large update.

 bit of a gap since last post, fair bit done since!.

Last was transfer to baseboard... So a fair bit of update since! Initially looking at styrofoam  to build the incline to the upper level....

along with creating the upper level...

plus looking at rough layout of  buildings:

Didn't like the styrofoam as it was going .. So switched to cardboard.. but before that, time to start laying some track ! get this project moving ! 

moving on nicely ! 

and the 1st loop finished ! running a train ! 

pretty happy with this ! couple of tips I picked up online were, for laying Flexi track , solder the end you're starting from to the existing track, ( stops the rails moving at that end while 'flexing' the track :-) saved  a lot of hassle! 

next tip, run a long train of carriages , see where they either de-rail or uncouple. mainly at uneven track joints, a quick evening out with a dremil and bob's your uncle! smooth running around the track! [given being a cheapskate, I've various makes of wagons , all 2nd hand :-) ]

So with switching to cardboard to get to upper level... 

starting to take shape ....

So continuing on with getting the upper level configured, so I can lay the 2nd 'block' of track... Will be all flexi track as no further turnouts on upper level. If you note in last pic the 'box' at top, decided to add a small tunnel through a mountain on the upper level too!. 

(a lot of Papier Mache to come... :-( ) 

l8rz !

Trying out the electrics..

 Did a wee bit of messing around with the Arduino and driving the servers..

 

 

transfer from paper to baseboard, and start into electronics.

So started transferring plan from paper to board...

   

What this showed me, was that what looks good on paper , not so good physically :-)  , so modifications to plan already! , As I have picked up a cheap 2nd hand turntable, (had planned a use for it in a future project..:-), decided to incorporate it here instead. Gives me a 'central' feature. So the change means instead of the 'idyllic' countryside I was originally planning, it's going to be a more industrial/working rail yard instead. Probably going to drop the top 'fiddle' yard, but as that was going to be bare board anyway it will be easy to re introduce..  So current plan now looking like: 

Lots of potential to shunt stuff :-) ..[ as noted above , probably drop Brown area for now, will see how I go, yellow is areas I can use Flexi Track instead of Set Track ( did I mention I was using Peko Code 80 ??) 

Which brings me around to electronics. in above [total of 13 points...] for playing around with shunting, that can be an awful lot of stopping and starting while manually switching points! . (and for those who know me, I am a lazy fecker ! ) So investigated using electronics. Now standard fare is set up using point motors attached to switches, But you also then need CDU(s) , to drive them , and  point motors/CDU's are not cheap ! . [Plus need to build a large control panel to 'switch' them all, and track which state they're in... [I did say I was lazy ??? ] I then came across an excellent YouTube channel, Budget Model Railways where the describe using arduino board and cheap mini model servo's , I was hooked ! :-) 

So quick stop to  Maker Shop to pick up an Arduino board for €6 , and a few servos at ~€3.50 each .Now obviously , as using electronics, there's a bit of programming required, but not too bad, and plenty of tutorials online on how to control servo's . [And as the day job involves programming, I should be fine :-) ]. 

After doing the board marking above, did a quick try of controlling a servo, followed one of the tutorials online, and had a servo moving in a few minutes ! ( mind you that won't control a point , need to be a bit more complicated than that :-) , but I'm still quite far away in the journey for that! 

One thing I did do though, was to pick up a €6 stepper motor that can be also driven by the Arduino, and will use that to drive the turntable! . 

So next stages, draw in the turntable, maybe adjust the plan a wee bit more, then do the recommended placing of cork down under the track, (using 2mm cork) this is to help deaden the sound and give the track a bit of bounce. .

I'll also need to experiment with creating the raised track, was trying it a wee bit today, and noted if you go too steep the train tends to stick ! :-) 

Enough for now, more anon! 

Starting out

 Now, Starting this a bit later in process than had intended :-) Have spend a few weeks studying / bidding / buying all the stuff I'll need. 

Of course still waiting for most of it to arrive, ( bloody brexit, and customs :-( ) 

Mind you , as a side note , Amazon & ebay fulfilled items are doing the VAT , and in some cases deducting the UK VAT on orders from the UK.. which is good...and packages arriving in a timely manner..

However, was also using  Addresspal for items from UK, and they said they were going to handle VAT/Customs, but it's a bit of a nightmare at the moment! , ( have packages stuck at their depot for 2 weeks! ) , and as they're now making their way out, they're stuck at AnPost's Heathrow depot. Where customs inspect, and you then get a mail to pay the amount... Plus a €3.50 surcharge to An Post ! on top of the 6.5 addresspal charge, not impressed! , but I digress #rantover..

From research, settled on using SCARM to design a layout.. going through a few iterations , till I finally settled  

    

Version1

 

Version 2

Version 3

Which , with a couple of tweaks ended up at V5.2 ......

Final Plan

Colour coding indicates the different 'blocks' of track, they'll be isolated from each other, so that a train can be controlled separately on each 'block' ( so if I had 4 controllers, could run 4 different trains at same time , 1 per block :-) Although only have 2 controllers for now... 

note the brown area at top a small 'fiddle yard' , is also points where the layout can be expanded , (possibly in the future, I do have a couple of ideas :-)).

So baseboard bought... and sectioned, ready to lay down 'the plan'.... [need to glue/connect some strengthener's below the board first... the final size of 'the plan' is 900/1500mm ( or 5' x 3' in old money) . 

All caught up now. 

Introduction

 Well, after reading , studying , and hum'ing and haw'ing finally decided to jump into the railway modelling hobby with both feet! , 

Given my limited space, I settled on N-Gauge, so can get more in, in  smaller space! 

Also, decided to chart my journey here, maybe it may help someone else, ( or provide some entertainment :-) )

John.