Moonan Flat

gormo wrote:

Thanks Gormo

Yes have a soft spot for the CPH's
They seem to breed at the last Thursday night BRMA central coast meet at my place last year, there were 3 of them
3 unit CPH lash up by CHRIS, on Flickr

I also did a quick video of the 38 taking the reverse curve on to the sector plate this is tight for O scale and a big engine like the C38 pacific
Link to YouTube


The reverse curve onto the sector plate by CHRIS, on Flickr

 

With a mention of the sector plate in the last post what better way to get into how it was built

The sector plate aims for this layout.
Easy to use just slide by hand to align
Fully rotating quick and easy to turn 3 full trains
no lifting of trains
Becomes a off stage turn table for the station yard.
DCC use DCC auto reverser to power don't have to disconnect and reconnect table every time as sound locos used.

I wanted it to be 1.5m long to hold loco and 3 passanger cars
With goods trucks its loco 5-6 plus a guards van

The sector had to also align to all tracks or any track so 3-2or1 to each side of centre.

Starting point was a lazy Susan bearing 12" size that was rated to hold in excess of 300Kg weight
Using quality top grade marine ply as a base and and pine side runners it was knocked up
I decided that a Tung and groove arangement was to be used at the track end as a guide this would help with track levels and prevent the weight of locos at the other end changing the alignment hight
I'll use the photos as a illustrated how to guide.
Sector plate bearings for new OScale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr

Careful measurements to mount bearing
Sector plate build for new O scale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr

Load test dose it work, yes keep building
Sector plate build for new O scale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr
Base frame made up shorter than table to save weight
New O scale layout build sector plate by CHRIS, on Flickr

Tung added
New O scale layout build sector plate by CHRIS, on Flickr

Load bearing under the table this is the key keeps every thing alined on the main bearing
New O scale layout build sector plate by CHRIS, on Flickr

Installed and painted all 3 tracks aline
Moonan Flat sector plate fiddle yard fully rotating. by CHRIS, on Flickr

2 tracks alined
Moonan Flat sector plate fiddle yard fully rotating. by CHRIS, on Flickr

One track alined and Tung and groove exposed this is coated with bee's wax polish and slides nicely but has enough friction that the locator pin isn't needed
Also note the Gapmaster copper clad sleepers blocks used to make a good solid fix of the tracks at the ends.and these are use throughout the layout for all joins
Moonan Flat sector plate fiddle yard fully rotating. by CHRIS, on Flickr

The locating pin mostly used for transport as we discovered its not required during opperating sessions.
Moonan Flat sector plate fiddle yard fully rotating. by CHRIS, on Flickr

Over head view with wire connection this is a mic plug,so also is free to rotate.as the table moves. Uses a spring attached to the top of the layout to allow stretch when table is turned.
The gates are aluminium channel found at the hardware shop normally used to edge tiles or the like on a floor.
Makes the gate and the gate slot
Moonan Flat sector plate fiddle yard fully rotating. by CHRIS, on Flickr

A full load test was undertaken I stood on it and was turned round if it could hold my weight 90kg at the time, I could trust it to hold expensive O scale locos that can weigh up to 3-4 kg each

 

3805 gets a Driver and Fireman.
3805 is the "Pride of the fleet" for Moonan Flat.
The cab of 3805 was looking very bare it needed a crew so I found some "O" figures that I purchase last year at the "Sydney" Liverpool show it is unusual to find O scale figures available at a show here in Australia
One of the little people was in a sitting position looking to the right so took his place in the firemans seat looking out.
The other I had, in a sitting position had his left arm in a position like it was out a window getting some cool air, he looked suitable for the position in the driver's seat arm out the window, A quick google image search provided plenty of evidence of 38 class drivers in this pose, "arm resting out the window", so in he went to the now "open" window on the driver's side of the cab he even has a bucket style hat on very Australian.
The cab window didn't look right (closed) anyway so now as an "open window" it is how most Australians would visually remember a C38 thundering past.

Happy modelling
Chris L

The driver and fireman are from Arttista "O" scale range sold by the "RailCar" here in Australia.
http://railcar.com.au/arttista.htm

3805 gets a Driver & Fireman by CHRIS, on Flickr

3805 gets a Driver & Fireman by CHRIS, on Flickr

3805 gets a Driver & Fireman by CHRIS, on Flickr

3805 gets a Driver & Fireman by CHRIS, on Flickr

Video on YouTube of pride of Moonan flats first test run.
https://youtu.be/7nXqUvtvxQA

 

Thanks for the comments.
little people have always been some thing that I didn't put that much attention into until a BR era model railway from Australia was featured in Hornby Mag I think,
Their was some really nice modelling but every photo just looked wrong, there was some thing missing no character and after looking several times I realised it was the fact that there were no little people it was like Aliens had removed everyone and left a sanitised planet.
From that mag on I have looked at it a little differently and just the addition of One little person can change the whole look of a scene.

