2mm scale, the radius would be about 60mm, that’s 120mm in 4mm scale. Oh yes where is this photograph taken. The answer is the Jersey Steam & motor museum, in Trinity. Below is the link to their website.
     
    http://www.pallotmuseum.co.uk/
     
    The picture below is of the coach bogie, the wheels are very close together and the coach is a 5 compartment one.
     

     
    Lisa
  5. Lisa

    La Rocque JER - Planning

    By Lisa,

    Hi
     
    I am building a layout, but in order to test the locomotives, and rolling stock I need a test track. The prototype is an intermediate station on the Jersey Eastern Railway.
     

     
    The station had a single platform a level crossing and a siding facing St Hellier.
     

     
    I am intending that the test track will pack into a plastic box with internal measurements of 380mm by 140mm by 160mm. This will include a loco and rolling stock, and maybe the controller.
     
    I don't have transport, so I travel everywhere by bus, train and ferry. So I intend to carry the box in a holdall. The box is to ensure that the railway stays dry.
     

     
    Lisa
  6. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    Can anyone tell me why when three 2mm modelers meet, they have four preferred track building methods?
     
     
    I seems to be quite fashionable in 2mm circles to lay track, have a problem, rip it up and then relay it. Well now I’ve joined in with a 'Y' point that caused derailments. I have made some plain track to temporally replace it, so I can run trains!
     

     
     
    My re-inventing is in the design of my cassette fiddleyard. The mechanical alignment and electrical connections are achieved using two DC power connectors, see photograph below. The problem is that when I reverse the cassette I reverse the power connections and thus I get a short when I drive a DCC equipped loco onto the cassette! Otherwise the system works well. Why could I just use the standard system?
     

     

    Lisa
  7. Lisa
    Hi
     
    I not blogged about St Ouen for sometime, this is because I have felt I was going nowhere with the project. After much thought I now struck off in a different direction with the project.
     
    I have posted in the Boxfiles forum at
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/39667-the-apa-box/page-4
     
    I have now followed this up, with a new version of the St Ouen project as show below.
     
    This seems to be a much firmer base upon which, quite literally, to move the project forward.
     

     

     

     

     
    The last of the pictures shows the La Rocque layout, minus it's original fiddleyard, used as a scenic module. A sort of Micro APA box arrangement, perhaps MPA!
     
    Lisa
  8. Lisa
    Layout Planning II - Forward
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11355-st-ouen-jnwr-layout-planning-ii/
     
    History
     
    St Ouen was the intended terminus of the JNWR, Jersey North Western Railway. The act was passed by the States, the Jersey Parliament, and the company was incorporated. They purchased a second hand locomotive and seven wagons and a brake van from the Metropolitan Railway.
     
    The whole route was surveyed and work stated on building the railway. They only manages to lay about 1.5 miles of track, including the building of several road over bridges near to St Ouen, before going bankrupt. The Locomotive and the rolling stock were sold to the Jersey Eastern Railway by the liquidator.
     
    The line of the railway was used by the Germans during WWII, for the construction of a meter gauge line from St Helier to St Ouen. BUT no trains ran on the line, because they too run out of money.
     
    The baseboard measures 160mm by 230mm. There will be a hinged extension, a nod to Geoff Jones, of 160mm by 70mm on the LHS to allow for shunting in the coal wharf and the passanger trains to fully enter the platform. At the other end, there will be a hinged platform, onto which train cassettes will be rested. This will be 160mm by 155mm. There will be a backscene of approx 70mm height, along the plaform end, coal wharf side and the locomotive shed end too.
     
     

     
    Lisa
  9. Lisa
    Hello All
     
    I have been wiring the track for DCC, this I though was a simple task, but when I checked my work with a multimeter the rails were shorted. After disconnecting various wire I discovered that one of the pre-cut sleepers was not cut properly. This corrected and the wires reconnected the short has been corrected.
     

     
    Three of the sections of track are held in position using two screws. This is to allow them to be removed to allow a cross over to be installed later.
     

     
    Next I ran a locomotive, which I recorder using my camera phone.
     
    1st_Train.mov
     
    I could not get the locomotive to go round the 78mm radius curve, but this is caused because of a problem with the baseboard join, and the track currently has a hump in the track.
     
