jonte
Western Thunderer
While I wait for the primer to dry, attention has turned to all matters permanent way- or as this just a train-set, perhaps the term ‘track’ is more apt.
Now, I’ve yet to explain why I decided to rip up my handbuilt rails, and it saddens me to have done so, but the long and short of it is that life is too short to start adding plastic chairs and the odd sleeper or two here and there, so I had to bite the bullet.
My intention was to keep the tramway crossings, but for reasons that may become clear, this required the presence of a Peco short radius; as one is yet to be produced, if ever, in the latest bullhead track series, this was a non-starter (I did post a clue to my intention of using B/H track in an earlier post, but just in case, I’ve decided to go with the new Peco track at the front of the layout).
I also needed to address the problem with the handbuilt first radius curve to the left of the layout. You may recall that ‘Jones the goods’ wasn’t too keen. Well, it turned out that my latest acquision, also a six-coupled, wasn’t having any of it either, so it had to go.
It transpired that it wasn’t first radius after all: it was even tighter - a fact I’d conveniently forgotten about. Possibly for the sake of expediency, it mattered not at the time, my main stay in the form of a GP-38 was quite at home with it, there being no reason to change. The Dukedog being a four coupler was also quite comfortable negotiating the bend at a range of speeds, but unless I kept my stable to this type, it was never going to work in the long term, so out this came too. I’ve since noticed a change in height between the base of the curve and entry to the main board, but this was not a factor in the derailment as it was designed to take up the height difference between proprietary code 100 and handbuilt code 75 bullhead. It will be a problem, however, for the new layout, so this is being addressed.
So there we have it.
This apart, the layout is still straight and true as the day it was built, apart from an unsupported corner at front right, which while not too bad at present, could prove problematic in the future, so a block and some off cuts of ply were glued and clamped to the board - and adjacent supports - below the offending corner:
A countersunk screw provided a controlled amount of adjustment, but this may need filing down if it impedes the trackwork, as unfortunately, the fascia framework obstructed the orbit of the drill, resulting in the sink not being symmetrical. Another problem of changing the purpose of a layout.
Here’s a picture showing the gradient I mentioned:
Okay, it’s only slight, but still it needs addressing if smooth and reliable running is to be achieved. The newly acquired Peco Setrack curve is ideal for helping to illustrate the problem and an ideal gauge for marking out, such are the benefits of elementary modelling it seems.
Apologies for the poor lighting in this next shot, but hopefully you can just make out how the long-bodied Santa Fe fruit car (my longest item of stock) is perilously close to the fascia framing. Whilst I reckon I can probably get away with it long term, perhaps it would be wise before I go any further to Nick a bit off; just in case.
So, a start is made.
Hopefully, I can report of further progress in due course.
Thanks for looking.
Jonte
Now, I’ve yet to explain why I decided to rip up my handbuilt rails, and it saddens me to have done so, but the long and short of it is that life is too short to start adding plastic chairs and the odd sleeper or two here and there, so I had to bite the bullet.
My intention was to keep the tramway crossings, but for reasons that may become clear, this required the presence of a Peco short radius; as one is yet to be produced, if ever, in the latest bullhead track series, this was a non-starter (I did post a clue to my intention of using B/H track in an earlier post, but just in case, I’ve decided to go with the new Peco track at the front of the layout).
I also needed to address the problem with the handbuilt first radius curve to the left of the layout. You may recall that ‘Jones the goods’ wasn’t too keen. Well, it turned out that my latest acquision, also a six-coupled, wasn’t having any of it either, so it had to go.
It transpired that it wasn’t first radius after all: it was even tighter - a fact I’d conveniently forgotten about. Possibly for the sake of expediency, it mattered not at the time, my main stay in the form of a GP-38 was quite at home with it, there being no reason to change. The Dukedog being a four coupler was also quite comfortable negotiating the bend at a range of speeds, but unless I kept my stable to this type, it was never going to work in the long term, so out this came too. I’ve since noticed a change in height between the base of the curve and entry to the main board, but this was not a factor in the derailment as it was designed to take up the height difference between proprietary code 100 and handbuilt code 75 bullhead. It will be a problem, however, for the new layout, so this is being addressed.
So there we have it.
This apart, the layout is still straight and true as the day it was built, apart from an unsupported corner at front right, which while not too bad at present, could prove problematic in the future, so a block and some off cuts of ply were glued and clamped to the board - and adjacent supports - below the offending corner:
A countersunk screw provided a controlled amount of adjustment, but this may need filing down if it impedes the trackwork, as unfortunately, the fascia framework obstructed the orbit of the drill, resulting in the sink not being symmetrical. Another problem of changing the purpose of a layout.
Here’s a picture showing the gradient I mentioned:
Okay, it’s only slight, but still it needs addressing if smooth and reliable running is to be achieved. The newly acquired Peco Setrack curve is ideal for helping to illustrate the problem and an ideal gauge for marking out, such are the benefits of elementary modelling it seems.
Apologies for the poor lighting in this next shot, but hopefully you can just make out how the long-bodied Santa Fe fruit car (my longest item of stock) is perilously close to the fascia framing. Whilst I reckon I can probably get away with it long term, perhaps it would be wise before I go any further to Nick a bit off; just in case.
So, a start is made.
Hopefully, I can report of further progress in due course.
Thanks for looking.
Jonte