 

Had a bit of a play to day running trains.
And had a check on whether the 38 could fit on the sector with more than 2 carriages or if I used the shortest ones I have could I get 3 cars not quite so it's the big 72'6"sleeping car plus a terminal car or I can just fit my EHO passenger full brake.

3805 arived with the TAM 12 wheeler plus short HFL terminal car

O scale 3805 arrives at Moonan Flat by CHRIS, on Flickr
Another
O scale 3805 arrives at Moonan Flat by CHRIS, on Flickr

The shorter tender engines will fit with 3 of the mid length passanger cars
Loco hauled service Arrives Moonan Flat with 3213 by CHRIS, on Flickr

http://www.click

 

So I though I should add a bit more of the build of Moonan Flat

During the build I always had some helpers
Wally the green parrot plus the little girl Moto the red parrot
The helpers thought the works for the lighting pelmet was just the best play frame. And would sit watching for hours
Basic timber beams supporting the facia the end frames/panel of the boxes create the structure that keeps it all up and strong.
It also has a joining bolt and wing nut that locks the facia together
New O scale Layout Build by CHRIS, on Flickr

Marking out for the point motor rod
With the point in position marked out the position of the tie bar then X marks the spot
More track work and wiring on the new O scale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr

Under the boards showing the wireing for the middle section DCC bus and links to droppers at each end of the layout and the point motor installed on this board
The layout is made up of 3 sections two scenic one fiddle yard.
Wiring for the new O scale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr
Fitting the dropper wires at the fiddle yard end of the scenic section
More track work and wiring on the new O scale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr

The track is mounted on cork tiles and is glued in position the reason for the items weighting down the bay track as the glue goes off.
More track work and wiring on the new O scale layout by CHRIS, on Flickr

The track was painted each sleeper was hand brushed with a couple of colours to get a good variation between sleepers then the rail and chairs were brushed with "Mig" weathering washes
I also cut out the webs between the sleepers on the yard tracks this way you don't have to ballast fully to cover the plastic web can be a bit random also the sleepers can be a bit wobbly
Should have done on all the track next time. Some one remind me when I start a new project.
More progress on the O scale Railway by CHRIS, on Flickr

Next with Ballasting started and waiting for the glue to set the platform edge facing was started this was laser cut timber I ended up about one panel short of the required length with the timber, so right I front of the platform building I made a brick wall section from embossed brick paper to cover that gap
New O scale Model railway build by CHRIS, on Flickr

Time to test the track work the J94 was pressed into construction train works
New O scale Model railway build by CHRIS, on Flickr

My wife Shelley helped during the build
Here Shelley is painting the base paint a cheap Acrylic "burnt Umber" from the Hot Dollar shop.
New layout build continue's by CHRIS, on Flickr

Platform base is high density foam that the facia is glued to
This foam was then covered with fine Sydney washed sand
Using isopropyl alcohol to wet down the sand then use a 50/50 PVA and water with a drop of detergent to fix the sand as the isopropyl evaporates it sucks the water glue mix through the sand nicely. The brick facia section can be seen in this photo

More new layout build by CHRIS, on Flickr

The yard scenic's started, sands and scenic foams form the base colours before static grass goes in.
Also the timber crossing planks were made with strips of balsa wood stained with "Mig" aged wood wash and glued in position.
Balsa is something I find really useful when modelling In Oscale and can be used very effectively to represent aged timber.
New layout scenics by CHRIS, on Flickr

 

Ron wrote:

Hi Ron yes that extra bit makes a real Difference.
I think 7mm is the easiest scale I have modelled in.
Also less is more in 7mm and you can usualy get away with it.
Just the size impresses people, with this little layout I can get way with short trains so don't need so much stock 2 or three locos is all you need.
That's not to say that I don't have lots of locos or stock just don't need a lot to make this small layout look busy.

The layout is actualy to a stage that it has Been exhibited and has invites to some more shows.
I built this little layout to prove that you didn't need a huge space or layout to model in Oscale it is generaly portrayed in Australia this way that unless you have a huge shed you can't do O scale, I think that Moonan Flats has been successful in this as at the first show I couldn't get others to give up running the trains so I could have a go.

A busy time at Moonan Flat as the local goods is shunted.
Train night at Moonan Flat shunting Puzzle by CHRIS, on Flickr

 

Toto wrote:

Thanks Toto
The parrots are a breed Called Eclectus Parrots natives to parts of Australia and the islands located above Australia.
They have the intelligence of a 3 year old Wally likes the big green 38 class locos and always wants the whistle blown.
And if you don't do it will say "come on" "what you doing" and make woo woo whistle sounds.
Real characters
http://www.click

 

The goods Yard with farmers Utes waiting to pick up the weeks supplies and 2 newly delivered tractors.

iPad photos of Moonan Flat O scale Model Railway by CHRIS, on Flickr
http://www.click

 

jakesdad13 wrote:

Pete a photo for your wife

Attached files