My OO Scale Model Train set Build.

[Homestar]

As if I don’t have enough things to do, the other weekend when it was cold I dragged out my old train set stuff. I used to have a decent track layout but this went years ago. I have quite a bit of rolling stock and some locos - mostly Hornby and I’ve added a few newer ones recently. Will post pics as I get things together - will be an L shaped layout about 10 x 8’ along the long sides and between 4 and 5’ wide. A little narrower that I want ideally but all the room I have.

Layout will be a typical English Countryside and I want it to look ok with both steam era and newer stuff too as I have some 70’s and 80’s diesels. There will be some hidden sidings at the back to keep each era out of view while the other is in use.

It won’t be a rivet counters dream and won’t be super proto typical but a good looking and very well running setup is what I’m after so will be taking a lot of care laying the track. Will have full DCC control and while I have 4 locos that are DCC ready, most aren’t and will take a bit to modify to suit, but that’s the way these things go and all part of the fun. Have a stack of track on order, it will be done in Peco code 100 track with electrofrog points. I’d forgotten how expensive this hobby can be - points and point motors are eyewateringly expensive! Around 35 points are required and at around $30 a pop plus another $25 for a point motor and switch I’m looking at all options here before I drop that much coin. The track itself is quite cheap - I’ll be using mostly flexible track for all other parts as this gives a nicer look IMO and is only around $8 per metre.

Looking forward to having a nice warm/cool indoor hobby to do in the evenings.

A pic of some of the fleet. Rolling stock is mostly still in boxes. The Intercity 125 is a complete unit with 6 cars and dummy power unit at the other end.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48590637181_0029dd8136_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2h2MHyz)4FE8FC41-E5AF-4219-8BF3-162BC3A52FC9 (https://flic.kr/p/2h2MHyz) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48590783187_10f7c13be7_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2h2NsXV)0E31FA06-BE84-4E19-AF32-024B2997E9C6 (https://flic.kr/p/2h2NsXV) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

And running in the Flying Scotsman on the table tonight. If you click on the below pic it should take you to Flickr and a short video.
https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/48590783107_2a0b3710e4_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2h2NsWx)7FB0FEBA-0DAF-4785-B08B-29EE5B53C908 (https://flic.kr/p/2h2NsWx) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[Homestar]

Would put a track plan up but the programs I’ve tried using to put one together assume the use of standard fixed track curves and straights and I’m buggered if I can get anything to work how I want. I’ll see if I can dig up something close...

Something like this but not quite. A bit more flowing and organic but about this size.

Marklin HO C-track plan 320x270 (https://www.scarm.info/layouts/track_plans.php?ltp=71)

[pop058]

I was in Maryborough today checking on a job with one of my workers who has family there. Dropped into see his Dad and found what keeps him occupied after retirement.

Attention to detail is absolutely amazing.

153674 153675 153676


153677 153678

[Homestar]

Outstanding! If mine comes out half as well as that I’ll be stoked. 👍

[Homestar]

Quick update - have been doing a fair bit in the background on this - mostly spending a fair bit on stuff - have another 4 locos in the collection as well as a new DCC digital controller. Have started upfitting DCC chips to the locos - got 4 done now. A couple were simple and were DCC ready but most I have are older locos and require from small to large mods to get these to work. Hardest ones are locos with grounded motors - they need to be isolated completely from either track rail supply. Amazing how much better they work with this done and the newer locos are extremely slick with this now.

As I strained my knee at work on Friday, I’m a bit laid up this weekend so a perfect opportunity to take some measurements of the spare room and actually start to design the layout and it’s baseboard.

Below are a few pics of the board with dimensions - not huge, but as big as I can make it. There will be 3 boards that will bolt together - I need and want it to be moveable in sections for a variety of reasons. Mostly as it will be much easier to construct and work on in the living room then move into the spare room as required. All wiring and track will also be quick connect/disconnect so the whole thing can be moved with relative ease.

Overall baseboard with some dimensions.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48656572071_af2a5eacb1_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2h8BDH2)5B37C605-AEC0-4A33-A4A6-0C1A0707537F (https://flic.kr/p/2h8BDH2) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Sectional overview as far as board sizes go - the bottom bit will be attached, the line shows how wide the plywood is.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48656720017_44e0e1c070_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2h8CpFP)671F7540-C50A-4DE7-BF7B-9CC664D357B1 (https://flic.kr/p/2h8CpFP) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

And a rough idea of where the frames will sit. These could get moved around a bit here and there if I’m going to end up with any points directly above them where I can’t mount point motors.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48656216833_ea16ba362b_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2h8zQ7e)8C8FAC30-FFD9-4E6C-9D55-1B621CE5578D (https://flic.kr/p/2h8zQ7e) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

So, a trip to Bunnings is imminent for the ply and some timber. Not 100% sure how I’ll do the legs for the board yet - again, I want them easy to move and remove/fit to the boards so some sort of custom trestle or something I think, but I’ll work that out as I go. Have a heap of track and cork underlay on order. Once I’ve got the baseboards sorted I’ll post some more pics as I start the very time consuming process of track laying.

[87County]

Hey Gav, bunnings have fromply in manageable sheet sizes 600X1200 for , I think under $12 and it is strong enough to support you during the build if you want.

[Homestar]

Was thinking about doing it with smaller sheets like this, but I think that will add to the complexity of the frame and also reduce overall strength of the board - I think using one piece on each board would help the overall rigidity of the piece. I have no issues getting boards like this home or cutting them to size, so will probably go with 2 sheets of 9mm ply 2440 x 1220.

[87County]

Just keep in mind the self support that will be offered by using 17mm when you calculate the complexity of the subframe that you will need for 9mm - I'm not sure which will work out best economically. I tend to use the 17mm for strength for most things but I haven't done a train layout.

17mm formply is not an expensive way to get flat plywood.

[drivesafe]

Hi Homestar, this is just a suggestion, you could use 100mm thick sheets of styrofoam.

If I ever get back into building my G gauge layout, I have seen a yank club that uses the styrofoam as the base and it work well, is very rigid but weighs next to nothing.

It’s easy to fix the track to it and any scenery is easy to, and wiring is so much easier to do.

Also, because the sheets are so rigid, you do not need as much framework.

Just a suggestion.

[Homestar]

There’s a limiting factor to how thick I can make it and looks like most people seem use around 6mm or 1/4” depending on what part of the world, even on massive layouts. On top of that will be 25mm of extruded foam and the limitation in depth is about 40mm absolute max for operation of the point motors, even with extended point motors, so the 9mm ply seems both overkill already and borderline too thick. The weight of the setup is actually very light - only a few KG’s total on each panel. I also need to move it around on my own so total weight is a factor as well.

[Homestar]

Hi Homestar, this is just a suggestion, you could use 100mm thick sheets of styrofoam.

If I ever get back into building my G gauge layout, I have seen a yank club that uses the styrofoam as the base and it work well, is very ridged but weighs next to nothing.

It’s easy to fix the track to it and any scenery is easy to, and wiring is so much easier to do.

Also, because the sheets are so ridged, you do not need as much framework.

Just a suggestion.

Looks like you beat me to the submit button. I don’t see how I could make the point motors operate through 100mm of anything to be honest. I also really want to be able to secure wiring, etc under the board with screws. I’ll be using foam on the top for a variety of reasons - mostly to be able to give the landscape some depth below the rail level - something that is missing from a lot of layouts.

Also not sure how I’d make that style of board easy to move/disconnect/reconnect when being moved (It will be so this is an important factor, I can’t build it into the room permanently)

[Homestar]

I should also mention that this is my third layout so I’m not a newby at this. While I will be taking this to another level compared to my old layouts, the basics, etc are all in hand thanks. Where I have and will struggle is the buildings and scenery - I’m not very arty farty so this has always been the hardest bit for me.

