Model railway

[aj_dr]

Is anybody interested in assisting creating a new 00 gauge model

railway layout for a minor exhibition to be held in Aumagne (Dept. 17)

circa 22 April. I have a large quantity of track, rolling stock and

locomotives plus already constructed buildings.

dr

[andyh4]

Sorry you are too far away - but good luck - you may need it given the timescale

 

[aj_dr]

Thanks for sending me 'Good Luck'!!! Have started the layout and will

be getting my wife to mend some models. I used to have a layout in the

UK which was 4m x 4m but nothing's been touched since we moved here 2

years ago, so have got to clean track etc.etc.

dr

[Alcazar]

I'd have loved to, but infortunately, we are still UK based and only come over at holidays to continue to work on the house, which is also too far from you.

Is your layout UK or France based, and what time period and area?

I model UK modern image in both 4mm and 7mm scale, but STILL have no layout.

Alcazar

[andyh4]

I have a somewhat eclectic mix:

some UK OO - LNER and LMS

a small amount of EM NER/GCR

some HOe - French with portable layout

some HOm - french - mainly still to be built

and HO - French from 1920's to 1995 ish - with layout under construction for later period, and portable layout for 1930's

[Alcazar]

[quote user="andyh4"]

I have a somewhat eclectic mix:

some UK OO - LNER and LMS

a small amount of EM NER/GCR

some HOe - French with portable layout

some HOm - french - mainly still to be built

and HO - French from 1920's to 1995 ish - with layout under construction for later period, and portable layout for 1930's

[/quote][:O]

Alcazar

[aj_dr]

Thanks for your input. My new layout is based on UK OO and is circa

1960/70 at the time of the steam loco.. So my new layout (which will be

subsequently enlarged) is only steam locos. The majority of kit that I

have is Hornby, but will be fashioned to suit the new small situation.

I have approx 30 locos, 125 wagons, and about 30 carriages plus 200

metres of track and many assembled buildings of varying sorts,

indusrtial shops, and houses. ( All circa old England !!)

Have a bit of a logistical problem in transporting the layout to the

venue in April. Size is approx. 8 ft by 6 ft and will be at table top

height which will not fit on my trailer. Any suggesteions???

My wife is currently painting station personal, passengers, work crews

and sundry others which she is currently seeing in her sleep !!!

I am constructing two tunnels, a sloping hill and other required scenery to fit in with the above.

dr

[andyh4]

8x6ft is very big to handle in one go.  I have always worked with modular sections of generally 4x2 up to 6x3 maximum.   8x6 is almost furniture van size.   Do any of the organisers have access to a lorry?

Other than that I am not sure how you will get it moved.

 

[aj_dr]

Hi Andy

Sorry to be late replying but other domestic matters have had priority.

I attended a meeting of the relevant association on last Monday

evening, the date confirmed as 22/4 and 23/4, and I am assured that the

required transport will be made avaialable. I also have a second string

transport for the re-location.

Some of the layout is in modular section, so as to avoid damage in transit.

To date the basic scenery is now constructed and is now being dressed.

All  buildings constructed and place for siting on baseboard. The

fiddle yard takes up one third of the complete boards, to allow for

rotation of trains. I have members of the organising committee coming

on Monday afternoon next for a visual. Still have two and and half

months and think that not a problem.

Any suggestions on connection of modular base boards would be welcome, I have not done this before.

Hopefully some photos taken by a digital camera will be available,

could send them by e-mail with attachments should you be interested.

DR

[andyh4]

There are a number of was of fixing modules together.  The objective is Obviously to ensure that the tracks are aligned horizontally and vertically. 

The ideal is with pattern makers dowels - no idea where to get these in France, but you can get them mail order from the UK (Red Dog is the company I thnk) - but this is really only practical at the baseboard construction stage.  I have tried to do it later with mixed results.

The second is with bolts screwed through the two board ends.  I would use something like 6mm with wing nuts (easy to take apart and put together), but this assumes that you have access to the back of the facing plates that are being brought together.  If you have, align everything up with the two boards together in their correct horizonal and vertical positions relative to one another.   Securely clamp and then drill through with a drill size the same as your bolts (at leat 2 per joint).  The disadvantage is that over time and used the bolt holes become worn and the bolts and up being a sloppy fit - with the potential for misalignment.

Third alternative - which I have not personally used - is to use the sort of catches used for holding the lids of boxes or some sorts of travel trunks closed - one half has a hook and the other half has a loop with an attached handle/level, so that when its clipped shut it holds the two part together under tension - there is probably a technical term for these but blowed if I know what it is.  These can be fitted to the front and back side-pieces so that when closed they hold the two modules firmly together.  I've not seen the catches in France, but then I have not been looking for them either.

 

Good luck

 

 

[Dick Smith]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but have any of you ever visited the model railway outside of Caen, and if so, is it worth a visit to an outsider like me? (I once built a static model of a Groudle Glen loco in brass but that's it).

[aj_dr]

Hi Andy

Thankyou again for your suggestions.

So far as connecting modular boards I have only one question. I will be

connecting in a similar fashion as you describe as the two points of

rail connections are in the fiddle yard area ( which is L shaped).

Electrical connections are my main area of importance to avoid using

connecter blocks for fine mires. Suggestions on this point will be

welcome..

To date the Background scenery is 65 per cent complete, track layout

verified, and buildings sited. My next stage is to complete the

background landscape scenery for the backboard, which I have . Tunnell

entrances and bridges are now fixed in position and roadways painted

out. Much of the other scenery such as trees, fences and walls still to

put in position. Town village is 85 per cent  made and will be

placed onto a put-in-place thin overcover board.( Screwed down, cover

to represent manholes)

 The platform arranged and will fit into the total layout. Platform alignment is sorted.

Thats my work to date,

Regards DR

[andyh4]

I have always used multi pin connectors (of the type used for plugging in computer auxilliaries until USB ports came along) - available I am sure from Conrad.fr.

Another option is to use fishplates across the joints which are removed totally when in transit.  This also helps align the tracks, but with time and use will probably destroy the ends of the track.

 

Sounds as if it is coming on well.

 

Dick,

not familiar with any permenant layouts except Rambolitrain near Paris.  Do you have any more info?

 

 

[Dick Smith]

Thanks, Andy. I'm over next week and I'll dig out the info and let you know.

[andyh4]

Good Luck this weekend with the exhibition

Anyone in the region and at a loose end, why not drop in