Just in Case

Soooo here we go again reinventing a currently non-existent layout ... I'm thinking n gauge roundy-roundy in a suitcase ...? ...! ...

I've already got the track buildings locos etc I reckon a suitcase will be fairly easy to obtain in the many charity shops /buy and sell sites ...

The problem I've always had, is my limited space in the apartment we rent and building it in the case would also protect the table cloth from the evils of superglue (see precious builds for details) ... watch this space ... just need a track plan now ... here goes ... sort of ...

Ian t

 

i'll need to keep it brief ....

 

9(having spent hours pondering wondering and pontificating I've got the germ of a track plan for my suitcase thingy (haven't got a case yet but that's a mere formality isn't it? i mean size doesn't matter ... does it? ... anyway passenger service will by auto-coach and the design of the fiddle yard also enables me to run 2 roundy-roundies at the same time (I've got a gamemaster twin thingy ... sizes are cm and ish!

 

A simple wiring diagram ... following best practice it will have droppers at every joint (to save possible hassle later on) but only certain ones (as shown) will be connected ... hopefully this will give me 2 independent roundy roundy circuits ... there is also a minimum need for un-couplers (electronic) ... ref the tight radius the locos are 0 6 0 ... fingers crossed ...

 

Plan B in the event I dont get a suitcase ... this plan is a simplified version that will fit in a drawer of our sideboard (permissions having been obtained at the very reasonable cost of 2 handbags) the more I think of it the better I like it as it just slide out of sight .. simplesss. and it still gives me plenty of running/shunting options

 

Ok progress ... of sorts ... I've got a case ,,, of sorts (beggars can't be choosers it was a freebie) ... its 60cm x 40cm x 12cm ... it will need a bit of reinforcing so I intend to order a baseboard to fit (Tim Horn)and then screw it from the outside. The 12cm depth is just right .. the retaining wall is 7cm so that leaves 5 for the board and point moters ... i hope.... had to design a new trackplan though ..no problem

 

Ok non-progress is moving apace ... the case i was given is not suitable as it is damaged in a crucial area ... sooo ... the proposed layout is getting ever smaller I have now ordered an aluminium storage case 50cm x 35cm x 12cm and suspect I'm at the limit of track radius ... but I will make it work and here are 2 new trackplans. .. they both give options for roundy roundy or storage/fiddle yard thingy time play stuff ...

 

The Case... build starts 5 weeks time after I've written more of my second book ...making progress ... slowly

 

interesting James aluminium case comes tomorrow so will soon find out if the curves work ... if not plan j

 

so plan ... er ... m ... n ... ? ... anyway my case has arrived and ive tried a section of flexi track and the loco (a 6 wheeled thingy .. 54xx.. ?) was stuttering .. however i put this down to it being new so put it on a rolling road ... and et-voila excellent ... one thing i did pick up on was the tightness of the second bend in the fiddle yard ... so .... yet another simplified trackplan. i will only be running 2 locos most of the time .. the 6 wheeled thingy on an auto-coach and a Terrier on goods/shunting or vica versa .. rule 1 applys (occasionally a through class B1 hauling tankers) so still plenty of fu ... operating

 

Baseboard in and track test the track shown is for test only .. points etc to fit

 

the plan so far .... maybe ... if i can pull this off i'll be well chuff chuffed ..

 

latest order with Hattons anything to make life easier nowadays ... (more wine time)