Freelance 2016-2 - Printable Version

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Re: Freelance 2016-2 - cn nutbar - 08-30-2016

Outstanding modelling and photography Reinhard---you're a true inspiration to us want-to -be modellers

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - MountainMan - 08-31-2016

Is that an old plumb bob lying there?

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 08-31-2016

MountainMan Wrote:Is that an old plumb bob lying there?

It is one of the three dust collectors from a Walthers kit
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/wp-content/uploads/2003/10/gateway-central-10-building-08b.jpg

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 09-01-2016

Two structures of Walthers Champion Packing Company kit intended as cooling and power plants have been combines into a long and narrow building fitting between the tracks. Another nice brick canyon and another annoyance for the 0-5-0.....
Details will be added when the glue has set and I can touch the area.
Applied Murphy's law says that the switch hard to reach behind the building will be the next to fail Sad

[Image: 29299362041_4472e7f43c_c.jpg]IMG_5079 by faraway52, on Flickr
[Image: 29299361311_ddf2bdbd5e_c.jpg]IMG_5077 by faraway52, on Flickr
[Image: 29299362331_3b27eff913_c.jpg]IMG_5080 by faraway52, on Flickr

Some details and weathering later that day. Had a nervous painters hand....

[Image: 28765589274_5dd6de75a2_c.jpg]IMG_5082 by faraway52, on Flickr

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 09-05-2016

I tried to bridge the gap at the door with a divided hatch.
The photos are posted to show a design that does "not" work Sad The design lacks the precision and stability required to operate reliable over three gaps.
[Image: 28849836064_1f4d4f768e_c.jpg]IMG_5088 by faraway52, on Flickr
[Image: 28849836344_8ef18b1f43_c.jpg]IMG_5089 by faraway52, on Flickr

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - Genetk44 - 09-05-2016

Too many joints and no stability. Single-piece bridge that swings up,down or across seems to be the best answer.

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - shortliner - 09-05-2016

How about the triangular piece is supported vertically so that it swings out and locks, with a Walthers Bascule bridge that lowers to join across the gap?

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 09-05-2016

It is not that easy.
I had a very robust bridge. It was made of one piece and had a wide hinge base at the right side. It worked great but is covered a lot of the end of the layout. I had to lower the hatch to do switching (0-5-0 access) and to view the full layout.
- I do therefor not want to have a hatch that folds up anymore.
- I do also not want a bridge element that has to be totally removed and stored somewhere. The is no "somewhere" in my small room.
- A swing gate sounds good but there is not enough space to swing it out of the way.
- Swing down in one piece sounds great but the gap is wider than the layout is elevated over the floor. No trenches in the condos permitted!

That were the reasons why I tried a divided hatch to fold down. I did not find any examples of a divided fold down hatch. By good reason. It does not work Sad

This is the pure minimum just to get the tracks on the other side. The hinges must not be under the tracks but must be at least at top rail level. That requirement enlarges the triangle to the front significantly and covers more layout are when the hatch is in up position.

[Image: 29443281696_db28a0d716_c.jpg]IMG_5090 by faraway52, on Flickr

A space safer alternative would be to have no hinge right to the tracks. I am not sure if that will result in a stable construction. The pencil line would be the hatch size. In any case must the hinges be elevated up to top of track level.
[Image: 28853629984_deb6e72199_c.jpg]IMG_5091 by faraway52, on Flickr

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - Genetk44 - 09-05-2016

Ah! i just noticed the way the track runs on the right side. So my question....if you have some sort of bridge will you have track richt across and somehow joining the track on the right? Or do you just want to add/extend the track on the left some more on the left without joining to the track on the right????

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 09-05-2016

Genetk44 Wrote:Ah! i just noticed the way the track runs on the right side. So my question....if you have some sort of bridge will you have track richt across and somehow joining the track on the right? Or do you just want to add/extend the track on the left some more on the left without joining to the track on the right????
The track on the left is the old "mainline", east end of the staging yard. The front track at the right is also the old "mainline", east end of the layout with scenery. Those two tracks shall be connected again.

I made a mockup of the hatch to understand the optical and operation impact of the minimum hatch.

That would be the view from my standard seat.
[Image: 29478431855_23960c1dc0_c.jpg]IMG_5092 by faraway52, on Flickr

And that is the area harder to reach by the 0-5-0 during switching when the hatch is up.
[Image: 29189808340_9f05281544_c.jpg]IMG_5093 by faraway52, on Flickr

I think the negative impact of the minimum hatch in up position is acceptable. I will go tomorrow for some more wood.

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - Genetk44 - 09-05-2016

Surely when you are in the room operating or working on the layout the hatch/bridge will be down. It seems to me the only time the hatch would be up would be to go through the doorway no?

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 09-05-2016

Genetk44 Wrote:Surely when you are in the foom operating or working on the layout the hatch/bridge will be down. It seems to me the only time the hatch would be up would be to go through the doorway no?
That is right. The hatch will go up and down at least 20 times a day. The right front track is currently a drill track heavy used for switching. It can not stay in place due to the location of the hinges and becomes the main track running over the new hatch. All switching at the east end will go for 10 - 15" over the new hatch. That requires an easy to operate design of the hatch.

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - Genetk44 - 09-05-2016

Can you not find hinges that will fit underneath the board and still allow the hatch to swing upwards?

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - faraway - 09-05-2016

Genetk44 Wrote:Can you not find hinges that will fit underneath the board and still allow the hatch to swing upwards?
That would be great but I did never see any hinges permitting that kind of operation. Some furniture/cabinet door have special hinges but their mounting is not suitable for my situation.

Re: Freelance 2016-2 - Rscott417 - 09-05-2016

February 2016 issue of model railroader magazine had an article recently about a lift up bridge that was attached to wall with cabinet tracks and straddled the doorway and was stored above the top of the door by when not in use.
[Image: 20160905_164212_zpspswk1dgx.jpg]