Wordless Wednesday: Drawbridge

Layout Update Mondays: Connector Tracks

Overhead view of a connector track between the Memorial Ave. and MOW modules.

Over the last week I've spent a little bit of time finishing the trackwork on the Memorial Avenue and MOW layout sections. For the most part, the process was fairly straightforward but the interesting component of the trackwork in this area is in creating the connection between the modules. 

Most modular railroad clubs use connector tracks - short pieces of track which are made to be removable that connect to the permanently affixed track on the module sections. The connector track offers some flexibility as it is difficult to build really tight tolerances among various builders over time. Having a connector track means that the rails don't have to be lined up perfectly on the module sections as the connector track takes care of the minor deviations between the modules.

Unlike a modular layout, this layout has the advantage in that it will always be setup in the same orientation every time. This style of portable layout could lend itself to simply having the track line up flush at the end of each layout section. While I've seen sectional layout builders pull this off, I'm kind of skeptical about how well this works in varying temperature and humidity environments.  Plus, between the Memorial Ave. and MOW sections (pictured above), the connector track also crosses the Slide section.  This would be complicated to build and align correctly if permenenatly mounted. Instead, the trackwork was designed for a connector track to simply bridge the three modules.

Close up of the styrene under the connector track and those wonderful rail anchors.

To make the connector track, I lined up a half section of Atlas O 36" Radius sectional track over the joint between the three modules.  This was temporarily tacked in place while the abutting track was installed.  Styrene - .010" thick - was used as a shim under the connector track and the permanent track closest to the connector track.  This keeps everything the same height and running smoothly.  The styrene was glued to the bottom of the connector track and trimmed flush with the ties.  This whole section will be ballasted later so that when it is installed, the joint between the module sections won't be too noticeable.  At this point, I also labeled both the connector track as well as the roadbed so I knew which connector track went where on the layout.

The finished connector track ready for weathering and ballast.

Label for the connector track.

As of today, the track is now complete on two of the five modules.  Most of the rest of the track has been test fit but I am still slowly distressing all of the wood ties and installing rail anchors. My best guess is that I've installed close to 350 so far...now back to work...

A close up of the track which has been distressed and had rail anchors added.

History Fridays: 2016 Railroad Hobby Show Preview

2016 Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show Flyer

With just 99 days to go until the doors open for the 48th Annual Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show, I thought I'd share some preview links to what you might expect at the show this year.  By the way, doesn't the flyer look great? I think there is one good looking module on the upper right hand corner...it certainly looks familiar...

RailroadHobbyShow.com - Amherst has rebuilt the Railroad Hobby Show website and it looks great.  There is a lot more information and a clean design. I'd encourage you to check back often for official updates from the organization - especially for the schedule of clinics.

Amherst Railway Society Facebook Page - In addition, the club also shares information about the show on their Facebook page if you want real time updates.

It's never too early to start making those hotel reservations and programming that GPS for the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. The next 99 days are going to go quick. Hope to see you at the show this year!

Wordless Wednesday: Back to the Future

Layout Update Mondays: 3D Modeling

Some of the 3D printed models created for the layout.

For the last week, I haven't spent much time in the shop but instead have been making detail parts for the layout. One of the struggles most folks have about switching to model in O scale is the sheer amount of items which need to be created from scratch compared to HO scale. Fortunately, with the decreasing cost of 3D printing and simplicity of 3D modeling, any detail parts which are desired for a layout can simply be drawn up on a computer and then printed for minimal time and expense. This also allows customized parts if you're interested in modeling a specific railroad or location - like I am with this layout.

So far I've made about a dozen parts specific for this layout, but I have a list which has already run to 60 parts (!) and this doesn't include what is needed to model the Mallary Complex or the Young Building...seems like I am going to be busy for a little while.

Now back to the CAD program...

Layout Update Mondays: Layout Wiring

Wiring diagram for the layout.

Over the last week, I've been working on starting the process of wiring the layout.  Given how simple the layout is, there isn't really anything complicated to worry about.  However, I felt I'd break down what the plans are to keep the trains moving as well as some animated features which I hope to build over the next year or two.

The track power will be provided by good ol' DC power. Since the layout will only have one locomotive, I didn't feel the need to invest in a full DCC system.  One of my friends agreed to help build me a throttle using Arduinos to control everything - the price of which will be substantially cheaper than any DCC system on the market.  The heart of the system will be placed under the MOW module. From here, several cabs - located at three points around the layout - will be connected via a command bus which will take inputs from the throttles. The plan is to have the throttles built into the fascia instead of walk around throttles.  Again, with only one locomotive on the layout at a time, any throttle can be used to start or stop the train.  So the train could be turned on at one throttle, then the operator can walk with the train along the layout before stopping the train with one of the other throttles at the other end of the layout.

To carry both track power and the command bus, two sets of harnesses will be run between the five modules.  For the track power, I plan to use the exact same Amphenol connectors we use on our HO modular layout. These are very reliable. I've also built a command bus harness which will go along the front three modules where the throttles are located.

Beyond the basic train control needs, I plan to light and animate this layout extensively.  For this, I will have a dedicated 12VDC transformer and run this power in the same harness with the track power.  On each section of the layout, I can connect the various lighting elements and animation controls to this bus.  We've been using a similar system on our HO layout for a couple of years now with great success.

As for the types of features I plan to add, I'll keep a few a surprise until closer to show time, but basically all of the buildings will have lights on the outside and inside.  There will be at least one set of working grade crossing flashers - if not two depending upon what the budget will handle.  In addition, there will be turnout motors and dwarf turnout position signals.

That's all for now, back to installing wiring under the layout...

Wordless Wednesday: Wiring

Layout Update Mondays: Memorial Avenue Construction

Overview of the Memorial Avenue section with the scene sketched out.

Inspired by the trip up to The Big E over the last week, I've been working on the Memorial Avenue section of the layout. The scene is fairly simple with the four lanes of Memorial Avenue crossing the spur, the driveway for the Gate 9 entrance, and a small commercial building. The first step was to add the trim around the sides of the modules to hold in the scenery. The topography in this area has the spur at the low point of the scene. This means that all of the trim is added to the top of the module with the scenery graded down towards the spur. I took the time to cut all of these pieces to match the eventual finished contours and nailed them in place.

The next step was to start adding in the scenery base. For the road, I decided to use cork as the base. I choose this because it matched the exact heights for the roadbed under the track (obviously) but also to add in curbing and catch basins in later steps. Foam could be an option but I felt it would be difficult to keep the lines straight. The cork allows everything to be a bit more exacting than trying to work the grading by hand.

Cork placed for base of road.

First level of cork glued and tacked in place.

I filled the area of the road and sidewalks with a single layer of cork roadbed. This was simply glued in place with carpenters glue. The next step was to add two layers of cork to the areas where the sidewalks will eventually be. These two pieces of cork match up exactly with the height of the curbing which will be placed at the edge of the roadway. 

Cork for sidewalks added as well as some foam for the adjacent hills

Curbing for the road.

All of the curbing was cut and fitted on each side of the road.  Then all of the pieces were glued into place.  It took about 14 sections of straight curbing and two sections of 6' radius curbing for the driveway entrance of the commercial building to complete the roadway.  In addition, a catch basin was also added on the north side of the street. 

The final step was to glue a final layer of cork roadbed down along the base of the road.  This brings the height of the road just shy of the rail height - enough room so that a thin layer of joint compound can be added for the road surface in the future.  This will happen once I have the foundation finished for the commercial building in the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, it's starting to look like a road.

Curbing and catch basins installed. Cork to raise road to rail height started on the left.

Base for road complete. Ready for final road surface.