Jump to content
 

Lisa

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    308

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Lisa

  1. Lisa
    Layout Planning I - Back
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11232-st-ouen-jnwr-layout-planning/
     
    Building a Sequence - Forward
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11376-st-ouen-jnwr-building-a-sequence/
     
    Detailed Design
     
    When designing a very small layout, planning is much more critical than for larger layouts. I use a CAD package call Templot, then the template is printed out full size. The lengths of the sidings etc. can be checked by placing a locomotive and rolling stock.
     

     
    Sand train shunt using Initial track design
     

     
    Passenger train arrived using Initial track design
     

     
    Sand train shunt using modified track design
     

     
    Passenger train arrived using modified track design
     
    This process allowed me to optimise the length of the left hand hinged extension. By experimentation this will be 100mm. The passenger track will be longer than the coal wharf track, because having it only long enough for an engine and a single wagon makes the operation more interesting!
     
    When designing a micro layout, it is important that there is enough operating interest. The second pair of photographs the details of the buildings and the flap are sketched in.
  2. Lisa

    Chagford - My first posting

    By Lisa,

    Hi All
     
    I have been working on layout today! I model in 2mm finescale.
     
    Today I have run my first train on the layout using the non DCC option on the controller, as of yet I don't have a decoder equipped loco yet.
     
    Lisa
  3. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Whilst the initial design worked with the sequence. The modified design has two goods sidings, like the prototype. The back siding is the coal siding, and the front one for general goods.
     
    The design, is designed to fit into two plastic boxes for transport, measuring 380mm by 140mm by 140mm. This allows for the loop being the correct length.
     

     
    This idea of using two boards, came from reading page 305, of MRJ No. 75 on buiding a simple diorama.
     
    Lisa
  4. Lisa
    To look at all the posting in this blog, place the cursor over the name and right click the mouse.

     
    Hi
     
    I also getting on with the baseboard construction. I now added the flap, to carry the off scene track, to allow the passenger trains to fully enter the platform. The buffer stops are off scene.
     
    This has to be detachable or hinged to allow the layout to fit in it's carrying case. The photographs below show the flap folded up from the layout front. The flap in the up position also from the front and the the underside of the the flap in the up position.
     



    I need to adjust the height so that it is inline with the top surface of the main board.
     
    There is a small gap between the main baseboard and he flap, to allow for the thickness of the backscene card!
     
    Lisa
  5. Lisa
    Hi
     
    My 1st attempt to paint a 2mm building. Before I applied any paint to the Smithy, I painted a sample piece.
     
    I been using acrylic paints. The roof is slightly shinny becuase the small quanity of white paint I used to paint the roof tiles, was not a flat white, ie it was gloss.
     
    I also had problems with splashing of roof colour onto the side wall. BUT since the paint used is acrylic it can be wiped off, and I can have another attempt.
     


     
    Lisa
  6. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Thanks to all involved in arranging the Taunton Event. The selection of Layouts was good, Atmosphere excellent.
     
    I always enjoy seeing Bridport Town. The town modelling is well observed, and the owner is an excellent communication skills and out his explanations are pithy and very instructive.
     
    The use of low tech sound effects, such as the wooden locomotive whistle gave the operation just that little something extra.
     
    The contrast between the high tech, with locomotives not properly run in of the Southern layout behind Bridport, and the well executed DC operation of Bridport are very instructive. Proving High Tech is no substitute for good old attention to detail and operator training.
     
    I was very impressed with the Staplegrove Steel Works module and the 2mm finescale demonstration was excellent. The Tree building demonstration and the 3D printing demonstration were very through provoking, for me on tempting me to take new directions in my modelling techniques.
     
    Those who missed the event missed an excellent day out.
     
    Lisa
  7. Lisa
    Layout Mock up - Back
     
    To see the animated layout mock up click on the link below.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11391-st-owen-jnwr-layout-mockup/
     
    Background Design - Forward
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11443-st-ouen-jnwr-how-much-detail-is-required-in-a-photo-background/
     
    Baseboard Design
     
    The baseboard for St Ouen are made from a sandwich of 4mm plywood and 8mm softwood. The photograph below shows the underside of the main board. Removal of material, is usually carried out to make the baseboard lighter, but on such a small baseboard this is not a consideration.
     

