Brett at TVNAM

Yesterday I took Brett along to the TVNAM show at Armitage for my first ever exhibition. Brett was never designed for taking on the road, but my preparation paid off, in as much as it stood at a reasonable height, worked all day and didn't need any tweaking.

Set up and ready to go

Very tiring, but I knew that it would be, as it is a long day on your feet, but well worth it. Great to meet up with friends, meet new people and put some faces to names.

The frame, complete with splayed Freemo legs. Sturdier than it looked!

I was well aware that Brett isn't up to the standard of modelling seen on other layouts, but everyone that stopped and watched was very kind. It was great to hear that quite a few people were already familiar with the layout via forums, this blog or Youtube. In fact, at least two people said that they had been influenced and built layouts with similar trackplans!

My neighbour for the day, Dave Long's Agawam

Millers Crossing

Jez New's layout 'New Field'

I had a couple of invites to other shows.. but to be truthful I'm not sure if exhibiting is something I'd want to get into 'properly' .. as interesting as it was, I think for me the social and interactive aspect of Freemo ticks a few more boxes. But I'm not ruling it out..maybe something little and new for Nottingham next year.. hmm...

Steve is a TVNAM regular - her with Duncan's Mine

Andy talks 3D printing

Anyway, I didn't get to take many pictures sadly, but there a number of great layouts on show again - most were fairly compact when I think about it. For some reason, I didn't take any pictures of the smart Tilley Yard, or the impressive Fort Myers, perhaps the biggest layout on the day. I'll try to rectify that in September at the next big Freemo meet.

Chris Gilberts Florida fleet play on Easter Park

TVNAM is also a bit of a shopping trip usually - loads of great priced stock available, mostly from Anoraks Anonymous. I resisted any new locos and picked up a few more covered hoppers.

Now home I've been looking at my locos, thinking I really need to re-organise. I have a plan. No idea if it will work, but essentially I want to bring some focus to my tiny fleet.

More if it works..

Progress on two fronts

A couple of days off work and I've felt like cracking on with stuff. As well as setting up Brett on it's exhibition framework to check some stuff.. I've also built a couple of plastic kits for Sheldon and been busy in the garage with bits of wood..

This is the 4 foot extension for Sheldon.. it's a foot wide, rather than the standard 18", as we found in our group that as long as the compatibility was there at board ends, the difference in width for these joining pieces wasn't too much of an issue. Although I ordered brackets and feet for this, they turned up today and the 50mm feet aren't going to cut it, so I've pinched the 100mm feet from my short end 

It's just going to be a straight signle track run of 4 ft, providing a switch lead for the spur at Sheldon, and a bridge to the next module. If necessary, I might make up small triangle bits to match up the ends with 18" boards. 

Scenically it's going to be pretty plain - fields, possibly with some fencing etc.

I've also been giving some thought to the room layout, the replacement for Brett. Pete over on RMWeb, made some good suggestions on my first draft, and I've incorporated them here.. still not the final version - that will be whatever gets actually built, but some good ideas so far.

Thinking Ahead.. Brett extended or replaced

Freemo stuff has pretty much dominated any railway modelling this year.. but bubbling away in the background has been some thinking about the space I have at home, and what I could do with it.

Brett is 8 feet long and originally sat on a shelf in a smaller room. It's now on a wall which is 13 ft and there is potential to extend along two more walls, adding another 8 and 7 feet.

As much as I like Brett, there is an urge to start from scratch.. I miss the creative process of building stuff as I don't churn out the micros like I used to. Also - although I could swap things around a little, and use the current 'team' track as the entry point, it would feel a bit of a bodge. Brett is due to be shown at TVNAM in June (first time ever exhibiting anything for me!) so I might look to sell/scrap it about the same time.

So, the available potential space is;

• 7 feet. This is above my desk and Mac, so needs to be something fairly easy to operate.. I'm thinking of a yard or staging but unsure of the wisdom of that..
• To the right of that is a run of 8 feet. This is a stud wall, and the first few feet are also over my desk, so I picture a fairly narrow and straight run.
• Finally, another 90 degree turn to the right into the final 13 feet.

