This does reveal that I have not connected up the rear 5 pin DIN socket yet. I can only use it from the front in its current location though so this is not a priority.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
Point control
The wire in tube point control now complete. The double slip was already done. The other points are now completed with holes front and back to allow control from either side. The controls can be swapped from front to back by undoing a single screw on each one. I just need knobs for the protruding wires now.
This does reveal that I have not connected up the rear 5 pin DIN socket yet. I can only use it from the front in its current location though so this is not a priority.
This does reveal that I have not connected up the rear 5 pin DIN socket yet. I can only use it from the front in its current location though so this is not a priority.
Friday, 15 November 2013
Progress at last - cab control
At last I can report some progress. After coming back from holiday ready to get going again in early September, a lengthy virus and a couple of exhibitions (n-gauge and Peterborough) blocked out too many weekends. For a while I never got going.
The cab control is however now complete. Four sections, each one of which can be controlled by one of two controllers.
I had for some time considered reviving my minimal carpentry skills to make a control box. After a few days working out a design in my head, considering nice wood veneer, a laminated track diagram and a removable access panel, I stopped and asked myself why? All I need is a lightweight, robust box that I can drill holes in! I had a couple of suitable plastic boxes in a cupboard. So out came a storage box with a semi transparent lid through which an internally mounted track diagram could be viewed. A bit of drilling and soldering, a diagram with Photoshop and some 3M tape and I had this:
I only need four section switches as I intend to use the trusty Gaugemaster integrated controller. Power from the controller comes in via two phono sockets to the left. Power to the layout comes out from a 5 pin DIN socket at the back to a matching 5 pin DIN socket at the front or back of the layout. The track diagram is taped to the inside of the lid. Point control will be wire in tube at the front/back of the layout so no point switches to worry about in the control box.
I can store emergency spares in the box and it has a convenient carrying handle. To my surprise it worked first time. I wish I could say the same of all my efforts.
The cab control is however now complete. Four sections, each one of which can be controlled by one of two controllers.
I had for some time considered reviving my minimal carpentry skills to make a control box. After a few days working out a design in my head, considering nice wood veneer, a laminated track diagram and a removable access panel, I stopped and asked myself why? All I need is a lightweight, robust box that I can drill holes in! I had a couple of suitable plastic boxes in a cupboard. So out came a storage box with a semi transparent lid through which an internally mounted track diagram could be viewed. A bit of drilling and soldering, a diagram with Photoshop and some 3M tape and I had this:
I only need four section switches as I intend to use the trusty Gaugemaster integrated controller. Power from the controller comes in via two phono sockets to the left. Power to the layout comes out from a 5 pin DIN socket at the back to a matching 5 pin DIN socket at the front or back of the layout. The track diagram is taped to the inside of the lid. Point control will be wire in tube at the front/back of the layout so no point switches to worry about in the control box.
I can store emergency spares in the box and it has a convenient carrying handle. To my surprise it worked first time. I wish I could say the same of all my efforts.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Chiltern Green 2013
Chiltern Green, originally built by The Model Railway Club is now on display at the Devon Railway Centre. Featured widely in RM in the 80s it was one of the best model railways of its time. Here are some up to date photos:
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Summer and other things
Summer is not conducive to layout building especially when job things intervene. Progress has therefore stalled for some time.
Summer can however result in visits to interesting places. This little gem, in need of some TLC, came to my attention during my holiday. Anyone who has a copy of RM April 1975 might recognize it.
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Track layed
After a little hiatus for various events I have managed to make some progress this week. The track has been laid, secured firmly with white woodworking adhesive. I went for the water-proof variety so that is does not lift when I start adding ballast with PVA/Water/Washing up liquid mix.
The photographs never lie and always reveal problems I did not spot. Some of the dummy sleepers need more careful alignment, but this will not be too taxing.
With the track in place I then turned to wiring. Yellow is the common return, the other wires are colour coded according to the plan in the Electrics post.
I have also done the wire-in-tube operation for the double slip and attached the polarity switches. I have been hatching plans in my head for the way I would do the wire in tube for some time but was pleased to see an article in the latest Hornby magazine covering the subject. It described an approach very similar to the one I had been considering using chocolate box connectors to join the wire. I also use them to hold the tubes in place rather than the cable tidies as in the article. The fact that someone else had done it first and made it work was a great confidence builder so I went ahead with the implementation. It works beautifully. Thanks to Phil Parker for the article.
The photographs never lie and always reveal problems I did not spot. Some of the dummy sleepers need more careful alignment, but this will not be too taxing.
With the track in place I then turned to wiring. Yellow is the common return, the other wires are colour coded according to the plan in the Electrics post.
I have also done the wire-in-tube operation for the double slip and attached the polarity switches. I have been hatching plans in my head for the way I would do the wire in tube for some time but was pleased to see an article in the latest Hornby magazine covering the subject. It described an approach very similar to the one I had been considering using chocolate box connectors to join the wire. I also use them to hold the tubes in place rather than the cable tidies as in the article. The fact that someone else had done it first and made it work was a great confidence builder so I went ahead with the implementation. It works beautifully. Thanks to Phil Parker for the article.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Progress delayed
Progress is delayed by a friends major birthday (Saga time!) and the bank holiday weekend. Friends can be very unreasonable; expecting you to eat good food with them and share good wine when you could be sitting in a room on your own making models.
Friday, 26 April 2013
Electrics
Control is to be simple DC. A number of reasons for this including:
- I want to be able to use older locos that may be more difficult to convert to DCC
- I would like to use small locos that are not DCC compatible
- The layout is quite simple so does not justify the expense
- DC is easily converted to DCC at a later date
The sections plan is simple:
The four sections are:
- Blue - goods area
- Black - platform 1
- Red - platform 2
- Green - engine shed
I will also use the Y point in the goods section to isolate the headshunt/secondary goods area.
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