Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines
Builds, Repairs, Show Your Machines! => Live Steam Locomotives => Topic started by: Tony Bird on August 28, 2019, 08:06:53 am
-
Great finish to your project Tony. Very well designed and executed to a high standard - quite impressive and well done!
-
Hi,
Well, all the major wood word has been completed on the layout’s eighteen base boards before we go away for a bit, (relief all around) I had hoped to erect the boards in the CMES club house as well but a deviation to help our son with some work doesn’t leave enough time. I have also fitted some batons on the trailers base to locate the storage containers, the same will be done for the base board cradles. So, that is it with the layout until March and hopefully weather good enough to allow work in the garage. We still have a few days before we fly South in which I will try and finish another project.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Regards
Tony.
-
Hi,
The second problem was quicker to fix but took a lot of thinking about and it is fortunate that I am slim, young, fit and agile. The descriptive statement might be considered a little fanciful but I am short which did help.
The problem should have been anticipated but wasn’t; when the trailer lid was closed one of the gas jack brackets fouled the top of the base board closest to the trailer side. It only just touched so, first the bracket was made as small as possible and it then cleared the base board! However not when the baseboard was in its cradle. There appeared to be only one option; a corner needed to be cut off one of the boards. To do this the trailer side needed to be marked with the position of the gas jack bracket when the lid was down. This is where being short came in handy, get into the trailer with a head light while the wife closed the lid of the trailer to mark the side of the trailer. This done it was easy to mark out the cutting line for the base board. Suitably cut the bracket cleared the base board by a good margin. Before getting around to finishing the four remaining boards wooden batons s will be screwed to the bottom of the trailer as location points for the cradles and storage boxes.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
[attachimg=8]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
I was hoping that my next post would be to say that all the base boards have been completed; alas there are still four boards to finish. Two problems arose! The layout is a very tight fit in the trailer as it was intended to be; this was the reduce the amount the layout would move around during transport as it was difficult to fit securing points. I had done the sums many times so I was reasonably sure they were correct and indeed they were. The first problem was caused because I had forgotten to incorporate the board’s securing straps there are four of them 1.5 mm thick giving a total of 6mm. I didn’t have 6 mm and really 10 mm would be needed to give wiggle room! The cradles were a good fit in the trailer they virtually couldn’t move and the boards in them had only about 6 mm wiggle room which they needed.
The solution was simple but took a long time. Plane 1mm off the raised edges of the boards; with sixteen boards this saved 16 mm more than enough! The cradles were taken apart and their width reduced by 8 mm each. The results allowed as can be seen in the photograph more than enough gaps between the cradles and the cradles and the side of the trailer for the straps.
[attachimg=1]
The second problem was quicker to fix but took a lot of thinking about and it is fortunate that I am small, slim, young, fit and agile! I will cover it in my next post.
Regards
Tony.
-
Hi,
Before fitting legs to the remaining four large base boards it was decided to make a cradle for them that fitted into the trailer. A very straight forward construction compared with the cradle for the boards for the curved track. To balance the load in the trailer the cradle for the curved track will be positioned in front of the axle and the cradle for the larger boards behind it.
The lips on the base boards was planed to a uniform height and rubbing blocks for when the boards are stored vertically fitted. Storage boxes will take up the remaining spaces.
Young Gordon is threatening to visit tomorrow so we might get on with the remaining boards.
The problem of the stays has been resolved; we visit our son this weekend to celebrate my wife’s birthday and he has ordered some black mild steel for me.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
Regards
Tony.
-
Excellent progress Tony
You have kicked off the new decade with a lot of great work.
Looking forward to seeing the track layout.
-
Hi,
Today the last of the larger base boards that will make up the front of the layout had its legs fitted; with the help of my wife a trial assemble was made that included one of the boards for the curved track. I am quite pleased with the results, the boards went together fairly well, not a disaster but a bit of a set back some of the aluminium stays bent when moving the joined boards. Rhydypenderyn uses the same system for staying the legs however these stays are steel; the layout often has to be moved when part assembled to line up the front and back of it. This is mostly done on smooth floors not carpet as in our house however, moving the layout is a fairly frequent occurrence so, a change to steel would be sensible. Getting small quantise of steel (about 10 metres) at a reasonable price can be difficult, the present layouts was left over from making some welded steel track at the club, I will have to check to see if there is any more left. Changing the stays won’t hold up the construction of the layout as it could be done at any time. So, only four more boards to have their legs fitted and I can start to think about making and laying track!
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
With the legs fitted the centre brace of the base boards could be fitted. This finishes all of the wood work required on the large base boards.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
This morning I was looking at the base boards that make up the ends of the layout and realised that the entrance to the layout though very compact didn’t make as good a use of the space in the trailer as it could. So, entrance plan ‘B’, Gordons machining of the aluminium angle came in useful as locating pieces so that the entrance could be attached for transport to the board that balances it at the other end of the layout creating a more compact unit. This means that both of the curved ends of the layout and their legs can be stacked in the trailer one on top of another and still be a few centimetres lower than the side of the trailer. Will I need the four remaining pieces of Gordons angle? Only time will tell!
Another base board has been fitted with a pair of legs, one more and all the four base boards that will make up the front of the layout will be finished.
Original idea for the entrances transport mode.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
Regards Tony.
-
Its coming along nicely & looking very good , well done Tony 👍
-
Hi,
Today the first of the large base boards received its pair of legs. A drilling jig has been made to fit this base board to the base board with four legs. It now remains for me to fit legs to the remaining six base boards; this will take some days. With luck a complete circle of base boards will be finished before we go away at the end of the month.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Regards
Tony.
