Well done Bill. I have a lift out section on my layout - originally at one end there was a piece of curved track and I had lots of de-railments. Re-organised that part of the layout so that the track on the lift out section is straight - no more de-railments! I like your safety system for cutting power when the section is lifted - a neat idea.
I'm not one to make suggestions about other folks layouts - your layout, your rules, etc. But I follow a US railroader with a fairly large basement layout, Stephen Bennett. Rather than a lift up hinged or lift out altogether section, he has a gate. One end is obviously curved for the swing section, but the whole thing is landscaped. He has some cut off arrangement too, so that trains don't plunge to their doom. If you're unsure about the long term of the lift out it might be worth a look. Cheers.
You could try and get copper sheeting from scrap yard and fashion basically the same as the tape as tape could wear out in time ,just a thought ,you have done amazingly well on a budget
Hi Bill. A problem with your plastic fishplate solution could be that if you are running a large diesel at a fast rate, and the loco has a large fly-wheel and/or a stay-alive, then whoooosh, over the edge she goes! 😪 Apart from that, it's looking good my man. Try looking down from an aerial viewpoint on Clapham Junction in South London and you'll see what a mish-mash of tracks really looks like. Paul. 👍
Hi niel learning from my mistake put the isolation cut in the track to protect trains from running off the lift out section further away from the edge, you will be surprised how far a locomotive with a flywheel with a rake of coaches behind it can travel once the power is cut ! Love your channel Nigel
Coming on very nicely Bill, happy days! I love the safety feature. The use of copper tape is an interesting innovation but there may be a problem later on. Copper tarnishes and may give intermittent connection but, if it does, then simply use pluggable connector strip.
Hi Bill ,, good to see lots of progress since last video. The liftout section works and if you did make that section a hinged section maybe you coud use a piano hinge (cut to measure) as it will limit the amount of hinge movement in time. You could even put in a bridge or mini viaduct like you have on the other side and cut the styrofoam out from under it too if you want. Just a thought. I will be using the old triang lever frames my self as I have bought a heap of job lots in the past and theres quite a fair few of them and they look good too and are effective for the purpose. Cheers from John in Australia
Great failsafe idea.... kudos for all the evident hard work you've done... I do hope you are getting a cuppa tea every now and then... The loco shed seems much better there, now...👍
Great progress . I think the lift out section is inspired . Clever yet simple to do and with a fail safe ! I like the new track design too , yes looks much more tidy that wzy
Perhaps getting some conductive lube from the electrical shop for the strips? I know us modellers in the larger scales like G use its lgb equivalent to assist in our brass rails and joiners when they tarnish, might be helpful here... Just a thought. Layout is looking splendid though, all the best
Excellent ideas for the removable section ! Seems to work really well. Good one! As for layout planning, obviously there’s an original idea, but once I know the space I have available, nothing is better than « scale 1:1 » planning. For my last layout I basically chalked out the plan on the wooden floor before I built any baseboards, and using photocopies of the Peco point templates. It actually worked out really well. You can even place your rolling stock to check clearances etc and get an idea of how it will look and work. Looking forward to the next one. Dunno if you read the comments but thanks for the inspiration mate. All the best from deepest Ardèche (France) Rob
VERY impressed with your modifications to the plan. Enjoying being on the creative journey with you. Just 1 note of caution: points in tunnels can be, well, problematic! Your innovative idea regarding the lift out piece is a stroke of genius. You should patent it.
Hi Bill .I avoided a lift out section by fitting a hinged section. The swing up section is flexibility wired to the main feed so no connections necessary. The key factor is to have a high lift system with a hinge pivot point 2-3 inches above track level..If you want pictures I can E mail to you..
The only suggestion I'd make is to smear some solder onto the mating surfaces of the copper tape as that will be less prone to oxidisation than bare copper.
Don't beat yourself up over the connections in your lift out section. If it does give problems I would try something along the lines of a Loco pickup. A piece of copper strip with, maybe, a weak spring under it. It works for engines and has been for decades. I think you are doing an excellent job. Enjoying the journey with you.
That was actually my first idea. I need to get hold of some copper strip or cannibalise some old loco pickups. The copper contact in Hornby passing contact switches would probably be ideal but I'd need 8 of them. For now I just went with what I had to hand and was simple to do. I think no matter how a lift out section is engineered it is always going to be a potential point of failure.
