On my workbench #9

Posted on May 14, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

It’s been a month of modifications.  It started when I tried to show off the railway to son Michael, and found that when I changed the points, there was a dead short.  So the first task has been to rewire the point frogs correctly.  It now works.

Then, as I reported last time

I have thought again about my N-club modules.  I decided that I really did want to be able to operate the layout from both sides, and be able to look from the ‘outside’ when the layout is at home, allowing the buildings to form a backdrop.

Rather than duplicate the point switches on the other side of the layout, I have gone for the expensive option, DCC operation of the points.  A package of Cobalt gubbins arrived last week, and I need to build a control panel and rewire.  Disadvantage – cost.  Advantage – layout with control panel is reversible, just two wires control all the points on the layout, and the control panel is connected to the layout by a single Ethernet cable rather than a 20+ way multipin plug with all the attendant wiring.

Despite the often sketchy Cobalt instructions, the points now all work from a control panel that can be placed either side of the layout.  First job was to remove the point switches from the baseboard facia and fill the holes.  Then to simplify the wiring.  Two wires to each point motor decoder (or as here, one for a crossover) from a common bus does simplify things.

Next to make the control panel.  I decided to still call the layout ‘Roselle Park’ despite the simplified track layout.  A simple bit of graphics printed on my PaintJet, then sprayed with several coats of varnish to make it more durable.  Putting the switches together, rather than on the points they operate made the panel shallower, as the gubbins didn’t overlap.

I then added the ‘sniffer’ that feeds the bus to the baseboard, and the master processer board to the back of the panel.  And just connected two wires to the ‘sniffer’ and standard plug in RJ12 cable between baseboard and control panel.  The master board is a little bit of overkill, as it can take 12 switches and I am only using five of them.  But it is convenient!

The ‘learning’ switches on the point decoders made setting up the panel a simpl-ish job with a little trial and error.  Next time it will take seconds rather than minutes.  And I’m back where I was two months ago, but with the boards reversed, and a nifty control panel – and a running train.

We’ll see how the system works in the longer term, but the pros and cons are much as expected (and already noted above):

  • Pro:
    • Simple wiring to avoid multi-pin plugs all over the place.
    • Easy to set up.
  • Con:
    • Expensive.

It would have probably been cheaper to use servos and to build my own decoder units from components, but hey, life is short enough as it is!  I would use this set up again for a mid-sized layout, ideally with 10-12 points!

Now back to the ballasting and scenery.  And adding magnets for decoupling.

Posted in ESNG, Jon's layout ramblings, On my workbench | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway #3

Posted on May 12, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

Last post from the B&WLR, with some of the other things on show.

There were even more engines around the loco works and model railway show, including some miniature railway locomotives.

Three fine, and venerable, tractors….

Cutting kindling with tractor power.  Not sure about the H&S on the circular saw, and I quickly left when the operator started cutting the wood!

A fine steam powered lorry….

The American fire truck has a 100′ or so ladder.  It was only withdrawn from active service last September (and replaced by a similar vehicle) and shipped to the UK.

These were still just about around when I was a kid, used by tradesmen for deliveries….

And not forgetting the bluebells….

Finally, a nasty reminder of what I should have been doing last Sunday…..

And here’s the programme for the rest of 2018….

Website here.

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Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway #2

Posted on May 10, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

Twaddle-less Thursday today.  Just loads of pictures of the B&WLR trains.  I was surprised at the number and variety of locos in steam (plus one diesel).  Most of the photographs were taken at the far terminus of the line – a pleasant, shady, spot in bluebell filled woods.

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Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway #1

Posted on May 8, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

Summer has arrived on the May Day bank holiday weekend – unheard of!  On Sunday, we paid a visit to the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway (B&WR), and their model railway exhibition.

It proved to be an excellent day out.  Kerry and Vernon had put together an interesting model railway show in the engine sheds (see today’s post), there was an intense shuttle service on the 2′ gauge railway (next post), and there were some other interesting exhibits on show (last post later this week.)

The B&WR is a bit of a hidden gem, off the beaten track but easy to get to.  Cha(I)man Allan picked up Mr Atfield and myself from Earlswood at 7:30am on Sunday, and after fortifying ourselves with a solid breakfast in Hawkhurst, we collected Miles from the wilds of Kent, then headed back north to the railway.  With perfect May weather, the car park was already filling up as we arrived, and they must have had a most successful day.

So, let’s start with some layouts.  I’d seen Peters Street before, and like the grimy night-time atmosphere (except for the Baby Deltic  and P class tank engine.)  A compact layout, giving a chance to show off ones locomotives.

This first photograph of Compass Point was a bit blurred, but I’ve included it as it’s such a charming little OO9 layout.

I especially liked the river mouth at low tide, with a Cormorant, Black Headed Gull, and Oystercatchers seen in the estuary.  The owner was impressed by my birdwatching skills!  Seriously, this little scene captures the atmosphere of tidal mud flats better than almost anything that I’ve seen.

Ville A La Campane is a very compact On30 layout.

The Volks Electric Railway in OO9 models Brighton’s historic and iconic attraction.  However, they haven’t modelled the section past the naturist beach…..

Good to see the Model Railway Club’s Lacey Dale again.  Still under construction, this interesting layout will only get better.

Three Gates came to our ESNG show in 2017.  A fold-up railway in a total length of 4′, that offers loads of operation and shunting.

Sand Point offers much the same in OO9, but with more 3D scenery….

OO diesels on Dudley RD….

American switching in HO….

This is the entire Beta Cables layout, 14mm gauge.

Shipmeadow is a classic OO9 continuous run, but has a lot of character….

South Down Tar in O-16.5 is full of quality industrial modelling.  Everything looks suitable grimy, without overdoing it.

