Does anyone know if anyone produces a scale clock on any description? I thought MERG may have done but no. I quite like the type on the Southwark Bridge layout I saw on their layout.
Keep Safe
Dave
Scale Clocks
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Re: Scale Clocks
Perhaps I should have made myself more clear Daddyman! What I meant was a working clock telling the time in scale. So you can operate from a working train timetable. My old ZTC controller had one built into it.
But thanks anyway.
Keep Safe
Dave
But thanks anyway.
Keep Safe
Dave
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Re: Scale Clocks
Not a problem. The thought was there. LOL.
Dave
Dave
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Re: Scale Clocks
There is a software one implemented inside JMRI, so that's an option if a computer to run JMRI is available. Raspberry PI plus a display would be fairly cheap and compact.
I doubt its that hard to "roll your own" with an Arduino and a display module. This looks to be a simple starting place - get that running, then add a few more buttons to alter the scaling factor, and perhaps a "stop/go" button for the clock.
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/pl ... ver-4613aa
My limited experience of "scale time" stuff on most model railways is that it needs to be variable. Faster some times to reflect long waits when nothing happens (because the train has five miles to travel at 20 mph), and a bit slower when there are shunting or other moves on-scene.
- Nigel
I doubt its that hard to "roll your own" with an Arduino and a display module. This looks to be a simple starting place - get that running, then add a few more buttons to alter the scaling factor, and perhaps a "stop/go" button for the clock.
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/pl ... ver-4613aa
My limited experience of "scale time" stuff on most model railways is that it needs to be variable. Faster some times to reflect long waits when nothing happens (because the train has five miles to travel at 20 mph), and a bit slower when there are shunting or other moves on-scene.
- Nigel
Nigel Cliffe - Blog of various mostly model making topics
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Re: Scale Clocks
There is no such thing as scale time.
Movements over scale distances at scale speeds take the same time as the original.
A clock which runs fast will make it impossible to run an actual working time table of any complexity to time.
When we (CAG) operated Preston, which runs to a prototypical time table, we would have needed a clock which ran slow as we couldn't get the moves done in time, despite being set at a quite time of day.
A clock which can click forward to skip over time when nothing happens is a possibility but does not travel at a constant speed. A display driven off a computerised version of the timetable might produce what you need?
Movements over scale distances at scale speeds take the same time as the original.
A clock which runs fast will make it impossible to run an actual working time table of any complexity to time.
When we (CAG) operated Preston, which runs to a prototypical time table, we would have needed a clock which ran slow as we couldn't get the moves done in time, despite being set at a quite time of day.
A clock which can click forward to skip over time when nothing happens is a possibility but does not travel at a constant speed. A display driven off a computerised version of the timetable might produce what you need?
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Re: Scale Clocks
Hi Nigel and Will and thanks for your response. This all sounds like it's getting too complicated for what I need. To be honest I just fancied a small clock built into the top of my control panel to balance out the amp meter I've had to install at the bottom of my control panel. Watching the videos of Southwark Bridge got me thinking about having a scale clock but it looks like it's going to be impractical to work on my smallish layout and just having one person operating it.
What I could do is get a normal clock and move the numbers on it's face further apart. That will give me more time! LOL.
Thanks again.
Keep Safe
Dave
What I could do is get a normal clock and move the numbers on it's face further apart. That will give me more time! LOL.
Thanks again.
Keep Safe
Dave
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Re: Scale Clocks
You could, of course, dispense with the clock altogether, and just run through the sequence (the times shown in the WTT being purely nominal).
I wrote a letter in the Railway Modeller making this suggestion as long ago as 1966 (!)
I wrote a letter in the Railway Modeller making this suggestion as long ago as 1966 (!)
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Re: Scale Clocks
Dave,
I have made a video for you giving details about how the clock was put together on the Southwark Bridge Layout. This has been posted to Youtube and can be found on this link
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6v-fM3UCjOrB3cueyL4y8eZQwo-OFnM
The image files and computer program source code required for the clock have been posted to Google Drive and can be downloaded from this location
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j29cEmx7HBI-D8gafcPYDNR2g90Svcxj?usp=sharing
It's probably overkill for what you want but it may be of interest to others.
I have made a video for you giving details about how the clock was put together on the Southwark Bridge Layout. This has been posted to Youtube and can be found on this link
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu6v-fM3UCjOrB3cueyL4y8eZQwo-OFnM
The image files and computer program source code required for the clock have been posted to Google Drive and can be downloaded from this location
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j29cEmx7HBI-D8gafcPYDNR2g90Svcxj?usp=sharing
It's probably overkill for what you want but it may be of interest to others.
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Re: Scale Clocks
Update
A new website has been built for the Southwark Bridge Layout and can be found at:-
https://www.southwarkbridgelayout.org.uk/
This gives access to the videos published for Virtual Scaleforum 2020 plus other videos relating to particular topics such as the Gasworks. There is also a section for Downloads where you can find documents, drawings, photos and 3D models mentioned in the videos.
This site will be updated from time to time as new material is produced.
A new website has been built for the Southwark Bridge Layout and can be found at:-
https://www.southwarkbridgelayout.org.uk/
This gives access to the videos published for Virtual Scaleforum 2020 plus other videos relating to particular topics such as the Gasworks. There is also a section for Downloads where you can find documents, drawings, photos and 3D models mentioned in the videos.
This site will be updated from time to time as new material is produced.
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Re: Scale Clocks
Hi Ted, thanks for your replies. It was watching your videos on Southwark Bridge that got my mind a thinking about a scale clock. But as you say it's a bit overkill for what I need. A great idea anyway.
Had a quick look through your new website, some lovely images of the layout. One I like is of a T3. I built one of those many years ago from a Falcon Brass kit {" "}, very little instruction and not much in the way of parts. LOL.
All Best and Keep Safe
Dave
Had a quick look through your new website, some lovely images of the layout. One I like is of a T3. I built one of those many years ago from a Falcon Brass kit {" "}, very little instruction and not much in the way of parts. LOL.
All Best and Keep Safe
Dave
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