Work is now progressing on the scale scenes engine shed, which is under a different heading (in the scalescenes section)
Oops. It appears I’ve not done an update in quite a while. We had a problem where the turn table stopped. I still done know why... it wouldn’t run for an unknown reason and no matter what I tried it would not move with the stepper motor. I ordered a new stepper and the small board it plugs in to, but still it wasn’t going. I did a full swap of everything and still there was an issue. The Arduino board was ok - and actually so was the motor. Turned out for some reason the actual code to power it had actually stopped working. It’s still not back in on the layout (there is the spare turntable at the moment fitted from the loft) whilst I consider a bigger stepper to take the load and possible a bearing to take the deck more smoothly- this will need new code to run it.. anyway, moving on.... I have made a start on scenery. Now we seem to have a good stable running circuit, I thought I’d start with the cutting which the viaduct goes over. so I made a start blocking it in with the good old polystyrene segments then trimmed with a hack saw blade. It will be plastered and then painted and grasses with a river to the bottom. We may put a picture behind the viaduct (dads idea.. I’m not sure I’m convinced!) the engine yard is coming together. Actually over crowded so looking already at extending for a diesel shed. as you can see the card engine shed I was making is now fitted, albeit without the lights.
Easiest is to continue on with the cutting as that’s the current work. Ive continued with the other Embankment, but we intend on painting the viaduct. So before I go any further we shall remove the arches for a quick coat of paint. the left hand pillar has the ground all the way around it, so I need to remove it now before I glue it all down or I won’t get the bridge out. After a quick coat of sandstone paint. and the pillers get the same treatment. It will need to be removed again for weathering soon, but it needs to go back in for running purposes. and the much darker viaduct back in place.
Looks good Andy. I'm guessing that is the Ratio or Peco viaduct you have used ? Have you considered cutting up the last pier and use it to fill in bridge extensions ? I would imagine that there would be more brick work beyond the ends of the arches. Cheers, Gary.
Absolutely - that is a great idea I had not considered? why is that not part of the kit.. I kept thinking something was wrong. And you have filled in the missing detail. now, where do I get the stone to match?
I’m pleased to say I’ve finally sorted the turntable out. After a little change of fitting a bearing and brass rod to the bottom of the deck to help it turn with ease against the base/stepper motor, I opted to change from a switch to 6 push buttons at preset positions. This involved a large change in the coding for the arduino circuit board and I even went with fitting a Hall effect sensor (Reed switch??) to set the default home position as suggested to me by Dundee a year or two ago. anyway enough waffle, here it is. As you hear from my description, it’s been done for my dad and this was literally the first test run with a loco on the deck! I’ll bring you more once we are out of Tier 2 and I can go back to my dads, which has kind of defeated the object of getting this finished so I could make room in the Nursery before the baby arrives! (Thanks Boris!)
I’ve now painted the button box. I’m awaiting some other bits coming from a printing friend who cuts vinyl on his cutter to finish it off. this is covered in just Halfords spray paints with a tie wrap on the end of the wires to stop them pulling out the hole. ive made no provision for mounting yet as I’ve not had the chance to revisit dad and test fit.
A couple of spare evening hours (ok night shifts and sitting in an afternoon during the motor racing) and modified the wills kits of the walls and bridge sides to make this with some extra plasticard. It’s not as is out the box. This kit comes with two short walls and one long one, but I needed a little more front to back, so cut the long wall in half (or just under) to make the two side walls. The original side walls were then glued together and a layer on bricks added over the join which looks like a support buttress. At the bottom is a small hole as this is where the peco point motor will reach out. Both embankments are actually to hide the point motors outside and hopefully make it a little more weather resistant. the road has even had a curve put in it to assist drainage. All I need to do now is wait for lockdown to end so I can go to dads again, ensure all lines up and trim to suite. Then I can paint it and secure it. The two point motors will also have the feedback switches mounted to them to show the position on a mimic display. Being outdoors it’s not easy to see.
The bridge looks awesome, great work Andy. Got to ask, what motorsport are you watching ?? If you don't have pay tv in Australia, you don't see any live motorsport, only a delayed telecast after you know who has won... Cheers, Gary.