Love it, but never say “final” and “fail safes” are an accident waiting to happen. My heart was in my throat seeing the loco heading to the physically unprotected gap in the track. Install an interlocked physical barrier on both sides, when the removable section is not in place, some like a counter weighted barrier, that swings up on both sides when the removable section is lifted out. PS final means final for now, until you think of something better. Great episode, really interested in your thoughts on the polystyrene substrate Best regards
Hi, great idea using the copper tape as connectors on the removable section. Layout plan looks very good, looking forward to seeing the scenery in progress. Cheers, Paul.👍👍
Nice idea bill with he copper tape. I have used scotch block connectors in the past with nails helping to locate the removable section I've also used hinges but rather than have them hinge I've removed the pin but it allows the sections to locate and then I used a couple of audio connectors to connect the removable section.
Great idea using copper tape for electrical continuity with the lift out section . I would add some kind of locking device to the section when in use just in case of accidental knocks . Cheers !
Brilliantly simple solution to cutting the removable section power and don’t forget you can always rebuild the removable section but you can’t rebuild your knees.
good progress there and looking layout looking good. The lift out section seems to work well. If I expand my L shaped terminus to fiddle yard layout all round the attic I will have to deal with a lift out section..there is something satisfying about a continuous run with a long coal train...
Excellent to see your progress Bill. I don't think my planned TT gauge new layout (my first for decades) will, be anything like as ambitious as this. Plenty of time for me to learn about how best to construct and wire up I guess.
The shuttle idea is something I'm building too. I'm concerned about how well that removable section works over time. I guess we will see. Nice update. 👍
I find that a new layout all depends on what track Ive got available, then some final tweaking before the ballast goes down, and I still haven’t put any down yet 😜 - Gr8 looking Circuit with interesting potential for Sure - Brilliant to See Trains Running Again, I bet your Well “Chuffed” 😆 Thanks for the Update 🙌🏻👍🏻✨
Hi Bill, love this layout, It looks interesting and can't wait to see it completed. Regarding your lift out section, excellent idea with the copper strips by the way, but I'd seriously consider making the safety break in the track a bit further away from the opening if you've got locomotive's fitted with fly wheels, some can travel quite a distance without power. I'd hate to see you re-enact the latest mission impossible movie.
Shuttle idea seems great. If you wanted to get really fiddly with it, you could have two DMUs parked in the tunnel and have it swap which one comes out each time.
Hi Bill for your lift out have you considered the rail aligners from model tech? Those may help with the longevity of the joint. Just a thought, like how simple your block system is
Final layout looks great, I like the idea of the tunnel for the shuttle - is the plan to run a DMU into it and flip the points so a different DMU comes out?
Nice work Bill Curious to know how you install the point motors with the think foam board Have you used extended length throw rods? How did you get around this? Nick Australia
Like everyone else, really like the tape idea for the lift out. Would it be at all worth adding a bend to the sidings in the tunnel, to give you a few extra inches of space?
Yeah maybe. I'm not going to glue the track down under the hill so I could bend it once I build the landscape and see what sort of space there is. But it'll work for all my DMUs as it is.
Hi. Your layout's looking good and I really like your solution to the lift out section. Is that the same tape used to shield guitar electrics? I've been thinking of getting some to fit inside my Jazz bass as it does tend to be a little noisy when I'm not touching the strings. My Ibanez Blazer bass is so much quieter but I've never opened it to see if it has shielding.
Yes it is. You will need to shield the entire cavity including the underside of the scratchplate. And ensure all of the copper tape makes contact with all other pieces including that under the plate. You can solder over the joins as the sticky side isn't very conductive. You need to overlap the tape around the edge of the cavity so it makes contact with the tape on the underside of the plate to ensure a "cage" of copper shielding.
That copper tape idea is very clever. But will it last long-term? I used some on my layout for a less ingenious purpose and it wasn't long before it started coming away from the wood and generally being a pain. I kept having to add extra tape over the top to try and keep it in place, and eventually got rid of it. Your tape looks a bit more robust than mine though, so I hope you have more luck!
I layered the tape about 4 times so it is raised enough above the surface of the wood to ensure contact. But yes the longevity of it is a concern. Will it tarnish, tear, peel away etc. I have back up plans though...
