G.W.R. BLT: Almost there.

[jonte]

I’m pleased to report that the earlier problem experienced with the point motors i.e. they didn’t work!, has been resolved. As suspected, the recently purchased shiney sockets and plugs were the source of the problem, so have been replaced with some old plugs and sockets that have featured on umpteen previous layouts. Unfortunately, they’re both red as they were all I had left. I least I’ll know which is the AC feed for sure.

I tried to rectify the faulty sockets in situ, which proved more difficult in the restricted space than expected (I can only suggest it was along the lines of keyhole surgery, performed without the skills, knowledge or equipment of a professional), but when this too failed the continuity test, I realised it was time to get rid. Easier said than done without damaging anything, and then replacing them with these old cross-threaded types proved a real chore too. How glad am I that it’s now all sorted, although I’m relieved that my spaghetti wiring wasn’t to blame.

I’ll leave you with a picture of the new ‘old’ sockets:



A short break before fixing down the track.

Best,

jonte

 

[Alan]

You could paint the ones you don't want to be red.

 

[jonte]

You could paint the ones you don't want to be red.

Hi Alan, and thank you. A simple solution indeed

To be honest, it might be better leaving them both the same colour as it’ll stop me putting the wrong plugs into the wrong sockets, which has happened on more than one occasion, would you believe

Cheers,

Jon

 

[Roger Pound]

To be honest, it might be better leaving them both the same colour as it’ll stop me putting the wrong plugs into the wrong sockets, which has happened on more than one occasion, would you believe

Cheers,

Jon

I'm gullible - I believe you . But then again, Jon, you are in good company as I, and I am sure more than a few others, have made the same error more than once, if we are honest .

Well done on getting a swift, satisfactory solution !

Roger.

 

[jonte]

Modelling (albeit sporadic of late) continues, thus I have one or two developments to report.

Following successful testing and running, the track was fixed in place. I didn’t want to disturb the track, so raising it slightly to apply PVA glue was out of the question. The method adopted was to remove each pin in turn from the sleepers, and open up the top of each pin hole with a larger drill bit. The pin was then replaced and hammered home, leaving the pin head plus a nominal length of shaft protruding. Using a pair of Xuron cutters, the head was snipped off and the little bit of shaft left proud was hammered home below the sleeper too using a pin thingy (the name of the tool escapes me). Once completed, a spot of Cyano was applied with a piece of wire and left to go off. Finally it will be filed flush with the sleeper prior to track detailing. Whilst holding the track firmly place, it can also be lifted by prising with a screwdriver or such if the need arises. Here’s an example of the pins in place prior to applying the glue (middle track):



The next task was to address vertical alignment of the boards, the horizontal aspect already having been taken care of. This was addressed by employing a set of removable hinges left over from the ‘Monks’ project. In order to accommodate, it was necessary to provide bearers each side from offcuts of plained timber. Perhaps you can now see why I placed the control panel so near to the track:



They will need finishing, but the difference in dimensions provided by the wood yard as mentioned previously, is only too apparent in these photos, and rather made the job unnecessarily a little harder to complete.

Then attention turned to the cassettes.

Three ply, to prevent warping, was employed for the bases, each section being of 4mm ply so as not to exceed the level of track on the scenic board, any shortcomings in height being addressed by simply adding strips of whatever beneath the aluminium angle on the ‘lead in’. Each section was glued to the next using PVA, and weighting it down with some exercise weights and dumbbells, left atop some cling film to,prevent the residue sticking them to the wooden work bench on which the assemblages were resting.

Then it was on to cutting and fitting the aluminium angles which will act as rails. This was a somewhat repetitive process of drilling suitable holes (without going too deeply into the wood for better purchase) before gingerly countersinking the holes using drill bits of steadily increasing diameter. This was not only a hold your breath moment due to the thin nature of the material, but also trying on the wrists with all the constant tightening and untitightening of the drill chuck, as each bit was removed and replaced. Eventually the arthritis in my right wrist succumbed to the intense cold of the garage where I was working, leading to my loss of control of the drill in one or two places, resulting in the largest drill drilling right through the aluminium and deep into the wooden base below I shall have to live with it. At least the connections (when I make them) will sit flush to the ends (and hide the odd mistake to boot!) and any overhanging parts of stock won’t catch on the screw heads.