    Lisa
  10. Lisa
    Baseboard Design - Back
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11412-st-ouen-jnwr-%E2%80%93-baseboard-design/#commentsStart
     
    Best Laid Plans of Mice and Women - Forward
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11469-st-ouen-jnwr-%E2%80%93-the-best-laid-plans-of-mice-and-women/
     
    Layout Backscenes
     
    How much detail do you need to include in a layout backscene? Is there an advantage to using a photographic backscene?
     
    For St Ouen I planning on using a photographic backscene of trees and grass. I took about six photographs for this project, were taken in St Ouen, on a sunny afternoon last week. I am planning on superimposing photographs of buildings also photographed in St Ouen. Then in front of this placeing half relief buildings, then the railway and then some half relief building to frame the view, with their backs against the layout facia.
     

    Sample of a section of the proposed background
     
    The image is composed of a light blue colour gradient getting lighter towards the bottom, with the trees and foreground meadow superimposed onto it using Photoshop. The St Ouen area is very flat, very little of the grass and bottom of the trees will show on the layout. Any background buildings will be superimposed as required on a separate piece of card, to give slight actual physical depth, as with bas relief. I first saw this used on the N Gauge model of Buckfastleigh in Devon.
     
    I'm intending printing out the photographic backscene, at the local library using a colour injet printer onto a single A3 sheet. Do you think that this is a viable method of producing a convincing background for my layout.
     
    Bearing in mind that my scenic section is 230mm by 140mm with the scenic backscene having a height of 100mm. The layout is 2mm fine scale.
     
    The main baseboard is progressing nicely. More pictures soon!
     
    Lisa
  12. Lisa

    Guernsey Railway

    By Lisa,

    Hi
     
    I am currently on holiday in Guernsey. On Monday, 26th August, bank holiday, I visited the only railway on the island.
     

     
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/guernsey/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8849000/8849444.stm
     

     
    2nd Picture posted from phone.
     
    Lisa
  13. Lisa
    Hi
     

     
    Thank you for you helpful responses to my last posting about my Autism. The photograph below is my work station, which can either be placed on the kitchen table or on my knee.
     


    The second photograph shows where the model will go on the layout. It is designed to hide the back of the left hand, proscenium arch support, when you look at the layout from the front.
     
    The model of the Smithy represents an evenings work, from an initial set of sketches, draw from some not too good photographs.
     
    The photographs below show the back and side of the smiths and the final image shows the inside, so you can see the construction.
     

     
    I have also uploaded an updated copy of the Buildings EBook, the link to which is below.
     
    This has now been loaded and is caller Building Scratch Built Buildings V 2.0
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/52033-2mm-scratch-built-buildings-v-20/
     
     
    Lisa
     
    PS The libruary computer I am using is constantly crashing, and thus the edit process is CRAP!
  14. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    I've been quite recently, i.e. no blog entries this has been because I had a problem with a painful molar! I've now seen the dentist and hopefully the problem is now sorted out.
     
    Either a micro 2mm layout has a fiddleyard or not is a matter of choice. I first considered Mark Fielder's Pizza Layout, Pictures and details can be found via the links page at www.2mm.org.uk This layout has a circle of track with a single siding with all the area covered with scenery.
     
    David Eveleigh's new layout, Framsden, takes a different approach of having the main board which is oval in shape, and has two detachable cassette type fiddleyard, which are attached externally to the layout.
     

     
    The approach which I have taken has a fiddleyard which is physically part of layout, using train cassettes. Which option is used on layout is a matter o choice. On Chagford the fixed backscene is only 57mm high, but the blocks holding this is place is on the scenic side, so that an flexible extension can be fixed to the fiddleyard side.
     

     
    The corners at the ends of the fixed backscene have been rounded so that there is no corner in the extension sky. The intention is to fix a background of fields, trees etc to the fixed backscene. Then to carve the top edge to follow a hedge line. When the buildings are placed in front the amount of this illustration will be restricted. By adding read depth in this way added to the feeling of distance between the mid ground and the sky. The sky will be able to be rolled up using a napkin type ring.
     

     

     
    The above design allow the layout to fit into it's carrying case for ease of transport, whilst having a decent height of backscene whilst the layout is being operated. The blocks which hold the fixed backscene in place will be hidden by buildings and other scenic features.
     
