Great Chesterford Junction Part Two

....Can`t see that would be a problem Jim.......I have a lighting BUS and all sorts of droppers under GCJ......no issues.
Mind you I don`t run bare wire BUS....I simply part the insulation where I need a connection.
Gormo

 

G`day Folks,
The last point on the Bamford`s first board was completed today.
It was probably the most difficult one to set up as it had the longest run, nearly the full length of the board. This required two long pieces of rod joined in the middle by a direction changing bell crank. These rods are long enough to bow under load, so a few rod guides were required to keep things in a straight line.
Here is said point sitting at a slight angle and again requiring a U shaped rod to activate it. Note the rods traveling back to the lever frame are also off at an angle.





Five rod guides altogether were used on this run from lever to point. It is the rod at the top of the pic.










So once the rods were completed on this section, i removed the board altogether. I think it will be easier to do any necessary wiring out in my workshop down at a lower level......I may even be able to sit down...???
With the first board removed, I could then remove the second board and take it out to my workshop. The second board will not straddle the two steel supports you can see here, so it has to be removed completely.
Now here is a view that only the founding members of Platform 1 MRC would remember. It`s been a long time since you could view the sliding yard like this.











Here we see the underbelly of this Bamford creature. One of the long supports that crosses the board will need a trench cut through it for one of the points.
This is the only major surgery required to get this show on the road. So the next thing is to have a good look at the board and work out some routes for the point rodding.
They are mostly close grouped this time, so there may be some interesting configurations coming up.......we`ll see.....


.

I also have 12 bell cranks ready, so I`ll be into it soon.
Gormo

 

Board number two now has all it`s points connected and fully operational





Getting the whole lot to work was not an insurmountable problem, I just had to get a bit creative with some of the rods due to the close grouping.
So here we are......it`s a bit Heath Robinson, but it works.





I am now onto the wiring and trying to tidy it up, as well as extending it in some cases.
I`ve also taken the opportunity, whilst the boards are removed from the layout, to do some fine tuning on the sliding fiddle yard.
Anyway..it`s getting there slowly.
Gormo

 

G`day Folks,
Today the wiring on Bamford has been finished.
This comprised not only of the original set up, which was far from complete because I had removed the original wiring, but also extra switching and supplementary feeds for some of the points.
Bamford and Little Bardfield originally came to me as part of a railway that had been built by Gary`s friend Murray.
The track layout and size was almost identical to what I had been planning, so I snapped it up when it was on offer, as it basically could slot straight in to where it was intended to go.
That was almost nine years ago and now I can see completion of the railway coming into view. Of course it`s never really finished, but in this case the major works will be completed in the approaching few months.
I still have a list of jobs to complete that`s as long as your arm, but as they are getting ticked off, we are moving towards some easier and more artistic tasks to keep the story ticking over.

Not much to show actually, because it`s all happening under the base boards, but you can see we have power in the panel.





I have also fitted LED indicators for the LONG shunt and SHORT shunt sections. In long shunt mode the whole track plan is under control of the Bamford controller. In short shunt mode only the part of the track plan below the station platform is under Bamford controller, and the track above the station platform comes under the control of an automatic shuttle from GCJ. So if I`m operating alone, I can have my shuttle running and still shunt Bamford yard if I wish to.
This will happen only on rare occasions, but at least it`s there if I wish to use it.





Here we see the system set for SHORT shunt.





So we are fully tested and fully operational. I just need to get my head around operating it now. I am so used to changing points by hand, and now everything is connected to the lever frames, I have to re-train myself.




Next job is to sort out Bamford`s block instrument. I had to remove it before lifting off the boards to avoid damaging it. It has to be mounted properly whilst at the same time considering how the scenic section will work behind it.
Anyway....that`s something to sleep on...
More as it happens
Gormo

 

G`day Echidna and thanks for your comments.
I try to lay things out so they basically make sense, and eventually I get there in the end. It`s never my first attempt that works, but by drawing / printing it out you have a better feel for it, and being able to see it in the flesh, so to speak, you can make adjustments and shuffle things about to arrive at a more stream lined version.....I hope....
Your information about the signal box lighting was interesting, and as a matter of fact it practically transported me into a signal box at night in my minds eye.
I read it twice to absorb it properly.
I think if I were in the same situation, I would prefer a dim lighting situation. Bright lighting in a room effectively blacks out what you can see of the outside through the windows, and in a work situation like a signal box, I would not like that. It would mean total reliance on the VDU screen to know exactly what was going on without a visual back up of the actual situation.
It`s surprising how little lighting we actually need to still be functional in a work situation and I think a dimmed signal box with VDUs would certainly suit me.
All the best Echidna and thanks for the detailed information
Gormo