     
    Photograph of the underside of the main board.
     
    The space created will be used to accommodate the wiring, including facilitating the attachment of track droppers.
     
    The animation below shows how the layout is packed away into it's carrying case, for transport. The next stage is to complete the building of the baseboard, including the platform extension and the cassette fiddleyard flaps.
     
    The nickname of the layout, down at the club is the 'Raspberry Ripple' because the carrying container originally came filled with Raspberry Ripple ice cream.
     
    Lisa
     

  8. Lisa
    Hi
     
    What is an armchair modeller? To many the answer is a sign of disapproval, someone who thinks about building a layout, but does little real modelling.
     
    Many of my previous modelling projects have failed because I didn't do enough thinking, before starting projects.
     
    This time round I did, and this think before you start model, makes the actual project execution easier.
     
    I have now made the main baseboard, yes it is a micro layout. But it is designed to be a complete layout, with a scenic area and a fiddleyard.
     
    Below are some photographs which show the progress which I am making. The layout main board is ONLY 14 mm thick. The thinner the support structure is the more height is available for scenic development. The Really Useful Box, in which the layout will be stored and transported is 120mm high.
     

    Underside detail showing the mono cock construction
     

    The stream bed, built as a drop section.
     

    Underside view of one of the extension boards
     

    Overall view of the complete layout
     
    When doing my modelling, I sit at my workbench, I sit in a comfortable chair. What is the point in being uncomfortable?
     
    Lisa
  9. Lisa
    Chagford - Operating Sequence Updated 26-05-12
     
    Hi All
     
    The layout design, in the last post, needed to have the loop entry points simulated by the use of train cassettes. There is nothing wrong in principle with this, but there would have been 3 tracks leaving the scenic area in parallel, at the right hand end of the layout.
     
    By having the main and the other lines curved, and by using asymmetric y points, it is possible to have the loop entry point in the scenic area.
     
     

     
    This arrangement also makes the appearance of the Depot more appealing to. It also allows goods tram of 4 wagons and a brake van possible, as per prototype.
     
    BUT more important is allows a partial relief gas holder to be modelled in the between the main and the mineral branch. This both mimics the prototype and partially hides the necessary aperture in the backscene.
     
    I've spent a long time looking at tram sequences and track layout. He design I have arrived at meets my requirements of an interesting to operate layout, within the very small space.
     
    With the above paper layout, I simulated the sequence, to check that it was possible to run it. With a few minor amendments it worked well. It is my intention to use a PDA running a spreadsheet to produce the live sequence, incorporating the as required and special tram services.
     
    Lisa
  10. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    To check if the design will work, you can draw out your design full size, and then check the lengths of loops and sidings using the locomotives and rolling stock, as show below.
     

     
    The loop length can be increased by curving the Main and Loop roads. For Chagford this is essential to make sure that the layout will operate correctly.
     
    The above test showed that a train of 4 wagons and a break was able to be run around using the proposed loop. BUT only if one end of the loop was simulated using train cassettes.
     

     
    The length of the goods siding is long enough to enable it to handle 3 wagons. But when the Passenger Tram Siding was too short because it is a requirement to use it as in order to access the Locomotive Shed.
     
    But the points can be moved towards Bow, without problems, to correct this problem.
     
    Lisa
  11. Lisa
    Updated at 18:12 05-05-12
    Hi All
     
    Having started out with Chagford layout, in a circular format, inspired by Mark Fielders Pizza layout. I have discovered that whilst this works in narrow gauge, due to the lack of buffers, in standard gauge it does not work.
     
    I am now pondering a more traditional design, similar to Mayfield Street. The layout would use an offstage cassettes to simulate one end of the loop and another for the Dairy Sidings at the other end.
     

