Railway Lyons

Hi All,

More updates from the workbench.

As promised:

NIR 3K, D301 & Restaurant. Extra to that is CIE MK1 and Mk3 DVT.

Still a lot more to come in the next few weeks.

Working on a running video also, so keep the eyes peeled.

Shed of the Year on Tv last night.

Dream City in last 4 of the NORMAL category.

Beaten to the post by a floating shed.

Hard Luck Roy, was still amazing to see your work.

You had mine and my girlfriends votes.

I just thought a capacitor might be a good idea as the Lima 201 has such poor pickup you might get some flickering, especially over pointwork.

Another issue is that I installed tail lights on a brake van which I controlled with a Hornby decoder. The lights were linked to F0 but every time there was a break in the pickup the lights would go out rather than flicker and you would have to turn them back on with F0. Apparently, some decoders "remember" function settings after a power interuption but some don't.

I got around the problem by wiring the Leds to the motor outputs on the decoder instead and using the throttle to turn them on and off!

Yes, I can see where the capacitor would come in handy for that.

I have all live frog points and am not relying on the blades for contact.

A bit of dirt on the contacts now could cause me trouble but i have always kept the Lima contacts as clean as possible.

If I notice a decline in the future, I have the option to add the capacitor in any case.

I like that idea! Are you going to use some form of "stay alive" for the decoder?

I don't have a capacitor built into the circuit for the lights.

I have used the circuitry before and found it woks fine using the Hattons 8 PIN with Harness chips.

I am doing something similar.

I am fitting a LIMA 201 with DCC directional lights.

Having ripped the motor and gears out, it will be towed/pushed on the end of my Push/Pull rake with motorised MK4 DVT.

The newer motor in the DVT, from a Bachmann Voyager, has no problem moving 6 coaches and the dummy 201.

It does look quite nice on the end of a rake.

Hi All,

Been a while since i have had the time to do any projects.

Setting up the layout & shed has taken some of my time, and my daughter has got the rest of it.

However, recently with the longer days, I have gotten out to the workshop and got modelling again.

Here are my latest exploits:

Mk4 DVT from a Pendolino - Still awaiting glazing and grills.

Arrow from Class 158 Central DMU - doors and windows moved to get doorways in right place.

Grey 071 from Orange/Black 082.

IR Intercity from MK2 BR Blue/Grey

More to come in the coming weeks!

NIR 3000

CIE 4F

CIE D301

IE MK3 Intercity and Restaurant...plus more

Hi JM,

At a distance the lack of relief is not as noticeable, especially the better the print.

What I have done in some instances before is added the print to an uneven surface to give it the effect of not being a wall paper.

Or you can add some relief to it yourself by adding down pipes, air con fan units etc.

You will be surprised how the eye can be tricked.

Hi Junctionmad,

Most of my layout has it on it for walls, footpaths and building fascias.

From my experience, a good printer set to high resolution will definitely give a good result.

Just be wary of the fact that sometimes your screen resolution might show colours as desired, but print might have a slight different hue.

Print a test and adjust as needed.

Trial and Error can yield some interesting results.

Hi Burnthebox,

A layout can be wired as DCC and operated as DC if only a DC controller is connected to the lines.

However, isolating DC locos will not be possible due to the 'always live' aspects of DCC.

Vice Versa is also in theory possible but as a DCC loco is isolated on a DC wired layout, you would would loose the lights/sounds etc.

A DCC wired layout with a DCC Controller connected would make it all DCC.

Once you loco chip is programmed, you are ready to go.

I personally have had no issues.

I mailed asking regards postage for O and OO coaches, ordered at different times of the year.

Amount was reasonable for each parcel and delivered in a timely fashion with no hassle to Rep. of Ireland.

First bit of running has taken place to check it is all working after travelling to my shed. All looks good, now to begin the computer control and detailing.

Good Luck with your endeavors!

Look forward to seeing your progress.

Congratulations!

Well guys, been a few weeks but nearly there.

Shed is up, insulated, floored & walled, power connected and heater added. Just need to finish the lighting.

Layout is in but not running yet, still organizing the space (bikes etc to be removed).

Just thinking aloud... I saw that layout and thoroughly enjoyed watching it. The operator (at some exhibition I can't remember) was carrying out slow shunting manoeuvres, very realistic.

 

It had occurred to me at the time that it would lend itself very well to an Irish setting - an imaginary Great Victoria Street or Dublin / Cork quays type of site. It's a layout that would suit a British situation, as it is, but substitute what's running on it for a few black'n'tan GMs and rakes of fertiliser or oil wagons, or endless strings of H vans......

That is the idea, it occurred to me too.

Few mods to signage etc and it could be easily adapted.

I have enough stock to run either scene.

I do hope at some stage to bring it back out into the exhibition scene and show off the full capabilities.

Easier to seek forgiveness than permission.

She is being suitably spoiled for Christmas, so I will not be banished to the shed once it is installed.

Plenty of updates along the way.

At the October MRSI exhibition in Raheny, UMRC had their layout Wallacetown for sale.

I duly snapped it up, and then asked my better half for permission to bring it home, permission granted!

A shed has now been ordered for it and this coming January, the layout will go through a transformation.

It will become full DCC (track, lights and points) with a lot of detail added to the already existing layout.

Below are some pics of the layout as it was at the Raheny show.

I hope in the coming year to post up regular updates of my progress in bringing this well admired layout to the next stage.

Here is to a successful year, Happy Christmas to all, and plenty of modelling.

One I spotted last night:

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/141461658171?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Leinster Models B1A O Gauge

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/221545073407?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Amazing work, would love to get my hands on a kit. Have a MK 1 on the workbench just asking for something to be done with it.

Had an outdoor railway for a while before leaving my parents house.

Tried a few ways to lay track bed and came across some of the problems already mentioned in the thread.

One solution I did find however was pouring concrete beds(at ground level in the flowerbeds) and while still slightly wet, fixing track with pins.

Once it had set i filled in between the 2 tracks and outer edges (not in between rails), with Polyfilla and painted white.

Never had an issue with heat expansion, and it ran really well.

Planning to do the same again when finally buy my own home.

Hi EPBrophy,

I find the best way to get the people to stand up is a bit of Bostik on the feet and gluing them down. It also allows for them to be removed a little easier than Superglue would if you decide to change.

I had one of these loco myself a few years ago. If I remember correctly it was Joeuf attempt at breaking into the Irish market. It is just a European loco repainted into CIE colours.

Will be there but working hard as usual.

Someone will have to keep the trams running on O'Connell Street.

Absolutely great work. Love seeing updates on your layout. Now just to get mine started, the inspiration is flowing.

Many Congratulations to you and your family.