Great Chesterford Junction Part Two

Discussion in 'Members Personal Layouts' started by gormo, Dec 5, 2015.

  1. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    Bring it on Gormo. One of my favourite " gormoventions "

    Toto
     
  2. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    :avatar::avatar:..........Aha!!!!......OK Toto....it`s coming
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  3. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    A delivery arrived today from the UK.
    I ordered a couple of items from Justin at Scale Model Scenery to compliment the recent work I did on the town scene corner section that lifts out.
    In particular I`ve ordered some Market Stalls ( LX067-OO ) and some Preiser Flea Market figures ( 10595 ) with the intention of placing them near the Market Cross and in front of the Library building in the scene below. It`s just the start of bringing the scene to life. I think figures, or cameos if you like, go some way to achieving some interest in the scenery.


    DSC09335.JPG

    The set of Preiser figures.......... The figures are very well painted....I guess that`s what you`re paying for.?


    DSC09624.JPG

    The items on the tables are rather fine and well done.


    DSC09625.JPG


    These children are straight out of a horror movie.........:avatar::avatar:


    DSC09626.JPG


    The market stalls are laser cut and come in a set of four with accessory trays that can be built into different configurations.


    DSC09630.JPG


    I`m going to have to sharpen up the scalpel for this kit..............lots of fine pieces.


    DSC09631.JPG


    I can probably leave these parts unpainted.....they look fine to me.
    We have four tables with testles and four frames that attach to same to support the canopies. The canopies are printed double sided.


    DSC09632.JPG

    This will be a slow and steady project carefully considered to get the best results.
    Something to look forward to after Little Bardfield is sorted out.........or possibly a rainy day project.??
    :tophat:Gormo......PS.....I think I will also try and acquire some movie characters to give the viewer a bit of treat as well.........will have to see what`s available....:scratchchin:
     
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  4. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Well Folks,
    Back to Little Bardfield, which has been having a separate detailed thread dedicated to it specifically covering the installation of a manual point control system.
    Developing a Manual Point Control System.
    Well most of the work for the manual system is done and today I`ve tackled a good deal of the wiring, however there are some cosmetic accessories to be dealt with at some stage as well.?

    The boards have been off the layout for some time now, which makes installation a lot easier. You would not want to be on your back on the floor trying to do this stuff up under a fixed baseboard.
    This pic shows nothing out of the ordinary.......however a good deal of work is underneath it.


    DSC09728.JPG
    .
    The underneath with the minimum amount of manual control. One point only so no big deal.


    DSC09729.JPG


    A micro switch is activated by the bellcrank ( tile spacer ) to change polarity on the frog.


    DSC09730.JPG

    The main board, which has the station platform on it, is more complex and contains four points and the lever frame. This is the nerve center.


    DSC09732.JPG


    This is how it sits in the modified framing. Areas had to be notched out of the framing to allow a clear run for the point control cables.


    DSC09731.JPG

    You can see the mods better in this pic. It was a bit of trial and error getting it right, but all is good now.


    DSC09733.JPG


    I`ve also installed a hinged strip for the terminal blocks. The terminal blocks will be used for electrical connections between the two boards. The strip has a small catch under the front of the baseboard and when the catch is unlocked , it will allow the strip to fold down for easy access, a bit like some under dash fuse boxes in older cars.


    DSC09734.JPG


    And this is a very basic draft copy of the control panel, it`s main purpose is to check that the panel will fit OK. Also you can assess the overall look of it. Is it too big, too small, what else needs to go on there.? It`s good to do a dry run like this because, invariably, there`s something that has been left out, or needs to be moved or renumbered or renamed etc.
    Having the piece of paper right there in front of where it will live, gives you a much better idea of how things will work out.


    DSC09735.JPG

    So that`s it for the moment and there will be more.......much more....to follow.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2020
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  5. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Well folks,
    I have made a classic boo boo......a fundamental error.......:facepalm: all explained in the video below..........



    All good now and moving forward once again.