Cos I don't want to have to unplug and plug in 4 plugs every time I want to use the layout. But I do plan to do that for the section under the window which will only get removed once in a very blue moon.
Great to see your ideas developing - the plan was a starting point and it is only until you actually lay train and run trains in your mind’s eye, that any changes can come about. Good idea for the lift-out section. Time will tell if it is successful. Hinged would probably be better. But your railway - your rules! Looking forward to seeing the layout progressing.
Great job! Your copper tape failsafe system is ingenious! You have a real knack of keeping things simple.
Well done Bill. I have a lift out section on my layout - originally at one end there was a piece of curved track and I had lots of de-railments. Re-organised that part of the layout so that the track on the lift out section is straight - no more de-railments! I like your safety system for cutting power when the section is lifted - a neat idea.
That idea for the lift out section is great simple and reliable I’ve never seen this approach bill ,nice 👍🏻😊
Never thought about using copper tape for a lift out section. I really like that idea! Seems easy to do as well. Great progress on the layout!
I'm not one to make suggestions about other folks layouts - your layout, your rules, etc. But I follow a US railroader with a fairly large basement layout, Stephen Bennett. Rather than a lift up hinged or lift out altogether section, he has a gate. One end is obviously curved for the swing section, but the whole thing is landscaped. He has some cut off arrangement too, so that trains don't plunge to their doom. If you're unsure about the long term of the lift out it might be worth a look. Cheers.
You could try and get copper sheeting from scrap yard and fashion basically the same as the tape as tape could wear out in time ,just a thought ,you have done amazingly well on a budget
Hi Bill.
A problem with your plastic fishplate solution could be that if you are running a large diesel at a fast rate, and the loco has a large fly-wheel and/or a stay-alive, then whoooosh, over the edge she goes! 😪
Apart from that, it's looking good my man. Try looking down from an aerial viewpoint on Clapham Junction in South London and you'll see what a mish-mash of tracks really looks like.
Paul. 👍
Hi niel learning from my mistake put the isolation cut in the track to protect trains from running off the lift out section further away from the edge, you will be surprised how far a locomotive with a flywheel with a rake of coaches behind it can travel once the power is cut ! Love your channel
Nigel
Coming on very nicely Bill, happy days! I love the safety feature. The use of copper tape is an interesting innovation but there may be a problem later on. Copper tarnishes and may give intermittent connection but, if it does, then simply use pluggable connector strip.
I was wondering the same but then thought that an occasional 'tickle up' with a track cleaning rubber would keep the current flrowing freely.
Hi Bill ,, good to see lots of progress since last video.
The liftout section works and if you did make that section a hinged section maybe you coud use a piano hinge (cut to measure) as it will limit the amount of hinge movement in time. You could even put in a bridge or mini viaduct like you have on the other side and cut the styrofoam out from under it too if you want. Just a thought.
I will be using the old triang lever frames my self as I have bought a heap of job lots in the past and theres quite a fair few of them and they look good too and are effective for the purpose.
Cheers from John in Australia
Nice idea, the lift section with the copper tape! Thanks for sharing!👍
Great failsafe idea.... kudos for all the evident hard work you've done...
I do hope you are getting a cuppa tea every now and then...
The loco shed seems much better there, now...👍
The copper tape is something I’d never of thought of!
Great video, layout is coming along nicely!
I like the safety device for the lift out section. If it can go wrong it will go wrong.
Great progress . I think the lift out section is inspired . Clever yet simple to do and with a fail safe ! I like the new track design too , yes looks much more tidy that wzy
That removable section is smart. Very Impressed.
Perhaps getting some conductive lube from the electrical shop for the strips? I know us modellers in the larger scales like G use its lgb equivalent to assist in our brass rails and joiners when they tarnish, might be helpful here...
Just a thought. Layout is looking splendid though, all the best
Excellent ideas for the removable section ! Seems to work really well. Good one!
As for layout planning, obviously there’s an original idea, but once I know the space I have available, nothing is better than « scale 1:1 » planning. For my last layout I basically chalked out the plan on the wooden floor before I built any baseboards, and using photocopies of the Peco point templates. It actually worked out really well. You can even place your rolling stock to check clearances etc and get an idea of how it will look and work. Looking forward to the next one. Dunno if you read the comments but thanks for the inspiration mate. All the best from deepest Ardèche (France) Rob
It’s so exciting to get a new layout up and running. I’m really enjoying the progress. Thanks for keeping us updated.
