Camdale layout

[aussietmrail]

First up I had to find a new link to the forum, the one I had kept on coming up with that 404 error, went on the net for a new link here I am, any one else having the same issue, I let Mick know, pays to change your link .

I am well under way doing the bu wiring on the approach module car port end, three blocks have being doen of course the easest, the next three be a challnge especially block 13 and 14 the shortest bocks on the layout, these two blocks would of being the main line blocks, would of of heald trains up with trains coming out of the station platform track especially if I was splitting up the Indian Pacific to share two platforms blocking the main line now the main line is free  and the shunting fun begians.

Also eing busy with planning aheard from the aproach module to h wnext module where blocks 13 and 14 meet the main line I didn't have the points for the curve of the point to the left which would of being far better, do with what you have and needing signals, I will begian on cutting the sides  for the next module once the wiring is finished on the approach module.have also nailled in track nails where the points and cross ove go once I paint the module.

Yes I am designing the layout o be plug and play.

 

Tony from mild down under keeping on moving ahead.

 

 

[aussietmrail]

The bus wiring is complete and made a start on soldering the feeder wires to the track, only have seven  pairs of feeder wires to solder now big job but be gald to seeyet another completed module, I even cut the brass plated circuit board strips, just the brass with a hack saw I use to hold the track down on the module join, works well, still need to make up the bus wires on the last station module, only three tracks at this stage, wont take long.

Pics two and three I decided to go and buy left hand points straightening up the main line and be easier for whe thetrain  coming off the left hand track onto the right hand to access  block 7 when I will have sydney Central  station set up being a terminus track  end of the line.a through track when modelling East Perth station..

Where the points and cross over is, blocks 2 and 3 end and 14,15 begin I decided to have two shorter blocks would of caused problems with holdering up the main line  those two blocks are 12 and 13, will be doing the same on stage three of the station module complex three more  modules with platforms 1 to 5 where the Indian Pacific starts her journey across Australia..end at East Perth WA, wont be starting work on those moduels tillearly next year, that's the plan .

I boght some more bus wire today to finish the next module off , even wire is getting dear probably should of bought a 100metre roll for $44..need two rolls  where it add up so best to buy a bit at a time when needed, ,I the wire I bought is not as thick as the main line bus wire being close to the main control panel, I may be going DCC earler than I think, most probably going NCE aiming to be Wi-Fi set up.

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead

[aussietmrail]

I had a busy day sorting out my Uncles locos, gained 14 sadly most of them need a lot of TLC especial the Tyco ones, the best loco being the black Hornby British rail steamy, she runs well, not bad for tender powered, she is a freight steamy by the size of the drive wheels, but I don't kno what class she is non-thing typed on the box, can anyone tell me,usually Hornby have the loco class   marked on the box, no paper work

Sadly my Uncle passed away lossing his fight to cancer late Friday afternoon be ringing my cousin tomorrow night to go back and get the rest of the track and what he told the weekend before here still is trains  and parts in other boxes.

The only locos that aren't running are the santa fe middle ones, one is a dummy loco so two need a  lot of work on them to get them running again the blue Santa Fe loco it is a Tyco runns ok and as the silver one behing it but it is very noisy, motor need cleaning.

I gainned a lot of freight wagonsand a lot I threw out keeping the bogies to scratch build into new box cars like the refrigerator 64foot reefer cars, they have smooth sides easy to scratch build, might go and buy one to copy the rest pretty dear to buy $46 US got enoight parts to build 15 yet another summer project on those hot days.

The other locos on the left of the pic some I will replace the shells those detecting track measurring locos something different lots of projecs on the go to keep me busy.

Tomoorw I will be setting up the three modules, last station module approach module and the new second module so I can set up and level the third module being the approach module for the next set of three station modules, will run a string line across to the back of the house to where the car port back  corner module be, height be six inches higher for the bridge clearence, 18inches. Be a lot quicker now building the smaller modules be  double track to the end of the car port onto single track curves,7foot radous.same with the bus wiring,will do the point waing once te layout is up and running, long time coming.

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead.

[aussietmrail]

I have reached the side of the car port wall six inhes off a big mile stone, the third module I levelled so I can markl the sides and cut them on Friday. and screw them on, the secons module still needs two centre beams cut and I be cutting the back side doen a couple of feet, want to put pavers in for the ply sides to sid on, then paint both modules and all over again track laying and bus wiring.

The curves section will screw sides onto it to stop the saging, in the corner is where the turn table be going to tuen the steamies around,bugger the spell check is still not working I switched to Google Chrome, might the next time.

When I set the modules up again in the car port I will have to put a string line across to ge the height on the back of the house, will be 6 inches higher for the bridge clearence, there is a locabl hobby Expo in neighbourring suburb this weekend going to it want to fin out where I can get plans of the roro ship I wantto buld a water line model of and a flying boat water boomber called Martin Mars in 72 scale kit.

Tony from down under keepin gon moving ahead on track.

 

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[aussietmrail]

I have started work on the new cross circular saw jig,have decided to take it off the work bench on it's own base, the first one still not cutting a square cut be using two squares to square up the angle line runners .pics to follow, be easier to store in the garden shed as well out the way, spell checknot working again.

