Mini layout in the works

[RW&C]

Well, I figured out what was wrong with the switch motor. I just didn't solder one of the wires on quite right. But then I got to thinking, the little switch I used as a limiter had this massive dead zone in the middle. So I built a new switch, which looks like a complete hackjob, and is, but works brilliantly. (It's the bit with the brass square.)



This left me with an orphaned SPST, which I connected to a bicolor LED from a computer monitor. I glued a little light pipe to the LED and stuck it through the foam. So, now, I've got a visual indication of which way the switch is pointing: green for straight on...



and red for diverging.



Now that I think of it, it really should be in some kind of signal bridge... maybe I'll move it later.

No progress on the engine or transfer table, though I think I've figured out how I'll do both.

[railfan]

That's cool with the switch motor and green/red signal. Is that turnout an atlas code 80 custom line unit? How did you weather it? Looks good. Do you like those turnouts? I have about 16 atlas N scale code 80 switches, lefts and rights, #4's, #6's, manuals, remotes, and custom line units and caboose sprung ground throws.......but have not yet installed any turnouts on my layout. I bought a variety of types to see if one kind works better than others.


Mike

[RW&C]

I'm actually not sure quite what it is, I bought it quite a while ago. But yeah, Atlas code 80, #6. I had a LH too, but I found that the rails coming into the frog went too far in... so a wheel could bridge the two. After my Life-Like SD-45 shorted it out (resulting in a melted gearbox), I tried to modify it... didn't go well. I haven't had any issues with this one yet. I picked up a couple Caboose throws, and they seem to work pretty well, but they're huge! And thanks, I just sprayed it with brown primer and wiped the rail heads clean. It took a little oil to get the points moving smoothly, but they seem to work okay.

I tore the switcher apart yet again, straightened the frame halves as well as I could, and put it back together. It still sounds like a meat grinder, but the slow speed operation is better, even over the plastic frog. It's the weirdest thing, the trucks are smooth, the motor's smooth, the gears are clean...

I finally got somewhere with the transfer table. I glued two thin strips of wood to the top of my table mounts to cover the underside of the cuts I'd have to make in the base of the pit, painted them up, and re-drilled the mounting holes. (I painted the assembly with nail polish first so that the wood wouldn't warp... it still did, but not badly.)

I took some measurements and cut the bottom of the pit from the plastic bit under the lid of the printer (the same printer the mechanism came from). Then I drilled a series of 3mm holes with a twist drill, linked them, and finished the resulting slits with a hand file. I scribed it into 2cm squares, scratched a few cracks into it, shot it in grey primer, and gave it a quick weathering job.

Making the cuts:



Where I left it last night:



Next I'll mount the plate, figure out how to mount the table and its wheels, and build up the walls and the lip of the pit... oh, and figure out how to route the wires. Maybe I'll solder the track leads to the mounting posts...

[railfan]

The transfer table sub-floor looks great. I like watching the progress.


Mike

[RW&C]

Well, I got the tray mounted. It's a little crooked, so I'll have to chisel off the hot glue and try again, but it's close. If it wasn't for the scribed lines keeping me honest I might not even bother. Anyway, I started building up the edges. It'll get more wood along the sides and a strip of PC board at either end (so I can solder the rails in place). Incidentally I did end up wiring the track through the posts that link the deck to the tray... works great.



I'm going to lay four rails underneath the deck, two at each end, standard gauge. Then I'll cut a couple of old trucks in half, dress them up a little, and glue them to the bridge. I didn't glue the bridge to the mechanism (it sort of floats), so these rollers should keep it steady. I made a couple little gauging tools to make sure I get the rails straight when I glue them down.



I'm also planning to turn down the flanges on the wheels I use. I tried a couple last night with a hand file, and they came out pretty well considering I didn't know what I was doing. I figure I'll try with a cordless drill next to see if I can't get them a little smoother. Even the hand-filed ones looked better than pizza cutters, and still seemed to stay on the track.

I also started making a little control cabin thingy for the deck. I didn't think it through too well, though, so what I came up with is way too big. Oh well, I'll put it beside the pit or something... who says it can't be remote controlled? Not like I'm following a prototype here.



The roof is temporary, I'll use some cardboard or something later and do it right. Also, the thing in the window is supposed to be an air conditioner... for a scrap from the Walthers coal mine and some foil, I think it does the job.

[railfan]

I immediately recognized the air conditioner in the window of the control shack before I read what you wrote about it. It's all very creative....especially the transfer table. Your ability to recycle techno-junk into useful features is inspiring.



Mike

[Rico]

I was in the CN Transcona shops this weekend and took a few photos for you, not the best but you'll get some ideas.
I think I'll go back there with a better camera...

[RW&C]

Thanks for the pics! Makes me wonder if I can imbed the rails into the deck, the way I've got it built... might give me another few mm to play around with.

And thanks Railfan. My hoarding of dead electronics drives my dad nuts... he tries to throw stuff away, next thing he knows it's in bits in the basement.

I haven't made much progress since my last update (end of the quarter, large essay due date looming), but I did weather the shed walls. It worked better than I expected... when I painted it, I shot it with white spray paint, then brushed acrylic blue over it. The alcohol I use to wash on the weathering powders washed away some of the acrylic.

[RW&C]

Still no progress on the transfer table, but I built a control panel.



Unfortunately I have some sanding to do... the clear coat I used made the underlying paint scrunch up.

[railfan]

Are you in engineering school by any chance? You might be a good candidate for that.


Mike