A Challenge: Designing A new modular layout section

[steinjr]

Place: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weedpatch,_California

Track configuration: http://binged.it/O2nEEf

And yes - the name does sound pretty corny even if it is a real place :-)

Grin,
Stein

[torikoos]

I somehow thought that someone would look it up to see if it existed :-)
I stand corrected, but yes, corny it is.... I know , a lot of the US is build with 90 corners etc in streets etc and railroads follow that often.
It's just that you see that so much on modules, it becomes a little 'boring' and predictable, hence I thought I'd try the main road at an angle.
I will probably put the other road at a 90 degree angle to that, or remove (part) of it, and make it seem the tracks cross town somewhat diagonally (for what ever reason).


Ok Weed Patch is real... but if I can find a somewhat less corny name , I'd be happier I think. :-) ( I read that the population is shrinking, would the name be why? ;-) )

Koos

[steinjr]

Ok Weed Patch is real... but if I can find a somewhat less corny name , I'd be happier I think. :-) ( I read that the population is shrinking, would the name be why? ;-) )

Well, it is a pretty far out town name, even by California Standards :-)

Towns in California (click on icons on maps to check towns in SoCal):
Very small towns (pop < 1000) : http://www.city-data.com/city/California3.html
Small towns (1000 < pop < 6000) : http://www.city-data.com/city/California2.html
Towns over 6000 residents: http://www.city-data.com/city/California.html


Grin,
Stein

[torikoos]

I haven't checked in for a few reasons, firstly due to the fact that my father passed away on July 28th, with the funeral on August 1st. Then from August 3rd till last weekend, I was on my family holiday. For a while I was doubting if I would still want to go, but my mother told me to go, as dad would have wanted us to go, so we did, and to be honest it did us some good.
His death was not entirely unexpected as he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but it all went a lot quicker than we all expected it would take. However, it also made me decide that I'm going to totally freelance the name of these modules. His first name was Wolter, so I am going to name the modules 'Wolter Springs'.
I might change that slightly to 'Walter Springs' but in effect it will be named after my father, and keep his memory alive in that way.

cheers, Koos

[faraway]

Koos, my sincere condolences.

[steinjr]

So sorry to hear about you dad, Koos. My deepest sympathy.

Stein

[torikoos]

Thank you guys.

Regarding track materials, which shop do you order your (US) track materials from? Do you know of some more (mail order) stores in europe (netherlands/germany etc) that can supply US outline track materials (walthers, shinohara, Peco code 83 etc) , and have reasonable shipping charges?
I want to get a few turnouts, but my regular supplier in the UK (model junction) are on holiday. I looked at 'all american trains' in germany, but they are so expensive. A no 6 turnout is 29 euro's (walthers shinohara), but they then throw VAT on top, and their minimum shipping charge is 20 euro's, which is ridiculous in my opinion. Especially if model junction only charges about 16GBP incl vat for a turnout. which is about 8 euro's less , and can ship for lower cost.

cheers, Koos

[BR60103]

Koos:
going back a few posts, The city I live in has the railway cutting across diagonally. As I see it, the main roads were laid out at right angles to Lake Ontario, so here it means they go about northwest. The railway goes almost due west, right into the setting sun. Downtown we have a couple of streets that run along the railway but all the rest are at a 30 or 40 degree angle to it.

[torikoos]

Thanks David, I did think that there must be some prototypes for such a situation. I'm getting a little bored with seeing perfect 90 degree angles at road crossings etc, particularly on modules where this effect is only enforced by it's shape etc.

Koos

[faraway]

... but they then throw VAT on top, and their minimum shipping charge is 20 euro's,...

Koos, I think there are two misinterpretations:
a. the price is inclusive VAT. It is mandatory by law in Germany to post the final price inclusive all taxes if you sell to none commercial customers (some discount airlines have lots of ongoing legal battles because they are very tricky to hide the final price)
b. the shipping is posted with 16,80€ for EU countries (like NL and GB). However, the price calculator of DHL has a lower price for a small parcel. You should talk to Rainer Hartmann.

ps. Might be 20€ is the minimum revenue per international order? I did not find a clause like that but that would make sense to me.

[torikoos]

   

Work has commenced on my new module.
The west side board has been constructed, and I've cut and test laid the track on to it. So milestone number one has been reached. :-)
The picture shows it from the center at the bottom, with the most westerly turnout situated towards the back of the picture. The spur leading the the GERN warehouse visible to the right in this perspective.

I've not fixed any of the track yet, as I still need to drill holes for feeder wires, and turnout actuating mechanisms etc. That's my next job.

cheers, Koos

[torikoos]

today I drilled the holes for feeder wires, and for the turnout actuating rods, and soldered the wires to the track. I've done this at the spot where the road crossing will be , so that they will be largely out of view / masked by the road surface.
I have not yet decided on what type of turnout drive I am going to use, but I am thinking of keeping it relatively simple. Perhaps Blue point actuators, or Joe Fugate style bolt lock mechanisms. I don't like the Caboose Hobbies ground throws, they're a bit too big for my liking, but if someone knows of a working HO scale ground throw (so one that is much closer to scale size) , I'd like to know about it.

cheers, Koos

[faraway]

... if someone knows of a working HO scale ground throw (so one that is much closer to scale size) , I'd like to know about it. ....

How about a paper clip as a spring in the switch like Peco switches are done? You can "operate" the switch with the uncoupling stick or a finger. I think it a very good choice for a small layout.
I have no reference but I is well documented in the web how to do.

[jwb]

There are two possible solutions to the ground throw issue. Some guys use N scale Caboose Industries ground throws in HO, which makes them a little smaller, but no matter what you do there, you're reaching into the scenery where your 1:1 scale hand is going to do all kinds of unpredictable things. Another is to mount the ground throw closer to the layout edge, connected with a wire in a tube:    

[sailormatlac]

... if someone knows of a working HO scale ground throw (so one that is much closer to scale size) , I'd like to know about it. ....

How about a paper clip as a spring in the switch like Peco switches are done? You can "operate" the switch with the uncoupling stick or a finger. I think it a very good choice for a small layout.
I have no reference but I is well documented in the web how to do.

I second that. Simple and bullet proof. You can also detail the turnout with switchstand later without caring about mechanical issues.

Matt