The road queues at the level crossing on Outer Melbourne do not work quite as well as hoped, due to using an older track design so that it could be finished in time for its first exhibition. This is testing out an improved version of the road track that permits proper queueing. Too late for Outer Melbourne, but ready for the next layout that needs it. And it even works with N Scale cars.
The layout is now ready for its first exhibition, and is basically complete. There are a few rough edges, and the cars queuing at the crossing aren't quite working right yet, but it is good enough for now.
That nerve-racking moment when the layout gets turned upside down to shake off the excess scatter has come and gone, and it all looks very much like what was planned. (sigh of relief)
Getting the roads working is one thing. Getting decent-looking road markings is something else entirely, especially when they need to line up with the underlying linear motor track.
I ended up defining a small computer language to describe the roads, then writing a small Windows program to read this and generate the graphics. These were then printed with an inkjet onto self-adhesive label paper, sprayed with a couple of coats of matte acrylic, cut out and stuck to the track or cardboard foundation, then sprayed with more matte acrylic. The minimum set of trains for the layout is now basically complete, with 7-car Tait and Harris sets, and a parcel coach. If I have time before its exhibition debut in August, I may see about building a Hitachi set as well.
This is still early test software that can only handle light traffic, running whatever trains and road vehicles I had ready to hand.
Slow but steady progress. All of the electronics is now complete - built, tested and installed. The layout wiring is done, including controls, power supplies and a temporary set of crossing lights. The next step is to upgrade the simple test software to tie everything together.
My second linear motor layout is now taking shape. This is another small Aussie layout, a 48" x 17" model in T scale (1:450) of a typical but fictitious location on the outer edge of the Melbourne suburban network. Quite a few lines around Melbourne drop down to single track for their last station or two before the terminus. The setting is the 1970s / early 1980s, and will feature electric multiple unit stock from that period, all 3D printed.
|
Overview
British and Australian model railway layouts in T, N and OO. My Layouts
Friends' Layouts
Main Articles
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
AuthorMartin Kaselis |
- Home
- My Linear Motor Layouts
- My Conventional Layouts
- Other Layouts
- T Gauge
-
Electronic Tips
- Blue Pill - Bare Metal C Programming
- Working Roads
- Hybrid DC - DCC Controller
- Using LEDs
- Connectors
- Controlling the Fleischmann Turntable
- Constant Brightness Tail Lamps (OO scale)
- Point Motors and Relays
- Point Motors and Toggle Switches
- Dapol Signals
- Colour Light Signals and Automation
- Synchronized Fast Clocks
- Wire Sizes and Voltage Drop
- DC Controllers
- Controller Types
- Feedback Controllers
- Working Level Crossing
- General Tips
- 3D Printing
- Contact
- Links