[LRJim]

I should also mention that this is my third layout so I’m not a newby at this. While I will be taking this to another level compared to my old layouts, the basics, etc are all in hand thanks. Where I have and will struggle is the buildings and scenery - I’m not very arty farty so this has always been the hardest bit for me.The games workshop warhammer guys have some great online tutorials on scenery, IMO they are some of the best when it comes to scenery building. Might not be the same scale but the skills are the same, the only reason I ever liked the game was for the building side of it all good fun.
Cheers

[Homestar]

Been watching a heap of modelling channels while waiting on parts - this is one of the best - and an Aussie too. 👍


https://youtu.be/HEG3d0cMuv4

[Homestar]

Ok, so complete redesign number 1 has occurred. While trying to work out a track layout, I wasn’t happy with how tight some of the radius’s would be, so I moved the spare room to where I was going to build the layout and have now set up shop in the other bedroom. This will allow me to run a track around the whole room. First thing was to setup a workstation.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48888402588_64b7d6ad57_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hu6QQU)BD2E7CE4-B064-48A0-BCB0-9F7AC09AD629 (https://flic.kr/p/2hu6QQU) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

The track will run around this room, on a 600 to 800mm wide board - where it will go in front of the work area, there will be a lift out section only a couple hundred mm wide - enough for the 3 tracks to get through and will be an un landscaped ‘back of house’ area. Most of the timber is there, just the top which is in large sheets in the garage still to be cut down. It will all be a self supporting setup, not screwed to the walls or anything. I may move in the next couple of years, so don’t want it to be too hard to move if I do.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48888402503_9a8185a50d_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hu6QPr)E086C210-A614-4307-90DD-11D9D8ECDC98 (https://flic.kr/p/2hu6QPr) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[Homestar]

Well it's all systems go now. Have been putting together the first board the last few evenings and it is now complete and in place.

Trying to make them strong yet light, so joints are all recessed, glued and screwed.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48902082581_192231e4ce_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hviXqR)IMG_1509 (https://flic.kr/p/2hviXqR) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48902082681_0829c6ce55_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hviXsz)IMG_1508 (https://flic.kr/p/2hviXsz) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

I'm a metal worker not a wood worker, so this was challenging at times and I know I'm being picky, but I did find it frustrating that at times I can only get to around +/- 1mm when working with timber and this unit is 2mm out of square corner to corner. No dramas, but if it was steel I would have it under 0.50 mm and much closer than that for stuff that matters. It did come out well though, but I'll not become a cabinet maker any time soon...

I made the base so there is a strong shelf down the bottom supported by 6 legs, while the top can be removed and stood on its side for wiring and access to point motors, etc as needed. You can see in the pic below how this works - and it worked better than I expected. No cross bracing needed, it's heaps strong enough as is and once bolted to the end board will be even stronger.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48901553938_21d7c47896_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hvgfhj)IMG_1510 (https://flic.kr/p/2hvgfhj) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

And with the base down - it is extremely rigid and once bolted to the other unit at the far end of the room, won't be going anywhere, yet easy enough to move if every required.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48902082486_83e21ee0ad_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hviXpd)IMG_1511 (https://flic.kr/p/2hviXpd) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Still waiting on some adjustable feet to put on all the legs so the boards can be dialled in exactly with each other. They'll also be an arrangement to ensure track alignment if the boards are ever moved.

Will post again when I have the next 2 completed. The board just made is 600mm deep and 2400mm long as will the one opposite will be too but the one at the back will be 750mm deep and 3000mm long so this will have the centre legs running all the way up. The 2400mm long base is very rigid though and there's absolutely no flex in it. The track, trains and scenery weigh bugger all too.

Still needs a final quick sand and then not sure how to treat the timber. Paint or varnish? I'm really wanting most of it to be hidden eventually, but I don't want it to look tatty like some timber work on model railways I've seen. Some people just whack old 4x2's together with tech screws and call it good. That's not me.

Eventually, there will be a trim at the front with a black cloth hanging below it to cover the shelves. I may even run a shelf up above the set for more storage and to hang lighting off - thinking of some RGBW lighting that I can change to make the set look different at different times of the day or night - that's a loooooooooong way off though. [smilebigeye]

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Noob question from left field,, [bighmmm]

track guage, N, O etc,, is there a conversion to Matchbox cars?

[Homestar]

Matchbox cars are 1:75 scale, model rail scales are as follows from smallest to larger (there are more but they get big enough to ride)

Z gauge - 1:200
N gauge - 1:148
TT gauge - 1:101.6
HO gauge - 1:87 - uses 16.5mm track
OO gauge - 1:76 - uses 16.5mm track
O gauge - 1:43

There are heaps of others with different track widths with similar scale.

To answer your question, the standard Matchbox cars (Made in England) fit the OO scale well as this is the most common scale used in England as well. In the US and many other countries (Including Aus) HO is the more popular scale, but as I’m building a British railway, it’s OO for me. 👍

HO is more prototypical than OO and in reality, OO should run 18mm track but us Poms seem to do it different. 😇

HO and OO use the same track width, but there are different track profiles depending on how prototypical you want to get. I’m using what’s called code 100 track which is taller than the scale track should be but it runs some older and cheaper rolling stock better that has deep flanges on the wheels. Scale would be code 83 for OO but I have quite a bit of rolling stock that doesn’t run well on code 83 and I’m not a rivet counter when it comes to such things (but there are heaps that are)

A standard Matchbox car would look out of place on an HO layout, but there are heaps of cars available for all scales.

[4bee]

When I was a kid we had a few Hornby sets, not big, but oval shaped layout. Never knew the Gauge size but I reckon the Loco was aprox 6" (150mm) long + Tender. We are going back aprox. 70 years or so.

The Locos were based as far as I can tell, on the Sir Edward Henty Loco of Spirit of Progress fame but were black gloss slopey front firebox cladding & all had that lovely perfume of lightly oiled clockwork machinery.


I suspect they were made for the Australian market but were not electric powered but simple wind up stuff.
Thing is, I have searched for these online but have never found them. Anyone know these? Would love to see one again.

Thanks.[happycry]

[Homestar]

They are extremely rare and very expensive if you can find one now - I'm taking 1000's but they almost never come up. You might find them come up at Auctions in England from time to time, but they are a real collectors item now.

[4bee]

Thanks Gav.

Bugger, seems I missed the boat again & should have wrapped them up in tissue paper instead of throwing them at my brothers.

However, I will enjoy perving on your setup when you stop doing all those other nuisance jobs & get it done.
[smilebigeye]

[Don 130]

When I was a kid we had a few Hornby sets, not big, but oval shaped layout. Never knew the Gauge size but I reckon the Loco was aprox 6" (150mm) long + Tender. We are going back aprox. 70 years or so.

The Locos were based as far as I can tell, on the Sir Edward Henty Loco of Spirit of Progress fame but were black gloss slopey front firebox cladding & all had that lovely perfume of lightly oiled clockwork machinery.


I suspect they were made for the Australian market but were not electric powered but simple wind up stuff.
Thing is, I have searched for these online but have never found them. Anyone know these? Would love to see one again.

Thanks.[happycry]

There was a stall holder with a large collection of electric and clockwork 'Hornby' type trains and rolling stock, track etc for sale at the recent 'Clarendon Classic' antique machinery, truck show, swap meet at Clarendon near the Richmond airbase west of Sydney. Didn't take notice of prices, but there was plenty of stock.
Don.

[4bee]

Thanks D130.

I suppose you couldn't have seen into the future & taken a photo of these Hornbys? NO? A pity.[smilebigeye]

[Homestar]

Thanks Gav.

Bugger, seems I missed the boat again & should have wrapped them up in tissue paper instead of throwing them at my brothers.

However, I will enjoy perving on your setup when you stop doing all those other nuisance jobs & get it done.
[smilebigeye]

I'll pull my finger out. [biggrin]

Once I get the bases done, I'll lay some track straight away and run a train on it for you and video it. [thumbsupbig]

[4bee]

That would be ducky, Ducky.

My old Mum (well she wasn't that old back then of course) used to make proper tiny stitched bags of wheat for us to load into the open top wagons.

Ahhh, the good olde days.

[Don 130]

Thanks D130.

I suppose you couldn't have seen into the future & taken a photo of these Hornbys? NO? A pity.[smilebigeye]

Perhaps next year if he's there.
Don.

[Homestar]

For those in the area, the annual Sunbury Model Railway Show is on this weekend. Well worth a visit and hopefully they’ll be some good stalls selling their wares as usual. Will have to take some cash with me...😇

I’ll be there Saturday morning if anyone else is in the area.

Australian Model Railway Magazine (http://www.australianmodelrailways.com/amrm/diary.php)

[grey_ghost]

You’ll be there - spending the folding I bet [emoji1303][emoji3]

[Tins]

I love trains. A little something for inspiration....


https://youtu.be/40TrOQ9gBWo

I can watch it for hours.

[JDNSW]

On the subject of model railways - next time any of you are in Peterborough (SA), have a look at the layout in the newsagent.