-
Hi,
The woodwork of the eight wide straight boards that will make up the front and the back of the layout is finished. Some of the fittings have been attached to the legs when finished they will be fitted to the base boards.
[attachimg=1]
Regards
Tony.
-
Hi,
Yesterday, young Gordon visited and we made good progress; the remaining six base boards were partially finished and were left over night for the glue to dry.
Regards
Tony.
[attachimg=1]
-
Hi,
Well all the wood has been cut for the remaining seven boards. All the fittings have been made so; it is assembly time after the fittings for legs have been attached. As the legs for the four-leg board are slightly different from the others they have already had their fittings attached to them. The remaining legs will be done tomorrow then the base boards themselves can be made.
The cut wood for the base boards.
[attachimg=1]
The legs fittings and dowel.
[attachimg=2]
The legs with their fitting for the four leg board.
[attachimg=3]
Any one have a use for a dozen 50 mm lengths of aluminium angle? Have cut and machined the angle for the fittings I found these that my youg friend Gordon had made for me on his last visit!
[attachimg=4]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Spent most of the time in the shed making the aluminium angle brackets and other fittings for the remaining base boards. I did manage to fit one of the base boards for the curved track to the 4-legged base board just finished, these two boards will make up the left-hand side of the front of the layout as viewed from the inside. Note: I must get a wider shed!
[attachimg=1]
The completed boards now have an identity for where they will fit in the layout.
[attachimg=2]
Regards
Tony.
-
Hi,
Happy New Year!
Yesterday the legs were completed on the free-standing base board and I am quite happy with the results, it is quite ridged when erected. Next, the long haul of making another one and six with a pair of legs these at least will be quicker to build. Getting low on nuts and bolts etc so it looks like a visit to Screwfix tomorrow will be required
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Regards
Tony.
-
Hi,
With luck in a few weeks I can start thinking about track plans though given two tracks for continuous running there isn’t a lot of choice. Anyway, to give me some ideas to ponder I managed to find the track plans of our first layout and the existing layout. The first, ‘Rhydypenau Light Railway’ was enlarged after about eight years as 16 mm Scale became more popular it was getting a little crowded inside. The present layout is modular and can be erected in about nine different sizes some examples and photographs attached. The new layout will not be modular as it took a lot of construction time to make Rhydypenderyn so and in all its exhibitions it has been only a few times it has been used other than at full size. It is my turn to cook this evening so I will post today's efforts tomorrow.
Rhydypenau as built.
[attachimg=1]
Rhydypenau as modified.
[attachimg=2]
Rhydypenderyn some of the possibilities.
[attachimg=3]
Rhydypenderyn photographs.
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Have a Happy and a Healthy New Year.
Tony.
-
Great progress and videos Tony 8)
-
Hi,
Two of the eight larger base boards needed have been made and before going on to assemble the remaining six it was decided to fit legs to the already assembled two boards. Two of the six boards will have four legs the remaining six will have two legs. So, one of the two boards will have four legs the other two. This will allow them to be prototypes for the remaining boards and when finished jigs and fittings for the remaining boards can be made en-mass for the remaining boards so making them quicker to assemble, I hope!
A start has been made on one of the boards with four legs, one set of legs being completed the other set will fold down on top of these, maybe tomorrow?
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Have a Happy and a Healthy New Year.
Tony.
-
Hi Larry,
You must have a very supportive and understanding wife to let you set it up in the house even if she didn't go for the hole in the wall.
Yes, I have and very grateful for it, yes, it was sad about not being allowed to make a hole in the wall even after suggesting other advantages such as, being able to offer a cup of tea to someone using the bathroom even by train! She did point out that anyone using the bath wouldn't be able to reach the tea; a practical lady. I wonder if I could sort that problem then............
Hi Charlie,
I loved the Thomas video. That’s what life is all about.
Yes our youngest granddaughter was really enjoying herself. She told me that she isn't five only four and three quarters, she is very articulate having spent a lot of her life in the back stages of theatres with her set and costume designer mother, this has come to an end with her starting school. She can tell you the names of the different lights being used and how the drops work.
You have an open invitation to come and stay in Texas for a few months and help me build one. 🤠
Very kind but I suspect the health insurance at our age would be rather expensive. Many years ago I did help a friend build a garden railway in California, a place called Elk Grove a suburb of Sacramento. Dual gauge as I recall using Gargreaves track made from folded stainless steel strip?
With the error corrected the other end of the layout was erected.
[attachimg=1]
The layout to date in transport mode.
[attachimg=2]
As a fill in while waiting for paint/glue to dry I did have a bit of a play with other things.
https://youtu.be/KlU_tCXdfu0
I will report further progress.
Happy New Year.
Tony.
-
Lots of great progress Tony.
I loved the Thomas video. That’s what life is all about.
You have an open invitation to come and stay in Texas for a few months and help me build one. 🤠
Thanks for all of your efforts to continually update the build thread. I am thoroughly enjoying it!
Merry Christmas,
Charlie
-
That'll be a great layout when finished Tony - lots of great planning and execution even if one set of legs were misplaced a little. You must have a very supportive and understanding wife to let you set it up in the house even if she didn't go for the hole in the wall.