     
    My aim, as with the previous circular design is ease of transport, by bus and train, as I don’t have or want to own a car. I currently considering using a plastic container which has length 400mm height 120mm and width of 135mm. All of these measurements are internal ones.
     
    My design aim is to get the complete layout, complete with its cassettes and facia to fit into the above box for transport. I envisage fitting this box into a holdall for ease of transport. The plastic box keeping the layout dry, despite the small amounts of moisture that would get inside the holdall.
     
    Lisa
  12. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    Havn't been around for a while. I've just come out of hospital, good old NHS, having just had some surgery to my left jaw. There is no pain for the first time in months.
     
    I hope to do some modeling tomorrow after i've walked Maisy. You probably guessed Masiy photograph is used as my icon.
     
    Lisa
  13. Lisa
    Modified 23-05-12 & 26-05-12
     
    Hi All
     
    It is my intention to operation of Chagford on a sequence, based on the operation of the prototype. The red entries didn't run every day.
     
    The sequence may seem at first sight complex, but every tram operated is a minimum of three lines in the table below
     

     
    My intention is to use some form of random number generation, to decide if the non regular trams are included in the operating sequence.
     
    The next stage of the design process is to dry run the sequence, to see if it works, including if the sidings are long enough to hold the wagons.
     
    Lisa
  14. Lisa

    Chagford - Track Plan

    By Lisa,

    Hi All
     
    I've now done the basic track planning. The main track in the diagram below is shown as straight. When the track is laid it will be curved, because it was curved on the prototype.
     
    I am current planning to lay the track on thin foam board both for sound insulation and to allow the final track track position to be adjusted to make the best possible use of the very limited area.
     
    The track diagram below was drawn using Trax 3. The points have a radius of 190mm, but it is a tramway and not a railway and the largest locomotive was a small wheeled 0-6-0 and no passenger or freight vehicle on the tramway had a wheelbase of longer than 15'.
     
    It should be noted, that the prototype had a coal siding and a separate general goods siding, but space consideration forced me to combine them into one!
     

     
    The photograph below is the plastic box, into which the baseboard, fascia panel and supports will have to fit for transport.
     

     
    Lisa
  15. Lisa
    Hi
     
    I have built the main baseboard and I am currently building the fiddleyard approach boards.
     
    When laying out track, I realised that although the track, it would fit, but I was unable to fit the necessary point motor in, without either not including the culvert or cutting the length of the platform.
     

     
    As a result I have decided to model Le Focq instead. Because of the box size being fixed, and the need to be able to take the layout on the bus, ferry and trains.
     
    My design ebook can be found at, this shows my design thinking!
     
    URL: http://www.diane.me-me.me.uk/Micro_Design/Micro_Design.html
     
    Lisa
  16. Lisa

    A Night on the Tiles

    By Lisa,

    Hi All
     
     
    I've been working on the Dairy roof, but I not had successful as expected. BUT I think all is not lost. Along the way, I have learned some valuable lessons. These are when cutting thin paper, it is important to use a very sharp blade in one's scalpel and to cut, rather than tear you must have the blade at a low angle between the blade and the paper being cut.
     
     
    Coming back to the problems, I’ve got PVA glue on the printed brickwork between two windows, but I think I can retrieve the situation by weathering the wall.
     

     
    The glue on the roof, can be hidden, by spraying the roof, with a mist of green paint. Examination of any roof, shows that lichen grows on them.
     
     
    The roof is made up a series of strips, cut from a sheet, produced using Corel PhotoPaint. By applying strips, rather than simply fixing the sheet on a single piece, gives a 3D surface to the overlapping layers of tiles, that make up the roof.
     

     
    The barge boards are made from thin paper to, and where one became damaged during the gluing, I simply patched it just like the prototype would be.
     
     
    If you think, that all is lost, due to a problem, there is usually a way of retrieving the situation!
     
     
    Lisa
  17. Lisa
    What is additive Manufacturing?
     
    Traditional manufacturing is done by removing material, whereas additive manufacturing is done by adding material.
     
    What equipment do I need to start?
     
