Thanks for all the support guys, I have been a little slack lately and have done nothing in my train room for a week! I am waiting for an auto reversing module to arrive and some more Tortoise switch machines. I can then finish the center lines to the reversing loops. Also, rig up a test bed using the Peco curved turnouts and Tortoise switch machines. One of the guys I work with is an N scale fan and an electrician. I showed him the Peco turnouts and he did some tests with a multi-meter and came to the same conclusion as jagged ben, just power the frog from the Tortoise. I also read the wiring for DCC link, good info and PICTURES!! I will add jumper wires from the closure rails to the point rails and that shoud solve the "dead rail" issue. This all begs the question, "why doesn't Atlas make a code 55 curved turnout?"
There's probably just not enough market for a curved switch to make it viable. Sure, everybody wants a curved switch - but with what radii? What you would find perfect just won't work for me; and so you end up with either a bunch of different sizes with very little sales on any one of them; or just one size and less sales because "if only it were larger/smaller.." issues. We're just being spoilt by Atlas C55 - I mean, #5, #7, #10 points; not one but two different wyes. Aye, Luxury. Curved points could be nice for my yard ladder; but I already realise no one makes one that's the right size. Now, what I really want is a double slip. How many companies do you suppose make those in N scale? Preferably code-55. See, I'm just so demanding (Near as I can tell, two: Peco and Walthers/Shinohara. All I have to do is find a Local Hobby Shop who stocks it or a foreign one who would ship to .nz) Don't worry about the progress or lack thereof; you'll make this thing at your own pace and please keep us informed how you go
I have added a facia to the upper level, I took the photo with a flash that makes the near facia look grey. It's black just like the other bit... honest! I have also been playing around with an auto-reversing curcuit, I haven't quite got all the bugs ironed out as yet. I can run a loco around both helix loops and back through the center line but on every second curcuit it will stall (short out) on the same section of track. If I can't resolve this glitch I will post a question in the DCC forum and include track diagram and as much information as I can. I can run trains and avoid the short out, I just need to remember to throw the turnout and direct the train away from the problem area. I have been doing this by hand but I now have a gaggle of tortii to mount and wire up.
Ken, on every second round it will short or simply stall? As you have a reverse loop: Does that mean it will short (or stall) traversing the offending section always in the same direction ("left to right" or "right to left")? What kind of reverser do you use? Cheers Dirk
Dirk: The auto reverser is form DCC Specialties model PSX-AR and works like a charm now that I have resolved the glitch. I needed to add a second gap and drop a set of feeders to the power buss.
Cool, it sounnds like you have resolved the issue! I use the Digitrax PM42, which has 4 reversers per unit. One is already done (4 reversing sections), 2 more on their way to me (2 wyes, 2 more reversing section, 1 home-build crossing and 3 power district protections). Adding them is a little but of a hassle, but the improved operations are well worth the effort. Cheers Dirk
Wow... I am wrapt. Not only have the glitches gone from the A/R but I have successfully reinstalled the Peco curved turnouts. I followed the advice given earlier in this thread, gapped the closure rails and isolated the frogs running wires to the tortoise switches and BINGO! EVERYTHING works.
I won't be posting any progress for the next seven weeks while the layout party is on, but I will be back after the party is over. It is great to have the whole upper level opperational all wired up and ready to go! Please check out all the fun at the layout party: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=95458 Lots of real interesting layouts to check out, have fun!!!!
This is just an update of the progress so far: Helix 1 with some of the plastering complete and with a little miss-matched backdrop (I have since touched it up). Ok it looks like a background for the "Simpsons" D'oh, but I don't what to make it too detailed, simple works for me. I put a trackside cliff face at the edge of the helix hole to suggest to the imagination the existance of a mountain over the access hole. Also spent a lazy afternoon detailing the scene, weathering the rails, planting flock grass and painting. This is the view from helix 1 towards the bridges. All ready for the next scenic layer, a plaster cast of hillsides and rock faces. Oh, and a tunnel.
Hello Ken, looking great! Ffrom previous post it appears that you will be running modern equipment , right? If that is the case you might want to consider "daylighting" the tunnel: Most modern railroads would have daylighted a short tunnel to avoid the maintenance cost and potential size restrictions. Your tunnel might be too short to have survived..... Cheers Dirk
Dirk: You are probably right but I am using modellers licence here. The whole track plan is too compressed to be realistic anyway. I wanted something to give the lines some separation, hence the tunnel. It is constructed as a removable section to allow for track cleaning etc.
More progress. I have had a couple of attempts at painting some backdrops for the upper level. My first attempt failed because I was mixing paint, two parts white, one part blue, then brush onto the stiff card that I am using for backdrops. The card measures 1000mm x 750mm, so I will need several of these panels joined together to make a backdrop. What happened was the color didn't match up from one panel to the next. I then tried touching up the panels but that only made it worse. In the end I went to the craft shop and brought some cobalt blue acylic poster paint and started again. Ta, Da...
I painted up two more dackdrop panels and have removed the masking tape from the track. The lines are open, and I can run trains again... waa hoo I now need to ballast and weather all the track in this photo. A job that will keep me out of mischief for a while. I am still tring to get the right sort of fade to a lighter shade of blue on the backdrop. The good thing is I can paint the backdrop while in place. This is a shot with the tunnel removed.
A quick run through my layout. [ame="http://youtube.com/watch?v=4rTwN_N3YvM"]YouTube - Tunnel Run[/ame]
A couple of pics of progress, I did some scenic detail work on the upper level, weathered the track and planted some grasses, shrubs etc. Made a small access road running parallel to the track for the maintenance crews. One lone signal, I made this one wrong as the light is on the wrong side of the pole A shot at just below eye level looking across the tracks. The white glue is still wet on the roadway in places.
