jonte
Western Thunderer
Lovely work, Sir
Thanks, Tim.
Still a long way to go in all aspects but your valued interest greatly assists the momentum
Jon
Monks Ferry: a layout for the Grandchildren.
- Thread starter jonte
- Start date
Thanks, Tim.
Still a long way to go in all aspects but your valued interest greatly assists the momentum
Jon
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
I like the way this is going Jon, and especially the engine shed idea.
I hope all goes well and that your license is soon renewed.
John
I hope all goes well and that your license is soon renewed.
John
jonte
Western Thunderer
So do I………need to keep on the right side of the boss, so there are outstanding chores and long overdue promises made that need to be kept
Incidentally, since you mention it, John, it’s fitting that the spare roof sections should be employed in this way as the fascia of the roof was based on the original front of Didcot engine shed, before it was replaced by asbestos sheeting by the looks of it.
And the frames of the roof are those of Monks Ferry station, with which you’ll be familiar, John. The only difference is that the cross members on my version are horizontal, whereby those of the original were slightly slanted towards the centre.
Thanks again for your interest an support, John.
Cheers
Jon
simond
Western Thunderer
diodes...
are fine on DC layouts to prevent bufferstop collisions, and allow backing out, but won't be so useful on DCC, where they will reduce the voltage by about half and probably prevent any kind of traction...
matrices of diodes are reputedly suitable for route selection, but I have never experimented.
this might help
or not!!!
are fine on DC layouts to prevent bufferstop collisions, and allow backing out, but won't be so useful on DCC, where they will reduce the voltage by about half and probably prevent any kind of traction...
matrices of diodes are reputedly suitable for route selection, but I have never experimented.
this might help
or not!!!
jonte
Western Thunderer
Thanks for this, Simon. Most kind.
I’m familiar with Mr. Lambert’s pages which are of great help.
However, whilst researching the topic, I discovered this had been touched on on another channel which was along the lines of the guy in the YouTube vid.
Here’s part of it to give you an idea:
As for the deadman’s handle idea on the approach to the terminus, I’m sticking with the simple switch
Jon
jonte
Western Thunderer
And so the first step on the long road of track laying, wiring, ballasting and weathering was taken by laying out the station throat cum junction on a couple of 4mm foamboard sections.
You see (and this is not a criticism of other modellers), whilst it’s difficult to make proprietary track resemble anything even remotely approaching the real thing, the sight of twin roads or more with the continuous spread of ballast from the nearest to furthest sleepers just doesn’t sit right with me; the girder like rails are accentuated and the undernourished sleepers barely visible alongside the boulder-like stones. So how to make it a little more palatable? Not sure I can really, but this is how I intend to ‘address’ it. I hope you can bear with me.
As an aside, it was late Autumn when I last considered the layout ‘plan’. This had been adjusted - or at least the station throat - to allow arriving and departing trains to access all platforms, something the original plan didn’t cater for as this was just intended to be an oval with a couple of sidings off for a platform or two and an engine shed. But as the idea grew, the desire to access all areas became a must, which then (as always, much wants more) led to the ideal of two trains arriving and departing the station at the same time. As things stood, this was not possible as both roads leading to and from the mainline joined on the ‘down’, a problem of a small layout where the throat forms part of the mainline. As baseboard building became the priority, this was put on the back burner; until today; when the track was laid out on the bench as described; what could be done?
Here’s a reminder of how the throat/junction was planned originally and illustrated whilst marking out for baseboard cutting:
And after some careful head scratching, it occurred to me that this could potentially be achieved by placing a left handed and right handed crossing respectively, either side of the first crossing (on the inside track) of the above picture as follows:
So how to join?
As the points have a radius of - I believe - 2nd radius, it occurred to me to dig out a curve of this radius and place it over the two track sections to see if flowed, which it didn’t. However, a piece if 3rd radius placed similarly seemed a better fit:
The only problem, I assumed, was that curves of different directions placed so close together - despite the centre section being of ‘less harsh’ radius - could prove problematic.