Tony from down under  keeping on moving ahead

 

[aussietmrail]

The cross cutting jib is now a fully portable finished it yesterday and tested it wow can cut like a pro saving money to buy a slide mitre saw, I also  invented a bar clamp using threaded rod, will rebuild it so when I tighten it the wood ends stay square, can be used for buinging the modules holding the ply sides in place, get all my ideas from you tube.

Back into the layout this week finishing off the second and third module in the car port ready for painting, and the curve section too.

I don't know why spell check isn't working switched to Google Chrome, must be win10 after that big update I had a  few weeks back.

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead .

 

[traingeekboy]

On 8/22/2017 at 06:17, aussietmrail said:

 

 

 

That Blue an yeloow Cat whisker Santa Fe F unit looks like an old Tyco. But those tend to sieze up, so maybe it's an athearn which would be more reliable. I am very fond of the Blue yellow freight scheme. Still have mine from 1970. It's a bit beat up and the motor won't take power at all, but I like the shape.

[aussietmrail]

Hi Griff, Yeah that blue and yellow F7 is a Tyco , runs ok  but sadly I thought I could modify the F7/B  loco  shell using Tyco bogies don't work bogie side frames are too large, the Athearn brown loco F7/A chassis with motor fitted one F7/B shell ok  I am hopping to buy another F7 Athearn on eBay and use that chassis for the second F7/B shell and power it as well.

Since the blue F7 works o I will swap that shell with the Warbonnet Santa Fe shell all locos be powered., once the B locos are painted be an awesome site indeed.

Tony from cool  down under,  spring is here still a cool morning, keeping on moving ahead

 

[aussietmrail]

Hi Mick, I decided to switch to Google Chrome to sort out the spell check issue, but disscoveredI had another issue, don't know if it is the forum or it is chrome, when on chrome, it won't accept cap lock to say on even holding the key down doesn't work that is why a few times I have being locked out but with edge no problem but no spell check, will ask my son today if he can go throug the Chrome setting.

Well under way with construction of the modules onto module three in the car port area after that module is the 12ft  7ft long curve the smaller straight section has track on it, can jump that one to the next small straight section, , once past the 3rd module the construction will speed up, getting closser to the big day just before Christmas, if not it be a shortage of track be asking Santa for a box of Flexi track. ha, ha..

Pic one I came up with a new idea to hold the module sides in plac and upright making it easier to screw the ply top on, I may make up  a timber jig to replace the corner clamps, pic 2 is what I use to to keep the module join for the track to line up every time where I can't use bolts, I am looking at replacing the bolts on the station modules to a special bracket, making it quicket to set the modules up.

Moving on pic 3  and 4 where the two modules join and tighten the screws, pic 5 both modules joind all I need to do is now cut the two ends and two beams and the paint can begian and alll over again with track laying and the bus wiring only have two tracks to solder the wires to.

My Santa Fe F7/A-B-B-A project is coming along nicely, I got two F7/B shells and waiting for an Athearn F7/A  powered loco to arrive from America, the shell will recace the  Brown F7/A shell, motor and chassis for the second F7/B shell, all four locos be powered, keep posted in the Santa Fe Super Chief in work bench updates.

Winter is ver but still felt early morning we had 3 degrees this morning to a nice spring day, hope the weath stayins nice till summer hits where I can make most of it on th e layout.

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead.

[Riddles]

"Cap Lock" works OK on the forum using Google Chrome for me.  I doubt if the problem is with the forum OR Chrome, but I'm no expert.

Regards,

Riddles

[aussietmrail]

Hi Riddles, cap locks working for you with chrome just realized  it could be my laptop as I am having trouble with the cursor jumping lines when typing , lap top is over a couple of years old now .

Solved it changed the password and no need for cap locks  pretty hard to crack. and happy I have spell check working .

How is your layout going .

Tony from down under keeping moving ahead.

 

 

 

[aussietmrail]

A very bad start for this week, today my son lost his fight with muscular  dystrophy  passed away this morning at the age of 32, he died at home peacefully going to be tough for the next couple of days with the loss of my son, he was  my mate., hasn't hit my wife as yet  Wont be on the layout for a few days sorting out all his stuff  that has to go back.  be very special when I run the first train ,. layout is named after him .

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead

[roddy]

So sorry to hear this Tony. As usual, words aren't enough to help in any way. Be strong for your wife, and together you will come through the dark times. 

Roddy.

[aussietmrail]

Hi roddy, many thanks for the kind words, yes hasn't hit my wife yet I will be focusing   on her now , my family came pretty quickly and were able to say good by to him, going to be a hole in our life for a while if that is the right word he was 24/7 care , just have to take a day at a time and get back into the layout in a few days..

His heart stopped sadly that happens with blokes with MD his lungs wasn't much better.

 

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead 

[mick]

I am truly sorry to read this Tony. As usual I've been too busy with my own trivial matters to get through all the recent posts and learn what others are doing and having to contend with. I am really sorry for that.