 

G`day Folks,
A bit of testing and adjustment today.....fine tuning so to speak....anyway all is good, so I`ve moved onto providing a proper support frame for Bamford`s block instrument.
The frame sort of developed on the fly and gradually came together.
Below here I have removed a small section of the baseboard top to allow me to fit the instruments brackets to the baseboard frame. This will lower the instrument by about 18mm and make it less obtrusive. The baseboard piece had to be removed to give access at the back for the wiring.





Then the instrument was fitted





Solid as a rock....it ain`t going anywhere





And then the power was connected





This area, along with the rest of Bamford, needs a fascia fitted, however I need to design some buildings to go over the top of the control panels first, so first things first.
I thought you might like to see my design process which I`ve used for years. It all starts with an idea and then start to put it on paper.





An important thing is to get an idea of what you`re dealing with in terms of measurements you have no control over, yet they belong to parts that have to be integrated into the project.




And then some ideas on how the parts that need to be made would go together.




So it`s as simple as that......no fancy computer programs or whatever, just a pencil and a piece of paper

More as it happens
Gormo

 

Thank you Jim.....

 

Howdy Folks,
I have had a bit of a break over the last little while.
It seems that once again life is getting in the way, but what can you do, model trains are just a hobby.......
Anyway, I have been working on buildings to cover my new control panel backs.
It was suggested that perhaps I could build a creamery to go over the panels, which was a good suggestion, however I have only one milk wagon in my wagon collection and would need to acquire some more.
When I looked them up on that quite famous auction site, I was quite stunned to see the price of these little bits of plastic. As my wife won`t agree to us mortgaging the house so that I might get some extra wagons, I have formulated an alternative plan that won`t break the bank.
I am going to cover the area with railway workers cottages / terraces instead. There is a Scalescenes model that will almost fit the bill, however I have decided to scratch build instead of modify a kit.
I had a false start with the design and I got bogged down with roof pitches and angles until I decided to walk away from it and re-think the whole thing.
A bit of photographic research helped as well and I`ve come up with a simple design which is a compromise and a blend of various cottage designs I have seen.
I have the basics designed for the moment and now need to turn my attention to the roof areas, although they should be fairly straight forward.
So this is the end wall design which also shows how the building will fit over the control panels ( wooden area )





Back walls for one terrace 450mm long.





Annex end walls and smaller terrace back wall





Annex supports





Annex side walls





Windows





Doors




And an end elevation




So it`s just a matter of printing them out and gluing them to card and then get the knife out and start building.



Gormo

 

Well Richard, I suppose it is extensive.....
Although, it`s not much more complicated than building a kit or modifying one, anyway, what the heck, in for a penny, in for a pound......
So folks, all relevant pieces of paper for the building shell have been glued to mounting card, which is approx. 1.4mm thick......it varies across the card from one area to another, so an average has to be considered....anyway...I digress with a minor detail.

Creation of window openings is already underway here. Most of the main elements are here except for the roof sections. The roof sections will be measured up and cut out further along in the build.





A few more openings done here. I find it easier to remove the window and door openings whilst the building parts are still part of the main card sheet. Small wall sections can slide around under a steel rule, making removal of the openings a bit tricky compared to the whole sheet method.





Job done........do you think I`ve done enough windows..????.......well there are two buildings here, one large and one small.





All parts now removed




Next I have to seal some brick sheets and a sheet of doors....maybe tomorrow.?......and then work out the best way to assemble this lot.
Food for thought.
Gormo

 

The assembly has started in earnest today folks,
Brick papers and doors were sealed yesterday which has enabled me to move forward.
The longest wall was skinned with brick paper and then I started doing the window openings.





I kept plodding away at it and eventually it got done. We are heading into winter here in Sydney and these past three days we`ve had an icy blast descend upon us with below average temperatures, so all works have moved inside the house for the moment. Plus my heater in the train room has decided to give up the ghost, so no pleasurable warmth can be found out there for the moment.





I then measured up an cut out a card ceiling for the building`s top floor. This is necessary to brace the main wall and it will also provide a base for the roof supports.
This is a building with very little insides and it is relying on being fixed to the back of the control panel to keep it rigid. That said, we do need supports for the roof because it is a rather long cavity.
Once the ceiling was cut out, I clamped the main wall to the desk top and then glued and clamped the ceiling at a right angle to it.