There was only on way to find out, so I dug out a couple of Bachmann coaches and began to cut up a Hornby 3rd radius double curve (it’s all I had) to fit which thankfully it did:
I will cut a new section to replace this from the remainder of the double curve, as I need the rails to be a little shorter to allow for expansion.
So, on with the testing:
Well, they didn’t come off (those tiny Bachmann couplings might have to be addressed as they look a little too close together for a train set), so I’ll consider it a success. Whether I’ll achieve the same success with the odd long wheelbase kettle remains to be seen, but I’m sure the EMU in my possession and the odd diesel should be fine……..
So back to track laying and the foamboard.
The idea here is to use the foamboard as a ‘cess’ (which I believe is the correct term for the area between the rails) and as a frame to the outside in which the ballast (a mixture of sand and fine ballast) is contained. As the underlay is of 3mm thickness, the ballast laid level with the top of foamboard will see it rest just below the sleeper tops. It is in this way I hope to address the ‘orrible ballast spread described earlier.
And so to marking out:
The islands between the tracks, which will be cut out and painted as mentioned, were drawn round with a flexible length of boat building hardwood to ensure that the foamboard cess is a millimetre or two short to allow for underlay spread and excess ballast. The ‘frames’ for the outside were marked out similarly.
So the next visit to the bench will see me cutting out the marked sections of cess etc., and marking out and cutting other sections of track in similar fashion for such things as crossovers.
Thanks for looking.
jonte
You see (and this is not a criticism of other modellers), whilst it’s difficult to make proprietary track resemble anything even remotely approaching the real thing, the sight of twin roads or more with the continuous spread of ballast from the nearest to furthest sleepers just doesn’t sit right with me; the girder like rails are accentuated and the undernourished sleepers barely visible alongside the boulder-like stones. So how to make it a little more palatable? Not sure I can really, but this is how I intend to ‘address’ it. I hope you can bear with me.
As an aside, it was late Autumn when I last considered the layout ‘plan’. This had been adjusted - or at least the station throat - to allow arriving and departing trains to access all platforms, something the original plan didn’t cater for as this was just intended to be an oval with a couple of sidings off for a platform or two and an engine shed. But as the idea grew, the desire to access all areas became a must, which then (as always, much wants more) led to the ideal of two trains arriving and departing the station at the same time. As things stood, this was not possible as both roads leading to and from the mainline joined on the ‘down’, a problem of a small layout where the throat forms part of the mainline. As baseboard building became the priority, this was put on the back burner; until today; when the track was laid out on the bench as described; what could be done?
Here’s a reminder of how the throat/junction was planned originally and illustrated whilst marking out for baseboard cutting:
And after some careful head scratching, it occurred to me that this could potentially be achieved by placing a left handed and right handed crossing respectively, either side of the first crossing (on the inside track) of the above picture as follows:
So how to join?
As the points have a radius of - I believe - 2nd radius, it occurred to me to dig out a curve of this radius and place it over the two track sections to see if flowed, which it didn’t. However, a piece if 3rd radius placed similarly seemed a better fit:
The only problem, I assumed, was that curves of different directions placed so close together - despite the centre section being of ‘less harsh’ radius - could prove problematic.
There was only on way to find out, so I dug out a couple of Bachmann coaches and began to cut up a Hornby 3rd radius double curve (it’s all I had) to fit which thankfully it did:
I will cut a new section to replace this from the remainder of the double curve, as I need the rails to be a little shorter to allow for expansion.
So, on with the testing:
Well, they didn’t come off (those tiny Bachmann couplings might have to be addressed as they look a little too close together for a train set), so I’ll consider it a success. Whether I’ll achieve the same success with the odd long wheelbase kettle remains to be seen, but I’m sure the EMU in my possession and the odd diesel should be fine……..
So back to track laying and the foamboard.
