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Update 16th May 2008 |
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Yes I have cleaned up the sun room enough to start framework !
But first a quick report form last Friday's working bee. While Mark installed the first Tortoise pointmotor, basically the rest of the team spent the night in the sun room looking into the issues to do with that room. For them it was the first real time they found out my intentions in the room, which I had worked out so many years ago. I'd say they need more convincing ! We'll talk more about the sun room later in this update, but first some progress photos, for I have been busy.  | |||
As you can see above the plan is a rough representation, yet shows where I have laid track up and including today. You
will notice I have laid alot of "half track" down that is not counted as finished track. This brings me onto the track,
I have used Atlas code83 concrete flexitrack for the mainline, even through the station. I have used Atlas code83
wooden flexitrack on one passing look. I have Peco code83 wooden flexitrack on the continuous run down to the staging,
and will use it for the mainline over the bridge scene & in the passing loop. So int he staion I have cponcrete down
the mainline, goos wooden track ont he passing loop, and will have older wooden track in the rest, being soldered
track & balsa sleepers. The station will not have the same track everywhere, which is good as it will protray different
track standards.
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Heading out of the station and around the peninsular is the limit of the tracks so far. The flexitrack has been laid with a smearing of grey caulk then weightred down during drying. Several lengths are soldered together before curving them. In this case I didn;t put caulk down for the last 20cm so I can add the next section of track easier. |  |
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The Junction is well underway with all the mainline done. You can clearly see the "halftrack" laid. this track represents the grain loop which will be some 'bad" looking track. The photo on the left already shows the mainline rising up, and the other line dipping down out of sight. |  |
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The end of the track at the other extreme. The lower track is all done - where the track is now will be a conversion
to the cheaper code 100 track for staging. The upper track is waiting for more concrete flexitrack - Because of the curves
I like to solder three lengths together to keep the curves through the joins.
I have really zoomed thought the track on the spline by using masking tape to hold the track down in the caulk. This section is not super elevated, porbally woulf have looke OK but well It's done ! What we also ar eloloking at is the site for two bridges, one on each level. The lower one will be a wooden trestle, the highter a iron girder multi span bridge. |
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The three photos below show a different project. I were never happy with the point in this area. It went all over the place, the point looke more of a Wye point than a righthand point. So I bit the bullet and ripped it out. Now the track looks better flows smoother. |
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The Sun RoomThis room has two main functions, have my biggest station, and have the upper stagin yards above your head. The middle level will pass through with a passing siding on it. Because not one really has seen my plans they have come up with their own ideas. But they look too massive or result in a baseboard far too thick vertically. Below is the original impression of the sun room's upper staging yard. This yard is planned to be above your head. It is a pure staging yard, not to be switched - it only stores trains "off stage". Back in an update back in 4 February 2002 I did discuss ways to see what trains were where, and what road was free. This concept may still occur. But there will be a camera up there to broadcast to at least one moniter - if it is a webcam, I can then set up station.screen in more than one location, in the sun room, in the main room, and up on the CTC panel operators station) This idea is not new. I saw it in a Modle Railorader many years ago, on a Oscale layout. His layout's stagin hung off the ceiling, not somethin I intend to duplicate. Issues with this upper level are thus:
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CONSTRUCTION of the sun room:
On the right you have a key map to show where some cross sections may be. Below some of the cross sections. I really want vertical beams down the room. For I want to use brackets more often. The lowest level may actuallty be semi-freestanding. The reason for the frame G-G is that wall is a single brick wall, I want it tied to the house. I talk more about brackets later on. 
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We see the sunroom on the right, all levels. The bottom two examples show two main variants, which depend on how high the upper staging needs to be. One is directly into the reverse loop yards after rounding the corner. The other is to have the track loop aorund to the other end. My intnetion is to build this upper staging yard first. In fact built it almost at eye level first then raise the WHOLE LOT up to it's final position. This way I canmake the boards, lay the trackwork easily. Yes I'll need a lot of help when the day comes, but that will be a planned occasion !!! One myth I need to squash is the idea I need massive vertical woodwork to hold this. I cannot afford a 6 inch deep baseboard as it will take too much vertical space. My intention is many smaller vertical brackets, I have shown the man variation that will be used below left. 
Issues of accessibility have been brought up. "under normal conditions" users will have no need to attend to the models physically.
Only for derailments will access be needed, and I will have a platform living under the lower level for that purpose.
The issue of that long long span to complete the reverse curve acros the sunroom is another concern. If you look at the diagram below right you can see what I'm planning. As you can see the actual span will be very strong with angleiron encased in the strong plywood "H" section. What most drawing do not sho ar ethe support beams crossing the room. This will means the spans will not be as long needing more support. |
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That double angled bracket will be used on the upper level, where the track comes in from the existing upper station. That S curve is a tight one and needs a wide baseboard curve. With only two tracks going around, I can use this type of bracket, to save a bigger angle underneath. 
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I have found it enjoyable down in the train room, when I get the chance, doing all this trackwork. I think you have suffered enough.......end of update (for today!) |
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Page written & maintained by David Head.david@nmit.vic.edu.au