-
Hi,
Well it is exactly four months since I started on the project and I am reasonably happy with the progress so far. All the base boards and their legs that have so far been made have been: taken apart, Varnished and assembled again. So, today it was decided to erect what has been made; basically, both ends of the layout. With the help of my wife the end of the layout with the entrance in it was assembled in our hall way. The ends lined up almost perfectly with the door ways into the bathroom and kitchen, the suggestion of knocking a hole between these two rooms so the whole layout could be erected indoors didn’t find any favour what so ever!
Not everything went well, it was found that I had fitted the legs on one of the folding base boards for the curved track at the wrong end! So, the other end of the layout could not be erected. The leg has been moved on one of the boards and it is hoped that the other board can be done tomorrow so the fits can be checked of the other end of the layout. With this done and found successful a start will be made on the wide straight base boards that will make up the back and front of the layout. It is hoped that all the base boards will be finished, painted and had a full assembly before we go away for some weeks at the end of January.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
Have a Happy and a Healthy New Year.
Tony.
-
Hi,
The Bird family Christmas was held this last weekend and yesterday was R&R for us! I have not been idle on the layout just taking apart what has so far been built varnishing it all then assembling, boring! South Wales is not known for its lack of humidity and though the storage/transport trailer is dry there is a lot of damp so all parts of the layout have to be varnished.
For Christmas our son bought me 20 metres of Velcro to hold the skirt of the layout and daughter is getting me 20 metres of fire retardant material for the skirt through her theatrical connections. From our eldest granddaughter we had a water colour that she had painted.
[attachimg=1]
The reason for getting Thomas into shape had fun with him.
https://youtu.be/v-Pn8iC-dPk
So a quite tomorrow for us.
May all the members have a Great Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year.
Regards Tony.
-
Glad to hear Thomas is alive and well once more Tony - and the portable layout is almost a work of art. Really well done!
-
Hi,
This morning disaster! Because the Bird family; small in numbers is a bit spread out it is unusual for us to celebrate Christmas on the 25th. We hold it in December on a date when hopefully all of us can get together; our daughter has just finished a job in the Crucible in Sheffield and has returned to her home in Central London and will visit us with family this weekend before going onto Manchester, our son is working on a project for Liverpool and will visit having gone home to Gloucestershire to collect family before going to North Yorkshire.
The disaster? Thomas broke down! So, who will pull Santa around the Christmas tree? The grandchildren will be very disappointed! As usual Thomas was check out a few days before; today in fact, he pulled Santa around the track for several laps and stopped the motor still going; the wheel of the worm and wheel drive system had come loose on its axle. The problem corrected; off Thomas and load went after a few laps stopped again now with no sound, problem the motors commutator was worn and shorting out; new motor fitting the test ran a lot longer before stopping, batteries needed charging. Batteries charged; Thomas and load bounded off to stop about 5 minutes later; after quite a long time checking it was found that the two of the batteries were defective! New batteries charged and fitted Thomas managed his usual three-hour running time.
This took up most of the morning and being a bit of a fatalist, I near didn’t go to the shed. In the event things went quite well and the layouts entrance base board wise is finished.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi Charlie,
Nearing the finish line Tony!
I wish! I am hoping to get the base boards painted and erected before the beginning of February when we go away for four weeks. From now on it is just a boring slog, after the entrance is finished six large base boards to make along with their legs. Then assembly before taking apart and varnishing, if I manage this I will need the holiday
Great to see that it all fits in the trial.
Yes a relief to find the sums were correct.
A bit of progress today on the entrance; the legs have been made and fitted, alas they do not fold as the others not enough space. They last photograph is the entrance in travelling mode.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Take care Tony.
-
Nearing the finish line Tony!
I have really enjoyed following the build.
Great to see that it all fits in the trial.
-
Hi,
The design of the entrance for the layout is based on the one designed and made for the 16 mm Module layout which seems to work quite well. Progress to date: the lifting section has been hinged to one of the sort boards and its end radius-ed to allow it to be lifted. There will be slight differences to the one made but only a few.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Today the sun shone so it seemed sensible to see how well the parts of the layout already made and the 6 plastic storage boxes fitted the trailer. Sums seem to have been correct everything fitted with a little wiggle room to spare. So, to complete the layout six of the large base boards for the straight rail and an entrance need to be made. Later in the day a start was made on the entrance, a 960 x 320 mm sheet of 6 mm plywood was cut into three the lifting portion being twice as long as the two ends, which will make storage easier. The construction is the same as the other base boards the edges being glued and pinned to the plywood. Out of interest I tried a Hornby tin plate wheel set on a section of track that had been assembled, it ran OK and as I intend that the points that will be made will not have check rails it might be possible to run vintage 0 gauge with original the wheel sets on the layout. This afternoon got a little expensive. I did what I have done many times before knocked my cordless drill off the bench this time the casing cracked through and the handle came off; terminal so had to go and buy a new one. The old one is old and doesn’t owe me anything but I could have done without it.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Having decide to make the cradle for the base boards, I had a good day. First while the shed was warming up, in the den, I drew out the sides of the cradle on some 3 mm plywood using the base board template. In the shed the plywood was cut and some 32 mm x 12 mm batons were attached to it. Then some spacers were fitted, the construction is much the same as for the base boards mostly glued and pinned with some wooden pegs and a few screws. There is some more bracing to be done after the glue sets, I am happy with the result the boards do not move in the cradle when strapped in. The cradle will be fitted into the trailer so that it can easily be removed. I had intended to try it in the trailer but the weather today wasn’t very good and it is likely to get worse over the next few days.
So, hopefully tomorrow I will finish the cradle and start on the entrance.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
This morning I had to go to the screw shop as I was running low on materials and while away from home an early Christmas gift arrived from America; many thanks Gil!
