Model Train Talk South Africa
Model Train Talk Workshop => Layout Design => Topic started by: BigEd on November 20, 2014, 10:24:44 PM
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I wanted to do a quick. easy and lightweight layout to take to shows. I managed to get hold of blue foam (extruded foam from the USA) sized 127cm x 67cm x 40mm thickness. I wrapped them in wood and contructed a set of legs and soon I'll start with the track laying. In fact, probably this weekend already. I am using Kato Unitrack, so it should happen fairly quickly.
See pics of the progress so far.
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More
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And more
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And more
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I like this idea, I've read articles and seen a youtube vid or two about using extruded foam for layout construction.
This certainly has lots of possibilities.
Did you import this extruded foam yourself?
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Did you import this extruded foam yourself?
Nope, a friend has local contacts however I can't get more till early next yeer. Mike have some at R95 each, but I can get them at half price.
Let me know and I'll add you to the list.
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I might have something already, Isoboard ceiling boards, 600mm wide and up to 8 meters long.
30 or 50mm thick.
I have some off cuts if you want to compare.
I am strongly considering to use this for the scenery when I build my layout.
I am currently busy planning my layout.
Will start a thread soon with my design. :thumb:
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I have used Isoboard for the baseboard of my new layout and ordinary polystyrene for the scenery. I find the Isoboard is strong and rigid enough for a baseboard but a bit difficult to shape into land forms.
I think a lot depends on whether or not your layout will be portable and transported around a lot or will stay at home.
I think a lot of baseboards are over engineered and too heavy, as long as you aren't going to fling your layout into the back of a lorry a lightweight baseboard works very well.
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Yes Ronnie, most baseboards are over engineered but in the case of Ntrak modules I think its best to do it that way. Modules we built early 1999 are still in service today - severely abused because they belong to the club so no one really care about them.
I have cut up a blue sheet and made bases for another sheet. This will be a little Thomas layout for my baby son (5 year old). Will take a picture tonight.
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Oh yeah, Isoboard is the local name for these extruded foam sheets.
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Ronnie, I believe to shape isoboard you can use proper tools like files and rasps. I bought an old bread knife at the flea market and use that.
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the isoboard is very nice and rigid. i use a regular table fork to scrape away material. Use same method for normal polystyrene. Just make sure you have a vacuum cleaner handy. It makex a hell of a mess...
Cheers francois
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Looks good Ed.
Id be interested in getting a sheet or 3 of that blue foam. Would work well for my dioramas.
Please put me on the list if possible.
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No problem, but I'll only be able to get from next year around Feb.
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Looks good Ed.
Id be interested in getting a sheet or 3 of that blue foam. Would work well for my dioramas.
Please put me on the list if possible.
I can get them for R50 a single sheet or R40 if you buy 10 sheets. I'm going to put up an "order" thread under the classifieds. Put you order up there.
If you need them very urgently, you can buy them from Mike's in Plumstead at R95 each! I personally would wait a little while.
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So, I managed to spend a few hours in the garage...
Its going to be a little busy me thinks...
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Ed, to busy or not that you must decide for yourself. The layout must only please you, if others like it fantastic.
What I don't like about his layout is everything is straight and parallel to the edge of the board.
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I hear you Jörg. Unfortunately the semetrics of Kato Unitrak does not allow much freedom.
But I will still play with options and ideas. This is the first draft...
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Seeing as this is not flex track, how many different radii do you have at your disposal?
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If the layout is to busy or not would depend on the objective of the layout.
Anyways, it looks good so far.
Niel
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The purpose of this little layout is just to take to shows and run trains. Not much switching needed, etc. Just to run trains...
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Hi Ed, mmmmm.... not to bad I think.
Yes it is just and oval and I'm not to sure what kind of scenery you planning, but I have found with my layout, the spectators like tunnels, mountains and bridges. I know you said you want it flat, but I would really try to raise the one side a bit. Make it small, no need to make it big. Just have it there.
But at the end, this is just my 2cents ;D It is your layout and your ideas. And you must like running the trains on it.
Cheers, Evert.
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I am not sure on what to do with scenery yet...in fact ZERO ideas... :eek2:
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Zero ideas for scenery.
Well for one you could put in a scene divider down the middle so that you always can only see the one side and then for interest have two different seasons per side.
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Hi Ed,
Must say. I do like :thumb:
Regards
G
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Thanks boet :thumb:
KLR, I have to admit I was leaning towards the centre divider - I have done something like that before. See picture of my layout in Ireland...
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I Can not believe the Irish braai ???
Charcoal nogal. ;D
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I Can not believe the Irish braai ???
Charcoal nogal. ;D
Can only be the South African living there. 8)
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I Can not believe the Irish braai ???
Charcoal nogal. ;D
That would be me... :biggrin:
I learned my lesson quickly. I stocked up on charcoal so I could braai the whole year round. T bone steaks nogal...go check them here
http://homepage.eircom.net/~edkeown/photo.htm
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And only a South African would take photos of his food for all the world to see ;)
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And only a South African would take photos of his food for all the world to see ;)
:biggrin:
I have a lot of friends that teased me about cucumber sarmies, plus we landed there in foot and mouth pandamic of 2001, so I had to point out the massive t-bone I got. The Irish are not keen on bone in meat... Sheep neck for potjie cost 1 punt.
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Making progress. One side track fixed and wiring sorta done...
