Trackwork
-
Platform Awaits
Having a gentle curve on a model is good for a couple of reasons. It makes the track look a little more interesting and it allows a transition to a tighter curve without things looking too unrealistic. Downside with the platform awaits. Basically I had to scratch build the platform using a printout of the plan to use as a template for the curve of the platform. This was cut and joined using 1mm Evergreen plasticard on a base made from polystyrene foam. I then primed the platform with grey primer. I had to tape the foam to stop it from melting from the paint. I then added edging from…
-
Opps #4: Melting Points
Soldering is something I’ve done since about 10 or 11 years old. You’d think I’d know better about melting points. Unfortunately the iron got a bit damaged as it swung around on my desk and ended up burning into a plastic tool. That meant the tip was damaged and solder didn’t melt as quickly. (I later found this site to help) Net effect was that when I went to solder the droppers under one of the points, I used too much time. The seats of the rail melted. I didn’t actually note the problem until I ran a train over the point and wondered why it often derailed. OK, melting…
-
Curves
One of the biggest challenges when space is constrained, yet you’re wanting a continuous double loop track, is “curvature”. Too much of a curve will cause a few problems including long coaches hitting each other when passing, catching any scenery (in my case the curved viaduct is a big issue) and basically looking like a train set. I started off by using AnyRail which had 610mm, 761mm and 1219mm set as minimum radii. More than 1219mm being what I aimed for. I couldn’t manage that everywhere and covered most of the visual impacts of the tighter curves. Or a cutting or a tunnel or having them off the scenic section.…
You May Also Like
Botching History
-
It’s Alive
So I thought I’d better test that trains can actually run on this layout before I got too far down the track (sorry). I rigged up a cheap transformer based on an eBay PWM. Then I added an a old power pack I had lying around from an old wireless phone set (I think). My test train is from a Hornby LMS Suburban Passenger Train Pack. It’s consists of a Fowler 4P engine and 3 Stanier coaches. Since I’m going to run DCC eventually, I need to have insulators to stop shorting out around the points. That meant I had to temporarily bridge for this test to work. After some…