VERY impressed with your modifications to the plan. Enjoying being on the creative journey with you.
Just 1 note of caution: points in tunnels can be, well, problematic!
Your innovative idea regarding the lift out piece is a stroke of genius. You should patent it.
Hi Bill .I avoided a lift out section by fitting a hinged section.
The swing up section is flexibility wired to the main feed so no connections necessary.
The key factor is to have a high lift system with a hinge pivot point 2-3 inches above track level..If you want pictures I can E mail to you..
The only suggestion I'd make is to smear some solder onto the mating surfaces of the copper tape as that will be less prone to oxidisation than bare copper.
I'd rather have a bare wire across the copper strip than solder. Solder will result in uneven surfaces which will likely mean bad contacts.
really like how you have overcome the liftout section electrical connection may use that idea for my own
Don't beat yourself up over the connections in your lift out section. If it does give problems I would try something along the lines of a Loco pickup. A piece of copper strip with, maybe, a weak spring under it. It works for engines and has been for decades. I think you are doing an excellent job. Enjoying the journey with you.
That was actually my first idea. I need to get hold of some copper strip or cannibalise some old loco pickups. The copper contact in Hornby passing contact switches would probably be ideal but I'd need 8 of them. For now I just went with what I had to hand and was simple to do. I think no matter how a lift out section is engineered it is always going to be a potential point of failure.
Love it, but never say “final” and “fail safes” are an accident waiting to happen.
My heart was in my throat seeing the loco heading to the physically unprotected gap in the track.
Install an interlocked physical barrier on both sides, when the removable section is not in place, some like a counter weighted barrier, that swings up on both sides when the removable section is lifted out.
PS final means final for now, until you think of something better.
Great episode, really interested in your thoughts on the polystyrene substrate
Best regards
Hi, great idea using the copper tape as connectors on the removable section. Layout plan looks very good, looking forward to seeing the scenery in progress. Cheers, Paul.👍👍
Nice idea bill with he copper tape. I have used scotch block connectors in the past with nails helping to locate the removable section I've also used hinges but rather than have them hinge I've removed the pin but it allows the sections to locate and then I used a couple of audio connectors to connect the removable section.
You could just have the DMU shuttle running from the tunnel to the station. Might make the sidings at the other end a little bit redundant though...
That removable section is a very ingenious idea Bill , congrats on the emergency stop too, also a great idea
Great idea using copper tape for electrical continuity with the lift out section . I would add some kind of locking device to the section when in use just in case of accidental knocks . Cheers !
The lift-out is located on dowels to ensure that the tracks line up. They'll prevent it from being knocked sideways.
Brilliantly simple solution to cutting the removable section power and don’t forget you can always rebuild the removable section but you can’t rebuild your knees.
Hi. It's looking great. Keep up the good work. Lift out section should be OK.
Looking 👀 fantastic 00Bill 👍🏻
Nice job, Bill. As you said, my worry would be the durability of the copper tape. Nice solution to the "lemming" scenario!
good progress there and looking layout looking good. The lift out section seems to work well. If I expand my L shaped terminus to fiddle yard layout all round the attic I will have to deal with a lift out section..there is something satisfying about a continuous run with a long coal train...
Excellent to see your progress Bill. I don't think my planned TT gauge new layout (my first for decades) will, be anything like as ambitious as this. Plenty of time for me to learn about how best to construct and wire up I guess.
The shuttle idea is something I'm building too. I'm concerned about how well that removable section works over time.
I guess we will see. Nice update. 👍
progressing nicely and a great idea for the lift out section electrics !
I find that a new layout all depends on what track Ive got available, then some final tweaking before the ballast goes down, and I still haven’t put any down yet 😜 - Gr8 looking Circuit with interesting potential for Sure - Brilliant to See Trains Running Again, I bet your Well “Chuffed” 😆 Thanks for the Update 🙌🏻👍🏻✨
Going be awesome layout again. Lift out section is great idea. One day may get a layout built and see if my old 60s and 70s locos still run. Cheers
Looks great Bill, looking forward to seeing the layout evolve now the track is down.