    4th_Train.mov
     
    Lisa
  15. Lisa
    Prototype for Everything Department - Forward
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11591-st-ouen-jnwr-prototype-for-anything-department/
     
    My whole World is a Stage - Back
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11512-st-ouen-jnwr-my-whole-world-is-a-stage/
     
    This weekend I started building the buildings for St Ouen. I was demonstrating at the local show building buildings from scratch, using photographs a source material.
     
    The buildings in the photograph represents a days work, whilst talking to members of the public and explaining the project and the process from an initial thought to a design, then onto baseboard construction.
     

     
    My buildings need more work, include painting, fitting windows, doors, chimneys etc., but they give a more concrete idea of how the layout will look.
     
    I have looked at various ways of supporting a flexible backscene. I feel that the best way forward is to use a single support in the centre of the back threaded into a loop on the back of the backscene.
     
    The sequence of fitting would be fit the backscene at the front, put the support into the loop, and put the fixing screw in. As the screw is tightened, the support moves into the vertical position and tightened the backscene and hopefully corrects the droop.
     
    The problem of the droop is caused, by the tendency of a material, such as card when bend around the base of the layout will attempt to return to the flat state.
     
    Lisa
  16. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Location, choosing a location to model, which can fit into the space available. The Jersey Eastern Railway is an interesting prototype was not a sleepy branch line, but was a suburban railway. Trains ran at 1/2 hour intervals at peak times.
     
    The model is now based on Le Focq, which is a station, just before the main passing station of Pontac.
     

     
    Normal view of the layout
    Sorry the locomotive and rolling stock are not correct.
     
    Location, locating the fiddle yard access boards, so that the tracks line up, is very important. This is not made easier when building a micro layout, than building a larger one.
     

     
    Track plan view of the scenic section
     

     
    Testing the fiddle yard approach track
     

     
    Fiddle yard link board
     
    Location, also transfers the DCC bus signal from the main baseboard to the fiddle yard boards. This uses the location pins, which are made from brass rod and PCB material.
     
    Lisa
  17. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    The first photograph was the result of the previous attempt to paint the cottages.
     

     
    The next photograph is using the macro and flash with a simplified setup, without tripod shown below and the next photograph below it used macro and no flash. Both were taken in front of a window, i.e. much more light.
     

     

     

     
    The problems with the last attempt at painting the Chagford Gas Company houses, was due to technique is applying the brick colour and the photographic techniques used. Using the macro facility takes photographs that are unforgiving of errors in modelling technique!
     
    The first process I carried out was to wash the previous paint, under a warm water tap. The result is shown in the photograph below. The model was then painted the whole non roof area the mortar colour. The doors, windows and the brick colours were applied using the crayons. The painting of the surfaces allows the crayon to stick to the models plastic surface.
     

     
    The colours used for the bricks were too dark, and by using lighter colours the final appearance more realistic. Also the use of the side of the point of the crayon will mean that the colour is more even and allows the colour to be applied to the bricks and not into the edges of the bricks.
     

     
    But the paint did dry unlike the first attempt where the paint did not dry for weeks after it was applied.
     
    I have experimented with using the macro facility on my camera. I allows me to take pictures very closeup to the subject of the photographs. I still need to check it by taking the photographs using natural lighting. I hope that these changes will improve the results achieved!
     
    Lisa
  18. Lisa
    My micro layout has to fit in a footprint of 230mm by 150mm, i.e. inside a container that came filled with Raspberry Ripple Ice-cream. I want the operation, despite the small size to be prototypical. On Jersey railway the engines always had their chimneys facing west. Because of the small layout footprint the fiddleyard has to be single ended.
     
    Below is a picture of the track layout and building on the main board.
     

     
    The video, link shown below shows the sequence required to keep not turn the coaches around and keep the locomotive facing the correct direction.
     

     
    The members of the local club have christened my layout ‘The Raspberry Ripple’. There has is another 2FS micro layout called ‘The Pizza’, obviously there seems to be a propensity to name 2FS layout after food items!
  20. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    When designing and building a micro layout you have to make the most of every cm of layout frontage. That is the reason that Chagford has a curved instead of strait frontage, with the curve, your frontage is longer. The length of the frontage determines the number of discrete scenes which can be fitted it. The layout is designed to be viewed at eye level.
     