So, some pictures to show the hinges acting as vertical alighners and the unfinished, three feet long cassettes (of which there are two) in place to help cut the lead in sections to size. The whole ‘lot’ is merely placed in position for now to give an idea:



I sincerely hope and trust it’s not seen as overkill.

That’s it for now, and thanks for looking.

jonte

 

[Roger Pound]

Once again your precise approach is reaping rewards with a first class job, Jon. I anticipate a Swindonion like whistle sound ere long as trains begin to run.........

Roger

 

[jonte]

Once again your precise approach is reaping rewards with a first class job, Jon. I anticipate a Swindonion like whistle sound ere long as trains begin to run.........

Roger

I wish I shared your confidence, Roger

But thanks anyway for the compliment

Best,

Jon

 

[Tim Hale]

Looking very purposeful, very nice.

Tim

 

[jonte]

Looking very purposeful, very nice.

Tim

Thanks, Tim.

Think I’ll have to invest in a heater of some sort (did have an oil filled type, which I vaguely recall lending out…..) as most of the remaining work (to get it fully operational) will have to be undertaken in the garage

Jon

 

[michael mott]

I hope you find a good heater so you can continue to work on this layout. I am curious about why it is so shallow regarding the vertical dimensions. I can see how this would create challenges for modeling nature except the prairies.
Michael

 

[jonte]

I hope you find a good heater so you can continue to work on this layout. I am curious about why it is so shallow regarding the vertical dimensions. I can see how this would create challenges for modeling nature except the prairies.
Michael

Thanks for your valued interest, Michael

The reduced height, Michael, is for two reasons: first, it’s easier to manhandle through the home (eighteen inches or so , as I’ve previously found to my detriment, is ideal for exhibition layouts but not for one that has to be carried through 30”,or so, wide doorways ; second, it prevents helicopter views of Streamline track although I’m under no delusions with such basic trackwork, which is why the pips have remained (plus Streamline is no longer the robust beast it used to be with its narrower flangeways. On Monks, the switch rails started to lift and became proud of the stock rails requiring some remedial work, after I removed the pips, so I’m not tempting fate this time).

Hope that helps, Michael, and thank you once again.

 

[jonte]

For the first time in a while, I managed a day to myself, so had a good go at progressing the fiddleyard.

So, before the tongues/connectors/fishplates fitted:



Fishplates fitted to the ‘lead ins’ and one end of each cassette:



The heights of the lead ins will need reviewing where they meet the cassettes, plus the lead in rails had to be removed to have the fishplates/connectors fitted and are yet to be replaced. In the above, some of the screws still need countersinking, hence the rails have been placed just to demonstrate. Incidentally, the holes in the sides of the ‘lead ins’ are for the feeds which will be attached with screws.

And t’other ends of cassettes:



Still much to do but I’m ever nearer a fully working layout.

Cheers for now.

jonte

 

[jonte]

We now have a fiddle yard/ cassette deck.

Under board wiring:



The surface:



Wander leads attached to cassettes to combat current drop:



The wires will need lengthening as the crocodile clips impede the loco in places. A new crocodile clip will be required for the ‘Black’ feed in the goods siding as the screw for fitting the lead was missing. In essence, it’s all belt and braces as the connectors transfer the current quite adequately.

The loco testing:



The current is fed via the control panel on the scenic portion.

Connected to the scenic section, looking from and towards the terminus:



The control panels:



jonte

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Hello @jonte

Well done, and Happy New Year

Cheers

Jan

 

[jonte]

Hello @jonte

Well done, and Happy New Year

Cheers

Jan

Hi, Jan

Thank you. Have a great ‘23!

Jon

 

[Tim Hale]

Hi,

Very impressed by the heavy engineering aspect of the yard. The last time, in 2017, that I used aluminium angle from B&Q I was defeated by the anodised finish, I was unaware that B&Q had changed their supplier. Where did you source the stuff?