[4bee]

You’ll be there - spending the folding I bet [emoji1303][emoji3]

That is if he has got any loot left after the gigantic spending spree of late.[biggrin]

[4bee]

Peterborough & Terowie, two very big Rail Yards in SA alas now both gone since the AN main line bypassed them.

Terowie noted for General MacArthur's "I will return speech" after he stepped off the train onto the platform during WW2, also the Change of Rail Gauge to the East,West & North of OZ where freight had to be manually transferred across the platforms.

ie. SAR to Commonwealth Railways rolling Stock.

[Homestar]

That is if he has got any loot left after the gigantic spending spree of late.[biggrin]

I've got some left - just got paid (and a pay rise). [thumbsupbig]

[grey_ghost]

Luxky bugger - well deserved no doubt. [emoji1303]

[Homestar]

Well I think I’m worth it. [emoji16][emoji56]

[Pickles2]

Peterborough & Terowie, two very big Rail Yards in SA alas now both gone since the AN main line bypassed them.

Terowie noted for General MacArthur's "I will return speech" after he stepped off the train onto the platform during WW2, also the Change of Rail Gauge to the East,West & North of OZ where freight had to be manually transferred across the platforms.

ie. SAR to Commonwealth Railways rolling Stock.
We've been to Terowie a few times, not much left there now, except a very long platform, upon which is located a plaque at the spot where MacArthur stood. Like I said, not much left there now, but ya can see that in its day, it must have been absolutely HUGE.
Pickles.

[4bee]

Yep it was big & very busy, with Coal Gantries etc & even had a rail Tippler (mainly for the coal stock that emptied into the base of the gantry) to empty the contents. Ther are/were some good images on Google a while ago of the whole joint.


My Dad (WO2) was attached to the big Army Transit Camp as a driving Instructor & MV Maint to the north of the yards, now the oval precinct I think. I spent some time there playing around the infrastructure & was "mates" with the Stationmaster's Son, Rex..

The Military Cells were still there a few years ago although looked a bit sad then, down near the Railway line, so handy for the Provosts (MPs) I suppose they were used for the "unruly" troops on the incoming troop trains heading North..

I have happy memories of my stay there.

[4bee]

Well I think I’m worth it. Good God man! You sound just like Jane Fonda doing her Face product ad.

[biggrin][biggrin][biggrin][biggrin]

[Homestar]

I’m in Sales mate, it’s what I do. [emoji106]. Generators are the product but the VP is all me. [emoji6]

[Homestar]

Here’s one I just found that I took the other week to tide you over - only running on the kitchen table - turn the sound up - the first loco I have fitted with a sound chip.


https://youtu.be/DquyXxYiUQ8

[4bee]

Sounds good to me. Thought you hit the throttle a bit quick on the curve though. I know I know, you discharged sand onto the track.[biggrin]

[Homestar]

I hadn't set the DCC registers properly when I filmed this - I have the acceleration and deceleration set much longer now so it pulls away more prototypically. There are dozens of setpoints you can change and play with. It's not old school by turning up the power and the speed being equivalent to that. You'll notice I didn't actually touch the throttle - you can just see it at the bottom LHS when the engine moves off. I just commanded forward with a different switch, no acceleration or deceleration curves set, and it did its thing - made the sounds that locos make, then pulled away when it was ready. Only button I pressed was the whistle as it came around to complete a lap.[thumbsupbig]

Digital control is brilliant.[smilebigeye]

[SBD4]

Been watching a heap of modelling channels while waiting on parts - this is one of the best - and an Aussie too. 👍


https://youtu.be/HEG3d0cMuv4
ahhh you found him, I was just about to post that one for you...I have watched his channel for a while now. Unbelievably talented.

[16PMark]

Here’s one I just found that I took the other week to tide you over - only running on the kitchen table - turn the sound up - the first loco I have fitted with a sound chip.


https://youtu.be/DquyXxYiUQ8Just subscribed to your channel Gav.
Looking forward to the daily updates. [emoji6][emoji6]

[Homestar]

Chipping away at it. The wider back top is just sitting there, still have to do the legs and shelf. This unit is 740mm wide and will be where the main yard, turntable, roundhouse and yards will be.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48917376328_00e47ad343_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hwEkJ9)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2hwEkJ9) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48917904846_49b0a62af2_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hwH3Qw)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2hwH3Qw) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

And a shot from the end, showing the length I have to play with at each side - over 3 metres. This is where the mainline station will be.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48917904851_a387a614e1_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hwH3QB)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2hwH3QB) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Off to the Model Train show in the morning - I’ll post some pics when I get back, and it’s full steam ahead getting these based complete this weekend. 👍

[4bee]

Bloody hell! Not just a Sparky, an Aviation Enthusiast, a Caravan Rebuilder, but a Chippy to boot. How many more time wasting projects have you got on the go?[biggrin]



You do know you ain't left any space for a bed don't you?[smilebigeye]

[Homestar]

Wouldn’t call myself a chippy, it all works but I’m not a woodworker, give me steel any day. Kids have moved out so their rooms are fair game now. 👍😁

[pop058]

Wouldn’t call myself a chippy, it all works but I’m not a woodworker, give me steel any day. Kids have moved out so their rooms are fair game now. 👍😁

I think I already know the answer BUT have you considered an access hole in the wall to run the track through to another room ?? [bigwhistle]

[Homestar]

I think I already know the answer BUT have you considered an access hole in the wall to run the track through to another room ?? [bigwhistle]

I indeed have thought about it, but there are 2 problems with that - the first is that the adjacent room is the spare room and I need that for visitors. Second is that I still don’t know if I’ll sell or not in the coming months or years so want it easily removable if I pack up and move back to the country. 👍

[Tins]

I think I already know the answer BUT have you considered an access hole in the wall to run the track through to another room ?? [bigwhistle]

I was trying to figure that out to go from one floor to another. 'Er indoors' ( apologies to George Cole, RIP ) vetoed it. Now she's not here I don't have the money. How does that work?

[Tins]

I indeed have thought about it, but there are 2 problems with that - the first is that the adjacent room is the spare room and I need that for visitors. Second is that I still don’t know if I’ll sell or not in the coming months or years so want it easily removable if I pack up and move back to the country. 👍

That's easy. Don't have guests, and make sure the agent brings families with young boys. You can get more trains with the extra money.

[4bee]

Now she's not here I don't have the money. How does that work?



She was/is cleaning out your wallet on the dressing table every night, is probably how? [smilebigeye]


Gav, fwiw if I did that "carpentry" I'd have the legs facing in different directions such are my woodworking skills.[biggrin]

[4bee]

I indeed have thought about it, but there are 2 problems with that - the first is that the adjacent room is the spare room and I need that for visitors. Second is that I still don’t know if I’ll sell or not in the coming months or years so want it easily removable if I pack up and move back to the country. 👍


Visitors? No probs Gav. Hole in wall would be ideal to serve breakfast to guests ah la 'Sushi Express' from the kitchen. 'ang on, you may need to call tenders for a new Spur Line up the hallway though.

Job done. Make sure you make the hole large enough or you might have noodles half way up the wall or if you have a Loading Gauge, you might need a larger one.

"Oh Goody" I hear you say?[biggrin]

[Homestar]

Well that was a bust - everything for sale was HO or O scale. Oh well. Was some nice layouts there including about half of the Sunbury Clubs layout - will post some pics and videos later on. [emoji106]

[Homestar]

Well back to the baseboard. Here’s a quick video showing my woodworking skills. Don’t hate me for this, like anyone, I use what I have - I don’t have much woodworking equipment so I make do.

Gromit, please DON’T tell your FIL I did this... 😉


https://youtu.be/OgJjwGl8kik

[drivesafe]

That’s cheating!

[grey_ghost]

That's not cheating - that's brilliant..!! [thumbsupbig]

You need to change your handle to.... MacGyver !

[Homestar]

Another good day - got the first and second boards complete - feet installed and levelled. They are very rigid and I’m pretty happy. The last board top is made and the other timber cut and machined so will glue and screw that together in the morning. Should have them almost ready for track - just need to grab some extruded polystyrene from somewhere - which is proving to be a little harder than I thought - the insulation places I’ve called so far either don’t sell to the public or have a minimum quantity - about 10 times more than I need.

Wes approves so far. [emoji106]

155045155046

[4bee]

Clever clogs. How come your legs are facing the same direction....................[biggrin][wink11] down?