    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  6. Gary

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

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    I think you were just challenging yourself...! After all, you are the master of manual point control !! :tophat:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  7. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Ah!!!!!!!.......thank you Grasshopper....:tophat:
     
  8. Sol

    Sol Full Member

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    and I agree with you Gary :tophat:
     
  9. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Ron,
    Very kind of you to say that...:thumbs:

    Yesterday, I got the tools out and prepared a box frame for the new control panel for Little Bardfield.
    I had some pine timber which used to be slats (88 x 35mm) on a double bed..........too good to throw away.......so I put one through the saw table and finished up with three lengths 22 x 35mm plus a narrow strip that will come in handy for something. They then lost another couple of millimetres going through the thicknesser, however I now have some nicely dressed timber to use.
    I cut a rebate in the timber so that I will have a slot to hold the base for the schematic. The base is 3mm ply and the theory is that it will be able to be removable from the panel for maintenance or repairs or modifications.

    So here we have the rebate in the timber. These pieces are not assembled yet.


    DSC09776.JPG

    And with the ply panel slotted in


    DSC09775.JPG


    Now the frame is assembled and fitted to the layout, although it will have to come off again to be sanded and finished. The frame is set at an angle of 45 degrees to baseboard framing.


    DSC09777.JPG


    The bottom section is designed to be removed to allow the panel to slide out, or in, as the case may be.?


    DSC09778.JPG


    So you just remove the two screws and the timber comes away.


    DSC09779.JPG

    Slide the panel in


    DSC09780.JPG



    DSC09781.JPG

    Then refit the timber retainer and we`re done.

    DSC09782.JPG

    The timber edges will be rounded off, especially the bottom corners, to stay with the theme of the railway.
    I have taken the dimensions of my ply panel and applied them to the panel schematic I have drawn up in LibreOffice, and needed to make some minor adjustments to make it fit nicely. Nothing drastic, just a bit of trim down........all good.
    I will print a draft copy today and see how it sits on the panel before committing to the final colour print. I also need to take time out and study it carefully, just to make sure I`m not missing something......:scratchchin:
    More as it happens.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  10. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    G`day Folks,
    Well Tuesday sees a second coat of varnish applied to the control panel frame.
    That will be dry by 6:00pm tonight so I may be able to give it a third coat tonight.....we`ll see how that idea pans out.?


    DSC09784.JPG



    And the control panel schematic has been glued ( PVA ) to it`s backing board, holes for switches drilled and switches fitted, although I need a slightly larger hole to fit the potentiometer.
    I went and got some more bits this afternoon so that I can build a speed controller ( Analogue ) to fit in behind the panel.
    I have a very simple circuit that works rather well and I`ve built two before...........so that should not be too hard, just fiddly.


    DSC09783.JPG


    Once the control panel frame is polished and fitted, I can take the schematic board to the layout and start connecting the switches.
    And once the new controller is made and fitted, this will be the beginning of some more new and interesting operation on the railway. Trains will be dispatched and received from three different locations which should add a bit more fun to the whole thing........:scratchchin:
    More as it happens
    :tophat:Gormo
     
  11. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    The panel has been taken to the layout and the switches wired up.
    The controller has not been built yet......I may get to that today..???


    DSC09785.JPG

    Everything went rather well until I got to the isolated sections for the passing loop and the platform line ( Branch Line ).
    Because the lines are contained within the board, the rails are effectively isolated from their neighboring boards, so therefore, it should be easy enough to isolate the whole length of the two sections providing the feeds in from the other boards are set up and switched properly.
    Therein lays the problem.........I had an extra feed somewhere that was over riding the switch selection and it was something to do with the live frog on the point at the far left.
    Eventually, after much cursing and swearing, checking with the multi-meter and running locos without success, the solution presented itself in the form of two unnecessary feeds being removed and a rail break being added.........Bingo!!!!!....what a nightmare......:facepalm:
    So now it runs like I wanted it to.


    DSC09787.JPG

    On to the controller.........:thumbs:

    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  12. Gary

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

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    Looks great Gormo and good to read that you sorted out that issue with the wiring. Now the control panel is just begging for some stain ! ;)

    Cheers, Gary.
     
  13. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Gary.......:thumbs:

    Well folks, work continues on Little Bardfield.
    I`ve started ballasting the new sections of track that were inserted in various places, and also I`ve been painting the track as well.
    The final paint job will be undertaken once all the ballast is dry. It`s taking it`s time drying out as we`ve had some rain about.
    I`ve also painted the exposed board areas to give a good base for scenery on top. Scenery is not quite clear in my head yet, but I guess it will flow as soon as I start with something.
    My inclination is to start on the right over near the airfield and move left.....:scratchchin:


    DSC09788.JPG

    My new ballast is a little bit more coarse than the original, however I think I can blend it in well enough, plus there is always the false history get out, where the track repair gang and ballast train has recently been through here.