With all the base boards for the curved track pretty much finished a couple of false legs have been made so that they will stand on their mono legs. I am quite pleased each pair of boards weigh in at only 4.5 kg about 10 lb add about another generous 2 kg/4.5 lb for paint and track it will be considerably lighter than the existing layout for the same parts. There is going to be a bit of a space problems as soon as I start connecting more than two boards together which is OK and is how the track will be laid one board to the next and so on. If, sensibly before laying the track all the base boards are erected to see if they join together in one piece I will need to find somewhere to do; it during the warmer months the garage could be used but for the next four or so months it will be too damp and cold, anyway the existing layout is stored there during the winter. We used to have access to the school’s car park at the bottom of the garden where the existing layout was erected and first run on in 2006 but the car park was enlarged and fenced. So, I think I will check with the committee of Cardiff MES to see if I can use one of the rooms in the club house during a day when it isn’t being occupied.
Next, I could carry on making the six remaining wide boards for the straight track but I need to get timber for the legs and I have to design and make different brackets for the double folding legs. I have a friend who visits and helps by doing a lot of the repetitious jobs like machining and drilling these brackets. So, I think I will either make a cradle to fit in the trailer to hold the four hinged together boards already made or design and make the lifting section for the entrance to the layout.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Regards Tony.
-
Thanks for the update Tony.
-
Hi,
We have returned from warmer places the 25-degree centigrade drop in temperature wasn’t appreciated in the early hours of Sunday morning! Started back working on the layout; the eight base boards for the curved track are all in one piece needing only sealing, a coat of varnish and the handles arriving from China to complete them. I was rather pleased when checking their stacked height that they were 10 mm lower than expected! A start has been made on the wider base boards for the straight track, two of the eight tops needed are finished. When all eight are in a similar condition a start will be made on designing and making their folding legs.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi Tony , I'm just perusing all this while on my lunch break (not near enough time) very nice work thus far & a very interesting thread. ...thank you 😉
-
[attachimg=4]Hi,
It is the time of the year that this species of bird flies South for a few weeks, tomorrow afternoon to be exact, I’ve been doing press-ups all week! Its been a little boring doing work on the new layout; six of the base boards for the curved track have been assembled and the legs with their fittings have been made for all eight boards.
I have also been working on a wheel clamp for the trailer I couldn’t find one that was made for such small wheels so bought the smallest I could get and modified it. The clamp is as much for stopping the trailer moving on a slope as being security the other layout's trailer is large and heavy enough to have brakes.
So that’s it until December when we will be back for some weeks.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Yesterday, Gordon a friend visited and with his help most of the fittings for the seven base boards for the curved track were made which used up 35 of the 50 pieces of aluminium angle that had been cut and machined. In a few hours we depart for an exhibition at Earl Shilton in the Midlands so won’t be able to do any more to the layout until early next week when we return.
[attachimg=1]
Regards Tony.
-
That's a lot of work Tony but it'll pay off in the long run - what a nice setup you'll have in the end!
-
Hi,
The first base board except for track is finished, there are seven more boards for the curved track to be made and then there are ten straight boards after them. I am happy with this first board so I am now onto making all the aluminium angle fittings and if sums are correct there will be 80 in total, I have cut and machined 50 blanks so far.
The finished board has been sealed and had a coat of varnish; the layout will spend a lot of time stored in a trailer though dry it is very damp in Old South Wales. All the nuts used are Ny-lock; from experience with the thousands of miles the layout hopefully will travel bumping up and down in the trailer would loosen plain nuts. Only 30 blanks to go then cut and drill them and there are 28 legs to cut.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Today I rested my hand on one of the boards and felt the glued and stapled joint give so a brace was glued underneath the joint. The drilling jig was used to drill a hole that could be tapped M6 so a bolt could be fitted to secure an adjacent board. A another jig was made to drill and mark out the aluminium angle brackets that would be fitted to the same board end as the bolt to support the bolted board. The narrower of the boards that hinge together had a pair of guides fitted to locate the two boards when folded.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Forgot to show how the layout’s corners are reinforced using a glued peg. After the holes for the bolts are drilled a modified ‘G’ clamp is used to push the aluminium tubes in; the thrust washers are glued in place. The hinges are fitted while the boards are held together and lined up with a bolt.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
It’s the wrong time of the year in Old South Wales to do wood work. My garage is too damp to even store timber never mind working on it! So, the cut timber is now stored in the workshop where I am working on the base boards for the curved track. Three boards have been assembled two of which are being hinged together to make a quarter circle. As well as the hinges the boards are bolted together using a single bolt. The positioning of this bolt in both of the base boards is critical to allow the track to line up (there are no fish plates used over the board joints) when the layout is dismantled and assembled again. To allow this the bolt holes in the wood are bushed with an aluminium tube a friend visiting kindly machined a load of these tubes for me. To drill the holes accurately in the wood a wooden jig has been made, this jig has to work for two different size holes one being for the aluminium tube the other the tapping size for a M6 thread. This was achieved by making a pair of steel stepped bushes back to back drilled with the relevant size holes. The next job is to use the jig so the base boards are connected then go on to complete this quarter circle to check everything before going on the other six boards for the curved track.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
Regards Tony.
-
Looks like a great project, Tony!
And... thank you for sharing your steam railway touring video.
Gil
-
Hi,
The first of the eight base boards for the curved track has been made. Plywood edges have been fitted as it is a lot lighter than the plastic that was to be used. It gets a bit boring from now on!
