Gary's Townstreet Competition Thread

Thanks Gormo.

I actually need the track down on the sector plate first as each road on the plate has two positions to line up to.

I still need to play around with the track alignment. It would be nice if for example, I could line up track 1 (sector plate) with track A and at the same time, track 2 (sector plate) lines up perfectly with track B. The same would then apply with track 2 lining up with track C and track 1 with track B.



Hopefully I can sort it out. Afterall, nothing is impossible and anything is possible !

Cheers, Gary.

 

Today I managed to get all the track pinned down, ready for glue (PVA) and the alignment for the sector plate and part of the handle.

I decided to shorten the gap between the two points on the layout be cutting a good 1/2" of rail off the outside stock rail (on both points), leaving the frog untouched.



Ofcourse one of the bites with the Zuron cutters did buckle a rail, but with careful cursing, I got it back in the way it should be.

The things we do for that extra 1/2" of space !!

An overall view of the track pinned down, with thumb tacks. The over-length sector plate handle can be seen protruding from the baseboard frame on the lower side.



As can be seen, some more space was gained on the layout for structures. Gaining that little bit extra here and there will add to the atmosphere of the layout.



The sector plate end with the plate swung left. Note the right hand road on the sector plate lining up nicely with the middle road.



Sector plate swung right. Again, the left hand road lines up perfectly with the centre road.



Tomorrow I'll visit Jaycar (electronics store) to purchase a switch for the points. I managed to absolutely bug..r (break) one today... I'll fix the key for the sector plate handle and bend it 90*, parallel to the baseboard. Maybe even get the electrics done as well... I do need to order a PCP for the Powercab, although I could run this on DC...

Cheers, Gary.

 

The gap in the track is where I cut the rails and one rail popped out of the sleepers. This will be remedied at a later date.
From my initial plan, I knew I could fit the low relief buildings on the plank, but with some judicial fiddling, I can make it better !
I wanted to jostle the main platform area across towards the front a little more. This will help with my kit bashed Scalescenes Large Station Building... Then there is the pub, the block of units, the road bridge, the goat, the fox, the populated wasp nest.., ...and yes, they will all be there !

Remember. there are parcels to be unloaded on this busy stretch of iron clad sleepers !

Cheers, Gary.

 

I'm pretty content on where all the track is now. I have made the adjustments as I went along with the track laying. Now, to fit the locking key and then glue all the track into position, and start on the list of other orders.., the Scalescenes platform kit, the kit bashed station building, retaining walls, bridge, pub, block of units....

Cheers, Gary.

 

I spent some time with the two points today, primarily with how I'm going to operate them. Because I'm not laying the track on a cork roadbed, I have to operate the points from below the baseboard. As usual, I like manual point control, with no need for any extra electrics under the baseboard.

Using push rods and stiff wire, a simple method was conceived. This has been used many times on a lot of model railways.

3mm diameter brass tube has been drilled in the end to take the wire actuator. First I drilled with a 0.8mm drill bit then up-sized the hole to 1.3mm. A piece of stiff wire was soldered through the hole.



I needed a switch to throw the live frog and I had a couple lying around. Must admit that I bugge..d (broke) one which needed replacing. I drilled the toggle to take the wire. This is how I fixed the switch to the baseboard. Yes, I could have used a micro switch, but I wanted to be 100% certain that it would work, and easily replaced if the need arises.



This shows the whole system in place, push rod, wire throw/actuator and switch. Simple !



One set of points is very close to the edge and mounting the switch block was not to be the same as above. Here I have extended the push rod further beyond the throw/actuator wire and mounted it to the basebaord where it is clear of anything (baseboard frame).



This all works very well and is quite easily replaced if there is a need.

Now, back to the sector plate arm...

Cheers, Gary.

 

Thank you all.

Chris, I haven't got that far with what I am to use on the ends of the push rods. I have been scouring the house for all sorts of things, even looked at some brass buttons that SWMBO had stashed away. They turned out to be plastic ! Maybe some larger diameter brass tube soldered onto the end will do the trick. Basically I need anything that willll stop me from being punctured !

As for the sector plate key, this has been completed and now the sector plate can be locked into position.



Above, sector plate locked into the platform (parcel goods) and middle road.

Lift the handle up and pull out, then lock down. Now access is granted to the middle and road closest to front of baseboard.



Simple low tech stuff that works and no electronics involved ! Saves on all that unnecessary wires under the baseboard..., ...eh Paul, I mean Dark Lord...

Cheers, Gary.