[Homestar]

Gravity... 😉

[Homestar]

Well, despite a small setback today (pulled a muscle in my back this morning) managed to hobble around and get the last bench done. Just waiting on the extruded polystyrene for the top, then it’s onto laying out the track. I have rough plans drawn up, but I think it will take some time to come up with something I’m ready to lay down permanently. I’m going to get a roll of butchers paper to put down so I can draw as many changes as I need to until I’m happy and things look right. By then all the track I’m still short of will be here too. My bank balance will also be about dry by then - this is not a cheap hobby. 😳

Although I calculated the room I needed for the flip up section to access the layout at the end, when I finally measured it up, I will have just 10mm to spare to the roof when it’s at 90 degrees to the layout! That’s cutting it fine, but it’s also enough. 👍


https://youtu.be/NFmX3UL4COE

[Tins]

Probably should put this in your youtuber thread, but check out this guy. His scenery stuff is amazing and quite simple really... Well, it is for him.
YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjRkUtHQ774mTg1vrQ6uA5A)

[Tins]

Darn. Should read the entire thread. I see you already watch Luke.

[Homestar]

All good, yes, I’ve watched all his videos - some more than once. Got a while to go before I can start the scenery but hopefully I can use some of his techniques to make it looks half decent. It will be by far the biggest challenge for me. I’m pretty comfortable laying the track, etc but the scenery will be the thought bit.

[Pickles2]

You are obviously pretty handy (practically skillful with your hands) Gav, I am bloody HOPELESS, so I'm always very envious of people who are good, and I'm sure my wife is very envious too of ladies who have a practical "MR FIXiT" husband, when she does not!!
I'm following this thread with great interest, this interest germinating from my growing up in England in the fifties when Hornby "Doubleo" train sets were the go,...VERY popular in the days when many boys grew up wanting to be an "Ëngine Driver",....Steam of course.
Pickles.

[Tins]

All good, yes, I’ve watched all his videos - some more than once. Got a while to go before I can start the scenery but hopefully I can use some of his techniques to make it looks half decent. It will be by far the biggest challenge for me. I’m pretty comfortable laying the track, etc but the scenery will be the thought bit.

Got a 3D printer??

[Homestar]

Got a 3D printer??

Next door neighbour does and I have access to it. 👍

[4bee]

Well then Gav, get it done. Don't **** around on here.[biggrin][wink11]

[Tins]

I expect a decent setup in the Wombat Hilton. Something like this perhaps... Should keep you warm.


https://youtu.be/8grHpQAB1jA

[4bee]

Bloody hell! I bet a few of those would keep Eevo's counterparts lot busy in Summer.[bigsad]

[Homestar]

We’ll frustratingly waiting on parts now - foam, paper, etc and also a new power supply for the desktop so I can do some more work on the layout using Anyrail. Did get one part today - some LED light strip for the workbench as it is very dark in there.

Not any more. The 5 meter strip did 2 runs up and back - one under the bottom shelf and one under the main shelf up top. Very bright now. [emoji106]

155072

[pop058]

Found this in a museum in Queenstown (Tas) yesterday. Never seen a Hornsby that big.

155078 155079 155080

[Tins]

Bloody hell! I bet a few of those would keep Eevo's counterparts lot busy in Summer.[bigsad]

it'd give our CFA nightmares.

[Homestar]

So while waiting for parts, have been putting some thought into the lift up section I need to build. Have cobbled together a proof of concept - works great. Will be more stable with 2 hinges as I won’t get the racking this unit has but it proves my theory. Will also incorporate a strut to assist lifting and keep it in place when it’s up without needed a latch of any description.


https://youtu.be/1Gd-8PzYpNY

[Homestar]

Hmmm, clearance is closer than I calculated, but it fits. [emoji106]. I can drop the feet up to 15mm so I might wind them down a bit so it clears the ceiling - it should almost go back and rest on the wall with the hinges I’ve used. 155099155100155101

That’s it for the night - I’ve just donated blood and I’m feeling a little woozy after that - I should know better...

[4bee]

It appears that you are adding a 2nd & 3rd floor to your room. "Wanna see my 00 mate? Right, it is in the loft" .[smilebigeye]

[16PMark]

Hmmm, clearance is closer than I calculated, but it fits. [emoji106]. I can drop the feet up to 15mm so I might wind them down a bit so it clears the ceiling - it should almost go back and rest on the wall with the hinges I’ve used. 155099155100155101

That’s it for the night - I’ve just donated blood and I’m feeling a little woozy after that - I should know better...Hope ya got a bikky and a cup of tea. [emoji6]
Luvin ya Train updates, both here and on YT.
Noice!
[emoji41][emoji1783]

[350RRC]

Bloody hell! I bet a few of those would keep Eevo's counterparts lot busy in Summer.[bigsad]

Coal burning in SA in anything is done and dusted.

Other States................... ?

Where that vid was shot there'd be no need for a CFA or RFS, not a blade of veg anywhere.

Last Real Steam in China 2018: Sandaoling (https://www.farrail.com/pages/touren-engl/Steam-in-china-2018-Sandaoling.php)

DL

[4bee]

Coal burning in SA in anything is done and dusted.

Other States................... ?

Where that vid was shot there'd be no need for a CFA or RFS, not a blade of veg anywhere.

Last Real Steam in China 2018: Sandaoling (https://www.farrail.com/pages/touren-engl/Steam-in-china-2018-Sandaoling.php)

DL





Probably less vegetation than Mars.

[Homestar]

Yep, cup of tea, cheese and crackers, large chocolate chip cookie and a bit of cake. 👍

Was my 25th donation too so I got a little badge. 😊. I actually have almost twice that many but the old records from the 80’s were never rolled over when I started donating again around 10 years ago. But that’s not why we do it is it. 😊

[V8Ian]

How will you maintain contiguity across the bridge, Gav? Pigtails on the hinge end?
A single source for DCC should sufice, shouldn't it?

[Homestar]

Yep, spot on Ian, just some wires running from the hinged end, but they’ll also be some switching involved so I can’t accidentally run a train off the end or into the raised section. This will just entail some contacts that will isolate the last section before the bridge, so when broken, any train running into the last 1/2 meter or so will just stop dead. DCC makes life very easy for things like this, 2 wires and I have the 3 tracks sorted. 👍

Each section of track - even on the bridge will have its own set of droppers running to a main bus, but at the end of the day, it’s just those 2 wires that are needed. Points get trickier as you have to switch the frog power when the switch changes so there’s 5 wires involved for each point, with 2 running back to the switch from each - they’ll be around 30 odd points on the layout all up, so it will still be a jumble of wiring, but I’ll show all that later.

Not doing any PC sectional control or anything, so it will be fairly simple electrically. (To start with) 😇

[Homestar]

No pic today, but a quick update. The baseboards are 100% finished as far as woodwork goes now, including the bridge section. Still waiting on the XPS foam which should be here mid week and some magnets to latch the bridge section in the down position to make absolutely sure it stays flat over the transition. Have also ordered some spring contacts for the switching of the track either side of the bridge.

As the bridge doesn’t have foam going on it, I could actually start laying the track on it - given its only going to be 2 tracks straight across it at the moment (a third may be added later) then there’s no reason I couldn’t do this.

Will see what tomorrow brings.

[Homestar]

So tomorrow is now today and I spent the day laying out an overview of the track on the boards and laid the track across the bridge. This took a long time as I’m doing things different on this - all corners will have correct easements leading into and out of them. This means a bit of math and some extra time but you end up with curves that look like the real thing - using the same guidelines Engineers use to design real railways. Basically the first 30% of the curve ‘eases’ into the corner at a diminishing radius.

This guy explains it well if you have the time - his how to’s are very good and easy to understand.

https://youtu.be/Nu9qlIckU7Q

Anyway, got the cork laid for the 2 mainline tracks across the bridge and one track glued down too, but this is now drying so no more to do today.

A couple of pics -

One side of the cork glued down and drying
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48966266506_0bc6d88b4c_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hAYV5f)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2hAYV5f) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

A shot from above -
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48966266521_c91437dff1_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hAYV5v)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2hAYV5v) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Both sides of the cork glued down. This gives a good view of how gentle the curves start at -
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48965722028_6f24af9475_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hAW8dG)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2hAW8dG) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

For the eagle eyed, no, this isn’t a prototypical width for track spacing for 00 - I might tighten this up a bit on the main boards depending on rolling stock clearances - 00 gauge is a bit of a compromise when it comes to this. I’m running 55mm here between track centres whereas it should be 45mm. I think my curves will allow closer spacing, my minimum radius on the mainline is 600mm - slightly over a third radius bend, which I’m pretty happy with.