Next post, we’ll get outside onto the main line.

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Full steam ahead

Posted on May 6, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

Some excellent photographs from Simon this time, who writes….

A few pics from my trip on the KESR a couple of weeks ago – got to open gates, shovel coal and drive the loco! Beautiful mogul, Norwegian, built in Trollshaven.

Looks and excellent day out! (I gather this was a special birthday present for a special birthday – a day to remember, but a year to forget.)

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ESNG meeting – 2 May 2018

Posted on May 4, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

We moved club night forward a day, as the hall was being used as a polling station on the Thursday.  And although a number of members can’t make Wednesdays, we still had a very respectable turn out of 10 people.

It was also good to start the meeting in evening sunlight, thanks to the wonders of Daylight Saving Time.

The usual suspects were soon filling the fiddle yard.  (Sorry, Derek, another profile shot…)

We were considering doing a ‘special’ Terrier as ‘Earlswood’, but Dapol then released it as one of their liveries.  Derek’s model is hauling three German coaches, that make reasonable UK 4-wheelers with little effort.

Ian brought a new nationality to the rails – Portuguese, I believe.

And Paul had (another) new bullet train.  I love the lines of the nose and the portholes.  There’s something nautical (Greek galley, perhaps) about it.

Sean’s 2-BIL….

And T9 gave the proceedings a little Southern style.

And isn’t this the coolest baseboard trestle?  Not much use for portable layouts, but for a neat presentation at home, it’s brilliant.  More here.

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Global Rail 2018, Didcot

Posted on May 2, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

A few more of Ron’s photographs today, this time from the German Railway Society’s Global Rail 2018 at Didcot.

Braulage – German H0m SüD Harz

Mena Brea – Italian H0

Kendorf – German Z

Eastwood Vermont – USA HO

Nippon Tetsudo – Japanese Z

Smrzovka – Czech TT

A slightly out of focus Loddonsee – Austrian HO

And finally, one of the new units on the Great Western main line.  As Allan reports….

Sitting on Didcot platform waiting for the train home watching Red Kites cruising over the town . When this came past.

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Mid-Hants Railway

Posted on April 30, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

A few shots of the Mid-Hants Railway from Ron.  Note the beautiful spring weather….

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Little and often

Posted on April 27, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

Wise words from Jason Shron of Rapido Trains:

Last year, I hardly made it down to my model railroad room. It became more and more difficult to face what is supposed to be my favourite place in the world. Thinking about the gargantuan task that it is to build the Kingston Sub would just cause me anxiety as I was so rarely down there and progress was so slow. It also caused me to question why I was in this hobby and why I was in this business if I never actually worked on my layout.

I turned 43 last month and I made a birthday resolution to try and spend 15 minutes a day in my layout room. That’s it – just get down there for 15 minutes. Sometimes I can’t get there – the logistics just don’t allow it, like getting home from work at 10:30 p.m. But sometimes 15 minutes turns into 45 or more, which is a bonus. In the last three weeks I have definitely been down to the layout for more days than I’ve missed.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE! When I get to work on the layout, even just for 15 minutes, I go to bed feeling I have accomplished something. I actually sleep better than when I don’t work on the layout. It’s reduced my overall anxiety. My wife has noticed a difference. No more existential talks before bed (much to her relief).

I’m no longer so worried about the end result of the layout. When you get to work on the layout every day it becomes all about the process and the little accomplishments on the way. The end result becomes less and less important.

I still have to travel for work and on those days, working on the layout will be impossible. But I am going to try to continue this new approach and get down to the layout room for just 15 minutes a day when I can. And then I hope to be able to update the Facebook page in real time and not just a couple of times a year.

I pray that I will have the strength and persistence to continue this new tradition. It’s had an enormous impact on my outlook and overall quality of life.

I must get back into the habit of a little time in the modelling room every day.

And I love this advice from RMWeb…..

  1. OK so this list is as much a reminder to me as to anyone else of stupid things not to do when doing any work on the railway – if you ever see me doing any of these things please SHOUT at me before I damage something or someone:

    1. Don’t do anything when in a hurry or tired – if you do then one of the other things listed below will happen.
    2. Paint must dry before you touch it – unless you like fingerprints everywhere.
    3. Pressfix transfers are sticky and amazingly they stick to each other if you pull them off the backing sheet to “take a look”.
    4. Glue sticks things together even if you don’t want them to so be careful where you put it.
    5. Conductive materials conduct electricity so don’t use them as insulators.
    6. ….and of course insulators don’t conduct electricity.
    7. Whitemetal bends and breaks easily and doesn’t like a hot soldering iron.
    8. Metal gets hot when you put a soldering iron on it so be careful what is touching the other end.
    9. Sharp knives are sharp and cut through skin – the resulting blood spill rarely looks good on models and even less so on the kitchen floor.

    And finally 10. Always put your glasses on – you’re too old not to!

Posted in Hints and tips, Inspiration | Tagged , | 2 Comments

This is what sound should sound like…..

Posted on April 24, 2018 by snitchthebudgie

There’s been a bit of discussion recently on a couple of forums about sound on model railways.  (Including the horrors of being on a stand next to a modern diesel depot with all the locomotives on loud tick-over – or people playing background music.  I just about survived a day of the Cha(I)rman playing Alpenhorns and cuckoo clocks for his Swiss layout.)  This brilliant video was posted as an example of how on-board sound is generally only what-the-driver-hears.  There is much more going on in the world.  Listen to the background sounds…..

We start with nature and birdsong, and the approaching Class 56.  After it passes, we have all the sounds of the wagons following.  If this could be reproduced, then I might be interested in N gauge sound!

And this could be a pretty good location for a simple layout to watch the trains go by….

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