Church Norton

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Yep, you are both correct the C&L template as well as my track work is wrong, but I should of been more observant to be honest. It's glaringly obvious now it's been pointed out , I was going to redo it tonight but after a hard day at work , it can wait, the weekend starts tomorrow .

Martyn.

 

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The local P/way gang were banned from the local watering hole The dog and ferret until their mistake had been rectified, needless to say the work was soon completed.




Cheers,

Martyn.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I really must learn to build track. That looks superb! Not saying mine would be as nice though

 

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I really must learn to build track. That looks superb! Not saying mine would be as nice though

Thank you for you kind words, and to be totally honest it really isn't that hard. It maybe like Marmite to certain folk, but I do enjoy track building just as much as loco, coach or wagon building.

I started building track work when I was around 15 yrs old down at the local club, in those days it was 4mm and using rail soldered to copper paxolin sleepers. This had the added benefit of teaching me to solder, then it was on to EM using the Brook Smith method with the pre punched sleepers and rivets.

C&L track work is a piece of cake after the other methods above, and there is always us lot to give you any advice you may need. Give it a go, the waters lovely.

Martyn.

 

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Good evening Guys,

Just setting out the templates for the next two turnouts, these will be sited on a gentle curve and the overall length is just under 6'.



Regards,

Martyn.

 

[Scale7JB]

Very nice indeed, I'd be very proud of the slip..

JB.

 

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Thanks JB,

The slip will be connected to the forward turnout above which will in turn feed into the main yard. I will build the two turnouts as one piece to keep the flow of the slight curve in the track work .

Martyn.

 

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Hi Guys,

Over the weekend us locals avoid the local beaches like the plague, we leave it to the day trippers to burn themselves to a crisp, drop all their litter and broken bottles, etc. Then once they have cleared off home we all come out and clean up the beaches and watch the sun go down over a nice glass or two, bliss.

Right end of rant, so I thought how could I better spend the time than to wire up the last of the point motors, there are 19 turnouts in all on Church Norton and below are the last 12.

I like to wire the motors through choc blocks for ease of use, I find it easier to fit the motors this way and it saves juggling around with a hot soldering iron under the baseboards. A bit of a boring picture but hopefully it explains my method.




Regards,

Martyn.

 

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Oh, and I treated myself too one of these, although it will be a while yet before any greenery appears....



Regards,

Martyn.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Hi Guys,

Over the weekend us locals avoid the local beaches like the plague, we leave it to the day trippers to burn themselves to a crisp, drop all their litter and broken bottles, etc. Then once they have cleared off home we all come out and clean up the beaches and watch the sun go down over a nice glass or two, bliss.

Right end of rant, so I thought how could I better spend the time than to wire up the last of the point motors, there are 19 turnouts in all on Church Norton and below are the last 12.

I like to wire the motors through choc blocks for ease of use, I find it easier to fit the motors this way and it saves juggling around with a hot soldering iron under the baseboards. A bit of a boring picture but hopefully it explains my method.

View attachment 68470


Regards,

Martyn.

Hi Martyn,
When I wired my Tortoise motors, I bought connectors from Express Models, so that I wouldn't have to solder directly on to the motor terminals. I guess the end result was much the same though!!

 

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I have not heard of these " connectors " are they spring loaded over the terminals or similar?

Soldering all those wires are far from enjoyable, but they seem to be reliable so far, with only one dry joint on one that has already been installed.

Martyn.

 

[simond]

Hi Martyn

Afaik, they're push-on multi-pole connectors that mate with the PCB on the Tortoise. Means you can change a motor without soldering, or fighting with a load of choccy-block connector screws. As, in all my years of modelling, I've never had a Tortoise fail (says he tempting fate), I'm not sure that it's worth the expense, though they are neat.

I used thin tie-wraps to hold the choccy-blocks onto my Tortoises, to prevent the wires getting stressed. Stops them dangling too.

Good job the RSPCA aren't monitoring what we do to Tortoises.

The trackwork is well up to your usual high standards I see. When do you connect the ends?

Best
Simon

 

[daifly]

C&L used to sell these connectors as part C1541

At the best part of £3 each I can't believe that RS or someone else couldn't supply them rather cheaper.
Dave

 

[Mr Grumpy]

C&L used to sell these connectors as part C1541
View attachment 68505
At the best part of £3 each I can't believe that RS or someone else couldn't supply them rather cheaper.
Dave

Hi Dave,
They are the same type as I used.
Richard

 

[adrian]

I can't believe that RS or someone else couldn't supply them rather cheaper.

CPC do these IMO PRECISION CONTROLS - 20.952M/8-E - PCB EDGE TERMINAL BLOCK, 5.0MM, 8 WAY | CPC UK at £1.27. No idea if they fit the Tortoise, it depends on the pitch of the connectors. CPC is local for me so I can pick up a couple if anyone wants to try them.

 

[Steph Dale]

...No idea if they fit the Tortoise, it depends on the pitch of the connectors.

@adrian, All,

The connectors are 5mm pitch according to the spec sheet.

Steph

 

[daifly]

Thanks chaps. I suspect that some of that info is buried in the EDAC number in the photo!
Dave

 

[3 LINK]

Hi Martyn

When do you connect the ends?

Best
Simon

Hi Simon,

Well I have one 6' baseboard still to build which will incorporate a road bridge and single tunnel mouth, and then it will be all down to designing a curved lifting section, should be fun .

Hopefully there will be a Grand opening ceremony incorporating a banner across the tracks made from cocktail sticks and rizla papers, this banner will be run over in gay abandon to the sound of the Dam busters .

All the best,

Martyn.

 

[Osgood]

......Hopefully there will be a Grand opening ceremony incorporating a banner across the tracks made from cocktail sticks and rizla papers, this banner will be run over in gay abandon to the sound of the Dam busters ......

And this is why the stay-alive was developed.

 

[cbrailways]

I have just purchased some TORTOISE push on connector samples and the 5mm connector pitch that Adrian quoted in post #115 above is not suitable. The pitch needs to be 3.96mm (0.156") as per the TORTOISE data sheet. The only connector I can find has solder tag terminals as per the EDAC type referenced in post #113 above.