[grey_ghost]

Looking fan-bloody-tastic Gav! [thumbsupbig]

[4bee]

Some people used to do it solely for the glass of beer but that got knocked on the head for various reasons. Mind you, not for me Gunga Din.

I suppose it was ok for the old blokes that went, in days of yore, all they had to do was let the horse find it's way home.[smilebigeye]

Gav, I hope you are going to install buffer stops at the end otherwise the locos will finish up on the lawn.[biggrin][wink11]

[V8Ian]

Ron seems to have omitted a transition on both ends of the curve.

[4bee]

Neat little telegraph poles Gav. Just needs wire.[smilebigeye]

[Tins]

Neat little telegraph poles Gav. Just needs wire.[smilebigeye]

Luke will tell him how...

[Homestar]

So track dried overnight so here’s a pic of the first bit. Can’t lay any more until I get the foam, so now it’s back to planning.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48973058987_121b1fc195_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hBzJeZ)197A1269-7087-48A4-BCBD-6E904800475B (https://flic.kr/p/2hBzJeZ) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Below shows the LH side of the layout as planned - it may change slightly but it will be close. Only 2 points here, so these will be controlled manually by a linkage to the side of the baseboard. You can see the mainline running around - this drops level 30mm to go under the branch line at a grade of 2% and the branch line goes up and over at a very unrealistic 6% but for the small goods trains that will be fine - I’m not trying to be prototypical here and when I laid out that grade to check it, it didn’t look too bad to the eye. The branch line will continue up then run across the back of the layout at a higher level with a large hill in the corner. It will then come back down and loop around the back RHS and come back down to the main level there.

There will be a flint mill or something similar between the branch line and the canal with it servicing both forms of transport. As I’m modelling this in the early 50’s it was the end of the canals but they were still being used commercially then.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48972330613_bd4728c792_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hBvZHP)F76D60B4-1A59-45E7-B62B-8E0F654448CA (https://flic.kr/p/2hBvZHP) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

The rest of this board will be rolling countryside, etc. At the top of the pic where the main board is, this will be the town and to the far right of that the main maintenance yard with turntable and roundhouse. Will hopefully start laying that out tomorrow night. The main fiddle yards will be opposite the canal near the window and will house all the rolling stock so this is where the majority of the points will be.

[Homestar]

So got the main station and works area drawn up tonight - more compromises so if you’re into prototype modelling turn away now. Always knew the station and switching around it would be cramped, but I got what I wanted in there ok. Passing and slip lane point placement is far from prototypical but I can sit a large loco, tender and 3 coaches in them no dramas, so all good for me.

Roundhouse takes up a lot of room so the branch line had to come in front of this, rather than behind it as I first planned but that’s fine. Empty space on this board will be a township or parts thereof.

All points shown are full sized which makes the layout of track between them quite easy.

Following on from the last board.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48979262332_3201dfb0c8_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hC8whd)14CDD9A5-47E5-4ACD-B71F-887F329F7FF8 (https://flic.kr/p/2hC8whd) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Turntable, Roundhouse and works area.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48978524603_14b1441844_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hC4JYK)D7FA49CC-48AF-4A95-B606-C119BAD88E52 (https://flic.kr/p/2hC4JYK) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

The Flying Scotsman with 3 coaches to give an idea of scale.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48978524548_849d44bc70_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hC4JXN)C1616EB9-941A-4A9C-88EF-D8B83EA28E65 (https://flic.kr/p/2hC4JXN) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Tomorrow night the last board - which may yet be the most complicated.

Until then...

[4bee]

I guess you are aware she came out to Oz in our bi-centenary year 1988?

We were fortunate to do a rail trip behind her to Virginia, North of Adelaide.


A memorable journey.[smilebigeye]

[Homestar]

Yes, the world tour sent the owner broke then she almost disappeared altogether When sold but was thrown a lifeline and completely restored when sold again.

Great doco here on the resto


https://youtu.be/sOc5MsEUOAA

And a good one about her trip down under.


https://youtu.be/ZVzgnWTxzZs

Must be the Pom in me but I watch just about everything train related from England. Just watched a 55 minute trip from the front of the loco on the Welsh Highland Railway - well worth an hour of your time.


https://youtu.be/1o8YJsVOH58

[4bee]

Christ, I must be getting olde, I had tears in my eyes & a lump in my froat at times. Been an Anglophile since I was a little kid.

Thanks for that Gav.[happycry]

[Tins]

You going to be using DCC Gav?

[Pickles2]

Yes, the world tour sent the owner broke then she almost disappeared altogether When sold but was thrown a lifeline and completely restored when sold again.

Great doco here on the resto


https://youtu.be/sOc5MsEUOAA

And a good one about her trip down under.


https://youtu.be/ZVzgnWTxzZs

Must be the Pom in me but I watch just about everything train related from England. Just watched a 55 minute trip from the front of the loco on the Welsh Highland Railway - well worth an hour of your time.


https://youtu.be/1o8YJsVOH58
I've ridden on this one!
Pickles.

[Homestar]

You going to be using DCC Gav?

Yep, have a Digitrax Zephyr Express controller which is fully expandable. Locos are almost all fitted with chips now - got around 5 or 6 left to do, and one has sound. Points will only be switch operated at the moment, just because I like the interaction of moving a lever to operate a point rather than dialling in a point number. Turntable will likely be DCC controlled, or stepper motor with Arduino, haven’t decided on that yet. No block control or PC either (Yet). 😁

[Homestar]

Got the XPS today as well, so can get that laid this weekend and I can start track installation in earnest then. Haven’t had time to do the layout of the fiddle yards yet, maybe tomorrow night. 👍

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48990006526_ee8f7864b7_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hD5A9W)595674A7-C924-422C-A793-62BD0C8F3C0D (https://flic.kr/p/2hD5A9W) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[Tins]

No block control or PC either (Yet). 😁

Size of your current layout probably doesn't justify either. Yet. This stuff grows on you. Or you get bored. I'm looking forward to a "cab view" on here in a year or two.

[Tins]

Got the XPS today as well, so can get that laid this weekend and I can start track installation in earnest then. Haven’t had time to do the layout of the fiddle yards yet, maybe tomorrow night. 👍

You aren't mucking around then? Lol, they grab you.

Will there be a miniature in the Hilton? Wouldn't be hard.

[Homestar]

Was actually thinking about it, as then I could run the branch line with the PC and I wouldn’t need to worry about it at each end of the line, and in the fiddle yards. Easy enough to do later, if I get that far. Once I get the trains running, it will take ages to get the scenery done, so if I do it will be after that. I have a camera that will fit up the front for the cab ride. 👍

[Tins]

Was actually thinking about it, as then I could run the branch line with the PC and I wouldn’t need to worry about it at each end of the line, and in the fiddle yards. Easy enough to do later, if I get that far. Once I get the trains running, it will take ages to get the scenery done, so if I do it will be after that. I have a camera that will fit up the front for the cab ride. 👍

You're still young Gav. Build and they will come... well, I might. I love trains.

[16PMark]

Was actually thinking about it, as then I could run the branch line with the PC and I wouldn’t need to worry about it at each end of the line, and in the fiddle yards. Easy enough to do later, if I get that far. Once I get the trains running, it will take ages to get the scenery done, so if I do it will be after that. I have a camera that will fit up the front for the cab ride. [emoji106]If you happen to see a suspicious looking Bonatti Grey D2a hovering around your suburb on the weekend, it's just me looking for the bloke who, (in my head), asked for help to build his model Railway..[emoji6]
[emoji1783][emoji1787]

[Tins]

If you happen to see a suspicious looking Bonatti Grey D2a hovering around your suburb on the weekend, it's just me looking for the bloke who, (in my head), asked for help to build his model Railway..[emoji6]
[emoji1783][emoji1787]

I have no idea, but had to like the post anyway.