    DSC09789.JPG


    The platform side wall has also received an undercoat and the top has received the Earthy base coat as well. I intend to have a paving strip along the platform edge and then back fill behind it with a fine sand / fill with a grass strip / garden towards the back.


    DSC09790.JPG


    A triangular section of 3 ply has been added here next to the wall to cover the gaping hole over the top of the fiddle yard line. This gives a bit more scope for scenery yet to be determined, although initial thoughts were a grassy mound.
    Speaking of the fiddle yard line, I thought it may be worth having a less drastic transition between scenery on top of the line and the lines entry to the daylight. The tunnel mouth has gone some way towards easing the harshness, but for practical reasons, the tunnel mouth is secured with magnets and can be removed easily to access the hidden track.


    DSC09791.JPG


    I had to use a double track tunnel mouth to allow enough room for the electrical prong connections. OK...it looks a little weird with two Aluminium clothes pegs sticking out of the tunnel, but it`s a compromise.


    DSC09792.JPG


    The main line fiddle yard top removable cover has also had some fittings applied to it. Originally, the cover was 180cm or 6 foot long, which was OK until it had to be removed. No big deal, but it was very awkward moving it about the room, plus it was difficult to find a place to park it temporarily. Once you add scenery on top, the problems will be magnified considerably.
    So I`ve cut it in half and added threaded rod to the centre of balance on both boards. The balance will change when scenery is added, but it won`t be out by too much.


    DSC09794.JPG



    DSC09793.JPG


    It`s gone from being awkward to very controllable with one hand


    DSC09796.JPG

    Now you`re probably thinking, how is Gormo going to hide the threaded rod.?
    The rod is way over length at the moment. Polystyrene sheet base will be added around the rod to a suitable height, and at that point the rod will be cut to it`s final length, which will have it sitting just above the scenery with just enough room to get fingers under the handles. The scenery will receive a plaster top coat and the handles will be disguised by having a removable building sit over the top of them. The handles were designed to fit in your average model cottage kit.

    So that`s it for the moment, but there will be more to follow.

    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  14. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    OK Folks,
    What is required now is a panel to fit at the end of Little Bardfield where the line continues on to Bamford Branch Terminus.
    It needs to come across from the wall on the left, leaving a hole for the track to pass through, and end somewhere near the set square and finish as flush as possible with right hand wall.
    Height wise, it will reach up to the full height of the wall on the left.
    The pic below shows initial planning and some trialing of scenic backgrounds, just to get a feel for where it`s heading.


    DSC09799.JPG

    You may notice above also that the left hand wall has had a couple of coats of sky colour paint which finishes in line with the tunnel to the fiddle yard.
    Comparison pic below.

    [​IMG]


    Instead of seeing that gap below the black section with the boat on it, there will be a continuous section of blue linked between the left hand and right hand walls. Obviously we will have to plant some scenery in front of it to tie it all together visually.
    The exit hole for the track, behind the DMU, will probably be disguised with a single track girder bridge with brick piers.


    DSC09800.JPG

    The fascia for the front of the layout will incorporate a brick wall for most of it`s length. You can see in the pic below why I get a bit nervous with having a train parked on the siding near the edge. One accidental swipe with the elbow or a derailment and the train is on the floor.

    [​IMG]

    Anyway, it will all get sorted eventually........I`ll press on tomorrow.

    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  15. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Pressing on and the panel is now cut out, painted and fitted.
    Now we have the challenge of softening the geometry and blurring lines and focusing the eye on the scenic content......in other words , we have a blank canvas.


    DSC00002.JPG


    DSC00003.JPG


    So once you add some cut outs around the place, it starts to take on a different look altogether. This is only paper and only trial and error at work here.


    DSC00004.JPG

    I think I may have to lay new background over the top of the one on the wall on the right to gain some more height. I think the current one will sit too low.


    DSC00005.JPG


    Photographs are useful for spotting errors or weakness in the plan. Looking through the tunnel here, I see the blue of the back wall, so what that needs is a background stuck in there to give continuity to the scene.