    Normally it is considered that you require a 3D printer, but that is not so. All I have is a collection of thin sheets of plasticard, a comtainer of plastic weld adhesive, a cutting board, a scapel, and a 12" steel rule.
     
    Can I used subtractive processes?
     
    Yes of course you can. Many commercial applications of Additive Manufacturing, need to use subtractive methods, to complete the manufacturing process. An example is where circular holes, to a very small tollence. They print the hole, which is not completly round, then the hole is reamed out to make the hole completely round, and the exact required size.
     
    Do I need to make a whole wagon body in one piece?
     
    No is the answer. If it simplies the manufacturing process. The parts can be joined using a suitable glue, to make the complete model. With some items the making in several pieces simplifis the process and improves the quality of the finished product.
     
    How can I get a large radius, for a carriage roof?
     
    If it is printed, so the roof is the intended shape, then the curve is a series of small steps. There are several options, you could smooth the shape using emery paper. You could add extra layer, using a thin sheet, held in place using a suitable adhesive. There are methods of eating away the surface to get a smooth roof, but the roof needs to be printed slightly thicker to allow for the material being removed.
     
    Or you could print the roof flat, and then using hot water and a wooden mandril and a rubber band to bend the roof into the required radius. You have to bend it into a smaller radius that the required, because the roof will spring out, after the part is removed from the hot water.
     
    What models can be made, using Additive Manufacturing?
     
    The only limit to the process is the imagination of the person. Before using a new technique, you will need to several make practice pieces to learn the best way to get the required result.
     
    Previous blog entry http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/941/entry-11238-additive-manufacturing/
  18. Lisa
    After building the sequence, the next stage was to build a mock up of the layout to check that it look OK.
     
    Firstly I took the design of the layout, within Templot and added the flap that carries the track for the end of the platform and the coal wharf roads. Then I added a cassette and the cassette support flap to the design.
     

     
    The design for the complete layout
     
    Next I built the mock up of the layout, including the proposed backscene. This was examined in a great deal of detail, and changes were made, until I was satisfied with the result.
     

     
    St Ouen mockup
     
     
    Baseboard Design - Forward
     
    To look at the design of the baseboard, click on the link below.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11412-st-ouen-jnwr-%E2%80%93-baseboard-design/
     
    Building an Operating Sequence - back
     
    To see how the operating sequence was built, click on the link below.
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1283/entry-11376-st-ouen-jnwr-building-a-sequence/
     
    Lisa
  19. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    There are several ways in which building can be constructed for a layout. I have decided that I am going to build them using embossed plastic sheet. Some of the building, like the workman's cottages for the dairy and the gas works can be built by modifying commercial kits, for Kestrel aka Gaugemaster.
     

     
    I could have built the cottages from scratch from sheets of embossed plasticard. This would have allowed the building to be more individual,but would have evolved much more work.
     
    Modifying kits is often referred to as 'kit bashing', this enables the finished building in this case to be made to suite the prototype and fit in the available space. This visual appearance can be achieved by painting the bricks the correct yellow/red colour and weathering them. The model will be fitted into the available space by building it in half relief, and at the same time we get four half relief cottages from a kit designed to produce two whole cottages.
     

    In order to make the completed cottages strong enough to withstand layout transport they were built on a plasticard plinth and have a blank back wall made from plasticard. The plinth was fitted on place, after the windows were fixed in place. There were six small holes drilled into the plinth to allow the fumes from the plastic weld adhesive to get out, if you don't do this the windows would go cloudy.
     

     

    Lisa
  20. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    Having no car it is an important consideration that the layout should be convenient to transport by public transport. The packing system consist of two components, these are a plastic box, to keep it dry and a bag with a strap that goes over the shoulder to make the carrying easier.
     

     

     
    In doing the measurements to check the maximum height for the backscene, which is 55mm, I decided to redesign the positioning of the overcentre catches to fix the cassette board to the main board. This change simply makes the layout packing easier.
     

