Northport Quay

[David Holman]

 After much tinkering, cursing and furrowed brows, there is a chance that the loop side of NPQ might now run properly - until the next show that is!

 As can be seen from the picture below, have also managed to disguise the baseboard join a bit better, though a check rail is still essential on the approach to the left hand point, otherwise the tight curve [should be six foot, but probably isn't] means stock wants to derail at this point.

 In an effort to stop stock uncoupling going in & out of the siding, have added check rails here too - not perfect, but getting there. Indeed I often wonder if it would have been better to work in S7, rather than just 7mm timescale, because the tighter clearances would probably make running better. However, whether I could build to such standards is another matter...

 During the trial and error of getting running better, a mysterious electrical problem manifested itself with voltage dropping to just 2.5 on the crossing vee. At first, I thought it was the internal switching in the Tortoise point motor. Though very robust and reliable, they can occasionally start to wear, so [invalidating the warranty], I took it apart and cleaned up the contacts. All to no avail though, as the problem turned out to be a half 'dry' soldering joint on he feed to the vee.

 Unfortunately, the Tortoise didn't go back together as planned, so have had to pinch one from the right hand point until I can order a new one. This point has been temporarily soldered shut, as shown below. One of these days, I'm going to get round to doing something new for a change!

[jhb171achill]

Looks very real...

 

[Galteemore]

Great patience and persistence David. Chasing down faults can be maddening. 

[Northroader]

Have to admit the addition of check rails here and there can help things along no end. S7? Errhh, I once picked up this goods wagon at a bring and buy, and it started falling off all over the layout. Then I spotted the collars inside the wheels. I’ve tried to keep away from such stuff ever since. Nice deep finescale flanges seem to accommodate my layout irregularities. You’re a much better craftsman, though.

[Tullygrainey]

Respect, David. Track building is the last great hurdle for me (leaving aside the black arts of CAD and 3D printing). I've looked at what's involved many times and tiptoed quietly away on every occasion. Someday...

[David Holman]

Know what you mean, Alan. Built all the track on Fintonagh and it's been fine, but not my favourite occupation - mainly because I don't seem very good at it. Just way too many variables - sometimes it's not the track, it's the baseboards; other times it turns out to be the wheel back to backs. Feel sure your methodical approach would see you just fine.

 Other 'final frontiers' must be outside valve gear and indeed inside motion. Have both of them on my CV, but not sure that enables me to claim to be a real man as I stopped with just a single example in each case! Stop when you are winning, I think...

[Paul 34F]

Hello David,

I’ve just gone back to the beginning of this thread to refresh myself on the details.  
I cannot see any mention of the radius of the pointwork on Northport Quay?  
Could you let me know, please?

Paul

[David Holman]

They are all nominally 6ft, Paul. However, being hand built (by me) wouldn't like to say for sure. Plus they have been rebuilt a couple of times to address tight spots.

 The two points on the quay side are both Ys. Based on earlier custom made ones by Marcway, for Arigna Town, they are only 12 inches long from toe to clearance and are a good six inches shorter than a standard left or right, so great space savers.

[Patrick Davey]

Your trackwork always looks superb to me David - the weathering is masterful!

[David Holman]

With NPQ going to Railex at Aylesbury  in less than three weeks time, attention has turned to a bit of tidying up on the layout. The trees either side of the station [I'm calling them hawthorns] have never looked quite good enough, so teased out the Woodlands Scenics matting a bit, glued on some more and added some lighter coloured scatter/crumb to hopefully improve the texture.

 Am temporarily adding the crab & lobster pots I bought for Swillybegs to the quayside, while the donkey & its cart have had a tidy up too. Now find myself wondering if I should try and fit a small fishing boat in next to Acla? The space below is about 35 scale feet.

 Something else needing a tidy up was my Deutz G class. The roof had come loose and the brass was starting to show through the paintwork in several places, while the buffer beams had got very tatty. Still have the aluminium colour rattle can, so sprayed some into a paper cup and used that to touch in the exposed areas on the bodywork, while the buffer beams have been given a new coat of Humbrol red. The model uses a set of Worsley Works etches, adapted to look more like the early version. Fairly sure I described it all on my workbench thread, several years back.

[David Holman]

Exhibiting

 Going to a show is a bit like having guests visiting - you tidy up and make the place look respectable. Except with a model railway, it all has to be dismantled, boxed up and made safe for transport: in my case a Kia Sportage with the back seats lowered. Mostly I'm fairly tidy, but there were a few things noted from seeing how the Gravetts pack away Arun Quay that made me resolve to do better, plus address a few things that really should have been done ages ago.

 First was wheel cleaning. I use a 12v plug in wall transformer for this, but holding the two wires against the wheels with one hand, while using a cotton bud soaked is IPA [no, not the beer] with the other is fiddly, so made up a holder for the wires from a barbecue skewer, which is much better.

 Looking after your very precious stock is always a concern and I despair at folk packing stuff in old ice cream tubs and the like. I've now largely standardised on those plastic crates that come in a variety of brands, with most coming from The Range. The pink lids are a bit Barbie, but they do the job, especially as, a]they are deep enough for the stock to stand on its own wheels and b] I've added various dividers and all important end pieces to protect the AJ couplings. My trains are short, so I can fit one per box, which helps setting up and at the end of a show.

 A few non-standard items require a different approach, in this case A4 filing boxes. The crane, F6 and a couple of spare wagons go in one...

... while Railcar B and Wolf Dog, being both too long to go in an A4 box have their own, home made ones, using mdf/ply.

 One other box is a deepened box file, which takes the station building [it is loose because it spans the baseboard join], plus one or two other scenic items.

 There are 14 boxes in all, some of which can be seen below. A large supermarket carrier bag will take up to four at a time, which makes carrying things fairly easy.

 The layout comprises just three baseboards [two scenic, one fiddle yard], but there is all the other stuff too:

 Trestles, beams, pelmets, fascia and lights, plus two larger plastic crates. One has all the electrics - transformers, controllers, extension leads etc - the other everything from my drinks cup to packing pieces, bolts, the drapes and a myriad of other odds and sods. There is the tool box too, which you hope not to use, because that means something needs repairing.

 As can be seen, stuff is arranged to fold up, nest, etc and is secured with velcro strip to help with handling.

 And yes, it does all go in the back of the car! I usually spend the week before a show dusting and vacuuming the layout, cleaning wheels, stock & so on. With everything ready, it takes less than an hour to load the car, though it is always worthwhile making sure stuff is suitably padded with old towels to stop and rattling and protect the interior. Once you get to the show, it is always nice if the unloading points are near to where the layout stand is going to be. One or two venues [Chatham and Allypally for example] are big enough to let you drive your car to your stand, which is nice, otherwise it all has to be carried by hand and it is quite a few journeys.

 Setting up can be done in an hour [less with help], while knocking down takes half that, because at the end of a show, stock can be gradually put away before the finish. After that, it all goes back in the car, only to be unloaded again when you get home. All the more reason to be careful and worth remembering next time you visit a show.

[Mol_PMB]

Very nice, and great advice - thanks.

I do like that crane!