    DSC00006.JPG


    Hmmm..???....same applies here.....a short panel of background required on the other side of the tunnel.
    And here we are also with some background overlays. It does not take much to bring depth to the scene.


    DSC00007.JPG



    DSC00008.JPG

    Anyway.........there is potential here......I just have to get the right mix of backgrounds at the right height and we`re away.
    I think the next logical step it to create the front fascia which will have a brick wall included on the top of it. That will protect the trains from taking the leap of death onto the floor and will also provide a barrier for the scenery to butt up to. We`re starting to get into the fun part now.....the hard slog is almost behind me.
    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  16. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Well folks,
    The front fascia got made today, however the brick wall will have to wait for another day.
    We have a good deal of rainy weather on the way, so possibly more railway time can be justified over the next few days......we`ll see.?
    Yes the fascia is now fitted. There was a good deal of careful cutting required with the jigsaw, and the more material that was removed, the more flimsy the whole piece became. Of course once it`s secured to the edge of the baseboard, it`s quite OK. The main point of it is to hide all the support structure underneath, including wires, and lead your eye more towards the railway. I think it`s fairly successful because I would say my eye is drawn towards all the other colours and not the Black.
    Anyway that`s my story and I`m sticking to it.......:avatar::avatar:


    DSC00009.JPG


    You can see how the wall is protecting my trains from the dreaded drop. It would not be a problem if the track were not so close to the edge, but that`s how it is....:scratchchin:


    DSC00010.JPG


    I`ll put a wire fence along the edge of the track here as a continuation of the line of the brick fence. I`ll have to manufacture a reason for that.?


    DSC00011.JPG


    The other side of the wall awaiting brick paper.


    DSC00013.JPG


    And I`ve also fitted a shelf under the Airfield to support the transformer that will power the section. The shelf was found on the side of the road not far from home. It looks like it was part of a computer desk that nobody wanted. So another mans trash is another mans treasure. It was put through the table saw to rip it down to a 200mm width, which puts it comfortably within the dimensions of the baseboard above it.........we don`t want it sticking out and Gormo`s knee banging into it.......:facepalm:


    DSC00014.JPG

    More as it happens

    :tophat:Gormo
     
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  17. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Cracking on nicely there Gormo :tophat::tophat:
     
  18. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    Yes it`s getting there Pete....:tophat:
     
  19. gormo

    gormo Staff Member Administrator

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    The rainy weather has appeared on queue and with it a cold change. We are in shorts one day working up a sweat and the next day back to the long pants with the heater on.
    Crazy weather......:faint:
    Yesterday I fixed the brick paper background to the wall area on Little Bardfield and I also prepared the brick piers etc. by gluing the paper to some cereal box card.
    It was just a matter then of cutting out the components and blackening the cut edges.
    Then onto fitting the piers and a lower foundation course.

    There are 39 piers on this side and after a couple of hours to complete this side, the other side can wait a little while..........it`s mind numbing work.


    DSC00015.JPG



    DSC00018.JPG

    To ensure accuracy, I use a set square for each pier. You set the first pier correctly, then butt up one edge of the set square rule to it and then lay a new pier up against the other edge of the rule and repeat.
    The rule is 25mm wide, which gives a scale spacing of just over 6 feet, so that will do well enough. It`s important as well to have the top of the pier flush with the top of the wall so that the coping will sit flat when fitted.


    DSC00019.JPG


    The track side awaiting piers and back fill and much more.......but we`re well under way.


    DSC00017.JPG

    Time for a Nanna nap.........:avatar::avatar::avatar::avatar:

    :tophat:Gormo
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2020
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  20. Toto

    Toto I'm best ignored Staff Member Founder Administrator

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    You've been hard at it Gormo. I'm playing catch up here. Great job of the control panel and the brick wall does not look out of place either. Did you say you are going to extend the wall with a wire fence ?
    It will be peace of mind losing that potential drop as well. I once had a flying class 21. I built a ramp that looked like an Olympic ski jump ..... Eddie the Eagle would have feared it. Best to try and design these threats out. My locos used to quiver when I put them anywhere near the layout. :avatar:

    Good work Sir. :thumbs:

    Toto
     

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