[attachimg=1]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Made a start; the tops of the boards that will have the curved track on them have been cut and glued and one of the narrow boards for the straight track has been put together.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Decisions made and hopefully the finial drawings done; the boards for the two curved tracks, the general arrangement drawing though there will be four straight boards back and front not three as shown on the drawings and the two drawings for cutting the plywood.
Four sheets of 2440 x 1220 mm 5.5 mm thick plywood was cut by the suppliers to the drawings. There was enough plywood for all the base board tops: 8 wide sections and 10 narrower sections along with all the edges.
A template to mark out the base boards for the curved track was made its edge joint being made with glue and staples.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
[attachimg=8]
[attachimg=9]
Regards Tony.
-
Congratulations on reaching a design decision. Sometimes that can be the toughest part of a build!
-
Hi,
Finally, after a lot drawing and consideration of the layout design a decision has been made. The track could have been single or double, the single track allowing a larger layout the double track being smaller but with a longer track length. As it is for use at exhibitions will be double track not being very proto-typical for a narrow-gauge line but will allow more trains to be run at the same time. It has turned out more or less the same design as our existing layout which has proved to be very practical for running steam model locomotives. The drawings due to the size of paper used only shows some of the front and back straight base boards that will be made. A start will be made on making the boards for the curved track at the end of the week as I hope to collect the cut plywood on Thursday. One of the advantages of using the Tenmille track which is higher than the Peco SM 32 of the existing layout is that most vintage model locomotives will run on it.
There are two options for the width of front and back straight base boards which can be decided on at a later date, probably after the end boards are finished.
Single track design.
[attachimg=1]
Drawing of the base board for two curved tracks.
[attachimg=2]
Drawing of narrower straight base boards.
[attachimg=3]
Drawing of wider straight base boards.
[attachimg=4]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Still working on baseboard sizes and think I might be getting somewhere; to make a bit of progress I decided to cut some more sleepers. The sheet of 3 mm plywood that I got for free was cut to a length that would allow the cutting of 10 sleepers. From its 2440 (8’) length; four lengths were cut which were then cut into strips 12 mm wide (1/2”) on a circular saw, lots of saw dust! If sums are correct there are enough strips to provide about seven hundred 70 mm (2.3/4”) long sleepers, enough I hope for the whole job. A drilling and cutting jig was made and few finished sleepers made. First the plywood strips were stained and the jig used in drilling the holes and marking the sleeper length. To speed things up a number of strips were stained and each end of the strips were drilled and mark for cutting when a number of strips had been done, they were cut and the process started again, boring but reasonably fast. A number of chairs were fitted to check the gauge was correct, this was done using a hammer and a piece of rail in the chairs to stop them breaking.
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
Regards.
Tony
-
I am really enjoying following your thread Tony - the amount of detail is amazing and being able to put in words makes it even more so.........besides it may well save me burning a lot of midnight oil while designing a similar setup for the club if I can generate enough interest.
-
Hi,
On our way home from Winterbourne we visited our son and his family who checked my drawings using CAD. My measurements weren’t far out but it was good to have them checked. He did the three most likely sizes for me.
The shortest which will fit across the trailer.
[attachimg=1]
The most likely to be used and fit along the length of the trailer.
[attachimg=2]
The longest possible cutting across a 2440 x 1220 sheet of plywood.
[attachimg=3]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
While still trying to finally decide on base board sizes; to move a little manufacturing progress I started to cut some 3 mm plywood into sleepers. The sleepers are 12.5 mm wide (1/2”) and 72 mm long (2.3/4”) an inexpensive circular saw was used to cut the plywood to width. I was very fortunate with the supply of the plywood I was visiting our local builders supply to get some paint; while walking around I found a sheet of damaged 3 mm plywood I thought that the thinnest that they stocked was 6 mm. I looked to see if there was a shelf for 3 mm plywood and there wasn’t so I took it to the checkout and asked if I could buy this damaged one; they said no! I could have it for free, it was just packing that hadn’t been cleared away which had been used for other wooden products. There was a label which I hadn’t noticed on its other side. So, I have a sheet of 2440 mm (8’) long by 380 mm (15”) wide 3 mm birch plywood for gratis! You have to win occasionally.
An 800 mm (31.1/2”) length was cut which will allow 10 sleepers to be cut from each 12.5 mm width sawn. From the 380 mm width enough lengths were cut to produce 240 sleepers or enough for 10 yards of track. As I cut a lot of thin wood the fence of the saw table has been modified having an adjustable strip that holds the wood down while being cut. It will need a lot more than 240 sleepers for the layout, but this is enough for a start. Cutting and drilling jigs need to be made which will have to wait until we return home. Winterbourne Show first!
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
Before we go away with in our small motor home, I have done some thinking and drawing for the new layout. Being reasonably happy with the design and basic construction of the layout, the next step is to decide on the length, width and height of the layout base boards. The present design of the base boards would allow for up to 16 across the trailer to be stored or up to 28 shorter ones along its length. If two of the 4 folded curved boards stacked one on top of the other, they would take up the space of 4 boards leaving up to 12 or 24 spaces for other boards. As there will be an entrance between the curved boards at one end there will have to be a straight board to balance it at the other and as the entrance and the straight board will be the same width as the curved boards they will be stacked and use up another space. Down to 11 or 23 spaces which will allow either up to 5 or 11 pairs of straight boards and a spare to be use for the front and the back of the layout.