[Homestar]

If you happen to see a suspicious looking Bonatti Grey D2a hovering around your suburb on the weekend, it's just me looking for the bloke who, (in my head), asked for help to build his model Railway..[emoji6]
[emoji1783][emoji1787]

Will be working on it on Monday, it’s a compulsory day off for the Melbourne Cup long weekend - I’ll be working on it all day then, you’re welcome to pop over. 👍

[16PMark]

Will be working on it on Monday, it’s a compulsory day off for the Melbourne Cup long weekend - I’ll be working on it all day then, you’re welcome to pop over. [emoji106]Awesome! I'll take you up on that, but not this weekend unfortunately. (Work etc etc) [emoji36]
However, i see many more weekends in your future, in which you will require some assistance with this..... [emoji6][emoji6]
[emoji1783]

[Homestar]

Will keep you posted - more than welcome to come over anytime. 👍

[Homestar]

The most complicated foam work is on the first board I marked out as the main and branch lines cross and has the canal running through it. Started the foam work and can now see sort of how it will come together. Don’t concern yourself with how rough this looks, the next stage is Scultamold which covers all the foam up and makes a surface that’s nice and flat for the tracks and also can sculpt the scenery to how I want it to look. Branch grades are a little steep but will look a bit better than this when complete and they’ll be fine for me and for everyone but the biggest model rail anoraks out there. Once I have the mainline run, I can check clearance and take the branch line height down a bit I think - the foam is easy to work.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48994436746_f78a781613_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDti73)701AE630-F093-41D6-B058-7351DE5F4EFB (https://flic.kr/p/2hDti73) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48994436816_6fad7b1a68_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDti8f)A4E138AF-C14A-4EC5-88FF-13AD0DB1D16D (https://flic.kr/p/2hDti8f) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[4bee]

everyone but the biggest model rail anoraks out there


WHAT!! You mean to say that Model Rail Anoraks actually exist?[biggrin]

[Homestar]

Mate, they make Land Rover rivet counters look like School Boys...

You hear comments about people’s layouts like ‘I didn’t think the shade of red he used to weather the track was as prototypical as it could have been’, ‘The gap between his baseboards wasn’t covered up very well’ and ‘The sleepers are a bit close together’. In the big boys world of railway modelling what I’m building here would be called a ‘Toy layout’ because of things like the grades, point spacing, platform length and overall design.

Doesn’t bother me but it’s why I don’t go to modelling clubs - they’re all middle and older aged Gentlemen with too much time on their hands.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

- they’re all middle and older aged Gentlemen with too much time on their hands.

Yep! and you fail on two of those! [bigwhistle]

[4bee]

they’re all middle and older aged Gentlemen with too much time on their hands.

So, they tend to be local Councilors as well? :Thump:

[Homestar]

Before heading to bed last night I laid down some plater of paris to smooth out the grades. Today I got stuck back in.

Bridge decks down ready for cork track bed. These are recessed in 6mm leaving 3mm sticking out to match up to the cork.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48999530487_1430a32d2e_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDVpia)5A229FCF-C0DE-4E30-8829-1A8F74010759 (https://flic.kr/p/2hDVpia) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

My helpers for the day.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48998781438_2adb987616_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDRyCw)7E08F7CF-DB16-4AB0-ABCE-ED69E083F740 (https://flic.kr/p/2hDRyCw) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

And many hours later, the cork is all laid on this section apart from the overhead of the branch line as I still don’t know what height this will be until the track is down. Those with a keen eye will note I’ve closed up the spacing between the main line tracks - it’s close to what it should be, just a little wider which gives the longer rolling stock room to clear on the curves.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48998781243_736ad90b07_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDRyza)614BE5BF-F070-415F-B6C4-2EBE022A7135 (https://flic.kr/p/2hDRyza) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48999320721_6d6b798d74_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDUjWv)04DAAEC7-BA8B-4844-A8EB-1924AC222B33 (https://flic.kr/p/2hDUjWv) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48999320776_e756d04139_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDUjXs)816CAA64-5300-465B-82C2-0497A074BB42 (https://flic.kr/p/2hDUjXs) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48999320811_a0ef500227_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hDUjY4)873E8B9F-5628-4589-8635-8494AD8A5708 (https://flic.kr/p/2hDUjY4) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[Homestar]

While researching how to build a motorised, indexable turntable, I happened across this guys website - A D M Turntables - Home (http://www.admturntables.com/)

He developed this ready to go kit for those like me that wanted an all singing all dancing setup. As the roundhouse and turntable will be a major feature of my layout, I emailed him and he responded overnight - very nice chap and he gave me some more info and pricing. He ships to Aus as well.

Here he is giving a rundown of the unit.

https://youtu.be/CfL2-T14xX0

And here’s a quick video showing one installed and operating on a layout - I’ve ordered an identical unit to this, weathered and brick lined so I won’t **** it up trying that myself. 😇

https://youtu.be/lUBtcrt3r2M

Not cheap but about what I was expecting to be honest and not so outrageous that it can’t happen.

[16PMark]

Hiya Gav,
As with all pics online, perspective is disrupted. But this overpass looks like it's going to be a very sharp corner....
Is it? [emoji848] Is there enough room for a bend to the right?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191102/a24f756a404b6ec2e92995fd414d8321.jpg

[Homestar]

Just the perspective. The overpass for the branch line actually starts to turn right there just before where the bridge will be. It will be on a 600mm radius so about the same as the mainline bends. Also, it will only be running a 0-4-0 shunter and goods wagons, so would turn much tighter corners than that if needed. Will hopefully have that section complete this weekend so you can see better. 👍

[16PMark]

Ahh cool.
Just checkin. [emoji56]
You're all over it. Good stuff.
[emoji1783]
Cheers. As ya were. [emoji41]

[Tombie]

Use some steppers and other bits and make it Google or Alexa controller.

:)

[Homestar]

Yeah, was going to do a stepper and an Arduino, wouldn’t use google or Alexa to do anything sorry, that’s not my cup of tea at all. Easier to farm this one out, it’s a very well thought out unit - I haven’t worked out how he keeps power on it the whole time yet either, every other turntable breaks the supply to swap polarity and that break causes the sound to drop out on the loco. He’s overcome this some how. Will pay him the money. 👍

[Homestar]

Glued down another section of foam, and carved out the last bit of the grade for the mainline. Put some cork down just now to check radius’s, etc - all looks good apart from the start of the cutting - I’ll have to open that up just a bit on the side closest to the wall and fill in a bit on the near side. Will glue it down later, I’ve about had it for the day - been working on the Fergy most of the day, I’ll post some pics in that thread too.

This gives you an idea of what the track will look like leaving the station, with a bypass track on each line.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49004563306_7f5194116f_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hEncnU)23F9FA85-049E-4B75-ABA5-502056FF9A5F (https://flic.kr/p/2hEncnU) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49004024968_ae5cab89a3_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hEjrmd)588DA378-A461-4045-B38E-F4F20E8F039C (https://flic.kr/p/2hEjrmd) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[4bee]

Bloody Hell! Never had all these things to consider with our Hornbys. Box down from shelf. Open box & join track on the floor, wind up Locos & run consist around until it was tea time, pack up & put box back on shelf, have tea.

Say goodnight to Mater & Pater & my Nanny & skip off off to bed in my Christopher Robin Pyjamas..[biggrin]

I really don't know why you are making a big deal about your setup Gav.[biggrin][biggrin][tonguewink]

[Homestar]

I actually have 4 train sets in boxes, all with track, loco, rolling stock and controllers - and yes I still get then out, play with them then put them away. 😁

Won’t have to once this is all done, can just go play with them when I want to. 👍

[4bee]

Lovely, but why doesn't that surprise me?[biggrin]

Can't wait to see the finished product. No, really.

[Homestar]

Thanks. You’ll have to wait a while. I’m sure I’ll have trains running around it in 4 to 6 weeks, but from there to completion... who knows. These things have a habit of taking years. 😉

[4bee]

I guess they will if you insist on covering Air Shows, taking lots of photos which you then edit & put online & fixing up Electrical Sub-Stations in the donga.[biggrin][wink11]

But thank gawd someone does. :TakeABow:

[Homestar]

Ok, have all the foam laid now and some more cork down. Given the weather tomorrow is supposed to be wet and cold, it will be a perfect day to get some more done. Pics tomorrow. 👍

[drivesafe]

Ok, Pics tomorrow. 👍
About time, I’m going through withdrawal symptoms

[Tins]

I actually have 4 train sets in boxes, all with track, loco, rolling stock and controllers - and yes I still get then out, play with them then put them away. 😁

Won’t have to once this is all done, can just go play with them when I want to. 👍

But, unboxing is so much fun. There are entire channels devoted to it on ewetoob. [bigsmile1]

[Homestar]

So spent almost all day on the layout today - for not much of a result. Time flies when you get going, but very happy with today’s efforts. No pics, but a video update so you’ll have to watch the video to see where I’m up to and get my video count up. 😆👍. It’s only just been uploaded as I type this so it will probably be crappy quality for half an hour or so.


https://youtu.be/aiee3FTvl0s

Run out or underlay so have ordered more, but I’m not 100% sure what the yards will look like yet, so I that gives me time to start planning all of that. 👍

[Homestar]

A couple of bonus pics before I head out for the day.

