At last I have got Mission Road into a state that I am reasonably happy with. I say finished but in reality the budget for this project just run out and another dabble in OO beckons. I hope to have another (the third) loco posing session soon, as that’s when it all comes together. I also need a full shake down session testing all isolating sections etc.
Here are the last cameos completed.
Last couple of days spent on adding 3mm MDF Backscenes to my two scenic boards for the OO layout (still no name).
Still waiting for 2nd traverser kit to turn up, so fill in jobs being done a little out of order.
It has been a very busy day outside today – pleased to find some shade most of the day I have now married up the two scenic boards and I now have the rails over the join – I used copper clad sleepers on the edges to reinforce them.
I then turned to the river. When I cut the river out of baseboard, I kept the piece cut out – this is trimmed to the size of the bridge and then ‘let in’ to the edges of the river.
I then finished all the track laying according to my plans and advice from our group members.
Here are a few photos in sequence of todays work.
Well that’s about it for now – the second traverser is still about a month away, so apart from a few electrics on the two track join and possibly a little landscaping, that’s it.
I have managed to take photos of the methods taken to make a river. Firstly I need to say, I used this method as I wanted to add to the integrity of the baseboard. Polystyrene would be my preferred method, but that would not enhance the strength of the baseboard. Before cutting the river shape out of the baseboard, I re-enforced the lowest level with 2″ x 1″ softwood, this will be the main strength of the baseboard after cutting. I then cut the river shape and added the river base.
The next thing I did was to cut stout cardboard to form the inner banks. I then made some templates to the actual formers. After that I added re-enforcing strips between the formers.
After letting the whole thing dry overnight, I stuffed the spacers with newspaper. Finally I added a coating of ‘polyfilla’. After leaving overnight again, I smoothed the whole area down with a small file and sandpaper, after vacuuming and cleaning up I applied a coat of brown emulsion paint.
I now feel comfortable with the strength of the baseboard. But again I will say that lighter materials will be used to form other undulations on the boards.
After recently posting some photos of Strachan and a conversation on the phone with Les Williams, here are some more photos Les sent me. Great Layout that we made over 20 years ago and kept in great condition by Les.
Over the last two days a lot of work has been completed, not least the electrics. A Gaugemaster DC twin track controller and track cleaner has been used, both retrieved from an old layout. The centre three tracks have been split with isolation to allow a total of ten trains to be stored on the traverser.
My method with the electric’s is to have all the tracks on one side permanently coupled (the blue wire) with the full contact on the other track being made by the bolt and loops (the red wire). Simple but it works.
All the track on the first scenic board has been laid and the controller etc. installed. The back board scenic board bases have been added. The second scenic board has been started with a cut out for a river.
The second traverser is not due until Mid June – so after further work on the river and adding track – I will have a break from this un-named layout
Today has been spent adding the bolts and loops to allow access to all storage on the traverser deck. I also added some track on the first of the two 6′ scenic boards.
I think you will get the idea of what the two track main line will look like. I have taken this option because I wanted to simply show trains running in the country, no station, yard or anything else. This is what 80% of our real railways look like and it is seldom modelled. I am however considering making a loop on both the up and down lines. These loops will give the viewers at Exhibitions something to see all the while, instead of empty tracks. It is also potentially two extra storage tracks, only in view of everyone.
The second traverser is not due for another six weeks so the two 6′ scenic sections will be worked on, after a decision on the loops is made. I have many thoughts on what I would like to see on the boards and planning will continue.
As I said on the post before this one, I had an idea to increase the length on the other end of the deck. I worked out how I was going to approach it, but discretion being the better of valour, I shelved the project!
The other concern I had was the balance when the deck was totally extended outwards. This I managed to sort by lessening the travel of the deck – I added another point to the innermost two tracks – see photo’s below.
I have made all the bolts and loops for the locking/electric contact system. I have also added the male and female baseboard joiners to the traverser and the first scenic board.
I have also soldered copper clad sleepers to the ends of all tracks for protection.
None of the Bolts and Loops are Screwed and/or glued yet – they need drilling and a handle added.
Well, its been quite a day, I turned the four inch extension into a six inch one. I then glued the extension to the traverser, thankfully it worked well. This was first thing this morning and after it was all dry I still had plenty of time left to do some track laying. Out came the gauges to ensure all was equally spaced and track laying commenced.
Below are some photographs of my attempts, the track is lightly pinned so that adjustments can be made, the track will ultimately be glued down when I am 100% happy!
Very happy with the outcome ——–but I have an idea to add another extension to the other end – This is a far more difficult proposition as it needs to be extremely precise.
I have also encountered a possible balance problem when the deck is fully extended – some lead ballast in the base may be necessary.
After making the traverser and testing its capacity, I felt that I would like to find a way to enlarge it slightly, mainly to hold four Mk1 and Mk2 coaches and a medium size Loco.
After much testing and finding some raw materials I began to test a few ideas. Although limited by having only a small amount of wood, I managed to come up with a prototype that would allow a four inch extension and an end stop.
Below are some photographs of the extension, albeit without actually gluing the extra piece on to the traverser.
Well, that’s it, four coaches and a Class 31 is now fine – certainly looks better than three. I now need to decide whether to buy some more wood and make a prototype 5 or 6 inch!