Length: It was hoped to make the running length of the layout as long as possible given the size of the trailer. The maximum economic length of a base board is 1220 mm (4’) cut across the width of a 1220mm x 2440 mm (8’ x 4’) sheet of plywood, this would fit longitudinally with a bit to spare in the trailer. A base board this long would allow a curved track with a 1400 mm (55”) radius. A base board stored across the trailer could only be 880 mm (34.1/4”) long which would allow a curve track of 990 mm (39”) radius which is the same as the inner track of Rhydypenderyn. Boards stored along the length of the trailer could of course be between the two lengths mentioned.
Width: The width of the curved base boards without their edging if two are the be stacked one on top of the other can only be 200 mm (8”) or less.
Height: The 880 mm (34.1/4”) curved board will accommodate up to a 740 mm (29”) folding leg; which is a little short, the Rhydypenderyn layout has legs 840 mm (33”) long which seems OK or it is just that we are used to it?
OK decision time! The easy one: width 200 mm (8”) which allows the boards to be stacked and save two spaces. As the length also effects the maximum height they will be treated as one decision. To accommodate an 840 mm (33”) folding leg under a curved board it would have to be at least 940 mm (37”) long. If our standard plastic boxes are used six leave a space usable length of 1000 mm (39.3/8”). To allow a little wiggle room a length of 950 mm (37.3/8”) has been decided on. This will allow a 1140 mm (45”) radius curve about the same as Rhydypenderyn’s outer track to be used and it will be high enough to be able to use the skirts from Rhydypenderyn so saving time and a lot of money.
Thoughts were given to how wide the straight base boards for the front and back of the layout would be. As it only has a single-track main line a passing loop on either side of it on the back straight and maybe a passing loop around a station and a siding at the front. This would be possible on a 460 mm (18”) wide board. A drawing of a possible layout configuration has been made.
So, this will give me something to think on while we are away: this is a first draft of ideas it will be interesting to see how much difference to the finished ideas before possibly the start of another project.
In 1996 I wrote an article for the’ Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette’ describing the construction of our first layout ‘Rhydypenau Light Railway’ which was the start of the two maybe three exhibition layouts I have designed and made along with the two garden railways in our garden and the three garden railways of the CMES that I have been involved with. It might be found interesting it at least shows how my ideas have perhaps only changed a little over 20 years.
Well its time to start loading the smaller trailer (proposed layout trailer) with exhibits for Winterbourne over this coming weekend, we leave tomorrow as we like to take it slower than we used to. We hope to visit our son and family on our way home and he will check my layout calculations using CAD.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
[attachimg=8]
Regards.
Tony.
-
Thanks for all of the details on the project.
Lots to ponder as I would like to make a portable layout.
-
Hi,
After finishing some paying work today I had a look at the track laid on the base boards. There is a bit of an issue with the sleepers they are not very constant in height in fact all their dimensions are a little variable but the width and length don’t matter. The very important centre distance of the holes for the chairs are very accurate. For the intended use in a garden the variables wouldn’t matter but for a layout that it was intended not to use fishplates across the base board joins it is a real problem. So, I made up some sleepers using 4 mm plywood which is very consistent in thickness. Having done this and found that 4 mm would accommodate the spigot on the chairs I decided to make a cross section of a base board replacing the previously used 9 mm plywood with 6 mm plywood (our existing layout uses 6 mm plywood which has to be braced when used in larger widths); the aim being to reduce the weight and height of the base boards. A saving of 5/6 mm was achieved and a third of the weight of the plywood, this if my sums are correct means that up to 16 base boards could be fitted across the trailer. I will continue to cogitate (which doesn’t hurt if you are sitting down).
[attachimg=1]
Regards.
Tony.
-
Hi,
Yesterdays progress. Well the prototype hinged curved baseboard is finished. The photographs show how the positioning on the mono-leg was achieved; it is important that is at the balance point of the board which helps when erecting the layout. The layout is put on the edge of the bench at its points of balance and a line drawn’ so anywhere along this line the leg can be placed. From experience it is better if the boards tend to fall inwards rather than outwards. This is a provisional line it was done again and correct when the track and edging was fitted. As the layout was a little low a new bracket for the bottom of the leg was made which allowed a leg 50 mm (2”) longer to be used. The track has been fitted and in theory if other boards where made it is ready for use.
I am quite pleased with the results which look practical and workable. It is now decision time do I wish to continue and make a completely new layout which will be quite costly and time consuming? I am going to do more R+D work as to the options of number, and size of baseboards that will fit in the trailer and there are other considerations as to the space that would be taken up with accessories which the layout would require: skirt, scenery, lighting etc. We are going to an exhibition in a couple of weeks and using our camper van I will take my pencil case and draw what if’s.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
Regards.
Tony.
-
Hi,
This morning I started to prepare our Rhydypenderyn layout for its winter storage as its next exhibition isn’t until next April. It is quite a lot of work requiring everything being removed from the trailer so that the baseboards, track and scenery can be checked, repaired and cleaned; so, I do it in stages. Two of the storage containers have been removed from the trailer and the track cleaned and the odd repair done, later this week the other two containers will be removed and similar done. When completed the trailer will be loaded again put in the garage and jacked-up off its tyres. Doing this along with anno Domini makes me see the sense in continuing work on ideas for a new more easily handled layout.
After being fed and watered mid-day I did some more work on the new baseboard; I laid some track. The track is from my old garden railway lifted after its sleepers had rotted, I bought new sleepers and then decided to change to Peco SM32 track that has plastic sleepers. So, I have approximately 30 + yards of rail and more than enough sleepers. The track is Tenmille code 200 bullhead rail which fits into plastic sleepers with a spigot that fits into holes in the wooden sleepers. A couple of lengths of rail were rolled into a curve then fitted with sleepers and secured to one of the baseboards. It was found that the plastic window surround cuts well with a circular saw; it was cut so that is was a couple of millimetres higher than the track so, reducing the height of the edging by about 10 mm to 55 mm (2.3/16”).
