A Bachmann class 20 /EE type 2 takes to the tracks around Sutton Torkard with a slightly shortened MGR HAA train.
A Bachmann Midland Pullman runs the after dark service... Going bang road due to engineering works (ok, so it’s really running wrong line as the tail Light doesn’t seem to want to come on at the other end )
I have to say that there is something special about a model train running around a big sweeping curve. I love it ! Wish I had space for one big curve in my home somewhere... Cheers, Gary.
So yesterday we did some main shed work.. We have had to lift one of the boards prior to the laying of the cork, so all the track came up, the board unscrewed... It was taken outside and I started cutting holes in it. There was of course a reason for this. It’s time to start fitting the peco turn table. I’ve ordered an Arduino board and stepper motor and switches to work it. I’m just awaiting the stepper arriving. So a test fit before it came out again and both boards were covered in glue and cork sheeting stuck down. I’ve left it 24-36 hrs before I return. so hopefully tomorrow will be the time to trim the cork (where there is a hole for the turntable) and relay the track and redrill the track feeds. I’ll report back tomorrow..
I forgot to mention( but didn’t photo) we have cut the roof panels in half and will also refit these back to the roof (now it’s sealed again) once they have been repainted. Meanwhile, here is the Midland Pullman.
Nice work Andy. Looking forward to seeing how you progress on the turn table. That Midland (Blue) Pullman looks the goods, very nice ! Cheers, Gary.
So last night I spent the evening cleaning the HAA hoppers. It looks like someone has tried gluing the pivots with copydex glue? No idea why.. In other news I’ve spend the day guarding a 1:1 scale train so only had time for a quick evening shot when I arrived home (at my parents for a late tea) Quite atmospheric.
As I said Sunday, I spent the day guarding... it’s nice when some one actually captures your role... thanks to my friend Paul Atherley for taking these photos.. Discussing the day with the driver and fireman at the start of the day Right away. Trying to understand the next move.
Great pictures Mr S and how nice to see a conscientious worker deep in thought however I'm not sure about the colour of that tank engine.
You're right there Paul, wrong shaped tanks for that livery, Percy is a saddle tank engine.... Nice pics Andy. Cheers, Gary.
Ha yes. It’s the Polish TKH loco. Not my fave either, but colour doesn’t make it go any better and it’s a change from black or maroon.
So back in the very first post I gave mention to the Peco turn table we had come across at the local exhibition which I finally cut out and placed 12 months later. I didn’t want the hand from the sky, so as seen else where had asked about powering. I wasn’t too bothered about indexing, but wanted a quiet and smooth operation so went for a stepper motor and Aurduino board.. but as ever, it’s how do you secure it? the original shaft slot in the deck is 4mm, and the motor which is keyed? Or slotted, was 5mm. So first of all it was drilled out to take the 5mm shaft... but it doesn’t grip it well. I need to be able to remove the deck for work if needs be, so couldn’t glue it. I also needed to find a way to get it to lock. now I have a few ideas, but will have to come back to that as it progresses, so at the moment, here are some pictures of the 3D printed mount for the motor that I have made. From the back From the front. The yellow tape over the connections is from the previous owner. and with the boards mounted. I have not yet been able to wire it up as I was sent the wrong plugs to wire it up. I had all male and needed male to female. Not like you can just nip to Maplins these days . So have to await the post.
Hi Andy. I've been reading through your layout thread, think you've done a grand job of a shed layout. My layout may well be heading out into the garage at the bottom of our garden and I was wondering whether you've had any problems due to temperature fluctuations or damp. If so how have you got around these issues? Thanks Andrew.
Hi Andrew, Apart from the shed roof leaking, the only issue we have had is with one of the boards with how it runs in to the shed (overlap in to the inside) Even though we have the shutters and the rubber cover, sometimes the rain does blow under and has caused a little bit of the cork to swell. Something I want to try and tackle soon (I don’t honestly know if this has been glued as dad fitted it, so it may not be stuck down). Not had any issues with track, but I did insert the odd gap at the end every so often to act as an expansion gap. I do intent at some time to go around and fit a bus wire to the far end of the layout as there is about a volt drop over the distance. you do have to be good with the track rubber as some smaller wheel based locos (steam and diesel alike) struggle with the breaks in contact on the tarnished surface (this can be just 24hrs!) but locos like the blue Pullman with all wheel pick up will go all day and never stutter. hope this helps? - happy to answer any questions... Andy
Today was spend laying and wiring the engine shed yard. We bought 5 points from the local exhibition at the weekend. Sadly one appears to be faulty, yet we can’t see why? And another was the wrong hand (I used it further down and added an extra shed road.) the faulty point is causing some issue.. it all tests out with a volt meter showing correct and on each rail, yet locos keep stopping (subject to the wheelbase and size) they are (for our sins) peco set track insulfrogs, yet somehow the insulated side shows a voltage.... but the running line correct, so we have swapped it to a less important location till we can replace it like for like. a stalled Scotsman on the defective point. andy
Hi Andy, Is it just an illusion, or is the rail head at the end of the point lower than the rail connected to it? If so, could the problem be loss of contact between wheel and rail as it makes the transition? Cheers, Brian
A good spot Brian, that may well be the case... but, it should still be picking up from the tender pickups too...? Which is what is even more baffling? If it were like the old Triang Hornby loco that only picked up on the driving wheels then I could understand it.. However, it will be swapped out tomorrow as Dad bought a replacement today... Andy
No work on the line today, but I have solved the issue of the motor for the turn table...... just as Peco announce they are launching their own motor today after all these years!! (And the option I went for is around £50 cheaper!) I will discuss the motor with the turn table in a later post in the week. tonight however was spent stripping the class 24 down. It was one of the first locos I converted for sound before the main stream manufacturers started. I fitted 2 speakers- I don’t recall why, an oblong one on top of the chassis and the small round one in the fuel tank. Unfortunately the bottom one has been over some track where for some reason there were metal filings and these have been lifted up through the holes drilled for the sound to escape and sat on the speaker surface causing it to distort. So it’s had a strip down, clean and rebuild. I’ve also taken the time to create a 3D printed speaker box for the top speaker as the originally supplied one didn’t fit under the body. As yet, I don’t know how it sounds as I’ve not tested it, but I’m hoping it will increase the bass a little. It’s also fitted with Express Models light kit for the disc head codes. Something else not done by Bachmann at the time of purchase.
so in the last update I’d been stripping the class 24 - it had to be done 4 time as I couldn’t get the lower speaker to fit correct, causing the plastic chassis to bow each time I tried to screw it back up.. anyway, in the end I succeeded - here it is on the layout stretching her legs. It sounds better but I really must look at the power settings as flat out it does An approx scale 28mph