Started soldering track together - 2 lengths at a time with one set of droppers per 2 lengths. The droppers just go through the baseboard and connect together to a ring main. All tracks sections get joined, the DCC control system looks after the rest. 👍

Missing sleepers get replaced once everything’s running right just before the ballast gets laid, so the gaps will be there for some time until all the track is down and tested to my satisfaction.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49040289857_1a0cfceaf8_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hHwiCV)392623DB-07F2-4237-971E-C90039EBE83C (https://flic.kr/p/2hHwiCV) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

And the first 2 sections laid - will glue them down tonight maybe.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49040289917_faa5cdd8d9_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hHwiDX)FC7C1611-3A1E-4106-8C71-FFF0413BDD7A (https://flic.kr/p/2hHwiDX) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

[4bee]

Will you be laying the Ballast with a proper 00 Ballast train?[smilebigeye][smilebigeye] Go on, you know you want to.


I didn't know Ballast was so important & actually needs cleaning regularly.


Ballast: what is it and why do we clean and replace it every night? - Network Rail (https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/ballast-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-clean-and-replace-it-every-night/)

[Homestar]

Yes, very important to the real thing, not so much for a model. The physics of ballast laying doesn’t translate well in small scale but I have seen an O gauge ballast layer.[emoji106]

[4bee]

Just reading again that NR website & found it incredible that the Ballast Train is a 1/2 mile long by the time all the different units are coupled together. Crikey!

No wonder Rail Travel costs a King's Ransom in the UK.

[jspyle]

When I was visiting family some years ago, I stumbled across the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg.
Even my wife was impressed.
I'll try to copy the link in, here goes:
Modellbahn, Modelleisenbahn Hamburg | Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg (https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/?_ga=2.62167532.1912447753.1573608152-859301724.1573608142)

Here's a picture:
155577

I think there were three or four floors of exhibits with dioramas and entire cities, some extending between floors to emulate the Alpine territory of Northern Europe.
I'm guessing you don't have the space to emulate this.

[Tins]

I imagine you'll have seen this already, but it's worth sharing here. Luke's attention to detail is astonishing.


https://youtu.be/-8hiy4oSJBg

[4bee]

When I was visiting family some years ago, I stumbled across the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg.
Even my wife was impressed.
I'll try to copy the link in, here goes:
Modellbahn, Modelleisenbahn Hamburg | Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg (https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/?_ga=2.62167532.1912447753.1573608152-859301724.1573608142)




Here's a picture:
155577

I think there were three or four floors of exhibits with dioramas and entire cities, some extending between floors to emulate the Alpine territory of Northern Europe.
I'm guessing you don't have the space to emulate this.

From what I have witnessed, just give Gav 5 minutes to get his woodworking tools out.[biggrin]

[Tins]

When I was visiting family some years ago, I stumbled across the Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg.
Even my wife was impressed.
I'll try to copy the link in, here goes:
Modellbahn, Modelleisenbahn Hamburg | Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg (https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/?_ga=2.62167532.1912447753.1573608152-859301724.1573608142)

Here's a picture:
155577

I think there were three or four floors of exhibits with dioramas and entire cities, some extending between floors to emulate the Alpine territory of Northern Europe.
I'm guessing you don't have the space to emulate this.

Only seen it on ewetoob. Did you see the massive computer setup that runs it?

[Homestar]

I imagine you'll have seen this already, but it's worth sharing here. Luke's attention to detail is astonishing.


https://youtu.be/-8hiy4oSJBg

Saw that in my feed this morning but only just watched it - he’s brilliant at what he does. 👍

[Tins]

Saw that in my feed this morning but only just watched it - he’s brilliant at what he does. 👍

He does a Cyclone fence better than Cyclone. Blows me away.

[grey_ghost]

Hey Gav,

Even Rod Stewart has the bug...

I am railing: Sir Rod Stewart reveals his epic model railway city - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50403561)

[Tins]

Hey Gav,

Even Rod Stewart has the bug...

I am railing: Sir Rod Stewart reveals his epic model railway city - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50403561)

Hopefully his hobby will keep him too busy to sing...

[Homestar]

Hopefully his hobby will keep him too busy to sing...

What makes you think I don’t sing? 😉

[grey_ghost]

Hopefully his hobby will keep him too busy to sing...

I would say that his bank balance and list of wives, shows that he is a better singer that you or I... [emoji6]

[4bee]

Hey Gav,

Even Rod Stewart has the bug...

I am railing: Sir Rod Stewart reveals his epic model railway city - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50403561)


I wonder whether model Train Buffs automatically receive a Knighthood?



Nah, Gav would be too humble to accept one. Then again......[smilebigeye]

[Homestar]

Ooh, a Knighthood! I’d accept that. 😁.

Call me - ‘Sir Homestar’ 👍

[pop058]

What makes you think I don’t sing? 😉

More hope than think [biggrin]

[mick88]

On the subject of model railways - next time any of you are in Peterborough (SA), have a look at the layout in the newsagent.

Did you go to the Steamtown Museum there John?
It is well worth a visit, as is the evening "Light n Sound Show" that they put on.

We were there a few weeks back and absolutely loved it.

Cheers, Mick.

[JDNSW]

Did you go to the Steamtown Museum there John?
It is well worth a visit, as is the evening "Light n Sound Show" that they put on.

We were there a few weeks back and absolutely loved it.

Cheers, Mick.

Yes, spent about half a day there, but gave the evening show a miss - I've never been a fan of that sort of thing.

[Tombie]

What makes you think I don’t sing? [emoji6]

Voice of an angel I was told.

[V8Ian]

Voice of an angel I was told.
You left an adjective out, dark. [biggrin]

[Homestar]

Well the turntable showed up - 5 days from England over a weekend - not too shabby, but geez you pay for it. Cleared customs without further payment or GST so pretty happy about that. 👍

The unit looks great and works flawlessly. Alister from ADM Turntables has truly excelled here and bought an item to market that is unmatched. The sound from the locos doesn’t even cut out when the turntable does a 180 which is quite impressive as the polarity of the track is switched during the turn. This is the only one I’ve ever seen that can do this. To say I’m happy is an understatement and the eye watering cost is quickly being forgotten.

This is what I got -

What I ordered - a weathered and brick lined turntable, with the mounting kit - which makes mounting it dead flat and leveling it so all tracks meet perfectly a snap - that’s also very well thought out.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49087976233_d93fc5e8cd_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hMJH8P)00641B93-0955-46C1-AD2C-74C9B99EC415 (https://flic.kr/p/2hMJH8P) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

A shot or two of the inner workings - stepper motor and drive gears, control board and encoder.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49088692867_d393d29358_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hMNoaz)262949B8-F2A9-4DB2-914D-14A26A40A2BE (https://flic.kr/p/2hMNoaz) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49088692927_01c6fbbbec_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hMNobB)4F063B2B-7FCD-4334-8973-790973247726 (https://flic.kr/p/2hMNobB) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Controller is also of very high quality

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49088692707_c348829224_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hMNo7P)C5858078-4717-444C-9CEA-3C79C1633705 (https://flic.kr/p/2hMNo7P) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49087976273_1a61af95af_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2hMJH9v)BBF0007F-EF96-4364-84D1-1ACC5D574F07 (https://flic.kr/p/2hMJH9v) by Gavin Gregory (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150806513@N06/), on Flickr

Just have to mount it all on the baseboard now and I’ll shoot a video of it in use. 👍

[4bee]

What is it about model Railways where grown men can be brought to tears & possibly wet themselves with excitement? [biggrin] [wink11]

Does it do Stir Fries as well?


Looks a nice piece of engineered kit & I look forward to the Vid.

[drivesafe]

Homestar, you have nothin better to do so get your finger out, get it working and get the video up. NOW[bigwhistle]

[Pickles2]

Did you go to the Steamtown Museum there John?
It is well worth a visit, as is the evening "Light n Sound Show" that they put on.

We were there a few weeks back and absolutely loved it.

Cheers, Mick.
We've been to the Museum, and the Sound 'N Light" Show which you view from a railway carriage,....the whole place is brilliant for steam buffs IMHO. The facility must have been really something in the era of steam.
Pickles.

