Having read a few introductory books on railway modelling, one piece of advice stood out : in order to see if you get on with a particular scale /gauge - build a couple of wagons, lay some track and see whether you like it...
Thus was born the "High Water" diorama (which is slowly morphing into a working layout). The first mistake was to use a bit of Contiboard which was lying around unused - very flat and solid, but very heavy ! A good choice of track seemed to be Peco 'finescale' but I'm now finding that some of the more affordable rolling stock offered at shows needs a mod' or two. So far I've built 3 Ratio wagons (the brake van has been converted to P4 along with some track - another experiment !), a Wills station kit plus a station starter signal - all in 4mm scale. I've also scratch-built one 009 wagon (in wood) based on an N gauge chassis plus two bridges for the high-level section and a canal barge.
There are two lines - standard gauge (00) and narrow gauge (009), a canal and a rope-worked incline serving the NG sidings. The idea is to work the two lines with one steam and one diesel shunter each. The standard gauge line will also have an early style DMU as soon as I can find one. Thus, the era is end of steam /beginning of diesel...
I've learned a lot so far. The main limitation has been the width of the Contiboard which has, in turn, limited operational scope due to lack of siding space - this probably needs a re-think /extension of some sort... also, electrically, I've learnt new things, like the wiring up of the rope incline. It's all DC so far with a simple Hornby controller which seems to give quite good slow running. Maybe a trial with DCC later on will also prove interesting.
Following on from the previous post, I would be interested to hear members views on how best to extend the scope into a proper working layout :-
At various exhibitions I've seen, most seem to use some form of storage /fiddle sidings. I've also heard of 'cassette' systems and 'traversers'...not too sure how they work, or, how to construct them.
The current baseboard measures 4' x 15" (or thereabouts), has 3 points and 2 storage sidings plus a small loco shed spur. I can extend lengthwise via a second baseboard but, the width is more difficult due to positioning of a back plane and front controls.
Any ideas very welcome...thanks,
Dave
I would not worry about the width. Fifteen inches wide makes a good "shelf" layout. Four foot as an end to end layout is a respectable length when you consider that in an equivalent continuous run layout of about that size, say 4'x2' or thereabouts, a fair proportion of the layout will be curve.
Add a fiddle-yard to your layout and it is by no means small. Add a similar length of "countryside" run in between and it is a fair old size. Or it could it could be something in between with a part fiddle-yard, part "run" board.
An alternative if it is suitable for turning into a continuous run is to add two half circle end boards and a fiddle-yard board behind, though that does not take account of the controls from the front.
Hi Graeme - some good ideas there...do you have any views as to whether the fiddle yard should be just 'points and roads', or 'traverser' or 'cassette' ?
I'd love to know how these different systems work ! I think I could make the extension baseboard with a 'run-in' as you suggest perhaps from a quarry /station etc to give the line(s) more purpose. I could also increase the width to allow for more scenic development in front of the fiddle yard, but, probably by not enough to permit a continuous run.
Thanks, Dave
Quote from: Dave Cooper on March 07, 2019, 23:05
Hi Graeme - some good ideas there...do you have any views as to whether the fiddle yard should be just 'points and roads', or 'traverser' or 'cassette' ?
Just to add my 2p to this debate the type of fiddleyard is going to depend on how much space you have. 'Points and roads' is probably going to be the easiest to build as it's just a series of sidings, but all those points will take up a fair bit of space before you get to the road! A traverser's maximum width is limited to
It would be nice to see a cassette system like those available in OO, HO etc. where you can store your stock and loco on the cassette place it on the track and drive off........ unless someone knows of one already available.
Mac
Hi Julien - yes, it's pro's and con's isn't it. Most of the exhibition layouts I've seen have the storage /fiddle roads around the back ie away from public view, or, as an extension with a scenic break at one end.
I can see a short(ish) cassette being practical, not sure about the traverser, and I think the points and roads system could work. A few limitations for me :-
1. The access roads to the main layout are approx. 10-12" apart (one N gauge (009), and one 00 gauge).
2. Longest train length will probably be a 2-car DMU in 00.
For storage of stock, I think 3 roads for each line will probably suffice (at least for now). Hence, the fiddle yard would need 2 points for each line....(2 x N gauge and 2 x 00).
By using a wider baseboard for the extension, I could incorporate Graeme's idea of a 'run in' section /scenic break as well. Possibly, by making all the points 'same-handed' and using the smaller radii types, I could make it work ?
Thanks for ideas,
Dave
Hi Mac - are you referring to something that is commercially available in 00/HO ? If so, I'm sure this could be adapted to 009...but, it would need to have some form of 'stock security' in place (see Julien's post) plus all the necessary electrical connections etc...
Dave
Quote from: Dave Cooper on March 07, 2019, 23:05
Hi Graeme - some good ideas there...do you have any views as to whether the fiddle yard should be just 'points and roads', or 'traverser' or 'cassette' ?
I'd love to know how these different systems work !
Do you mean how they are constructed or the pros and cons of using one over the other?
I was really meaning one over the other...have since looked up some photos and diagrams in various books that I have and can see most of the constructional detail now.
Just to complicate matters a bit, the 'entry' to the NG line on the main board is part way up a grade (about 1" higher than board level). I guess this more or less rules out the traverser and cassette options ?
All-in-all, I'm thinking go for extra length /width on the fiddle yard board to accommodate two sets of two points joined end-to-end to form the entrance to the storage roads....hope this makes sense !
Dave
Yes a commercial unit, where the cradle is put onto a straight section of track, picks up the supply and the loco (train?) can be driven off. I seem to recall seeing an HO unit but do not think it would be easy to adapt.
Mac