The hatch is open for test runs. First results are encouraging. The standard design is functioning quite well.

IMG_5094 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_5095 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_5096 by faraway52, on Flickr

Looks good Reinhard. Very K.I.S.S.!

faraway Wrote:The hatch is open for test runs. First results are encouraging. The standard design is functioning quite well.

IMG_5094 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_5095 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_5096 by faraway52, on Flickr

Usually the simplest is best. And knowing you, I am sure that you will come up with an excellent idea to hide that hinge

Genetk44 Wrote:.... idea to hide that hinge

I am currently thinking in the other direction. The underside of the hatch will be white (matching the room walls when up) and the top side plain gray. No ballast no nothing. Just a functional area. The right half of the hinges will be hidden under green and shrubs etc.

faraway Wrote:I am currently thinking in the other direction.....

I agree: sometimes, dressing-up the mechanical aspects of a layout isn't worth the cost or extra effort. After all, there's a door in the background which isn't especially prototypical.
Some modellers like to use an actual bridge, and while I certainly admire the ability to make such a model functional, I'd rather use the money to put such a bridge in a scene which could be fully sceniced.
Mine are simple plywood lift-outs:



Wayne

DOUBLE POST REMOVED

Reinhard - I wonder about the possibility of your feed-wires getting caught on something and pulling out although it looks as though the open door will prevent that happening. You appear to be using two separate hinges - why not feed your track through those, and remove any possibility of wiring problems. It may also be worth feeding tracks on both sides through diodes and removing any possibility of a live engine running where it shouldn't if the track is raised

Don't worry. The wires are temporary for the test runs only. The hatch itself protects the right side and the left side will get a switch switching the power off operated by the hatch again. The old hatch had the same protection.
Currently are all operations on hold while both sides get ballasted.

Approaching the east end / hatch
IMG_5099 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_5101 by faraway52, on Flickr

New wiring at the right side is in place and the back/under side is painted white.
IMG_5103 by faraway52, on Flickr

The top side is medium gray. The wood cork combination was not as attractive as Wayne's wood surface.
IMG_5104 by faraway52, on Flickr

The boundary between scenery and the functional only hatch at the right side.

IMG_5105 by faraway52, on Flickr

Last topic is the importance of a toothpick at the left side of the hatch. That completes the story of the hatch

IMG_5106 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_5107 by faraway52, on Flickr

Next topic is preparation for Gran Canaria next week.

Just as another suggestion:
The hinge, and the top surface of the board, could be "grassed over" to match the scenery on each side. Maybe even some low shrubbery, to fill in the right side. With a little care, maybe even a few smaller trees, on the right hand side, the taller ones a bit left of the hinge, just so they don't touch any rolling stock on that siding, when the bridge is up.

remember, "We always learn more from our own mistakes, than we will ever learn from an other's advice"

Anyone want to wager on how long it will take Reinhard to at least put some simple scenery on the bridge?

Catt Wrote:Anyone want to wager on how long it will take Reinhard to at least put some simple scenery on the bridge?

I'm guessing no later than the first week after Gran Canaria.

I see, you ask for green on the hatch. You get green on the hatch
IMG_5108 by faraway52, on Flickr

faraway Wrote:Currently are all operations on hold while both sides get ballasted.

I hope you are referring to your layout and not you and your wife!!

With the hatch in place the staging yard needs no run around anymore and I have use for a fourth B&M Geep in the 1983+ paint scheme. Base is a Bachmann GP7 with an added Tsunami. The "huge" Bachmann DCC decoder can be easy exchanged with a Tsunami (Atlas Version) and the Body is already prepared for a speaker in the bottom.
Most B&M GP7 have originally been used in passenger service and got train lighting equipment installed. "Custom Finishing Models" #213 from Walthers fits nicely at the Bachmann GP7 shell as an extension housing the extra motor/generator (early Genset ).

IMG_5111 by faraway52, on Flickr