westerner Posted November 22, 2017 Author Share Posted November 22, 2017 At last I've started work on the layout. Cork has been laid on the lower level and today I wired the points so that I can change the polarity of the frog when I change the points. It will be done with slide switches and wire in the tube. The tube will run on the surface buried in a slot cut into the cork to the slide switch which will be on the baseboard edge hidden under scenery. When I start laying the track, hopefully very soon, I will put some photos up. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted November 22, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 22, 2017 Nice to see this coming together, Alan. Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 23, 2017 Author Share Posted November 23, 2017 Today I have been laying the first piece of track. The entrance into the refuelling yard. The first photo shows the arrangement with 0.8mm brass wire led through 3/32inch plastic tube which has been sunk into a groove in the cork. The switch will be hidden under scenery and a cut out will be made in the fascia panel. The second photo shows the slide switch which as well as changing the point will switch the frog. And the final photo shows the tie-bar end and if you look carefully you will see the brass rod just poking through the hole in the centre of the tie-bar. The weights you can see are to hold the point in place (it handed been fixed down) to ensure there was enough movement in the slide switch to change the point. All is now glued down and is drying with weights on. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted November 23, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 23, 2017 I intially thought the track pins in the top photo were a tad large but I subsequently went and got my glasses. All good. Rob. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 Laid a bit more track over the weekend, Now only one more point and the 3 way to go. when they are down and the resulting straight pieces I'll tip the layout on its back and join the wires up. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 Last two points laid, the rest of the track coming towards the engine is just placed at the moment. I feel I have to cut another hole in the end board to allow a easier access to the re-fuel point, the hatched red area in the second photo. This way no loco should get blocked in. I've been listening to you Mr Mortimore. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted December 6, 2017 Author Share Posted December 6, 2017 (edited) I have finally finished the track laying in the yard. The next bit is cork and track laying on the upper bit (just 2 lengths of straight track, followed by connecting the wires. The Knightwing shed acts a view bock and if it stays will certainly have a new roof. the grey piece of plastic is the base to the refuelling point. Edited December 6, 2017 by westerner 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted December 11, 2017 Author Share Posted December 11, 2017 Have spent the last few days making a simple small control panel and wiring the refuelling yard. I'm not the best at this sort of thing (although all my previous layouts worked). This was the first time I have wired in points to change the polarity of the frog and also the first time I've done wire in tube operation. I was pleased and dare I say slightly surprised that it all worked .. I still have to lay the two lengths of track on the upper section.A poor quality photo of control panel. The four empty holes at the top of the panel are for the upper level switches> The four larger lower switches are the section switches and the 4 smaller ones set out in a squart are the isolating sections. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 (edited) A more in focus photo of the still incomplete control panel, now the two top lines re laid I will be able to complete it. At the moment beginning to make the cassettes for the fiddleyard. I could not resist placing Bulldog and van on one of the new cassettes as if reversing into the parcels platform. Hopefully wire up the upper section to morrow and start on my system for connecting the cassettes. Edited December 14, 2017 by westerner 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted December 20, 2017 Author Share Posted December 20, 2017 The two tracks on the upper section are now laid and wired and work, so I've started on the cassettes. Tim Horn kindly cut 10 3ft strips 2 and1/2 inches wide and a friend who has a band saw cut them into the lengths I required, They have been covered with 3mm cork of various sorts(using up what is about in the railway room) to bring them up to the height of the scenic side of the layout. Tim made the fiddleyard board the thickness of the surface lower than the main board so that the cassettes would be at the correct height. When the scenic track was laid strip wood was placed at the exits and uncovered cassettes were placed where they would be needed to make sure tracks would line up. The strip wood was then screwed down to act as guides. I do have ideas how to electrify them which I'll post later when I've experimented. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted December 26, 2017 Author Share Posted December 26, 2017 Work on Louville Lane has come to a halt over the holiday period as the room is emptied prior to re-decoration in the next couple of days. When that is finished there will be a few days truly sorting out the boxes etc as to what I really need in the railway room. eg do I need a draw for each colour of wire or could, particularly as I will have finished wiring, it all go in one draw. I am reducing the shelving space so some stuff will have to go, if not to the dump at least to the garage. So I suspect there will be no progress on the layout for at least another 7 or 8 days or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted December 31, 2017 Author Share Posted December 31, 2017 Decorating nearly finished just the woodwork to get its final coat tomorrow. Then hopefully on Tuesday erect the shelving and start moving all the gubbins back whilst sorting it out and cutting the amount down to the necessaries. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 Redecoration finished and main bookshelves rebuilt, there are more shelves to put in. The ones that you can see are fixed and give them stability along with the cross braces you can see. There will be a small chest of draws next to the single unit and two, one on top of the other bedside units and that's the lot, ohaprt from two shelves over the layout. I'll post more pictures when I've finished sorting all the boxes of bits. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 7, 2018 Author Share Posted January 7, 2018 At long last the room is now finished and re-furnished. So much more space I now have two chairs in the there and there is room for another if I so desired. Great when a friend comes round, in the past there was no room to swing the proverbial feline. Only one chair so some one always had to stand. So I can now get back to the layout. A quick photo tour. And finally a small reminder of Wencombe and Kingsbridge Regis. I was very pleased when a friend who had been looking out of the window turned round and thought that set of photos were of real railways It was only when he looked more closely did he realise they were of the previous layouts. In the words of Yoda "Dead chuffed I was" 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted January 7, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2018 Very tidy, I dare not photo my play room yet, elf and safety would close me down. I like the photos you have chosen of the closed branch line. I note on the new layout Grey Cars aka Devon General are providing a replacement bus service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 7, 2018 Author Share Posted January 7, 2018 (edited) Well spotted Clive. Re-found them when clearing out some boxes that were going out to the garage. I thought I'd put them there rather than "lose" them again. Edited January 7, 2018 by westerner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 Started back on the layout this afternoon. Laying 2mms cork covering over the point operating tubes. I won't post any photos just yet as all you will see is strips of wood with weights on to keep it flat. I am beginning to build up a picture in my head of what it may look like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted January 10, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 10, 2018 Started back on the layout this afternoon. Laying 2mms cork covering over the point operating tubes. I won't post any photos just yet as all you will see is strips of wood with weights on to keep it flat. I am beginning to build up a picture in my head of what it may look like. Do I get my own back and demand photos NOW .....mind you photos of someones baseboards with heavy items placed on them aren't really that interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 Touch's Clive, I'll post in the next couple of days when I've recorked more of the layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Now I've finished the extra layer of cork I'll take some photos. Honest Clive!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted January 15, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 15, 2018 Now I've finished the extra layer of cork I'll take some photos. Honest Clive!!!!! I was going to send you some photos of the glue drying under my cork with heavy weights on top. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Those photos at long last. I've also placed some "scenery" just to get some sort of impression as to what I need to do to clear the point operating system (that's the blue bits). I do have some kits for the upper level, again Walthers, as they are all warehouse type buildings. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 I've been experimenting with joining the cassettes to the layout, a systm I've used before. I'll let the photos do the talking. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted January 19, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 19, 2018 No running problems? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 Not as yet. Like me it's simple and cheap. AS stated I have used this system before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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