Model Railway Forum

Steve M wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 1:52 pm Andy, just trying to help you avoid unnecessary cost.
Model railways forums are full of threads where the builder has ‘economised’ and ended up with poor running and worse.
They invariably either rip it up and start again or give up completely. I’m not saying this method won’t work, just want you to be aware of where it may lead you.
I speak from personal experience.

Yes and I appreciate the advice. I see this as a practice run as tbf new track be wasted on me anyway I already broke more points trying to fit point motors
Maybe one day if I stick with the hobby and skills improve I'll be able to justify new stuff and start over. In the meantime have to work with what I have

Why not try wire in tube to change points - it saves money and I use them to lessen wiring as a newbie plus I like the manual changing - the feel of them clicking into place - mind you, I’m both weird and a cheapskate! Don’t want to repeat too much but flat baseboards are so important. Hope you stick with the hobby and derive much pleasure from your success.

Bandit Mick wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:38 pm Why not try wire in tube to change points - it saves money and I use them to lessen wiring as a newbie plus I like the manual changing - the feel of them clicking into place - mind you, I’m both weird and a cheapskate! Don’t want to repeat too much but flat baseboards are so important. Hope you stick with the hobby and derive much pleasure from your success.

Ooo I hadn't thought about that.

I already have several motors and switches. Some of the points are lose so work better if motor holds them in place.

For now I've put them away as I'm redesigning the layout.

Well, I decided to start again, following the disastrous attempt to install point motors
Here's what I have so far

That looks good.

Bandit Mick wrote: ↑Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:38 pm Why not try wire in tube to change points - it saves money and I use them to lessen wiring as a newbie plus I like the manual changing - the feel of them clicking into place - mind you, I’m both weird and a cheapskate! Don’t want to repeat too much but flat baseboards are so important. Hope you stick with the hobby and derive much pleasure from your success.

Hi there,
Could you please tell me what materials you use, and where you get them?
Thanks in advance.
Ted

have you got both locos running now all round and also both ways on any points.

yelrow wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 12:45 pm have you got both locos running now all round and also both ways on any points.

Not yet, only one power feed and was getting late, I've swapped out one of the points as when I pushied a carriage along it kept derailing, with the help of anyrail I have also swapped out one of the curves for a shorter one.

I'm going to start testing what I have so far when I get the chance.

I also plan to add an inner loop at the front with crossover and stations either side, inside inner loops with a couple platforms?

Having seen someone use insulation boards to raise the trackbed , I've dug out some old boards kicking around, which will also help with the shoddy top, just need to work out how best to use them? Some are 100mm others 50mm. I'm currently thinking cut the 100mm in 10cm strips, which I think would give enough to put under current track but once I know where track is I'll measure it first to make sure I have enough. I could also stack the 2 59mm on top of each other too.

I read the post about scale, which raises the question in standard 00 gauge am I best with the track at 50 or 100mm above the lowest section?

How far away from track should houses be sited and do the houses look too big?

Just lay the track straight on to the baseboard.

Put the Insulation boards, back where you found them. Dont even think of using them. As wtd, said lay track straight on your baseboard. Dont even fix much down, until you have both locos/ carriages/ trucks running smoothly. So many people, fix the track down, then spend the next week, trying to identify, where it derails. my layout, 9x5, is not fixed down, at all. Only the points, are screwed down. thats a tribute, to how flat my baseboard is. Remember if you are going to add an inner loop, power it up, before you join both. That way, you will have tested everything. We would not normally, be so cautious, but with older track, its better safe than sorry.