7mm Narrow Gauge. Modelling on a budget.

[Mountain]

I am having some rather exciting thoughts which involve change. My current portable layout may be changing into a workbench table and I am considering making a more permament larger layout instead to run my 7mm narrow gauge trains. I have worked it out that the change won't cost me much at all which is ideal as it is achieveable. I have what I need as far as I am aware to move forward with the plan. It is fun.

[Mountain]

Prototype Narrow Gauge Railway "On A Budget".

https://youtu.be/unhXEQQk8G8

[Jules]

Nice video, Mountain! Just had a look over this thread from start to finish ... contains some great photos, thoughts and interesting information . So, did you follow those thoughts through and wind up with a workbench table?

[Mountain]

I am not sure yet. I would like to spend more time making things and so a little workshop type table maybe a nice plan. I think I will continue with my little layout. It is nice. But also, a small portable table for my mini power tools to be bolted onto will also be a good plan.
I am exploring ideas at the moment.

[Daniel]

Probably you already know this films but just in case here the links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du-n0E3i648

Daniel

[Mountain]

Yes. That is one of my favourites because I recognize many of the simple concepts from Wales where I live. The past here was very similar to what was shown in that film. It is lovely and inspires me.

[Daniel]

Yes, it's a source of inspiration.
It made me dream for a while about a mining layout and I ended designing and getting printed this:

8 5 2012 480-001 by d.caso, on Flickr

8 5 2012 481-001 by d.caso, on Flickr

9 5 2012 343 by d.caso, on Flickr

9 5 2012 348 by d.caso, on Flickr

(The concrete base is modelled on a blocki of wood)

and also build a number of those little wagons... But I never went far enough to arriving to building the layout and after a couple of years I gave the rotay unloader to a friend.

Still, it is no more in the TO DO list but is well in the POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES one.

Daniel

[Mountain]

Very nice!

[Daniel]

Thank you, Mountain.
It was indeed very nice but I gave it to a friend and he said it is much too light to be motorized. so next time, if I dare to make another one, it will be all brass, not 3D printed... (Wake up Daniel! Those days are gone!)

Daniel

[Mountain]

A motorized version does sound nice, but do you need it to tip? It is a nice feature if it does tip though. Brass would be ideal.

Have you tried tin? I have not tried soldering tin yet as it is one thing I want to try, but I just mention this in theory. For one of those waggon unloading devices brass does sound more suitable.

I have not made any progress on my narrow gauge as yet. Yesterday I dissasembled a practically unused class 50 which I had a replacement circuit board for but I had never wired it up as about a decade ago I had to sell my house and so I had put it aside as a future project.. Some small detail came off while working on it and I took more then I needed apart as I was side tracked... It is a centrally motored all wheel drive diesel and I was wondering if I could use the bogies for 7mm narrow gauge use and make two locos out of it, as though it is immaculate apart from its dissasembled state (At the moment) I am thinking "If I re-assemble it and get it all going well would I get back what I paid for it, or would it be more worth my while using it for parts to build other locos?"
I am examining all my 00 gauge locos like this! But there again, how many 7mm narrow gauge locos do I actually need?
Noo. I think I will get it going and sell it or swap it for something more appropiate. The one part I will remove but include is the drive belt for the working fan as the fan does drag on the motor a bit. Nice feature but...
Anyway... Why do they make models soo complicated and soo intricate these days? I am finding trying to get my hands to work, let alone trying to see what I am doing is not so easy for these intricate things. I think I will stay with 7mm scale and avoid over complicating things. Just keep them simple. I can handle simple!

[Daniel]

Now I understand.
I was wondering what happens with you because after seeing all I was able to find of your work I just want to see more.

It is strange how such things work for a modeler...
One never knows but specially motor boguies and other mechanisms have a kind of secret power and often keep sending energy from their silent, boxed existance inspiring many other aparently not related projects and one day they simply get enough and invade your workbench. Before you know you have got a new loco or whatever using or not (that really doesn't matter) the motor boguie or mechanism that started it all.
The only risk is one must avoid to store more than one in a box. If you do they start to convey through thgeir aliances very complicated ideas as building a 0-6-4-0 semiarticulated loco which already happened in real life in 1:1 scale.
If you can spare them you will see them every now and then running the test track in your mind which, after all, it is a good stimulant and sometimes even a tiny great spark that ignites the unexpected...

WARNING!
It is not only boguies and mechanism to have such powers... Also a single plastic window, or even a simple piece of cardstock can eventually get such powers and occupy your workbench for days, weeks or years...

But, Mountain: whatever you do: en-joy it!

Daniel

[Renovater]

I like that Daniel...

[Daniel]

I like that Daniel...

Hi Colin!

I have been missing your brass wonders too so I listen now:

























Daniel

[Mountain]

You will see more of my entertaining work. Haha! There are many projects to come along with some which have not been finished yet.
I have four goals. To reduce the amount of clutter so I am selling off my 00 to make more room; to build unbuilt kits; to finish off uncompleted models which I have many. (Most are waiting for me to make couplings), and to bring into life the many scratchbuilding projects that I have wizzing round in my mind. There is a fifth goal as well. To work on the layout in which I have some more ideas about more solid point control as the current method feels a bit flimsy. It has not let me down though, but I just feel I want a more durable approach.

I have (In theory) been considering building shorter wheelbase locomotive chassis, but to begin with I have plans to experiment on locomotive chassis with a standard wheelbase that the Hornby 0-4-0 has in mind as this would avoid any complications of trying to get the motor to fit inside the body if I have to raize the angle to cope with a shorter wheelbase.
I have metal U channel ((90 degree angles rather then a rounded U) where I also want to experiment to see if it will work best being in upsidown U form or the right way up U form, as I can make a chassis either way. I think upsidown form is far more useful as there is less work and a ready made platform to mount a PCB for the pickups along with screw holes to mount the chassis to the body, though these can be done either way up.
The reason why the metal U channel attracts is I have the little machines to bore holes and drill parallel holes now, so I can cut slors or drill holes where I want them to go, and using U channel instead of parallel frames gives a far more solid chassis from the start as this metal looks lovely and strong, and yet easily workable.

[Daniel]

Great, Mountain.
That is a beautiful symphony to my ears.

Yes, getting good tools and some basic machines means often improvements in al levels and that is good, but the essential doesn't change: the joy of being alive invested in whatever we do.

Enjoy your builds and don't forget tho shate the here!!!


Daniel