My apologies if this is a little off-topic, but I am sure I recall a thread describing a layout under construction or on the drawing board: I cannot find again, though I think I have tried all the likely threads. It may have been on another forum, but it iwas most probably here.
It was small, possibly 4 ft x 2 ft, had a terminus at the front, a 180 degree curve to a small fiddle yard at the back. Does it ring any bells? I'd like to study the track plan again and I'd love to know how it is progressing.
Many thanks!
Graeme,
It could be that you are refering to my layout. I had thought that I had a thread about it on this forum but it seems I only have rolling stock details on here. Is this the thread you were refering to?
http://ngrm-online.com/forum/index.php?topic=31.msg300#msg300
Alas progress on the layout has not been that significant since the last photograph shown. I have ballasted all the track, but after doing so the point operating rodding - for which I had deliberately used thin wire to provide enough spring to avoid any damage to the points - proved to be too flexible and not reliable in operation. My choices now are to replace it all with thicker wire or to use point motors. Either of these would work, but on a smaller layout such as this I do prefer the silent operation of manual points rather than electric solenoids and have no plans to buy tortoise silent motors.
I have construced the station and goods shed for the layout, but no other scenic work has been done until the point operation is fixed and the uncouplers are started.
Thanks Neil. Your layout looks very much like it, but I am sure the message I saw only had a track plan and was perhaps still in the planning stage. I am beginning to wonder if I imagined the layout or found it by chance by following links to someone's web page.
Anyway thanks. I will bookmark your thread and study it. I am searching for inspiration for a small layout to build that I might actually be able to finish! (And can fit on the back seat of the car.)
Regarding point motors, if replacing the wire is not practical, have you considered the Conrad point motors?
http://www1.conrad-uk.com/scripts/wgate/zcop_uk/~flN0YXRlPTM1MDA0MDY4NDA=?direkt_aufriss_area=SHOP_B2C_ModelRailway&~template=PCAT_AREA_S_browse&p_page_to_display=&catalogs_sub_id=sub15&aktiv=15&navi=oben_1 (http://www1.conrad-uk.com/scripts/wgate/zcop_uk/~flN0YXRlPTM1MDA0MDY4NDA=?direkt_aufriss_area=SHOP_B2C_ModelRailway&~template=PCAT_AREA_S_browse&p_page_to_display=&catalogs_sub_id=sub15&aktiv=15&navi=oben_1)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.conrad.com%2Fxl%2F2000_2999%2F2100%2F2190%2F2199%2F219998_LB_00_FB.EPS.jpg&hash=789a32c8287af11273ceb35dc0236717042aa5b5)
They are "semi slow motion" with a simple crown or bevel gear mechanism, a bit like LGB point actuators I believe. They move quickly without the clunk of a solenoid and are a lot smaller than Tortoises.