Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
- Bufferstop
- Posts: 13796
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:06 pm
- Location: Bottom end of N. Warks line
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
The corner board looks pretty solid now. When you use ply it's quite possible to use the thinner grades as long as you keep the depth in the supporting beams. My baseboards all came from a couple of sheets of 6mm ply. They are supported on the top of some cheap office bookshelves, but when I made them I made the sides and cross pieces around 150mm deep, glued and screwed to the tops with 25mm square planed pine reinforcing blocks. I can lift them by a corner with no twisting or sagging, that's strong enough for me. There are some guys who have made quite complex boards out of 4mm ply with stiffeners glued on, and they seem remarkably solid. They liken them to the wings of gliders (sailplanes) but I think they are somewhat stiffer, glider wings flex, that's no good for baseboards.
Growing old, can't avoid it. Growing up, forget it!
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
Hi Guys and Gals, I am back!
Another instalment of the ever evolving Railway in the Garage.
This time, in pictures, the story of my new crossover.
The installation needed to go right next to the three way on the adjacent tracks. This then would provide a release for the switching Locomotive after pulling stock from the passenger platforms. You can see I cut the track already and removed the ballast.
I planned on using second hand track from an old layout as it is to hand and ready weathered. here it is temporarily placed in position.
Because the tracks are not to standard spacing, I needed an infill piece which I made up from spare parts. I used an Peco tracksetta gauge to work out where I needed to cut the second track and to measure the infill piece.
Another instalment of the ever evolving Railway in the Garage.
This time, in pictures, the story of my new crossover.
The installation needed to go right next to the three way on the adjacent tracks. This then would provide a release for the switching Locomotive after pulling stock from the passenger platforms. You can see I cut the track already and removed the ballast.
I planned on using second hand track from an old layout as it is to hand and ready weathered. here it is temporarily placed in position.
Because the tracks are not to standard spacing, I needed an infill piece which I made up from spare parts. I used an Peco tracksetta gauge to work out where I needed to cut the second track and to measure the infill piece.
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
I then proceeded to lift the second track, and cleared away the ballast. An old chisel comes in very handy for this!
The track was tested in position and holes drilled for the wiring.
I power my live frogs and therefore solder the wires to the bottom of the rails before laying the track piece.
Look how easy it is to wire a switch for DCC faultless operation! Spot the cuts in the rails just before the frog, and the jumpers to back feed the switch rails, This makes the little wipers Peco provide, redundant.
Well, All done. Just requires a re ballasting job now, after testing, and fitting the switch machines.
The track was tested in position and holes drilled for the wiring.
I power my live frogs and therefore solder the wires to the bottom of the rails before laying the track piece.
Look how easy it is to wire a switch for DCC faultless operation! Spot the cuts in the rails just before the frog, and the jumpers to back feed the switch rails, This makes the little wipers Peco provide, redundant.
Well, All done. Just requires a re ballasting job now, after testing, and fitting the switch machines.
- Allegheny1600
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:07 pm
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
Hi buddy,
That's a nice engineering job you've done on your trackwork there, I like it.
I like the whole layout and philosophy too as my interests also coincide with yours - in other words most anything that runs on 16.5mm gauge!
Your V65, was that the Hobbytrade (Kato) one or the newer Roco one, please?
I have the Hobbytrade one and it has been a real pig to get a decoder into but they have shrunk considerably since I last tried.
Cheers,
John.
That's a nice engineering job you've done on your trackwork there, I like it.
I like the whole layout and philosophy too as my interests also coincide with yours - in other words most anything that runs on 16.5mm gauge!
Your V65, was that the Hobbytrade (Kato) one or the newer Roco one, please?
I have the Hobbytrade one and it has been a real pig to get a decoder into but they have shrunk considerably since I last tried.
Cheers,
John.
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
Whoo Whoo Allegheny1600
Thank you for your kind comments. its been a while since I posted and so much has happened interim I need to catch up.