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
The track is biased to the inside to give equal clearances either side of the model.
Tony.
-
Plastic edging has a couple of other advantages over plywood for that usage in that it doesn't try to delaminate over time, and you are not likely to pick up splinters from it either.
Looking good!
-
Hi,
I had to go to the opticians today so took the opportunity to go to a house window manufacturer to buy some wood finish plastic window surround to use as edging for the base boards. My previous exhibition layouts have used plywood as edging but because of weather considerations I used window surround for my garden railway; it has a lot going for it, as it comes in 5 metre lengths and is already finished, I have fitted this edging to one of the base boards to see what it looks like.
I am reasonably happy with the design of the fittings I have made, so I am making jigs to replicate them more quickly. There has been one alteration they have been lengthen a bit to give more clearance for the wing nuts used on one of them. The first jigs to be made are for the fitting that retains the leg when it is folded; one for drilling the other for shape. Some photographs of the plastic edging fitted and the drilling jigs.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Regards
Tony.
-
Yes, just as I meant, but guess I didn't say it very well.
-
Hi Stoker,
Brilliant Tony ... eight of those self contained double fold units and you've come full circle with any number of straight sections in between. The carry handle is a nice touch as well !
I hope only four if I haven't got my sums wrong, each folding until is 90 degrees when open. Though that is eight base boards. No further progress yet as other work getting in the way.
Take care
Tony.
-
Brilliant Tony ... eight of those self contained double fold units and you've come full circle with any number of straight sections in between. The carry handle is a nice touch as well !
-
I'm taking notes and always learning from you Tony ;)
Thank you for sharing
-
I'm always amazed at how well designed these modular layouts are...And yours is quite well designed! It has gained momentum, and I expect you'll have it done in no time.
Keep us posted on the progress!
-
Hi,
The first of the folding legs has been made. The design uses the same length 60 mm (2.3/8”) of 25 mm x 25 mm x 1.7 mm (1” x 1” x 1/16”) aluminium angle for all the fittings this makes them easier to cut and use. Hopefully the photographs show how the legs work; if not please ask. The other leg will be a bit more refined with shaped angles.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
A little more work has been done on this project; two of the shorter curved base boards have been made and it was decided to join them together with hinges using the same system that is used on our Rhydypenderyn layout. When flat they are kept ridged by a bolt and wing nut. This bolt goes through a jig drilled hole and is bushed with an aluminium tube. So, the two boards make up 90 degrees of a circle so four will be needed. When folded and edges fitted, they will be about 120 mm (4.3/4”) thick so when two are stacked one above the other and the same done with the other two boards they will have a total thickness of 240 mm (9.1/2”) and this with a little more for packing is how much of the trailers 1486 (58.1/2”) length they will take up. The next job is to fit folding legs under the boards.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
While away after some thoughts on the pros and cons of different designs I did some drawings using the construction decided on which is basically the same as I drew for the 16 mm NGM modular layout group:
https://youtu.be/RfXwlMD0tLo
Though for the prototypes I won’t use a jig and the timber is what I had in stock. The first prototype as yet not finished is for boards that will transversely fit in the trailer. The other prototype will be of the same construction and be the longest that can be cut from a 1220 mm (48”) long piece of ply. Both prototypes will be 200 mm wide 8”, the production ones could be wider after deciding how thick the edging strips will be. The following photographs will I hope show the construction so far.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
[attachimg=5]
[attachimg=6]
[attachimg=7]
[attachimg=8]
The last photograph shows how they might be stored in the trailer using up 475 mm (19") of the 600 mm (24") height available.
I will report further progress.
Regards Tony.
-
Hi,
We returned a little early because of the weather in Mid-Wales. So, for insomniacs in the forum a cure! I have download a video that I edited while away.
https://youtu.be/D2_fyIV1G3k
Regards Tony.
-
Ah! I see.
Perfect for those not-so-agile people, too.
-
Hi Bob,
This new layout that I am designing and possibly making is to replace in perhaps a year or so's time our existing 16 mm scale layout which travels in a 6' x 4'6" box trailer.
[attachimg=1]
My wife and I are not quite as strong and agile as we once were and we would like to continue exhibiting our models as long as possible.
Take care.
Tony.
-
...as I didn't design the trailer from scratch I though waterproofing the tailgate would be a problem and the ingress of water to both camping and layout trailer would be a disaster.
Hi, Tony,
My railroad trailer solution is a bit different from yours, but similar in that I had to consider waterproofing and use of space.
This spring I acquired a 7.25" gauge electric train set (as some say, "Go big or go home."). No home-built layout at all needed here, as some 60 miles away there is some 2000 feet of ground level track to play on. However, the train came in a homemade, flimsy 5x8 foot open hauler made from an old snowmobile trailer. I needed a shoehorn to fit the two steeplecab locos (4 feet long each), driving car (3 feet long), and three gondolas (each 6 feet long) into the little box, and even then I could only tow it on sunny days (electric models and water don't mix).
[attachimg=1]
My solution? Buy an enclosed trailer! Mine is 6x10 feet, easy to load, waterproof, and suitable for a ramp, and is a vast improvement over the original.
[attachimg=2]
[attachimg=3]
[attachimg=4]
Perhaps you might consider a small fully-enclosed trailer.
