N gauge 90's Era

[MrT]

That's very impressive - the gaugemaster ballat looks very good. Are those GF platform sections? What are your impressions of them? I've been trying to find the dimensions but can't seem to see them anywhere!

[allesclar]

Mr T,

Yes they are the new GF/Bachman platforms,
The dimensions are as followed,

11.5 inchs length of the platform
3 cm depth of the platform
1 cm height of the platform.

I dont have any of the ramps yet so i dont know about them. I bought them from rails, i popped in one time just picking up some ebay stuff and they had just had 6 packets delivered. I bought the whole lot

The Signalbox.com has them, but i also think rails are getting them in very soon.

I love them, i think they are just like the old ones but better and much better than the hornby ones and certainly better than the peco ones.

[allesclar]

does anyone have any good suggestions for lining up the boards? just i have a not so realiable stand and i was hoping for a more permanent approach in order to line the tracks up.

[DavidM]

[quote="allesclar"]does anyone have any good suggestions for lining up the boards?

Hi there,
One method I used a few years ago with a portable layout, purchase some 10mm ID copper tube (Rigid, not soft).
Drill holes in the baseboard faces (Two boards clamped together tightly with tracks aligned.) holes a tight fit for the OD of the tube. Insert cut lengths of tube to fit flush with base board faces.
Use 10mm bolts to pass through the copper tube, and use washers on both ends, under bolt head and nut. Three of these should be adequate to retain the alignment.
Tube and bolt diameters may have to be changed to suit what you can obtain, but ensure that the ID of the tube is a relatively tight fit for the bolt.
Hope this helps. Certainly easier to assemble than dowelling.

Layout is looking good, amount of stock for a young gentleman is incredible, nearly as much as I have after a lot more years. Note, don't buy too much, because you will find some of it never comes out of the boxes, as it takes too long to arrange and put on the track.
DavidM

[Lee]

Hi allesclar,

Your very dedicated to getting this looking right you have been busy by the looks of it, the foam layout is something i dont usely like but the way you have layed it and mixed it with ballast i must say its looking very good

Lee

[allesclar]

haha the best thing lee is that there is not one speck of ballast on my layout yet, must admit it is expensive the gaugemaster underlay but so worth it.

[allesclar]

thanks davidm, thats a good idea. im half tempted to permanently fix it down, but with regards to aligning the track i was thinking of soldering all the track to a metal strip for strength at the edges but isolating where neccessary

[barks]

i think you need to get some more rolling stock

[allesclar]

Has anyone here done DCC with N gauge? Is it worth it atm. How much work is needed converting the track from a standard dc layout?
cheers

[m8internet]

Has anyone here done DCC with N gauge? Is it worth it atm. How much work is needed converting the track from a standard dc layout?
cheers

I've done it
Converting the motors is fiddly and time consuming, and almost impossible for some models (early Dapol Class 66, Farish Class 08, and so on)
Converting the track is dead easy, just make all the sections and areas live

[allesclar]

Has anyone here done DCC with N gauge? Is it worth it atm. How much work is needed converting the track from a standard dc layout?
cheers

I've done it
Converting the motors is fiddly and time consuming, and almost impossible for some models (early Dapol Class 66, Farish Class 08, and so on)
Converting the track is dead easy, just make all the sections and areas live

hmmm do they have sound aswell? If so what decoder do you use?

[Sprintex]

Loksound Micro will normally fit in larger N gauge locos, smaller ones would really present a problem in fitting in a decoder AND a decent speaker but I bet someone's done it somewhere with a bit of ingenuity

I'm looking forward to getting my HST set fitted with decoders to have a Paxman Valenta sound coming from both PC's - that will be the ultimate as far as I'm concerned


Paul

[Tank]

Great looking layout. Are your sponge trays from JB Models by any chance? I use those for my trains too - very good! Saves me having to put them in their boxes all the time!

[allesclar]

hey tank,

yes they are, bought a load of 4 on ebay, did me a special offer on postage too. cost about £90 for all 4 including postage, but they are so damn worth it.

As for an update, i have finished the track and its abit different due to problems with curve levels and station layout, but its all down now. I will be able to post new pictures around xmas time, currently getting buildings and scenery etc. I am going to go for an urban theme with a city half in the middle but built up. Will be alot clearer with pictures

[allesclar]

couple of updates, started working on the town, ive painted under the town area to stop any light from showing in the tunnel, just in place atm to give a feel. I used polystyrene to make a shape first, then got it cut out

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