Thomas At Silver Fox Island - one for kids to drive

[Dad-1]

Somehow I've found myself creating a Thomas layout in time for Silverfox DCC clubs show in August.
Today I bought some thin 4 mm ply which will be set into a 75 x 25 mm frame and rest on a 25 mm sq ledge.
Actual track space 38" x 72" built into two trays that will be hinged so they fold over enclosing the track
for storage. Overall 'packed size' will be 40" x 38" and just over 6" deep.

As we intend to allow children to drive we've decided on just two ovals, no points.
Here's how far I've got since getting home at 11 am with wood.



One frame almost ready to be screwed together.

Geoff T.

[siquelme]

Looks good

First time I have seen a Thomas layout for kids with DCC controllers will be interesting to see how it preforms once completed.

Good luck with the build

[Dad-1]

Hi siquelme,

The wiring is being done to allow any controllers to be used, but as I only have 2 x DCC that's what the initial set-up will be.

Having been away for a few days I've just got going again.
The thin ply base was screwed and fully glued, as a protection against damp it's been varnished on both sides (inside & out). Here it is with hinges attached.



With the basic fold away part together it's time to work out the trackbed which will be sitting on 20 mm supports. Where track crosses between boards I have to cut out down to the trackbed height.



I've had trouble trying to solder wires to hinges, simply not enough heat from my small soldering iron. I should be borrowing one next Tuesday, it's so big and heavy the guy calls it his cricket bat !! ...... I think at it's maximum it's 3 x the wattage of mine !!

Now dreaming up how to make the plug on road over bridge and a hill with tunnel. These separate plug on parts to hide edge timbers at board joint.

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

More done today,

Squeezing 4 quarter circle trackbeds from remaining ply.



Cut pieces resting in place to check cut was accurate enough.



Trackbed resting on 20 mm supports showing it's planned height. On this side the Insulating foam infill will leave most of the track in a shallow cutting.



Rest of today will be screw & glueing trackbed supports to main baseboard .......

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

For someone who works layouts outdoors this last week has been fantastic.
Raced ahead to the point of a first loco test on a small part that's gone live !!

Anyway here we are with the 20 mm track risers being screwed & glued in place.



The island in place anf higher styrene landscape block being tested for size.



Power bus going in this half



Not much room to solder droppers between webbs on 1st radius curves !



Some wires needed fishing to pull through small dropper holes.



Then when all these curves wired in a test - Greg driving around !!



Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

Just the odd hour available today.
Testing all measurements for the track crossover between boards. Have just glued last pieces of trackbed and can't paint until tomorrow (if I'm lucky)
This is going to take more flexitrack than at first thought, but soon I'll be on scenic landscape development, my favourite part !!



Geoff T.

[Lofty]

You are forging ahead well Geoff,

Do you actually have any room for a shallow cutting?

[Dad-1]

Hi Lofty,

Thanks for the interest.

Depends what you call a shallow cutting ?
By design there's a 3/4" high embankment all around the track - so kids can't crash a loco off the table onto the floor, we can't afford to buy too many locos !!
Then on the lefthand side the central land profile rises over 2"+ above the track level, so that's the negligable cutting profile.
The righthand side will again have the 3/4" outer edge of higher ground, but falling nearly an inch to the edge of Silver Fox lake from the inside track.
The name comes from the new DCC club we've formed in Milton Keynes, namely "Silverfox DCC MRC"
I'm hoping club funds will cough up for a 1/76 scale fox that I want to be on the island.

Like you the club asked could it be done by the exhibition date in August ...... believe yours is July ??

Geoff T.

[Lofty]

Like you the club asked could it be done by the exhibition date in August ...... believe yours is July ??

Yes, and mine is two bare boards at present

[Dad-1]

Serious track laying beginning,
Here is part of the inner loop and testing has proved that a track feed can be fed through hinges.



Greg a very light tank loco runs fine ........
Almost time for my trip so not much now for another week.

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

Right, back to the grindstone !!
Now have all the track down and wired, 100% success 1st time. It runs on two separate power buses with every individual piece of track wired in. This will allow 2 children to drive without any complications. Also would allow one to be DCC while the other could be analogue.
I miss calculated the length and as a result have used some 10 lengths of flexitrack, it needed just over half each side to link up the 1st radius inner curves.
So far I've had no problems taking power between the two boards via the hinges ....... I'll agree it could still go wrong, only time will tell.



I've had a crack at making a road over bridge from 'scrap' ply. I thought the best way to judge required width was to try a couple of vehicles.



I'll now be able to start planning the tunnel, hill, station.
For a laugh I thought you'd be interested to see the extensive plans used to produce this .....



1st class plans I think !!

Geoff T.

[Dad-1]

Everyone loves a video ......
Outside today wrapping all the under track soldered joints to make certain we have no short circuits.
Decided to run Greg, Stuart and then a nice GWR goods train that had ventured onto Southern tracks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0omklP0ZuOE

Geoff T.

[Lofty]

I am sure the kids will love it

I do

[Dad-1]

Hi lofty,

There were loads of 'kids' at club last evening ..... turned my back and next there were Annie & Clarabell flying around behind Stuart !!
I'm beginning to wonder exactly who this is being built for !!

As an aside they were also impressed with the Bachmann 56XX that spent much of the evening pulling 27 wagons around at low speed
a real tail chaser as it extended to over half the circuit !

Geoff T.

[siquelme]

Your layout is coming along really nicely its so simple but it will be brillant

Have to agree with you about the Bachmann 56xx its a great locomotive and even at low speed its has amazing pulling power.. the 57xx has similar preformance