Here's the train in operation, after worry-free transport:
https://youtu.be/kbLaHU6M_xY
-
Hi,
Well having thoughts over the last week or so about the designing and possibly making a layout; my intentions are when back in Cardiff is to make a couple of prototypes curved base boards. I cannot see that a layout of any length that would have double track will fit in the trailer. The minimum width being for double track is 13” and 9” for single track. I have made some drawings for single track boards. These boards will be made from what materials that I have and the intention is to use the bullhead rail that was lifted when new track was laid on our garden railway. I know that I have the following timber: Baseboard tops 9 mm (3/8”) plywood, legs 20 mm square (3/4”), edging 32 mm (1.1/4”) x 12 mm (1/2”) known in the UK as door stop. I will make both the 36” long curved boards that will fit across the trailer and the 48” long ones that will fit along the trailer.
Home in a few days.
Regards Tony.
-
Hi Raphael,
You would not need such a large trailer if you would build a railway like this one.
Absolutely! I like it, a very petite railway. I have never played with such small model railways; it was a little too much like the work I did in the horological trade that I worked in all my life.
Take care Tony.
-
Hi Stoker,
I would make one observation however, and that is you may wish to modify the trailer a bit further to include an opening tailgate, possibly a drop gate / ramp combo so that you can make you modular sections roll in and out with board edge wheels. Barring that, you would at least be able to slide the modular sections in and out, without having to lift them up out of the depths of the trailers sidewalls.
A very good idea! Yes this thought had occurred to me but as I didn't design the trailer from scratch I though waterproofing the tailgate would be a problem and the ingress of water to both camping and layout trailer would be a disaster.
Having designed and built three portable 16 mm scale layouts along with three garden railways and made an entrance for the 16 mm Narrow Gauge Modeller ‘Modular Layout’; as mentioned the construction of a new portable layout is being considered.
The first portable layout known as ‘Rhydypenau Light Railway’ was an exhibition layout for our own use. The second portable layout was for the ‘Cardiff Model Engineering Society’ to use on public open days. The third portable layout known as ‘Rhydypenderyn Light Railway’ was an exhibition layout to replace the Rhydypenau layout, this is the layout we play with now. The new layout being considered might possibly replace this layout as well as doing some R+D work for the Modular Layout.
The first garden railway replaced the CMES portable layout as land had become available for its construction. The second garden railway known as ‘Rhydypenau Garden Railway’ is in our own garden. The third garden railway was a new track which was raised on posts and erected inside the existing CMES garden railway.
The layout being considered will probably use elements of most of the above model railways design and construction as well as other ideas seen being used at exhibitions.
The design criteria being considered is as follows: light weight, easy to erect, have folding legs for support, be fairly inexpensive to build, oval in shape to allow for the continuous running of model steam engines, have an entrance and probably the most difficult to achieve; to fit inside a small trailer with inside dimensions of 1486 mm (58.1/2”) long, 883 mm (34.3/4”) wide and 610 mm (24”) deep.
Some initial thoughts: For easy of removing the baseboards from the trailer they will have to be stored on their edges as is done with Rhydypenderyn. There are two alternatives regarding the length of the baseboards; the length of the trailer or its width giving a maximum of 1486 mm or 883 mm. The width of the boards will have to be either a maximum of 610 mm (height of the trailer inside) or half or less than this so they can be stored edge to edge one on top of the other, this is also done on Rhydypenderyn; this with the thickness of the boards will govern how many boards the trailer will hold.
I usually start with the design of the boards that will make up the curved ends of the layout of which there are usually eight. The number of straight boards really doesn’t matter as long as it is a multiple of two. So, first see how much room will be left in the trailer having designed these boards which will decide how many straight boards can be used.
So, will there be a single or double track?
In a few hours we drive North when in the evenings I will probably add more to these muses.
Regards Tony.
-
Bonjour Tony,
You would not need such a large trailer if you would build a railway like this one ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLlhoNwlaUk
-
Tony, you have a great little trailer there, and also a smart idea for adapting it and your layout to the realities imposed by the passage of time. I would make one observation however, and that is you may wish to modify the trailer a bit further to include an opening tailgate, possibly a drop gate / ramp combo so that you can make you modular sections roll in and out with board edge wheels. Barring that, you would at least be able to slide the modular sections in and out, without having to lift them up out of the depths of the trailers sidewalls.
Just a thought.
-
Hi,
When we go away in our small motor home I often take projects to draw; well more dimension sketches really. It is the way I do my R+D, I have been playing with the designs of base boards for the 16 mm scale Module Layout group for which I built an entrance module. Our 16 mm scale layout 'Rhydypenderyn' given its size (25'x 15') and the amount of scenery at a bit over half a ton is reasonably light. When we go to exhibitions we are fortunate in have a lot of friend to help us erect and dismantle the layout; however when at home though both of us are reasonably fit we are getting older so manhandling the layout and its trailer is getting harder. I hope we still have a few more exhibitions left with Rhydypenderyn but facts have to be faced!
To this end I have started a design project which might also benefit the Modular Layout group. The project is to design a new model railway layout that can be transported in a trailer smaller than the one we use now. This trailer already exists, it is one we use when we are on extended holidays in our small motor home. The trailer is a standard product which I had modified with a lifting top.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
The internal dimensions of the trailer are 1486 mm (58.1/2") long 883 mm (34.3/4") and 610 mm (24") high. So that is my project over the next week or so while we are away. I will report developments or lack of.
Regards Tony.