The idea here is to use the foamboard as a ‘cess’ (which I believe is the correct term for the area between the rails) and as a frame to the outside in which the ballast (a mixture of sand and fine ballast) is contained. As the underlay is of 3mm thickness, the ballast laid level with the top of foamboard will see it rest just below the sleeper tops. It is in this way I hope to address the ‘orrible ballast spread described earlier.
And so to marking out:
The islands between the tracks, which will be cut out and painted as mentioned, were drawn round with a flexible length of boat building hardwood to ensure that the foamboard cess is a millimetre or two short to allow for underlay spread and excess ballast. The ‘frames’ for the outside were marked out similarly.
So the next visit to the bench will see me cutting out the marked sections of cess etc., and marking out and cutting other sections of track in similar fashion for such things as crossovers.
Thanks for looking.
jonte
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
Good to have you back at the baseboards Jonte!
jonte
Western Thunderer
Thanks, John.
Still one or two minor distractions on the domestic front but almost home and dry
Jon
Roger Pound
Western Thunderer
The emulsion and the paint, that is?...............almost home and dry
Jon
Roger (running for cover now
.)
jonte
Western Thunderer
Paint well and truly dry and carpets fitted to both bedrooms
Unfortunately, Roger (and at risk of sounding unsympathetic) my elderly sister phones me at least twice a day now she’s eventually moved into her new house from down south, with problems anew, narrowing my modelling window even further…..
Jon
Unfortunately, Roger (and at risk of sounding unsympathetic) my elderly sister phones me at least twice a day now she’s eventually moved into her new house from down south, with problems anew, narrowing my modelling window even further…..
Jon
jonte
Western Thunderer
With the benefit of a newly authorised (provisional, at present) modelling licence issued by the domestic authorities, I made maximum use of the morning by marking out both half curves (3rd and 4th radii) on foamboard as before, finding the Peco gauge setter of great help. The benefit of foamboard is that the track can be pinned with dress makers ‘pins’ to ensure optimal spacings, but it sure eats up the foamboard, despite using the largest sheets available (offcuts of which will be fine for crossovers and straight sections).
Despite assurances of the gauge, the Bachmann coaches were called upon once more just to make certain that an unhindered passage could be guaranteed on both tracks.
There are still more sections to be cut, but they can wait until the track is down and (hopefully) functioning.
So with that in mind, (and after ordering suitable VGA 15 pinners and leads to ensure the flow of current and other electrical functions between the three boards) the afternoon saw me laying out some of the track (mainly points) on the baseboards, using previously scored witness marks for the siting of point motors/wires etc. . It was also a relief to discover that the recent adaptation, as described last, wasn’t obstructed by support uprights, always a risk when deviating from the original plan.
This will continue on the next visit when curves will be layed to ensure that all marries up, whence forth all will be permanently marked, before cutting out and drilling holes for point motors and track feeds. This will precede the laying of foam underlay glued down with the gel adhesive (forget the name at present) kindly recommended by @adrian.
Anyway, enough waffle for now and at the risk of boring you all witless, here are a couple of piccies showing the the throat/cum junction leading to the station (please ignore the engine shed rooves in the foreground):
The lone r/h point adjacent to the left of the station roof will be the roads for vans being unloaded/loaded and stored, and a possible refuge for a shunter (the pips on the tiebar will be removed as unlike Peco points, their removal won’t cause the switch rails to lift).
Cheers for now.
jonte
Despite assurances of the gauge, the Bachmann coaches were called upon once more just to make certain that an unhindered passage could be guaranteed on both tracks.
There are still more sections to be cut, but they can wait until the track is down and (hopefully) functioning.
So with that in mind, (and after ordering suitable VGA 15 pinners and leads to ensure the flow of current and other electrical functions between the three boards) the afternoon saw me laying out some of the track (mainly points) on the baseboards, using previously scored witness marks for the siting of point motors/wires etc. . It was also a relief to discover that the recent adaptation, as described last, wasn’t obstructed by support uprights, always a risk when deviating from the original plan.