Whilst the glue was curing, I skinned the walls for the annexes.
I still have to cut out the window and door openings for the annexes




Then moved onto fitting the windows to the main wall





I am trying a different technique this time with the window sills and lintels. Instead of cutting the brick paper in triangular sections to reveal the openings, I`ve made straight cuts along the top of the sill and below the lintel and then one vertical cut down the middle of the opening. This gives you two vertical rectangular panels of brick paper that can be folded back behind the card and then leaves white exposed card on the sills and lintels. I will glue white strips of paper onto the outer brick to form sills and lintels and combined with the exposed card ,they should look like one continuous sill or lintel.
No great care for detail has been taken with the windows in this build. They have simply been printed out and laminated. The building will be facing away from the operators and will be difficult to evaluate in terms of detail. I have used my software though, to make the window panes transparent, which allowed me to place various curtains and blinds behind the windows to give us some variety.





Just propping it up here to get a feel for how it`s going and what it may look like.
You can see here what I mean about a ceiling fitted to the building.






So we`re well on the way now folks.........more as it happens.
Gormo

 

Thanks Phil,
It`s getting there.........the one thing I would say to those looking at my stuff is that, whatever I build has been the result of a long and continuing learning process.
The more you do things the more you learn about improving processes, and therein lays the answer to most things.......just jump in and have a go.....
Plus......don`t listen to those who say it can`t be done, whatever " it " might be........if you think it can be done......just do it and " it " will be done.....
Gormo

 

G`day Folks,
Well we are still moving along.
Annex walls are prepared for windows and doors. In this pic below the doors are fitted. You will probably notice the end gables have an extra length of brick paper hanging out each side. I butt the ends of the side walls up to this paper whilst at the same time gluing the paper and the corner of the wall. When the glue is set, I trim the extra paper off bringing it flush with the corner.





All the windows are now in on this building





To move forward now we have to fit sills and lintels. These will be weathered to remove the pristine white look.





Now we have all sills and lintels fitted. Also I have created the paving slab for the building ( Scalescenes paving on card ). Fitting of the paving at this stage is necessary because the back edge of it has to sit under the main wall. This is binding the building all together. The annex gable end wall blanks can now be fitted on top of the paving and also onto the wall.





The completed annex walls are now glued to the annex end walls and the paving. This is starting to build strength into the structure.





The end walls of the building can now be fitted. You can see the same process happening here where we have a paper overhang at the corners of the main wall.





You can see a bit of light weathering on the sills and lintels in this pic





And now with paper overhangs removed from the end walls




The next stage is to print out some roof supports / trusses. Seven should be enough. Then I can turn my attention to the main roof and then the little ones for the annexes. After that it needs brick walls and gates to separate each dwelling.
Still lots to do but it`s coming along......I may try a test fit on the railway tomorrow.....hope I haven`t stuffed it up....
Gormo

 

Once I made that last statement " I may try a test fit on the railway tomorrow.....hope I haven`t stuffed it up ? ", I realized that I would not sleep tonight without knowing if the blessed thing does actually fit.....
Fortunately......it fits like a glove........I did spend a good amount of time double checking my measurements, but you never know ?.....sometimes you stuff it up.

Before



After



I`m still getting used to seeing it there, but that was the original intention, so I suppose when it is bedded in with greenery and other odds and sods, it may look like it should be there.?





This shows the business side. I intend to have a black panel fill in the back of the building from the ridge cap down to the top of control panel.
The roof trusses will help support the infill, but looking at this pic, I think I need something below the ceiling as well.?





Here`s the other end





Goodnight Gormo

 

G`day Chris,
Yes it will transform Bamford......initially.....because it is at the front of the layout. Usually the layout is populated mostly at the back and now we have this lone building sitting out there in open space, so to me it`s slightly off putting, but I have to remind myself it will be alright when it`s finished.
The addition of other buildings and grass, trees and bushes will lift this layout up from where it is now into a British rural scene.
So there is the answer to the other part of your question....it will be semi rural. One of those posh little villages that you make a day trip to on the train,because it also is a heritage line, which means all types of rolling stock and various locomotives.
There will be special heritage excursions departing and returning to GCJ on a regular basis, plus the necessary freight trains to service the village.
Pack a picnic lunch and you`re off for a fine day out.......
Gormo