7mm North Kent Yard
- Thread starter Hobbyhorse
- Start date
Hobbyhorse
Western Thunderer
Time to get going on the layout again, since the last post I've been working on my narrow gauge project. They look large when on the layout, but are small in the 16mm world.
First job was the do a few jobs on the wiring, identified a couple of issues when testing. With those completed time to tidy everything up.
I've got all the track bits needed for the next stage, just need to draw the points needed.
Also managed to get JMRI working on a new laptop, it's never easy as the decoder pro worked straight way, but the layout bit is refusing to play ball at the moment, anyway it's allowed me to program the new Ruston to my liking.
Simon
First job was the do a few jobs on the wiring, identified a couple of issues when testing. With those completed time to tidy everything up.
I've got all the track bits needed for the next stage, just need to draw the points needed.
Also managed to get JMRI working on a new laptop, it's never easy as the decoder pro worked straight way, but the layout bit is refusing to play ball at the moment, anyway it's allowed me to program the new Ruston to my liking.
Simon
Hobbyhorse
Western Thunderer
I wasn’t going to start on next phase of the layout build just yet , but as the flat bottom rail arrived very quickly its time to get cracking.
This bit is quite small 8 foot x 18 inches, it’s going to have a very industrial feel with tight radius turnouts and lots of buildings crammed in.
First job was to draw up the turnouts, with a radius of 2’ 6”. The rail is code 100 from Karlgarin which gives a good representation of 60lb rail.
As the track is going to be spiked to the timbers, around the turnouts some extra bracing is required to keep everything to gauge. Using some copper clad with small cubes of brass between the rails all soldered together, this once the ply timber are in place and the ground works added the copper clad disappears. Slightly tricky to assemble the turnouts but worth the effort, and the same process using single copper clad strips occasionally on the plain track provides the power feeds which again are invisible once the ground work is in.
Simon
This bit is quite small 8 foot x 18 inches, it’s going to have a very industrial feel with tight radius turnouts and lots of buildings crammed in.
First job was to draw up the turnouts, with a radius of 2’ 6”. The rail is code 100 from Karlgarin which gives a good representation of 60lb rail.
As the track is going to be spiked to the timbers, around the turnouts some extra bracing is required to keep everything to gauge. Using some copper clad with small cubes of brass between the rails all soldered together, this once the ply timber are in place and the ground works added the copper clad disappears. Slightly tricky to assemble the turnouts but worth the effort, and the same process using single copper clad strips occasionally on the plain track provides the power feeds which again are invisible once the ground work is in.
Simon
timbowales
Western Thunderer
Wow! 2'-6" scales out to 120' or just under 2 chains, what locos do you intend to run over this bit?
Hobbyhorse
Western Thunderer
The plan is for small industrial steam and diesel, all 4 wheel types.
Hobbyhorse
Western Thunderer
Rapid progress this week with all the track in, spiked, narrow gauge tipping servos in , point motors in and wiring started. It does look cramped but that’s how I want it, especially when the buildings go in.
Simon
Simon
Hobbyhorse
Western Thunderer
That's the last stage of track work and wiring completed, surprisingly quickly. I've tested this area and other than a couple of small issues all works well. I've kept the control side very basic, the reason for this is to keep the operators looking at the layout and not to rely on what a control panel would tell you. Like on the big railway using your eyes to tell you what's happening.
Next before any thing else happens is to have the lads round for some ops sessions, with the car card system to manage the traffic flows.
Simon
Next before any thing else happens is to have the lads round for some ops sessions, with the car card system to manage the traffic flows.
Simon