     

     
    Lisa
  21. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Whilst building the building for St Ouen, I have been amazed about the lack of basic guidance available on the web about the design and building of scratch built buildings.
     

     
    The link is below:-
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/51729-2mm-scratch-built-buildings/
     
    If you are modelling a prototype location all of the buildings will by necessary require to be scratch built.
     
    Lisa
  22. Lisa
    Hi
     
    St Helier Weighbridge was the terminus of Jersey Western and Jersey North Western trains in the town. St Helier Snow hill was the terminus of the Jersey Eastern trains and the site is the other side of central area.
     
    This below is a photograph of how the front of the station is today. There have been no substantial structural changes, just the addition of branding, the building is now the entrance to the Liberation Walk outlet shopping centre.
     

     
    This stone build building was completed about two years after the station was opened; there was a wood building on the side, in an area now occupied by the pavement of the Esplanade. This was on the sea shore, before the harbour extension including the Queen Elizabeth Ferry Terminal was build.
     
    The entrance area is still very much as it was when it was a railway station, If you look up you can see the remaining portion of the overall roof. The remainder of which was removed in the early 1920’s and replaced with platform canopies.
     
    Round the corner the station buildings have been replaced with a modern apartment block, but on the ground floor is the Liberation Bus Station, the main transport hub for the island.
     

     
    Lisa
  23. Lisa
    Hi
     
    Whilst travelling back home, from the 2FS Expo 2013 in Wallingford Oxon., I looked out of the train window, and what I saw started me thinking.
     
    Of course railways exist in a landscape, but many modellers build their models as if there are no significant vegetation between the boundary fence and the track. Pre 1985 that might have been more true, up to then the railway had kept their cutting and embankment etc. maintained as a grassy sward. This to prevent the exhaust from steam trains catching the vegetation fire. They cut the grass with scythes, grass cutting was one of the tasks carried out by permanent way staff.
     
    Post 1968 there were no steam trains, on the network, at least run by BR. There was a need to cut costs and so the vegetation management is let go. BR put a brave face on it, saying they were creating a liner nature reserve alongside their tracks.
     
    Then came the great storm of 1986, when many lines were blocked by fallen trees. As a result they changed track again, they started to clear fell areas which they considered to be vulnerable to tree fall. They went too far in the opposite direction, and they had embankment and cutting wall falls, blocking lines and costing millions of
    pounds.
     
    So now in the 2000's the situation has settled down, some areas are clear felled, but most of the track side estate is left to go wild. This can of course cause to farmers and householders as weeds from the railway know no boundaries.
     
    When you look over the railway boundary, or towards it, you will often be looking through a screen of trees, towards the trains. What are sometimes preferred to as a green corridor.
     

     
    Below is a map showing the locations at which the photographs were taken.
     




     
    There are of course examples on preserve railways, such as the Mid Hants in the Ropley area, where a long stretch has be restored to how it would have looked pre-grouping.
     
    Lisa
  24. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    Last night I completed building my own workbench, up to now I've been working on the kitchen table. Currently I get the power supply from a extension lead on the top of the bench, hopefully I will soon have the 4 way attached to the side of the bench instead.
     

     
     
    I also need to fit a side and back to the bench to prevent items and tools from falling off, and getting lost.
     

     
     
    Lisa
     
     
  25. Lisa
    Hi All
     
    More details of the prototype
     
    The layout is a model of a mineral tramway, and not a railway. The difference is that a tramway can either go along it's own right of way, or along a public road, either in the road surface or on the verge.
     
    To build such a tramway the permission from the local highway authority to cross or go along public roads is all that is required, together with the purchase of any land required for depots and private rights sections. No acts of parliament are required.
     

     
    A maximum speed of 15 mph where the tramway is on the verge, 5 mph when crossing public roads and 25mph when on a private right of way are imposed by the Tramways Act.
     
     
    Lisa
     
     
     
     
     
    The only restriction on the radius of curves, is whether the locomotives and rolling stock can negotiate them, when a traversed at an appropriate speed laid down by either the highway authority or the tramway operator.
×
×
  • Create New...