I intend to continue using rack shelving to support the layout , and most likely at a height of around 55 inches off the floor.

Period-wise I think I'll keep with a 'modern' theme.. although 80s/90s more than current day I think.

I'm fairly keen to re-visit my first interest in American Railroads, and go back to New England - Rutland territory.. perhaps a fictitious shortline which has connections with the VTR and/or Green Mountain, or perhaps even become part of the Vermont Rail System.

Beyond that - deciding on specific industries, scenes etc.. no decisions.

An early draft of the kind of plan I'm considering..

Obviously the plan needs work. I think the top half came from a Lance Mindheim drawing. The 'staging' would most likely make use of curved turnouts to make best use of the space on the corner. A stub ended yard is fine too, as I can use a switcher to release trains. 

I would like to get even a simple loco stabling area in somewhere, but I am also trying to keep things simple. Who knows.. I may end up building something completely different to this!!

Exhibiting Brett?

Brett was always intended to be a home layout, I built it in a lightweight fashion to sit on rack shelving. I have been asked a couple of times if I'd like to exhibit it, which is very flattering, but have baulked at the thought of putting it 'out there'. I've never exhibited anything and unsure whether it's something I fancy doing, especially on my own. Also, I wasn't sure how much work would be needed to get Brett to a show.. I need some way of supporting it, displaying it..

Anyhoo.. recent Freemo building has given me a little more confidence in knocking bits of wood together, so when Nick Palette asked if I'd like to bring Brett to TVNAM, I couldn't really say 'no'!

This weekend I have built two simple wooden frames, using my existing Freemo legs, and a test erection (ooer) shows me that it should all work okay. I need to enlist SWMBO to make a curtain for the front of the layout, and make a few tweaks, but all systems are go!

Unless I spend much more time and money, I won't be displaying Brett with lights or sound.. and because my normal viewing angle is about a foot higher than that which I'll be showing it at TVNAM, I'd like to tidy up a couple of details on the layout before then too.

As to the longer term.. I don't intend to start hauling Brett around shows, even if I get asked. I have my doubts that a day on my feet, plus the noise, the travel and lugging about will really appeal to me. TVNAM is an exception as it's such a specialist show and has a community feel to it.

What I might do is actually try to sell the layout, I've already started making plans for a new one, extending around the walls.. early plans look this but are subject to change..

900 switching, sounding off..

I'll hopefully post an update on progress on the Baldwin AS16 soon. In the meantime, spent some time tweaking the Cvs on the Tsunami chip I installed into the Atlas RS36 and I'm enjoying how it sounds.. I took it for the latest train on Brett and posted a video here..

Brett from a different viewpoint

Well, a couple of different viewpoints actually..

A view along the layout, as the local arrives

From the left hand side

Although it highlights the code 100 track, I like this angle

Boxcar ready for collection at Smith & Hogg

Getting the order ready in Northwest Lumber

crew

People are rare sight around Brett, it's such a quiet little backwater. This morning however I caught the YPRR crew switching the elevator. They were running no 36, the BL2, newly out of the shops at Fiddle Creek..

Freemo, BL2s and Baldwins..

There has been a fair bit of progress lately. (including a new video uploaded to Youtube).

The Freemo modules I described in the last post are pretty much built - adjustable feet were installed yesterday. I'm going along to a Freemo meet at Armitage tomorrow of the 'Midlands' group to see what it's all about. Never done anything like this before, so quite keen to find out. There will be handful of modules as it's a new and small group, but there will pictures to follow! I'm taking one of the boards to make sure I'm building properly, and I'll take a few bits of stock and my controller. Hopefully by the next meet I can actually add a module of my own to the set-up.

It occurred to me that I have never 'played trains' with anyone. Although I have made some friends through the hobby, and share lots of online and 'real' conversation, I've never actually operated a layout with anyone else. So far, that part of the hobby has been a very solitary activity. I have been offered the controller at one or two layouts at exhibitions before and always declined - mostly through fear of mucking up or driving someone else's trains off the table!