Well done

Tim

 

[jonte]

Hi,

Very impressed by the heavy engineering aspect of the yard. The last time, in 2017, that I used aluminium angle from B&Q I was defeated by the anodised finish, I was unaware that B&Q had changed their supplier. Where did you source the stuff?

Well done

Tim

Hi Tim, and thank you.

It’s probably over-engineered to be honest, but it’s the only way I know.

Funny you should mention the anodised finish; it was something I bore in mind when purchasing (together with the changeable dimensions of the angle - apparently- which is why I bought a ‘bulk’ amount at the time!).

From memory it was an eBay purchase, so I’ll scout through my history to determine from whom and get back to you.

That said, I still read about cassettes being made from the Buy and Queue stuff so perhaps not so much of an issue ?

Thanks again, Tim, and I’ll get back to you.

Jon

Edit: Tim, it’s ‘thealuminiumshop’ (all one word in lower case) trading via eBay. A search reveals a company trading by that name from an address Essex, but not sure whether the same. Unfortunately when I activate the ‘contact’ for them on my eBay account, it just generates a box for completion to send on the eBay internal mail system. No details are forthcoming. If you have an account, perhaps a quick email might be of benefit? If you don’t, let me know and I’ll try and contact them on your behalf via my account.

Best,

Jon

 

[Tim Hale]

Hi Tim, and thank you.

It’s probably over-engineered to be honest, but it’s the only way I know.

Funny you should mention the anodised finish; it was something I bore in mind when purchasing (together with the changeable dimensions of the angle - apparently- which is why I bought a ‘bulk’ amount at the time!).

From memory it was an eBay purchase, so I’ll scout through my history to determine from whom and get back to you.

That said, I still read about cassettes being made from the Buy and Queue stuff so perhaps not so much of an issue ?

Thanks again, Tim, and I’ll get back to you.

Jon

Edit: Tim, it’s ‘thealuminiumshop’ (all one word in lower case) trading via eBay. A search reveals a company trading by that name from an address Essex, but not sure whether the same. Unfortunately when I activate the ‘contact’ for them on my eBay account, it just generates a box for completion to send on the eBay internal mail system. No details are forthcoming. If you have an account, perhaps a quick email might be of benefit? If you don’t, let me know and I’ll try and contact them on your behalf via my account.

Best,

Jon

The previous layout’s cassettes were also sourced from B&Q and worked without issue. Their replacements were a real headscratcher until some serious ‘googling’ provided the answer, naturally this reason immediately dismissed by the usual trolls at ‘the other place’ but a source of non-anodised stuff was eventually found.

I also admire the electrickery, my attempt at keeping everything as light as possible would be regarded as flimsy in comparison. The last layout was not built to last but to be lifted up and down stairs and across windy carparks.

Tim

 

[jonte]

Right you are, Tim!

Glad you found a solution eventually

Regarding the spaghetti wiring: again, it’s the only way I know

Jon

 

[isambardme]

GWR BLT



Intended as a ‘typical’ former Great Western branch much in decline towards the end of the fifties, and which I like to believe is set ‘atypically’ around the rural locations of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire or even rural Bucks, this is more of an exercise in resurrecting my enthusiasm for the hobby than serious modelling.



As I don’t seem able to concentrate on a single subject long enough before ‘things’ start to go stale and enthusiasm wanes, I’ve decided to keep the whole ensemble simple, from concept to conclusion. This way, I hope to speed up the process, thereby keeping the aforementioned hinderances at bay. Well, that’s the idea anyway.