This will continue on the next visit when curves will be layed to ensure that all marries up, whence forth all will be permanently marked, before cutting out and drilling holes for point motors and track feeds. This will precede the laying of foam underlay glued down with the gel adhesive (forget the name at present) kindly recommended by @adrian.
Anyway, enough waffle for now and at the risk of boring you all witless, here are a couple of piccies showing the the throat/cum junction leading to the station (please ignore the engine shed rooves in the foreground):
The lone r/h point adjacent to the left of the station roof will be the roads for vans being unloaded/loaded and stored, and a possible refuge for a shunter (the pips on the tiebar will be removed as unlike Peco points, their removal won’t cause the switch rails to lift).
Cheers for now.
jonte
jonte
Western Thunderer
A job I’ve been putting off as I find it a tad onerous, but it had to be surmounted before any underlay could be cut or holes for wiring/point motors drilled, so I’ve been doing it piecemeal fashion over the last couple of days or so; an hour or two here and there; and that is the final fix of track for marking out which has to be right.
Here, the gauge came in handy again for the curves, but could I find those darned track pins I’d put away…… In the end, I resorted to using the brass dressmakers pins I’d purchased for the handrails on the signals I built for my GWR based diorama which has still to be finished. Trouble is, the 12mm ply baseboard is rather unforgiving so several were bent in the process.
Anyway, I’m glad that the curves and points are located, apart from two right hand points (on order) which I decided to add to facilitate the transitioning of trains from the down to the up and which will be fixed at the point marked by the red circle on the photo below. This will not only provide a little more interest to the lines on the left hand side of the layout as you look which is relatively bare of pointwork compared to the right hand side, but it will also lighten the load on the crossover in the station throat originally designed for the purpose, to the benefit of its moving parts and point motors.
All that’s required now is the cutting of lengths of flexitrack for the straight sections.
Cheers,
jonte
Here, the gauge came in handy again for the curves, but could I find those darned track pins I’d put away…… In the end, I resorted to using the brass dressmakers pins I’d purchased for the handrails on the signals I built for my GWR based diorama which has still to be finished. Trouble is, the 12mm ply baseboard is rather unforgiving so several were bent in the process.
Anyway, I’m glad that the curves and points are located, apart from two right hand points (on order) which I decided to add to facilitate the transitioning of trains from the down to the up and which will be fixed at the point marked by the red circle on the photo below. This will not only provide a little more interest to the lines on the left hand side of the layout as you look which is relatively bare of pointwork compared to the right hand side, but it will also lighten the load on the crossover in the station throat originally designed for the purpose, to the benefit of its moving parts and point motors.
All that’s required now is the cutting of lengths of flexitrack for the straight sections.
Cheers,
jonte
Roger Pound
Western Thunderer
Coming along nicely, Jon. Looking forward to this BR(S) masterpiece making further steady progress.
Roger
Roger
jonte
Western Thunderer
Coming along nicely, Jon. Looking forward to this BR(S) masterpiece making further steady progress.
Roger
That sounds a tall order, Roger
Hopefully I won’t disappoint (just hope it works after all this)
As it’s also allegedly serving the East -ern - ish part of the country (insert appropriate eastern term wot comes to mind
), there might be the odd A4 making an appearance………
Happy Easter
Jon
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
Hmmm.. That’ll be number 9 then??there might be the odd A4 making an appearance………
Looking good.
jonte
Western Thunderer
Roger Pound
Western Thunderer
That sounds a tall order, Roger
there might be the odd A4 making an appearance………
Happy Easter
Jon
Not to a man of your calibre, my old mate !
The A4 could be on a through working from the E/NE using the various junctions through to Kensington Olympia and on to the southern area. You can always find an excuse for these workings, Jon - if not claim Rule One
.Roger
Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
That looks very nice, Jon. I do like a well thought out roundy roundy.
Good luck with it
Cheers
Jan
Good luck with it
Cheers
Jan