I've really enjoyed getting back in to my other hobby lately, and the social aspect of wargaming has re-vitalised that for me, so I am riding that wave for now!

As far as track plans go - I am applying the KISS principle and I aim to produce two stand-alone modules. I'll do a separate post on that once track-laying starts.. for now, bits of foamcore and felt pens have helped me to plan..

As well as the Freemo modules - I got stuck in with the BL2. I found a cheap decoder (probably Hornby or Bachmann) which I managed to get hooked up, along with a couple of LEDs and the loco has been put to service on it's first run to Brett this evening.

#36 switching a long string out of Northwest Lumber

I'll get some BL2 video posted soon. I really do like this loco and can see me looking for another BL2 at some point.

Speaking of new locos - I sold a bunch of stuff on eBay lately and treated myself to  a new sound-equipped loco.. I love the thereby old diesel sound of this, and the fact that it's a little different.. the model is a Bowser - Baldwin DS4-4-1000 switcher..

The Baldwin

Phew! I think that's enough for one post!

under wraps..

Some time ago I mocked up a wrapped lumber load for my bulkhead flats to collect from Northwest Lumber. These were very basic and intended as a test. 

Yesterday I knocked up version 2.. made some changes to the dimensions, decided to create two stacks and add some relief.

Basically this load is a plan on one sheet of A4, printed out and cut to shape. I then wrapped the drawings around some foam board and card cut to shape. I scored the lines with a pencil and added strapping - black electrical tape sliced to size. Turns out to be rubbish as it doesn't stick very well.

That's the floor of the wagon that is bowed, not the load!

I am much happier with the look of these, I think the design works for me, so I'm going to source some other tape (Jack Trollope suggested 'nail tape') and make up a couple of these loads properly. (ie take a little more care measuring,cutting and gluing)

 

BL-2 and Split Gears

Despite telling myself that I didn't really want to take on any 'projects' as such, today I am introducing a potential new member of the YPRR fleet - a BL-2, lately in the service of the Monon Railroad.

 

This was a cheap speculative purchase from ebay. The model is an older Lifelike Proto 2K and needs some work, but I have always liked these ever since I first saw a picture of one, and have hankered after one for a while. 


The BL-2 is considered to be an 'ugly duckling' and a failed experiment at creating a 'branch line' engine that was a road switcher. The odd shape of the body sides was to allow the crew to view along the body, something that couldn't be done with the big road units 'F' types etc.. but ultimately a number of other designs with walkways which allowed crews to cover the length of the loco during switching without having to constantly dismount, proved more popular. There were other reasons too, I'm sure.

Despite it's lack of success, or perhaps because if it, I like it! (always a champion of the underdog, me!) Actually, I intend to get a Ford Edsel to park outside Smith & Hogg.

As to this model, I gave it a run on my test track - it is DC and will need chipping but wanted to make sure it was a runner. The motor is actually nice and smooth but there was definitely an audible thunk and a little stutter in it's gait. I suspected that this was the infamous P2K split gear issue. The internet came up trumps here in describing exactly what this meant, and how easy it was to remedy. I happened to have a later P2K GP18 that has been causing me issues for a while, so I decided to swap out the wheelsets. Although the replacements are slightly smaller in diameter, they actually look okay and the engine runs very well now.

It turned out that 3 of the 4 axles were affected, tiny little hairline splits that I most likely would have never noticed if I wasn't looking for them.

So the next big step is to convert this to DCC. Ideally I'd like to install sound. Initial investigation suggests either the Loksound Select (recommended by a friend), or the cheaper Digitrax SDXH166D.. before I choose either, I need to be confident that I understand the electrics on board and make sure that I identify anything that needs isolating. Someone has already swapped the lights and done some modification, so I'm just in the process of working out what goes where!

I shall upload a short video in a while.

Some scenic work and another video

I've been steadily pottering away at Brett in between painting soldiers and looking for paid employment. Mostly little scenic jobs - planting weeds and making a start on the Lumber yard.