Firstly to answer your question about the V60. Its an Hobbytrain. It has a TCS KAT22 inside instead of the weight in the long hood. The slightly reduced traction is not really important to me as the layout is flat. It can still haul everything I hang behind it!
I cannot help having a dual interest, Its just I love running Red and Black steamers and Green coaches, although I have succumbed to the German freight scene a bit too. Period 3 is interesting because of the short trains both passenger and freight.
The American scene I have been doing for a number of years but I admit I got frustrated with the passenger stock availability and I bought a couple rough engines. Sort of put me off for a while and I returned to interest 1.
The next batch of pictures will feature American outline again though as its on the layout today!
I am having trouble with my baseboards, see earlier posts, and keep ripping up track!
I have working Freelance Signals! and a new baseboard on the smaller terminal side. I'll do some pics for you all later
Thank you for your kind comments. its been a while since I posted and so much has happened interim I need to catch up.
Firstly to answer your question about the V60. Its an Hobbytrain. It has a TCS KAT22 inside instead of the weight in the long hood. The slightly reduced traction is not really important to me as the layout is flat. It can still haul everything I hang behind it!
I cannot help having a dual interest, Its just I love running Red and Black steamers and Green coaches, although I have succumbed to the German freight scene a bit too. Period 3 is interesting because of the short trains both passenger and freight.
The American scene I have been doing for a number of years but I admit I got frustrated with the passenger stock availability and I bought a couple rough engines. Sort of put me off for a while and I returned to interest 1.
The next batch of pictures will feature American outline again though as its on the layout today!
I am having trouble with my baseboards, see earlier posts, and keep ripping up track!
I have working Freelance Signals! and a new baseboard on the smaller terminal side. I'll do some pics for you all later
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
Reconfiguration of small terminal
As promised, Its Picture time!
The small terminal over the workbench was a problem. Three platforms, and no release crossover. The terminal doubled as the switch lead or head shunt for the freight sidings. Platform length was not good. It needed reworking. I also was not happy with the station throat, being a crossover ladder, long coaches did not look quite right despite my use of the PECO Long point work. have a look at how it used to be earlier in the thread.
I present the results of the rationalization: Note the modified Eckon signals
The release crossover: A shortened pair of PECO medium radius. The low platform is hardboard on Ply base.
I managed to re-use most of the track lifted, Cleaned up an re-ballasted with Woodland scenic FINE ballast. Perfect for HO scale.
The Fleischmann Preserved class 50 looks well on the code 100 track!
The small terminal over the workbench was a problem. Three platforms, and no release crossover. The terminal doubled as the switch lead or head shunt for the freight sidings. Platform length was not good. It needed reworking. I also was not happy with the station throat, being a crossover ladder, long coaches did not look quite right despite my use of the PECO Long point work. have a look at how it used to be earlier in the thread.
I present the results of the rationalization: Note the modified Eckon signals
The release crossover: A shortened pair of PECO medium radius. The low platform is hardboard on Ply base.
I managed to re-use most of the track lifted, Cleaned up an re-ballasted with Woodland scenic FINE ballast. Perfect for HO scale.
The Fleischmann Preserved class 50 looks well on the code 100 track!
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
American running and that crossover
First off I need to show you the finished release crossover at the end of the switch lead to the main Terminal.
This was the subject of my tutorial style post earlier. Its an American month so my weathered US outline is on display.
The seemingly discarded rails to the left are actually the bridge track to the other side of the garage. Stored on the main when the bridge is out until I get around to constructing a proper bridge like the other end.
The next photo depicts full yards at small terminal, note the awful ballast. Its far too big. an earlier error that will be a right pain to correct. I am leaving it for Mark 2!
A Visitor to the layout. The Amtrak GE Dash 8-32BWH, Superb runner Atlas DCC QSI sound. Built by a friend of mine.