We've had our fair share of heartache over recent years so I can imagine just what you and your family are going through right now. I know from what you've said previously that your son had limited life expectancy but when they are at such a young age that's not going to make things any easier for you and the fact that you had to care for him every moment of every day will, I'm sure, make the pain of your loss even greater. 

Nothing I can ever say will make things any easier but at least I hope it's some comfort to you and your wife to know that your friends here are thinking of you both at this sad time.

Mick

[aussietmrail]

Afternoon Mick, good to hear from you and many thanks for the kind words can I ask you should I post a resent pic of my son , I now know what you went through a while back losing a family member, he went so quick no pain and struggling for air is what he was afraid of heart just stopped .

I had some kind of closure   today  decided to take his three ventilators back to the hospital and cough assist machine, wanted to thank the specialist and stuff in the sleep clinic , I rang to let them know I was coming and his specialist was there waiting that was great. H e told me why now should of while he was in hospital in June that he didn't have much  time  left and each episode  he had  was wreaking his heart  muscules had no muscle tone  in his chest at all , his equipment is going tomorrow and bed next week iIdonated it to  muscular dystrophy in Brisbane picking the bed up next week.

He was 31 years old when he passed away  we were lucky to have this long the way the doctor was talking  only because we looked after him well  and went out of our way to make sure he was  happy.

In the next few weeks at night I be copping all my pic folders and loading them onto his computer and use the lap top for plying DVDs was going to donate it no way compute is too good for that very expensive gaming computer even though it is a few years old still  played all the latest games .

Mick I switched to Chrome and had an issue with the  password the lap top cap lock wouldn't work  I ended up being able to change the pass word  with out cap locks ,though to crack , at least now spell check works.

I be back working on the layout Sunday, Friday be a special day especially 9.am when he will be cremated, we be playing his favorite music Cold Play and be hugging each other were he passed away in the lounge in his wheel chair, still can't come to terms that he has passed away.

Many thanks to every one in the form and Mick  

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead.

[mick]

Tony, if you want to post a photo of your son then yes, I understand, and that's okay with me. You could post one here in this thread if that's what you want or even start a 'personal journal' where you can post photos and even add some stories or memories of him if you want to. If you choose the journal option then it would ensure your layout thread stays on subject which makes it much more interesting for others to read - they soon become confusing to others when attention is diverted away to another topic.

The chrome 'cap lock' problem must be something to do with your laptop. I can't see how it could possibly be forum related. I know from researching the problem that some modern devices (Chromebooks?) no longer have cap locks keys at all. Sorry I can't help with that one.

[aussietmrail]

Afternoon Mick, yes I will take that advice and head to personal journal as i want to post a tribute t my son when I set his computer in the  new computer room in coming days .

Yes I think it is to do with the lap top as Riddles said he has chrome and no problems, I will find that out when I start using my sons computer, the lap top only has a 256 MB hard drive bu one of those fast hard drives slowly running out of room  if it wasn't for my son the lap top was going to crash found out the HD was split started using the second side.will  copy all my pic folders and  load them on my sons computer. Will be cleaning out his HD which he has two , one for windows operation and other to store games and his was nearly full .

Today was a very hard day , his equipment .was piked up by a Currier I wanted to drive his chair out for the last time but the dam thing decided to play up right to the end , didn't even get out the back door  before the bad wiring error came up , I had to push it out and down the drive slow was pretty hard as the chair was very heavy , it broke my heart , tears were  starting to run from my eyes waited to I went inside and saw my wife and broke down.

More tomorrow when my wife and me  stand where he passed away in his  wheel chair and play his favorite music  Col d Play , 9.05 am is when he be cremated  and his electric bed goes tomorrow,  I don't have to pull it down will fit side ways down the hall way I hope there be two blokes  two lift the bed quite heavy, will  be able to let go as well.

Be back into the layout construction in full swing  Sunday to make sure the layout is up and running by Christmas going away for a 10 day holiday over Christmas first holiday we have had since he started school , he  was 31 when he died left school at 15, holiday was before he started school., want to be able to pack up all the modules in the garden shed  and not have to worry someone might steel them .

Mick how ill I go , I want to contact DFDS Tor Lines to see if they can help me get some drawing of the Ro, Ro Ship I want to model in 87 scale be 2.150 meters long 300 beam and not sure on th e height way I want to get more measurements , she is a MSG 113 class ship 4 ships built could be more by now, . Finn line  has the same ship was built in China nice looking ship actually mine be a water line model just clearing by a couple  of inches, I started drawing up a full size side plan with bridge two upper decks and  two lower decks  with the full hull has three lower decks , drawing is Fin Breeze.

Would you know where the port is , the DFDS Tor line is London based.

Tony from down under keeping on moving a head.

[roddy]

You should get some information here.

https://www.dfds.com/group/media/contacts

[aussietmrail]

Hi roddy, many thanks for the contact link will send the UK link an email tonight an email , no point now it's 10.45 pm your time , the first  bloke with his pic.,fingers crossed they can help me with the build , got a place in the hobby room to store the ship when build.

Tony from down under keeping on moving ahead.