A moment of inspiration found me in the garage and mackling up a device to rest my camera on whilst taking videos, as trying to hold the camera steady in one hand and use the controller in the other was proving too much of a challenge.

Basically a little shelf with a length of broomhandle and a 6" square platform for the camera  - clamped to the unit under the layout. It places the camera at about my eye level when operating.

Camera Support thingy Mk 1

 
Today was one of those days when things didn't go quite to plan in 'real life' and I decided to grab an hour this afternoon to test it the new device, and get running some trains again, so I made a video. Actually it's Part One.. as I didn't plan my switching moves at all and subsequently 'today's train is going to take a little longer to switch!

http://youtu.be/ZW-pX9dyxMo 

I don't know how prototypical it is, but I tend to pause quite a bit to allow time for little invisible men to switch points, uncouple cars etc. As this can be incredibly boring to watch, I edit most of these moments of inactivity out. Thinking about it - I perhaps should have used those pauses to actually plan my moves! (doh!)

lights...

I took that video last night in the dark, whilst a blizzard raged outside. The main source of light being from the LEDs on the layout. 

With added sunshine, and a quick fiddle with the camera (just a basic compact), I took a couple of test pictures this morning to see if they look a little more natural.. not applied any after effects or anything and they seem better..

Brett progress video..

Another video posted today - just a short one. Mainly because I've installed some LED lights on Brett.

Scarily I thought I'd step outside the comfort zone and get in front of the camera! (Note to self - don't scratch legs whilst recording - it looks dodgy)

Anyway, as I mention, the lights look great.. although the video does make them look a bit more blue than they do in 'real life', I shall try to get some pictures posted soon.

planting trees on Brett

Brett has had a rather temporary feel for some time. I've been enjoying playing.. er.. operating the layout but have been meaning to get around to a few jobs. All the scenic stuff has been rather loosely 'plopped' up till now and I figured it was time to start doing some of those jobs.

My other hobby has been keeping me occupied lately, but I just finished a rather intensive training course as part of my search for paid employment and needed some modelling relaxation -  a change from painting wargames figures.

I've made a bit of a list which, apart from sorting out the lighting and fascia, includes a number of scenic jobs - fixing the buildings and adding weeds to their bases, the track ends, weathering the chainlink fence, sorting out the vehicles and getting a couple of figures.. number one though was those trees.

I'm happy enough with the trees themselves. Although they a look a little 'generic pointy evergreen' that seems to be exactly what I was looking at on Streetview in the area where Brett is located. However, they needed properly fixing. 

Anyway - It only took half an hour or so with powerdrill and glue, some clipping of bases.. I added a few younger trees too - I forgot I had these in a bag in the loft - removed from an old N scale layout. 

Overall I am quite pleased with this area now.

I've started on one or two of the other little tasks, including adding some depth to the Northwest Lumber warehouse and sorting out track ends (bumpers and the like). What I have to remind myself now is to take it steady. Just do one job at a time and enjoy it, and not rush to get it all done and end up cutting corners.
(Can you tell that I was on a project management course?!)

Switchlist

To operate Brett, I use a brilliant little Mac application called Switchlist.. available here.. I probably need to spend more time getting to grips with it, but in fairness, it seems to be providing me with the activity I was looking for. I suspect it was created with much bigger multi-location layouts in mind. However, I set up Fiddle Creek as my off-layout location and all the action happens between there and Brett. 

I reckon that perhaps the best way to tweak this is to run through a number of sessions and get a proper feel to the balance, before rushing in and making changes to traffic numbers..

This is one of the screens used to alter the industries and cargoes..

You can also print off a number of reports (and even change the look of them to suit your company!)

Some examples..

I don't think that this app is available for Windows or Linux.

a second video

Just a short one this time to show the main motive power on Brett..

A video post

First go at something like this. Just thought I'd give it a go.. not the greatest camera work, as I was holding the camera in one hand, and the controller in the other!