A mixed-scale single-board exhibition layout

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Be interesting to see Rick if the DCC80 Autofrog works with just DC as compared to DCC !

They assure me it will Sol. I dropped into the shop and explained what was needed. 

[user=1753]Gwiwer[/user] wrote:

[user=606]Sol[/user] wrote:

Be interesting to see Rick if the DCC80 Autofrog works with just DC as compared to DCC !

They assure me it will Sol. I dropped into the shop and explained what was needed. 

DCC80s duly fitted.  

 The results are inconclusive.  They seem to improve running through two of three points in the "reversed" position only.  

I have taken a look at the locomotive and checked all its contacts.  All have been eased out slightly (within the confines of a OO-9 scale industrial loco!) to make better contact at all times.  Nothing has changed there either.  

I next took the N-gauge class 66 for a test run to see whether a bogie locomotive with all-wheel pick-up would fare any different.  It doesn't.  It still pecks over the frogs where the industrial does and runs nicely through where the industrial now does.  

Baffled isn't the word for it.  I have ordered some electrofrog points.  I didn't want to change the trackwork yet again but this needs to be right before I can proceed with the scenic build.  If I have it right these will not produce a short "as is" because where they both feed to a diamond that now has insulated joiners fitted.  We'll see.  

As Sol may remember electrickery really isn't my strong point and understanding the various needs of differing styles of frog is confusing this bear even more than necessary.  Insulfrog would be easier but with slow running speeds it isn't an option with such tiny locos.  

The two unifrog points on the viewing area have been replaced with unswitched electrofrogs. The othere may be so treated later but any slight hesitation over their dead spots will be off-scene. 

 As this is a DC layout with “one engine in steam” any stray backfeeds are immaterial. The electrofrog diamond will be wired to and switched by a DPDT switch. It is now fitted with the required insulated joiners on the frog rails. 

The OO-9 track is now therefore down and includes the wagon turntable. This rotates by hand but is unpowered and adds an authentic detail. A dismantled wagon is shown on the spur - one or two of these will eventually be placed around the line.  The other wagon is a wide flat which will be a part of the “engineering” train normally out of use but which will make occasional trips. 

More wires have been fitted.  And a few more IRJs.  I have eliminated almost all of the shorts.  There is just one section which still produces a short when the loco attempts to run through but not when the loco is elsewhere.  I'll hang fire until the new software beds in before attempting to upload a diagram.  I'm sure the fix is easy from here - it's just that I haven't a clue what needs fixing.  

OK.  Almost everything works as it should.  IRJs are fitted at all joins within the black hoops thus:-
Four in the big oval to the left - one at each frog rail off the diamond, one at each frog rail off the point.
Two in the small oval to the centre - one at each frog rail off the diamond.
Two in the small oval to the right - one at each frog rail off the point.
Power is fed to the toes of each point as can (just) be seen.  Red for the inner rail, black for the outer.  On the far left side both are wired black but the inner rail is correctly connected under the board to the "red" circuit.
Additional feeds are provided to the diamond via the DPDT switch which also controls frog polarity
An additional "red" feed is provided between the two points on the main circuit i.e. between the two IRJs.
Everything works as intended which ever way the points are set except …..

A short still arises within the large black hoop.It doesn't matter whether both points are set for routes to the diamond or only one.  A short shows in the section between lower left point blades and the diamond.  There is no short on any of the other three routes off the diamond nor from the lower right point through the diamond to the wagon turntable.  

Puzzled.  

I have to admit defeat. I cannot find the short across the diamond. Better minds than mine cannot find the short across the diamond. The multimeter cannot pin it down either. 


The diamond has been removed. 

The altered track plan is as shown and is all working fine.

The shed roads require relocation; the turntable road has already been relocated. 

I can at last proceed to the scenic stages which will include the standard gauge line and Porthgarrow station. 

 

A pity Rick coz if as you say, 4 IRJs on the diamond & thus isolated from the turnouts & the frogs wired to the DPDT, then all should be good.
Without seeing an actual drawing/schematic  showing the IRJs and wiring & me not be able to teleport to the UK, I am at a loss.

Sol said

A pity Rick coz if as you say, 4 IRJs on the diamond & thus isolated from the turnouts & the frogs wired to the DPDT, then all should be good.
Without seeing an actual drawing/schematic  showing the IRJs and wiring & me not be able to teleport to the UK, I am at a loss.

From “Post #287,540”, 25th April 2023, 10:07 PM

Those are certainly all words…….I genuinely have no idea what any if this means 😁

Sol said

A pity Rick coz if as you say, 4 IRJs on the diamond & thus isolated from the turnouts & the frogs wired to the DPDT, then all should be good.
Without seeing an actual drawing/schematic  showing the IRJs and wiring & me not be able to teleport to the UK, I am at a loss.

From “Post #287,540”, 25th April 2023, 10:07 PM

I suspect there is a fault somewhere in the manufacture of the diamond.  Being N-gauge (or OO-9 in my case) the tolerances are very fine and the margins for error small.  It's a distinct possibility.  I still have an otherwise good diamond crossing which might see use in a future project.  And I can remove a little under-board wiring and the DPDT switch.  

Following satisfactory testing of the revised track layout minus the dodgy diamond ballast is now going down on the narrow gauge line 

 

More ballast down. The ng line is almost completed now. The first structures are glued down too - the loco shed and the arch. The latter will form the scenic break and eventually will carry a pathway leading to the beach. 

The layout is erected and standing on its feet. The curved Daler Board for the backscene is being fitted. The photographic sheets of overcast sky are placed to ease the tube-rolled curl before fixing to the card. And the only floor space in the room is fully occupied!  

After a certain amount of faffing about the backscene is up. 



This is formed from Daler board, reinforced to double-thickness at the joins and edges, and has an ID Backscenes printed paper overcast sky applied to it. M



Also now in place are the first supports for the upper level which will accommodate the standard-gauge station. A base will be cut from foam-board with the hillside built around it. 

Not the best photo because the near-zero workspace prevents good access by tge camera for now. 

But it records the fitting of the upper foam-board “deck” upon which the standard-gauge station will be built. 

More “general arrangement” pictures. 

The empty skip rake is shown; the other is filled with stone. Damaged skips lie around. Two cottages (one resin moulding) will fit in the scene and just visible in front of those is the heavy-duty winding gear to raise and lower items for the quarry line. 

Two brand new Accurascale Siphon G vans straight from their boxes sit where Porthgarrow station will be built. Stone walls are placed in indicative positions; some are resin others Vollmer card. 

The beach and quayside will be built on an outrigger bolted to the front below the narrow gauge line. A stone sea wall will separate the two. A further small outrigger will be necessary where the standard gauge line runs off-scene in order to accommodate a two-coach-plus-loco train. 

The upper level is ready to have buildings and track placed for spacing. The train will enter and leave through the twin-arched bridge. 

Steady progress is being made. 

The upper level is fixed. The station platform has been created from two sheets of foam board topped with Daler card and is also fixed. 

The platform facing will be Vollmer stone-print card and the surface topped with Metcalfe pavers and fine sand. 

Some of the structures are still moving around in order to develop the best fit. The cottages have moved to the lower level because there is currently no way to get road access to them on the upper level. 

Stone steps. Handrails not yet fitted but part-painted. 

Scale Model Scenery laser-cut kit with Scalescenes random ashlar download skin 


Platform part-paved as well