There’s no back story (sorry) but influences have been the Fairford Branch, with representations of its infrastructure in evidence, together with the former Cirencester Town terminus, whose track plan has been selected for both its simplicity and operational potential for a minimum space layout. Not in its entirety, of course, as to model the prototype in full would require far more space than this ‘shelf’ would allow, thus the approach to the single platform affair will commence at the point adjacent to the goods shed in the attached photo (3rd photo down):

Cirencester Town disused railway station – Victorian Gothic stuck in a car park -

Now stranded in the middle of a car park in the centre of town is the remains of Cirencester Town railway station, a rather fine two-storey building designed by Isambard Kingdon Brunel and R.P. Brereton, his resident assistant. Opened by the Cheltenham and Great Western Union on 31st May 1843...

www.urban75.org

Here’s my humble attempt at a track plan:

View attachment 171725

This to give you an idea of how the small radius points allow me to squeeze a quart into the proverbial pint pot:View attachment 171732View attachment 171733

I’m sticking as rigidly as possible to the drawing; ad libbing tends to lead me off track. That said, I’m looking to extend the dock somewhat as I’m expecting quite a lot of it (cattle dock, transfer of race horses and end loading dock).
Just a final word on the track plan: I’ve ensured the head shunt at the terminus end of the loop is long enough for a Dean Goods (pictured) or Collett 22X:

View attachment 171727



Dimensions

4’6” x 16” scenic, consisting of a self contained (the controls will be integral, to avoid an ancillary control panel or side switches that could get damaged when carting around) main board of 5’ x 16” with a 3’6” fiddleyard attached. The fiddleyard will use cassettes of aluminium section attached to 3x sections of 4mm ply to fend off warping. This is borrowed from ‘Monks’:

View attachment 171730View attachment 171731



Baseboard:

On my workbench

Spent the last week endeavouring to raise my flagging enthusiasm for the hobby after my long line of failures. This is my solution(?) and last ditch attempt. If it even dares to go the way of its predecessors, I’m throwing in the towel…. It’s a self contained base board measuring 5’ x 16”...

westernthunder.co.uk

Trackwork

Peco Streamline wooden sleepered track, utilising small radius electrofrog points operated by Twistlock point motors and centre-off switches.

I’ve decided not to model the catch points, if that’s the correct terminology.


Signalling

As per the prototype, this will feature the single GWR signal post and ground signal, although the lattice type construct of the original will be substituted for the more typical wooden post variety which should provide an opportunity to use up an old Ratio model, with some added accessories accumulated to improve the look. It’s intended that this should be operational utilising the Heathcote Electronics module for semaphore signalling. I may yet also have the ground signal functioning if I can find my (part-built) old GWR variety based on that which appears in Stephen Williams’ book on GWR Branch Line modelling (Part 1?). If not, I’ll use a non working version from the Ratio kit, of which I have several.



Buildings

With the amount of trackwork in such a small space, it won’t leave room for much of the built environment beyond the railway fence, thus buildings will consist in the main of a station building, signal box, goods shed and ancillary odds and sods. The station building will be the Ratio version, adapted to look a little more like Andoversford (I like the functional look), and the signal box scratchbuilt like the goods shed , utilising bits from the scrap box. The line will enter/leave via a hole in the right hand side of the layout, disguised as that of Fairford et al, built in half relief from embossed sheets.



Backscene

I’d like to create a simple watercolour consisting of a summer sky and a distant line of trees (purporting to represent the line of distant elm trees on the Fairford branch), so as not to distract the eye too much from the model. This may have to be attempted on lining paper which isn’t ideal as I want to use washes to create the effect; hoping and trusting I can manage to seamlessly adjoin several sheets of watercolour paper of sufficient length. Watch this space.



Lighting (eventually):

LED strips of several types powered via a 12V source, attached to either a wooden tray to sit atop the arch and backscene, or transverse sections of timber flush with the wooden beam of the proscenium arch, attached to the backscene, but only when it’s permanently affixed.

I’ll leave you for now with the following collection of bits and pieces as described in the text, and also a long shot of the baseboard sporting its new WR colours:

View attachment 171734View attachment 171728View attachment 171729



Now to make a start on laying the track (this time I’ve made allowances for the siting of frog wires and point motors when locating the cross bearers below baseboard).

Cheers for now.


jonte

Edit to include reference to terminus photo.

Hi Jonte,

I do like the fact that all this started not on the back of a fag packet, but a brown envelope ! Well done so far.

Be prepared for some minor track adjustments to suit stock, locos, clearances etc.

Steve