A Spot-on (ish) test track
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:30 pm
CHEAG's Autumn workshops this season have focused on a theme - building test tracks. These have been inspired by Richard Dunning & Paul Willis (Flymo748 hereabouts) own examples, which we've all seen in use.
As you may have read in Scalefour News 180, we have recently been joined by several new members, and more are welcome. Building a test track isn't compulsory, but as I learned yesterday is well within reach of a day's work.
I started off with some enthusiasm, and some (but not all - or so I thought) of the ingredients to build my own track. I imagined I might get to the stage where I had a framework, and then faff for a while plotting a suitable curve on Templot, since I lacked copperclad sleepers (seemingly de rigueur on test tracks), woodworking tools, a way of plotting tracks and some track-building jigs (I have some en-route from the stores).
Here is the beauty of a group modelling session. Our host Martin Wilkinson made sure we were all encouraged to proceed, and he happily leant some of the tools I had forgotten. Others pitched in with items or a spare hand as needed, and there was no point when stopping was the only option.
The dawning realisation that the glue used to assemble the exactoscale sleepers & chairs I did have would adhere the sleepers to the plywood (doh!) was just what I needed to commit the curves I was copying from another track to mine. Stealing, sorry, re-using, the curve from an already built track (Thanks Keith!) meant I could be sure I was laying out the intended 3'6" reverse curve.
So by the end of the day I had laid out a curved test track, and we jury rigged power to it, and ran the chassis from a railcar of Roger's along the length. Success!
Retiring home, I spent an hour or so in the evening avoiding X-Factor, and laying a straight track, and produced:
You can see a close up of me trying out my Tornado chassis under finger power (looks like I need to fettle the suspension a bit to get it to follow the curve successfully):
Today I spent an hour soldering feeds across the rail joints, and then ran my now-trusty 03 on the track:
I was particularly pleased when I realised this is the first time I've achieved a moving loco on track I have built on P4. Very satisfying.
So I just need to tidy up the framing, and provide a more permanent means of supplying power than crocodile clips, and I will have completed my entry for our informal spot-on ish challenge in January. We have been informed that judging will be under strict conditions, and the winner will be awarded the mysterious CHEAG Spot-On-Ish Trophy.
Thank you Martin particularly for hosting and encouragement, and thank you to Alan, Keith and Robert for their company and encouragement too!
Anyone else care to post pics of their entries-in-progress? I think there are several...
As you may have read in Scalefour News 180, we have recently been joined by several new members, and more are welcome. Building a test track isn't compulsory, but as I learned yesterday is well within reach of a day's work.
I started off with some enthusiasm, and some (but not all - or so I thought) of the ingredients to build my own track. I imagined I might get to the stage where I had a framework, and then faff for a while plotting a suitable curve on Templot, since I lacked copperclad sleepers (seemingly de rigueur on test tracks), woodworking tools, a way of plotting tracks and some track-building jigs (I have some en-route from the stores).
Here is the beauty of a group modelling session. Our host Martin Wilkinson made sure we were all encouraged to proceed, and he happily leant some of the tools I had forgotten. Others pitched in with items or a spare hand as needed, and there was no point when stopping was the only option.
The dawning realisation that the glue used to assemble the exactoscale sleepers & chairs I did have would adhere the sleepers to the plywood (doh!) was just what I needed to commit the curves I was copying from another track to mine. Stealing, sorry, re-using, the curve from an already built track (Thanks Keith!) meant I could be sure I was laying out the intended 3'6" reverse curve.
So by the end of the day I had laid out a curved test track, and we jury rigged power to it, and ran the chassis from a railcar of Roger's along the length. Success!
Retiring home, I spent an hour or so in the evening avoiding X-Factor, and laying a straight track, and produced:
You can see a close up of me trying out my Tornado chassis under finger power (looks like I need to fettle the suspension a bit to get it to follow the curve successfully):
Today I spent an hour soldering feeds across the rail joints, and then ran my now-trusty 03 on the track:
I was particularly pleased when I realised this is the first time I've achieved a moving loco on track I have built on P4. Very satisfying.
So I just need to tidy up the framing, and provide a more permanent means of supplying power than crocodile clips, and I will have completed my entry for our informal spot-on ish challenge in January. We have been informed that judging will be under strict conditions, and the winner will be awarded the mysterious CHEAG Spot-On-Ish Trophy.
Thank you Martin particularly for hosting and encouragement, and thank you to Alan, Keith and Robert for their company and encouragement too!
Anyone else care to post pics of their entries-in-progress? I think there are several...