Peter Borcherds April 17th, 2008
Finally I have the conservatory to myself again…the modules are back up and I have started work on painting & weathering the track. I have started with the yard tracks as they are firstly wooden sleeper tracks, and secondly will be mostly hidden by the concrete apron of the yard itself. I have airbrushed these tracks with Pollyscale Roof Brown, and will be painting the rails using the brilliant Rusty Rails Painter from Joe’s Model Trains – I’ll be using the ‘Brown Rust’ paint for this.
The main tracks are going to be more of a challenge as they have concrete sleepers. I am trying to work out the best paint to use to simulate concrete sleepered track…suggestions have been made to use various shades of grey…I’ll be experimenting with a spare piece of track to see what I can come up with…
One thing I do need is prototype reference photos of concrete track – I’ve found lots of photos of wood sleepers, but not many of concrete sleepers…if you have some photos in your collection please pass them my way! Ta!
In the first (and only!) photo of this update you can see I have started to install the Hayes Wheel Stops on the yard tracks. I am just test fitting them at the moment, so they aren’t glued down yet. I am using the Tomar Industries white metal Hayes Wheel Stops.
Hopefully I will get started on the concrete tracks soon – in the meantime I might get started on the styrene base for the intermodal yard apron.
Another update coming soon!
Like this:
Like Loading...
Peter Borcherds March 13th, 2008
I’ve finally installed the last of my Tortoise motors on Intermodal module A. The last one involved a remote Tortoise mount…took longer than expected, and is more complicated than it looks! 40 steps on the instruction sheet…doesn’t seem like it would need so many steps, but there are a lot of little things to do that take a bit of time, most of it to do with alignment and wire bending…but at least I know how to do it now for next time!
Next to do is the installation of the Digitrax SE8C Signal Controller – that is a quick install – and the installation of the CML DAC10 turnout controller, including the connection of the Tortoise wiring.
In the meantime, here are the latest construction photos
Like this:
Like Loading...
Peter Borcherds March 6th, 2008
I’ve done a bit more work on the layout this evening. I have been working on Intermodal module A – I’ve finished off the wiring, including wiring the turnout frogs, and have installed one Tortoise motor…unfortunately I have run out of those now, so another trip to the local model shop is imminent – I need 3 more Tortoises for module A.
I also managed to put together the first building for Rochelle Intermodal, an engine shed for the intermodal yard GP38 switchers…
Obviously I still need to fill all the gaps, then paint and weather it, but it is a start! 🙂 One thing I realised I have to do is to straighten the switcher track – I had originally curved it very slightly, but with the engine shed there a curved track is obviously going to cause problems…
Tomorrow I will sort that track out and install the Digitrax SE8C under the module. Apart from that there is nothing more to do on this module until I get hold of the Tortoise motors, so those will only be installed next week. Once I have done that I can put both modules back up and fully test the wiring and Tortoise motors.
I am contemplating installing local LED’s recessed in the side panel to show the status of the turnouts, along with a basic track diagram for the particular location. Another option is to also add a switch so the Tortoises can be switched from the side panel as well as from the throttle. But still need to think a bit about that one…
Right, that is enough for tonight!
Be sure to look at the Photos page for the latest construction photos. More updates to come soon!
Like this:
Like Loading...