    The dairy stream ran between the dairy and the tramway depot. There were two bridges which crossed the stream, the tramway and the road access into the dairy. The latter was a stone arch bridge and the tramway one was a timber baulk type.
     
    I could not determine the exact position of the bridge until I knew how large my model of the boiler house was going to be. Once this was done the baseboard could be cut. I used a carpenters slitting saw to cut from the baseboard edge to the track, cutting at an angle of 80º to the vertical.
     

     


    I then cut across between the two cuts with the aid of a series of small drill holes. I then very carefully cut, the baseboard, under the track with the slitting saw being careful not to damage either the track or the DCC spine cable. Then cutting the other side of the track using small drill hole and finishing the cuts carefully using a Stanley knife. The baseboard material was carefully removed with the aid of a very sharp chisel and the edges cleaned up with a scalpel with a new blade.
     


    The remainder of the cutting was done with a coping saw and small holes to help cut the end. A cable retaining strap for the DCC spline had to be repositioned. A piece of ply wood was cut to size and screwed and glued into position so as to restore the strength of the baseboard.

    The baseboard side was then replaced temporally. I intend replacing the side because the MDF has proved to offer very little protection.
     
    Lisa
  21. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    Today I have been building the new cassette location and electrical connection for the train cassettes on Chagford. Despite the new electrical system being much more straight forward, on the first attempt I got the wiring cassette wiring reversed and found a complete short when I tested it.
     

     

     
    This done I next wired up the section of track to the left of the cassette which had previously been unconnected. Then did some rectification to the point wiring and added the point tie bar.
     
    Then I ran the first train around the whole oval including over the cassette.
     
    2nd_Train.mov
     
    Building points that are not built in a 2mm Association jig is an artform. I am learning fast and hopefully my next point will be easier to build and have the need for less rectification before a train will run over it without derailing.
     
    Lisa
  22. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    One of the problems which I have had whilst writing this blog, is taking photographs of very small models. This problem is made worst because I have problems with hand shake, when trying to hold them camera still. The above problems are more sever if I use the optical zoom function on my camera.
     

     
    What I have been trying to do is take hand-held shots of work in progress, because I feel that this gives a more spontaneous feel to the blog. In order to get better quality photographs it will be necessary to stage shots in order to use a tripod to hold the camera.
     

     
    I have experimented using flash and using additional lighting. With the flash there is a tendency to get pictures with areas in the centre of the picture which appears shiny, this happens because the flash is reflected by shiny surface of the plastic surface. The additional lighting requires careful setting up in order to get fine surface detail in the photographs.
     

     
    I hope that I can find a way to get photographs which capture the feel of the project, but are of a higher quality than so far achieved.
     
    Lisa
  23. Lisa

    Additive Manufacturing 2

    By Lisa,

    Hi
     
    Recently Steam_Julie posted a blog entry where she posted photographs of the cable clamps she made, to fix the DCC power bus to the underside of her layout.
     
    These were manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques, BUT not using a 3D printer, instead using styrene cement and strips of styrene sheet.
     

    Lisa
     
    Posted from andriod phone
     
    Knob Shop blog entry http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/941/entry-12889-the-knob-shop/
  24. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    I will be able to do more modelling, now the malicious case against me, by the Crown, for Assault has been dropped.
     
     
    Blog entry, re the completion of the Dairy Building, to follow shortly.
     
    Lisa
  25. Lisa
    Hi All
     
     
    I been using a device that I purchased last Christmas in Cardiff. It allow the user to cut thin strips, hence the name, of card or plastic strip. When used with plastic card thicker than 10 thou, the stripper only scores the surface. But by bending the sheet is snaps along the scored line, cleanly.
     

     

     
    I am currently experimenting using plastic card, to build track bases, instead of using PCB sleepers or Easitrac base. Below is a photograph of some base made, before I found my stripper. The stripper allows the strips to be uniform width.
     

     
    I feel that using the stripper will make this method of track construction feasible. Once the ballast is applied the sleeper joining strip will be hidden, as per commercial flex track, but my track will be built to 2mm fine scale standards, with code 40 rail.
     
     
    Lisa
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