St James's Station

Discussion in 'Members Personal Layouts' started by StevePower, Jan 4, 2016.

  1. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    60019Bittern wrote:
    Just too much power to get any traction...! :avatar:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  2. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    I spent about 5hrs tonight working on the layout.I've finished the majority of the points, with only 8 more to wire in once they arrive from Hattons. (they should have been here before Christmas but they didn't process my order)
    I've made an aluminium bus bar for the common brown wire to the points and used a connector strip to make a bus bar for the common black from the transformer.
    I also made up a track diagram to lay over the switch box.
    Then I spent two hours working on the Modratec lever frame and points trying to get them to work smoothly.
    Here are the photos, because lets face it the photos are a lot more interesting than reading text.

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  3. ianvolvo46

    ianvolvo46 Staff Member Moderator

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    StevePower wrote:
    Hi Steve I too have some Airfix aircraft (battle of Britain set, mosquito and a couple of others) to build, I brought them out here to fill any spare time y'know when the layouts finished...? . I've also got 3 Tamiya 1/35 tanks that will take me about a year each to build, but it's all nostalgia and fun.

    Ian
     
  4. Keith M

    Keith M Staff Member Moderator

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    60019Bittern wrote:
    Now you're talking my kind of loco! I have some pics of "Tangmere" taken when I had a run to Canterbury a couple of years ago behind her, must find some and post them up!
    Keith.
     
  5. 60019Bittern

    60019Bittern Full Member

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    She failed on Hemerdon a couple of months ago and had to be rescued by the 08 Shunter from Laira, that was after trying about eight or nine times to get out of Platform 8 at Plymouth North Road. Admittedly it was a wet day and the rails were a bit greasy.
     
  6. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Steve,
    Great looking layout.!!!!
    I feel we are building similar layouts. Mine has a curved Main Station, Manual point control and I`ve recently purchased some Airfix Spitfire kits so that I may have an airfield........Interesting.????
    Thank you for being so far ahead of me with your build because now I can drop in to see what I need to do next......:avatar:
    All the best mate.......love your work oh and by the way is that station building a scratch build or is it a kit.....I like that.???
    http://www.click Gormo......another Aussie.....our numbers are growing...look out Toto.!!
     
  7. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    G'day Gormo, well I'm more than happy to be the guinea pig for your layout. The Modratec points are great but can be a bit fiddly though.The station building is the Bachmann Sheffield Parkset. I bought from Hattons about 6 years ago when it was first released. The Bluebell Railway is quite special to me as it was the first steam railway ride I ever had (4 years old) and I have been there twice since then, the last visit being in August last year.As for a visit to mine, that would be no problems at all. I'm down in the Shire and they are pretty relaxed with passports down here, unlike North Sydney.
    Cheers Steve
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  8. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    Just a quick update on the layout. I am waiting for a delivery from Hattons. I ordered the items pre Christmas but the order didn't get processed. Anyway long story short they were very apologetic and shipped said order last week.It has point motors that I need to fit to the layout so until they turn up up I'm doing nothing.
     
  9. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Steve,
    That`s a pretty little building for sure.
    I am over in the West......shouldn`t have any probs with border control.....my Passport is up to date.
    I built my own lever frames and rods and bellcranks......if you think Modratec is fiddly you should try my method........only a nut case like me would take it on.
    Here`s a couple of pics and sorry for the hijack

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    http://www.click Gormo
     
  10. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Nice layout Steve. Great pictures.
    Gormo, nice to see that you follow the "KISS" principle ! Fine work.
    Kim
     
  11. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Gormo,

    The more the merrier. You Aussies are posting up some fantastic stuff. Bring it on........:avatar:

    Cheers

    Toto
     
  12. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Ah Yes....the KISS principle..????
    I`d heard about it but obviously I don`t understand it.????
    Sorry Steve.......back to you mate.
    http://www.click Gormo
     
  13. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Keep It Simple Stupid :lol:.
     
  14. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Why keep it simple, when you can confuse the hell out of people, then amaze them with your engineering prowess. http://www.click

    Paul
     
  15. Marty

    Marty Full Member

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    Nice layout Steve.
    I had to look up the conductivity of aluminium with regards that common bus bar. Looks good and if I needed easy access for regular connection/disconnection of cables I would consider it. My father-in-law left me a whole tool box of auto electric ring connectors I could use. However, I reckon the chocolate block connector is the easier way to go.

    Thanks for posting the pictures... food for thought and useful.

    Marty
     
  16. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    Well It has been quite a while since any updates here so I thought I'd just put up a quick post.I've been busy on the layout with some major milestones achieved in the last two months.I'll list them below and post photos next week.
    1. All 17 points on the scenic section are now controlled by the Modratec Lever Frame and the Wire in Tube method.
    2. All 21 points on the non scenic section at the rear of the layout are now controlled by point motors.
    3. The terrace houses in the tow area are now on a sloping street complete with back yards, brick walls, grass and Victorian stone paving footpaths.
    4. A park with statue, rotunda and fruit stalls has been built behind the terrace houses and bakery.
    5. And as of today the lower level of the layout is finally completed with double track running down from the main level, around the lower level once then back up to the scenic level. There is plenty of room underneath for storage roads which I will add in later, as I have no room for all of my rolling stock in the fiddle yards.6. I bought a CMX cleaner, and it is awesome!!
    Cheers Steve
     
  17. Kimbo

    Kimbo Staff Member Moderator

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    Blimey you have been busy, looking forward to seeing the pictures :thumbs:
     
  18. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    Yeah I've really had a good few weeks. I've also been building a 1:24 Hurricane as well and that's been taking up a lot of train time.
    I'm just really happy that I have got the lower level done.It's about a 1:20 gradient to get up and down, but I'm going to lay down some of the DCC Powerbase magnet kits. What are your thoughts.
    By the way I love the progress you've made on your O gauge layout, the trucks look fantastic!!
    Cheers Steve
     
  19. StevePower

    StevePower Full Member

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    Here are a few pics I've just quickly taken.
    The Modratec Lever Frame.
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    The new park and terraces.
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    A birds eye view.
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    Brick walls made from card.
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    The fruit and vege stalls.
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    Major Confusion astride his horse.
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    The road up to the high street.
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    Victorian Stone Paving
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    The up and down ramps are inbetween the two fiddle yards. Its a 170mm drop over about a 2400mm.
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    Same ramps but from a different angle.
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    MY New CMX Cleaner. Worth every $$$. The tracks have never been as clean.
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  20. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Looks great Steve, you certainly have been busy. Perhaps you can post up a few pics of your Hurrican in 'Other Hobbies and Interests'. Would like to see a few myself. :thumbup:

    Cheers, Gary.

    ps. Is Major Confusion sitting on his horse back to front...?? :D
     

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