The platforms in the main terminal are wood strip, sanded and painted/weathered and are a scale 750mm from rail top.
The passengers have all boarded the Kato double deckers. the door sills are level with the platform surface!
Well that's all for now folks.
Thanks for taking another look!
Steve
This was the subject of my tutorial style post earlier. Its an American month so my weathered US outline is on display.
The seemingly discarded rails to the left are actually the bridge track to the other side of the garage. Stored on the main when the bridge is out until I get around to constructing a proper bridge like the other end.
The next photo depicts full yards at small terminal, note the awful ballast. Its far too big. an earlier error that will be a right pain to correct. I am leaving it for Mark 2!
A Visitor to the layout. The Amtrak GE Dash 8-32BWH, Superb runner Atlas DCC QSI sound. Built by a friend of mine.
The platforms in the main terminal are wood strip, sanded and painted/weathered and are a scale 750mm from rail top.
The passengers have all boarded the Kato double deckers. the door sills are level with the platform surface!
Well that's all for now folks.
Thanks for taking another look!
Steve
Re: Reconfiguration of small terminal
That's what I like to see, or hear of. The number of folk is dropping who are prepared to bodge (in the positive sense of the word.)theustrainman wrote: The release crossover: A shortened pair of PECO medium radius.
Chris,
"It's his madness that keeps him sane."
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
The Botched Release Crossover
Hi Emettman,
Thank you for your comment on the crossover!
I have enclosed a close up of the modification for general interest.
I shortened the curved rails on both switches and removed the angled crossties. Metal fishplates soldered the lot together and then the rails were cut with Dremel nearer the check rails for insulation. The gaps I filled with 1mm black plastic card and super glue, filed to the rail profile when hard.
I am rather pleased with the result.
Thank you for your comment on the crossover!
I have enclosed a close up of the modification for general interest.
I shortened the curved rails on both switches and removed the angled crossties. Metal fishplates soldered the lot together and then the rails were cut with Dremel nearer the check rails for insulation. The gaps I filled with 1mm black plastic card and super glue, filed to the rail profile when hard.
I am rather pleased with the result.
- Allegheny1600
- Posts: 140
- Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:07 pm
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
Howdy!
Like your good self, I don't post on here too often but you've made good progress and thanks for the reply on the V65!
Very neat work on that crossover.
I can't get over the height of the Amtrak dash 8-32 - it's nearly level with your double deck C&NW 'commutes'! Being a C&NW man myself, I also have a set of them (mixed Walthers and Kato!).
Cheers,
John.
Like your good self, I don't post on here too often but you've made good progress and thanks for the reply on the V65!
Very neat work on that crossover.
I can't get over the height of the Amtrak dash 8-32 - it's nearly level with your double deck C&NW 'commutes'! Being a C&NW man myself, I also have a set of them (mixed Walthers and Kato!).
Cheers,
John.
- Bufferstop
- Posts: 13796
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:06 pm
- Location: Bottom end of N. Warks line
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
I just noticed your comment about making the wipers provided by Peco redundant. Peco declared them redundant years ago. When I returned to active modelling about thirty years ago, I noticed that those wipers didn't make contact on any of the points I bought. So I wrote to Peco about it. They replied to the effect that they had complaints about them making the points stiff to operate, but never any complaints about lack of contact, so they left them making very light contact at best, and still had no complaints about poor contact.
Growing old, can't avoid it. Growing up, forget it!
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
My Layout, My Workbench Blog and My Opinions
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- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:33 am
Re: Garage Wall Freelance Running Layout Ho Scale
Hello Friends!
This Layout is now for sale. Time for mark 2!
Situated in Derby, Needs a van to move it. Fits in standard garage Layout size 15'6 x 8'
Interested parties please PM me with sensible offer.
This Layout is now for sale. Time for mark 2!
Situated in Derby, Needs a van to move it. Fits in standard garage Layout size 15'6 x 8'
Interested parties please PM me with sensible offer.