WEST ORTON

[Steve M]

Thanks for the comments chaps. Quite pleased how it turned out in the end. I did forget to fit those X shaped fixings for through bolts that you often see on older structures - I put that right this morning.
At some point I will fit some lighting but will likely leave that until I have a few more buildings around the station so I can be consistent with my wiring.

At least with the shed finished, I have been able to finalise the track positions and nail it down after drilling the holes for the point motors. There are twelve point stories on this section of the layout, eleven of which now have point motors fitted but not yet wired. The twelfth point falls right on a damn crossmember and I don’t think I have enough space for a surface mounted motor so I will have to get creative.

So for the time being it’s back to wiring and building a control panel for the shed.

[Carl L]

Awesome modelling, wonderful building.

[Mr Bones]

Brilliant shed I love it.

[Steve M]

A busy few days on the layout since I last posted. Most of the underboard wiring for the point motors and LEDs is in - I will post a finished picture once I know it all works and has been tidied up.
The MPD demands a control panel but the position of my slide out workbench made locating it problematic. So I moved the bench down a bit with the help of a big hammer, and made another concealed mimic board to fit under the TT. I think I have a pair of LED signals to fit on the branch line to show which of the tracks inside the tunnel is selected and then it’s on to wiring the mimic panel and making a loom to connect it to the baseboard.

2021-08-01_01-07-30 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Steve M]

Nearly there with the wiring of the shed board. All the motors and LED wiring has been completed under the board along with the umbilicals to the control panel that has also been finished.

2021-08-03_05-03-53 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Everything tested - it looks a as though one Seep motor needs a slight adjustment. I did add an extra microswitch this the Y point that is just inside the tunnel. This is used to trigger two N gauge ground signals that sit just outside the tunnel entrance and indicate which branch line is ‘active’.
The sliding workbench has been repositioned - bear in mind that when it is slid under the board, all the electrics fit in the 1” gap between the top of the workbench and the underside of the baseboard. I might fit a thin ply cover over the wires to add a little protection from snagging the wires.

2021-08-03_06-56-40 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Tomorrow may be spent fettling, tidying and hoovering.

[Steve M]

I’ve been fiddling around the edges today. Made some more retaining walls and created a wall and tunnel at the end of the branch siding. This acts as a hideyhole for a railcar as an alternative to coming into the main station.

Just finished applying the static grass to tie the two tunnels together. The only issue was working on the floor while not wearing my glasses resulted in me head butting the edge of the layout - I think I can just get away without stitches!

20210806_133741 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

20210806_133654 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Of course, this new area of the layout will need its own signal box and point rodding (here we go again ). Not an enormous amount of space for the ‘box so I will be going for the Bachmann/TMC over rail box from a few years ago. Last night I found one on a French website for only €40 rather than the £60+ quoted in the uk. Whether it actually turns up or not is a separate issue.

[RogerB]

Prolific is all can say - and that seems inadequate. Nice work.

Forth line from the right seems to hit a wall. No doubt a buffer stop is planned?

R-

[Steve M]

Prolific is all can say - and that seems inadequate. Nice work.

Forth line from the right seems to hit a wall. No doubt a buffer stop is planned?

R-

Eventually Roger, just be patient.

This siding may end up with a slight incline, no more than 1cm, to accommodate an ash pit - there’s no scope to put pits in the shed as there is so little clearance under the board.

I think I may have to start painting the track and adding some ballast (after doing the rodding) to this board. Maybe some DAS infills in and around the shed.

[RogerB]

I knew you had a plan, very impressive. R-

[Hound Dog]

Roger B called it right - "Prolific"..........cannot believe the progress you seem to make between posts, yet the quality and ingenuity never wavers......great job as always Steve...........Makes me feel bad to have neglected my layout over the summer months, but the nights are getting longer and the best laid plans o'mice and men are underway ( or at least being considered)

Cheers Richard.