Thanks Ken,

Good luck with the gig.

Looking forward to further developments from Okehampton. The quarry was coming along champion last time we saw it.

Always plenty of help with electrics on here too.

Great progress with that control panel Marty.Looking VERY professional! Its going to be great to watch this all taking shape scenically knowing what you're capable of.I can't wait!!!;-)

Cheers,John.B.:thumbs

I love it Marty.  How did you do the signalling panel?  Is it some sort of print out?

[user=201]georgejacksongenius[/user] wrote:

Great progress with that control panel Marty.Looking VERY professional! Its going to be great to watch this all taking shape scenically knowing what you're capable of.I can't wait!!!;-)

Cheers,John.B.:thumbs

Neither can I John but I'm having fun with the electrickery so it's not all bad.

[user=200]Christrerise[/user] wrote:

I love it Marty.  How did you do the signalling panel?  Is it some sort of print out?

Yes Chris, drawn up in Microsoft Powerpoint and then printed to scale 1:1 on A3.
Eventually, when I'm happy I've got it close to right, it will be laminated and held in place with double sided sticky tape in the corners or varnished onto the wood.

That is great Marty, although I still don't know how you did it!  Whenever I try drawing anything like that it just comes out shaky and a mess!

Drawing pictures in Power point is a bit of a speciality of mine as a Draftsman/Cartographer.

Too start with you need the DRAW palette open from the TOOLS menu (I think).
That is where all the lines and shapes are.

Henllan Control Panel
Improvising a mounting panel for Peco switches.

The original plan was to use the Peco mounting block for the switches and the wooden framework was built, months ago, accordingly.
But, to give a bit more flexibility in operating the Henllan station layout a couple more isolation sections have been added .
This meant that instead of 16 switches, there were now 18 and the Peco mounting blocks wouldn't fit inside my framework.
Loath to break up the wooden framework an alternative mounting for the Peco switches was looked for.

After about 20 mins of searching around the layout room and shed for something suitable a couple of old, donated to the cause, baking trays came to light.
It might just do the trick.

Careful measuring of the Peco switch, some calculations, some measured twice marking up and then some slow but steady work with the cutting disk on the Dremel motor tool and this might just work…





Cut to size and a bit of panel beating…





Spray paint gloss black, do something else for 16+ hours while it dries and then fit…





Its not perfect, the mounting slot should have been done in maybe 3 sections with narrow strips left between each section to help the slot maintain its shape. There is some flex in the metal and the switches fall through the gap in the middle.

Still, once the remaining switches required are purchased some Superglue should do the trick.





The 5 Blue/White switches on the right are wired up to isolate the sections of the yard (A, B & C), goods loop (D) and Henlland Down line (E) and have been tested.
This is a big leap ahead for me.
Up to 7 locos can now be managed in the Henllan Station layout. Only one at a time at this stage but the operating potential of the layout has just been increased dramatically.

Obviously a fair amount of testing was required last night :doublethumb

 

Well, no end to this mans' ingenuity:exclam  :doublethumb

the work of a dedicated tighta**se,brill,
looks ok Marty.

:doublethumb:cool:

Well done Marty that is the way to produce something unique

As you used the baking tray i cant resist this "Now your really cooking on gas"

cheers Brian

That's really brilliant Marty, a super idea.  Another one filed away for future reference ;-)

That is a bit of genius Marty, but imagine the scene around the country next weekend as our dearly beloveds start to prepare the Sunday roast:shock:
:lol:

Great idea Marty, I just hope the Mrs isn't looking under everything for that tray! Though I doubt if she'd recognize it!

Wayne

[user=22]Wayne Williams[/user] wrote:

Great idea Marty, I just hope the Mrs isn't looking under everything for that tray! Though I doubt if she'd recognize it!

Wayne

It's OK lads, I'm safe, the tray, and 3 others, were surplus to requirements and rather than be thrown away were donated to the railway some time ago.

So I've got plenty of options for further control panels :thumbs ;-)

Besides, seconding a "current" baking tray from Tracy's kitchen for model railway purposes…. sorry, I like living :chicken

Very very smart control panel Marty :thumbs

well done marty, :thumbs

Very smart indeed! It sure beats my grotty old setup.

Mike

:doublethumb Love the control panel …. Cool!

Yes, it did stretch a bit with the heat from the Dremel, but like you say, once the switches are glued in, it will all sit right.  Nice one, Marty :thumbs