[grey_ghost]

That’s dead sexy [emoji1303][emoji3]

[4bee]

There were a couple of Engine Drivers who lived in our street at Torrensville & we'd chat over the gas meter when I was on the way home from school, as you do.

I got the impression that Peterborough & possibly even Terowie (down the road a bit) were postings that were jealously guarded.
One of them, a Mr Harley drove the huge mainline Expresses ie. 500 Class the biggest Loco that SAR operated. These guys always wore black & most always carried a vented metal box over their shoulder for their away & overnight meals The probably wore black when they went out socially..[smilebigeye]

South Australian Railways 500 class (steam) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australian_Railways_500_class_(steam))

[V8Ian]

Thanks 4bee, what a wormhole you creared.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Ian,, drop that phone in a bin...[tonguewink]

[4bee]

Thanks 4bee, what a wormhole you creared.

Wormhole? Non capisco.
Not a Shooting offence then?[biggrin]

[4bee]

TIC TOC TIC TOC TIC TOC :bat:


[bigsad][smilebigeye]

[Homestar]

Have patience my son... A video will be posted later today if I get home at a decent hour - hoping that's the case as the temp will be sending all the sites home soon so I'll have nothing to do on the road by lunch time I should think.

[4bee]

Temp? It is nice here.... Fog & Rain 16.3c . Yesterday, 38c or summat. It's not fair. You get most of us all worked up & now you can't deliver.[bighmmm] Well you can, but it seems like years.[biggrin]

[Homestar]

Ok, got home out of the wind and heat - most sites have closed or are closing now - it’s high 30’s and blowing a gale. Set up and tested the turntable yesterday so I just took a video of it.

Due to someone’s impatience (you whistle, I’ll point 😁 ) - I’ll up load this while I make myself some lunch.

Please note that the tracks aren’t pinned down or levelled to the unit so the small bump you see on the loco as it moves on and off the turntable is the track and how I’ve stuck it there for the demo, and not the turntable itself.


https://youtu.be/-js3hgOa8r0

Will be a couple of weeks I think before it is all mounted permanently and the track is all laid so once that’s done I’ll do a longer video and run a few locos in and out of the yard. 👍

[4bee]

Impatient? Moi? Yeah right. That is what 'er indoors used to say.

Ah yes, then it was "You're too quick". You can't win sometimes.[biggrin][biggrin]

Anyway Gav, you can't fool me. You loved making the Vid.[smilebigeye] Enjoyed that. Thank you for the preview release. Just like the real thing. Only smaller.:TakeABow:

[mick88]

There were a couple of Engine Drivers who lived in our street at Torrensville & we'd chat over the gas meter when I was on the way home from school, as you do.

I got the impression that Peterborough & possibly even Terowie (down the road a bit) were postings that were jealously guarded.
One of them, a Mr Harley drove the huge mainline Expresses ie. 500 Class the biggest Loco that SAR operated. These guys always wore black & most always carried a vented metal box over their shoulder for their away & overnight meals The probably wore black when they went out socially..[smilebigeye]

South Australian Railways 500 class (steam) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australian_Railways_500_class_(steam))


That was a very interesting read.
In it's heyday and the prime days of steam, Peterborough could have up to 120 trains a day passing through, especially during the war years, with troops, machinery etc. for the war effort, freight, minerals from Broken Hill, etc. It must have been a very busy and bustling place.
You can only imagine how much smoke there must have been in the air.
One thing is you never hear much of bush fires started by steam loco's.

The 500 Class sounds very similar to the Victorian Railways "Heavy Harry" "H" Class H220, the largest steam loco ever built in Australia.

Cheers, Mick.

[4bee]

Thank you Mick. It appears being the most "Senior Old Codger" here has it's advantages when it comes to going back before 1950.

Times change & memories are all we have to rely upon to make that journey back. I suppose it was history in the making but one didn't even realise that then, same as folk today when they will look back.

Were you up there? I spent some little time at Terowie for a few weeks during the hey day of the War Years with all that canvas covered stuff moving up North & to Broken Hill on it's way to who knew where then? A couple of weeks later & I might have seen General MacArthur arrive. WOW! [bigsmile1]

BTW, Harry & my one could have been Twin Brothers.[bigsmile1]

[4bee]

One thing is you never hear much of bush fires started by steam loco's.

Well, not these days obviously with diesel power, but back when steam was king it seemed to happen a lot especially when the line went through forested areas & you often saw newspaper articles saying just that.

Is one reason why Steam-ranger here won't run coal fired locos in Summer & use diesel railcars which ain't half as much fun as Coal fired.. Probably not necessarily their choice either but from higher authorities. I would think that lineside fires would be hazardous for Fire crews being along remote stretches of track.

[jspyle]

Only seen it on ewetoob. Did you see the massive computer setup that runs it?

I probably did, but it was about three years ago, so unfortunately, I only have a vague memory.
I thought that Hamburg, as a whole, was an interesting place to visit.

[16PMark]

Has there been some sort of union meeting that has disrupted the flow of this project?? Has there been a pay dispute? Or is it contaminated dirt that's the issue....
Updates please....
[emoji39][emoji1783][emoji41]
[emoji106]

[4bee]

Maybe the Air Brakes are stuck on? I've been patiently waitng as well, & doesn't Gav realise there is MR Fan Club cooling their heels on trackside? [biggrin]

[grey_ghost]

I myself have been eagerly awaiting updates on this, but perhaps Homestar has been busy on any number of other projects. [emoji1303]

Or perhaps he became tired of negative/you should do it this way comments.

Or perhaps I have no idea! [emoji15]

I just hope that he’s progressing and having a ball. [emoji3]

[Homestar]

GG is half right, other things going on, but progress is happening. Just not posting as much here these days. Maybe I will again at some stage, will see. Appreciate people’s continued interest though. AULRO is taking a bit of a back seat at the moment to life for a variety of reasons. Might have time and the motivation some time in the new year to start reporting progress again.

[16PMark]

GG is half right, other things going on, but progress is happening. Just not posting as much here these days. Maybe I will again at some stage, will see. Appreciate people’s continued interest though. AULRO is taking a bit of a back seat at the moment to life for a variety of reasons. Might have time and the motivation some time in the new year to start reporting progress again.Fair enough. Hope you sort out whatever is happening in the background, and all is well.
Cheers Gav.
[emoji1783]

[grey_ghost]

Maybe Homestar is plotting his take-over of Holden... [emoji6][emoji1303]

[Homestar]

Pffft, I’ve got enough loose change on my coffee machine to buy Holden I think, it’s almost worthless...

[BradC]

Pffft, I’ve got enough loose change on my coffee machine to buy Holden I think

That'd be a waste of 10 bucks. There's a whole bucket load of fail there.

[Tins]

https://youtu.be/2kRiRC5QkcU

[Homestar]

He’s a talented fellow - love his videos. [emoji106]

Unfortunately there’ll be no movement on my line for a while yet - have a few things slowing me down on this currently.

[4bee]

He’s a talented fellow - love his videos. [emoji106]

Unfortunately there’ll be no movement on my line for a while yet - have a few things slowing me down on this currently.


[bigsad][bighmmm][happycry]

[SBD4]

Nice scenery in this one Gav....just to inspire you a little.....


https://youtu.be/nHcVKqDM7U4

[Homestar]

Thanks, inspiration is only one part of the equation - I need time more than anything else which I have very little of.

The house and gardens are undergoing a lot of work at the moment as I’ve decided to keep the place after my separation and it needs some TLC. Once I have it back up to snuff, and another project complete (I should probably start a thread on that - bugger it, I will) - I’m sure they’d be some interest - then I could see myself having some time to the trains.

New GF understands that room is out of bounds for any purpose other than a model railroad, so it will progress at some point, just don’t know when at this stage.

[OldGuy]

Been there, GOOD LUCK.
Stay positive...

[SBD4]

Thanks, inspiration is only one part of the equation - I need time more than anything else which I have very little of.

The house and gardens are undergoing a lot of work at the moment as I’ve decided to keep the place after my separation and it needs some TLC. Once I have it back up to snuff, and another project complete (I should probably start a thread on that - bugger it, I will) - I’m sure they’d be some interest - then I could see myself having some time to the trains.

New GF understands that room is out of bounds for any purpose other than a model railroad, so it will progress at some point, just don’t know when at this stage.

Take your time Gav. We have the whole internet to supply us with model train vids. Just keeping the thread alive and kicking![thumbsupbig]