WEST ORTON

[Steve M]

As requested (by Chops) a couple of clips of the main running lines at West Orton.

Running trials continue and are showing up a few areas of concern - as expected. The branchline dip under the mainline is complicated by going down, up and round a corner - yes, all the things you should avoid - so there’s some work to do there. A couple of the board joints could be smoother - considering the boards are connected by matched pairs of board ends, sleeved connecting bolts (zero movement), track was laid over the joints before soldering and cutting and still they have moved. Probably less than 0.5mm, but enough to be an issue.

https://youtu.be/CFBCcwZ8ess

https://youtu.be/bev8JbNJeiA

[bulleidboy]

It's all looking very impressive Steve. Well done. Barry

[Carl L]

Agree, it's looking very impressive, as much as the speed of progress.

Re the slight issue with board ends; with my lift out section (which I no longer lift out unless absolutely necessary) I have found that during the year due to temperature changes the wood moves, albeit minute amounts, but enough to put the track out of alignment. I've taken to soldering a piece of spare rail across both PCB plates which seems to cure the issue. If I need to lift the section out I'll simply remove the rail - it that helps at all.

[Steve M]

Carl, that is quite possibly a very good idea. Mind if I steal it?

I think my issue is compounded by the fact that I have deliberately built the layout with very few straight pieces of track. The result is that the many of the rails cross the joints at a slight angle. I’m guessing that when the rail is cut, any tension is released causing the misalignment.

Another deliberate design feature is that although all the boards can be removed, the chances are that I will only ever have to lift the one with all the points on - that make sure the idea of permanent links across the joints a possibility. I could disguise them as check rails.

[Carl L]

Steve,

Hope it works for you. I further complicated things with the track not only being on a curve but also on a gradient. On these two tracks I've masked the rail with an occupation crossing (from nowhere to nowhere!), with bits removed to show the soldered rail. I do like your idea of a check rail, might have to review some of mine.

[Steve M]

I’ve spent a couple of days fettling the joints. I quickly realised that it was vertical movement that had caused the issue so I was able to get away with some packing under the copperclad strip on one side - I used thick paper and only needed three or four layers to correct it.
When it came to the overbridge, it was a different matter - I had made a complete dog’s breakfast of the job with the heights of the supports resembling something from a theme park.
I cut a new track bed from 3mm ply and after lifting the track, slid it between the old track bed and the track. I then lifted the new track bed up to the track, which was following a much gentler slope, and measured and cut new supports. Embankments will hide a multitude of sins. All that was left to do was resolder the track to the copperclad to correct the alignment.

20210426_152442 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Also found time to cut the basic templates for the platforms. Started by making them out of cardboard, using a pen held against the side of a long carriage to mark the lines and allow for overhang. Transferred this shape to some 12mm ply (very poor quality wood) which will be refined once the platform walls are made and clearances checked. Eventually the templates will be used to shape some better quality 18mm ply.

20210426_152426 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Steve M]

The creative juices aren’t flowing today - had to satisfy myself with piling up some insulation in one corner to get an idea of what may be possible. This is as far as I got before the wire in my foam cutter snapped. In cases like this, Amazon is my friend.

2021-04-27_02-49-14 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

I’ve also started collecting the bits I need to start casting platform sides and coping stones that can be manipulated around the curved platforms. I still need to resolve some ideas on how best to achieve the effect that I want - clear mind and no distractions needed for that I reckon.

[bulleidboy]

It's going to look great - I do like the multi-level you've achieved - if only I had more room

[RogerB]

I’m just so impressed with how you can visualise what you want to achieve - and, after a bump or two, it works. R-

[Mr Bones]

When it came to the overbridge, it was a different matter - I had made a complete dog’s breakfast of the job with the heights of the supports resembling something from a theme park.

It's really coming along nicely and at least you only made one dog's breakfast! I make so many I could open my own kennel's