Thanks Evert (Looville) for the help and holding the module up... :thumb:
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Awesome Ed,
It's awesome to help :thumb:
Will look good and work well when it is all done.
See you on Thursday ;D
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I am getting more and more excited. :biggrin:
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Very cool Ed. What are you gluing the rails to the blue foam with?
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Nothing yet. Will possibly use double sided tape later on, but for now only dressing pins. :innocent:
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Completed the track laying! This Kato track sure works fast...
Also took some pictures of the rtrack connecting across modules. Gonna be a little pedantic at first but I think I made the best choice for now...
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Now to finish the wiring and paint the legs and I'm ready for the show...
Trouble with the scissor though. Dead short :rant:
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Awesome, Kan nie wag om paar treine daar te loop nie. Gaan awesome lyk :thumb:
Ek het dalk paar idees vir die landscaping ;D
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Ek het dalk paar idees vir die landscaping ;D
I'm listening... :innocent:
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Looking fantastic Ed
I take it you are bringing it to the show next week?
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Looking fantastic Ed
I take it you are bringing it to the show next week?
Ayup! I have to pull my finger....to get it done in time... :innocent:
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Still a week to go. Plenty of time my friend ;D
Cant wait to see it. I`ll be bringing my camera along.
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LOL ;D
Yea, Ed, we sort out the wiring this weekend, then you have something to opperate. :thumb:
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Ed, I assume Kato does not make an extendable track section?
We have used the Fleishmann extendable sections with quite some success in both HO and N scale to span the module joint sections.
This helps to compensate for track and/or wood expanding/contracting due to temp and humidity changes...
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They do, but as a rule I don't like extendable tracks. In the photo's I have them in but I removed them all this past weekend - they would flex and catch the snow ploughs - just too much trouble then.
I like the old Ntrak way - set track with specific lengths. Works like a bomb!
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Tonight I'll be fitting my Digitrax Zephyr for the firs time. I have found DCC systems to be good debuggers of track... :biggrin:
Las night we found an offending point that was not transporting power. Kato points actually have power routing "switches". Little screws that you have to move from one place to another. I now understand why these pieces of track can be so expensive. Clever little buggers... :P
Then again, I might have misunderstood the whole point of the settings and have to rip it ALL up to reset the power routing switches... :'(
You'll know first thing in the morning...
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Check this. Quite nice these Kato chaps... :thumb:
If ever you want to figure something out for DCC wiring, this is the site to go to. http://www.wiringfordcc.com/
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So you turn the screw out of the one hole and into the other one to make contact?
Neat idea. :thumb:
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Exactly :thumb:
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And it all comes down to reading the instructions first !
Steve
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And it all comes down to reading the instructions first !
Steve
Ah, but I bought it all secondhand - zero instructions... :innocent:
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So, the DCC fitting started out fine tonight. The first 7 connections on the one side were connected without any problems. On to the other side and the system tripps for every connection.
I made a stupid mistake. The Kato connection track is a very specific track. The wire plug can only go in one way. If you now change the orientation of the track you end up with a dead short. Man, I was pissed at myself... >:(
The result? A working layout. Tomorrow night I pack it all up ready for setup on Friday night! :thumb:
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Looking back at the last few weeks experiences I noted the following:
1. Made a few mistakes, but learned from them.
2. Kato Unitrack is a simple and quick way to enjoy model railroading.
3. Made a few MORE mistakes and hopefully learned from them too.
4. Blue foam is a winner. Works easily, weighs nothing and is quite strong.
So far so good. The big test will be this weekend with the setup and take down and then the next exercise.
I LOVE MODEL TRAINS!!!! :thumb:
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Yea, Ed, it is awesome :thumb:
Layout really works well, I enjoyed running the trains last night.
Yea, few issues, but it is the way we learn hey.
My only concern is the stability, yes I know it is still very temporary and still in the beginning.
I'm just worried that the knocking and movement will cause issues eventually.
But overall, I think it came out awesome. Really impressed.
See you Saturday at the show.
Cheers, Evert
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Thanks for your help Evert - couldn't have done it without you. :thumb:
Another nice thing about our hobby - the sharing and camaraderie. :thumb:
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Another nice thing about our hobby - the sharing and camaraderie. :thumb:
+1000000
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So, I got gatvol of watching TV last night and had a flash of inspiration and jumped the modules in the garage.
I made wooden connectors to link up the modules. A change I'm going to make - turn them inside out.
Tonight I'll take it further and add wheels! Did I mention I am lazy?
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Oh yes, I lost my ruler (see second last picture) only to find it when I moved the setup.
Wild guess where the metal ruler landed? Yes, my friggin' foot!
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Nice :) I like it. :thumb:
Now all the landscaping must be done according to that height.
Should be easy to transport as well.
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Another evening and she rolls! :biggrin:
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Nice, Awesome..... :thumb:
Now we need to sort out the track and all the electrical work so that the landscaping can start ;D
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Just painting it green :innocent:
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Nice work. Hope them wheels were made by Kato so it rolls smoothly >:D
Just painting it green :innocent:
Yeah, he said he was lazy in an earlier post. And look, he was right! ;)
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:innocent: :thumb: :biggrin:
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Another evening and she rolls! :biggrin:
Only some wheels, why did you not motorize it while you are at it?
:peep:
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Another evening and she rolls! :biggrin:
Only some wheels, why did you not motorize it while you are at it?
:peep:
Too lazy... :innocent:
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Decided to build something small for my youngster. He should have some fun times with this!