Hi Bill, love this layout, It looks interesting and can't wait to see it completed. Regarding your lift out section, excellent idea with the copper strips by the way, but I'd seriously consider making the safety break in the track a bit further away from the opening if you've got locomotive's fitted with fly wheels, some can travel quite a distance without power. I'd hate to see you re-enact the latest mission impossible movie.
Nicely done. I think no layout plan ever survives for long once the modeller gets loose with track, points and underlay!
Shuttle idea seems great. If you wanted to get really fiddly with it, you could have two DMUs parked in the tunnel and have it swap which one comes out each time.
That's sort of the plan. If I wire it correctly I could change the point and have a different DMU come out than came in.
@@oobill Keep it simple! there are so many layouts on you tube where electronics run the layout ,,,,that`s not fun 🤣🤣👍👍
@@oobill I'd welcome an overview of that. Interesting idea. So the DMU just automatically runs back and forth?
Looks good Bill looking forward to seeing it progress.
Hi bill layout looks good I like the safety features can’t wait for the next update on your layout keep up with your brilliant work and videos Bernard
Great job on your removable piece hope it gives you no problems
How about having the removable section on a frame with casters / wheels so you can roll it out the way like a trolly.
Heathcote electronics do the shuttle with an intermediate stop hope this helps.
Hi Bill for your lift out have you considered the rail aligners from model tech? Those may help with the longevity of the joint. Just a thought, like how simple your block system is
Final layout looks great, I like the idea of the tunnel for the shuttle - is the plan to run a DMU into it and flip the points so a different DMU comes out?
Yes. I'll switch the point manually though. I think you can over do automation.
Just dont run any big flywheel or stay-alive locomotives....might yet still take the lemming plunge. Coming on really well
Lovely job Bill.
Can't really add to the comments already posted. Well done.
I use latch clamps to hold my lift out section in place,if this helps.
Good update video thanks lee
Nice work Bill
Curious to know how you install the point motors with the think foam board
Have you used extended length throw rods?
How did you get around this?
Nick Australia
The motors clip onto the underside of the points. I'll probably be doing a video on this soon.
Like everyone else, really like the tape idea for the lift out. Would it be at all worth adding a bend to the sidings in the tunnel, to give you a few extra inches of space?
Yeah maybe. I'm not going to glue the track down under the hill so I could bend it once I build the landscape and see what sort of space there is. But it'll work for all my DMUs as it is.
Hi. Your layout's looking good and I really like your solution to the lift out section. Is that the same tape used to shield guitar electrics? I've been thinking of getting some to fit inside my Jazz bass as it does tend to be a little noisy when I'm not touching the strings. My Ibanez Blazer bass is so much quieter but I've never opened it to see if it has shielding.
Yes it is. You will need to shield the entire cavity including the underside of the scratchplate. And ensure all of the copper tape makes contact with all other pieces including that under the plate. You can solder over the joins as the sticky side isn't very conductive. You need to overlap the tape around the edge of the cavity so it makes contact with the tape on the underside of the plate to ensure a "cage" of copper shielding.
That copper tape idea is very clever. But will it last long-term? I used some on my layout for a less ingenious purpose and it wasn't long before it started coming away from the wood and generally being a pain. I kept having to add extra tape over the top to try and keep it in place, and eventually got rid of it. Your tape looks a bit more robust than mine though, so I hope you have more luck!
I layered the tape about 4 times so it is raised enough above the surface of the wood to ensure contact. But yes the longevity of it is a concern. Will it tarnish, tear, peel away etc. I have back up plans though...
@@oobill Sounds like you're better prepared than I was! I hope it pans out - it's a great idea!
Hi bill it’s coming on leaps and bounds
WHY NOT USE CAR OR MOTORCYCLE MULTI CONNECTOR PLUGS SO YOU CAN PLUG UN PLUG YOUR SECTION AT WILL
Cos I don't want to have to unplug and plug in 4 plugs every time I want to use the layout. But I do plan to do that for the section under the window which will only get removed once in a very blue moon.
Great to see your ideas developing - the plan was a starting point and it is only until you actually lay train and run trains in your mind’s eye, that any changes can come about.
Good idea for the lift-out section. Time will tell if it is successful. Hinged would probably be better. But your railway - your rules!
Looking forward to seeing the layout progressing.
@@oobill NO I MEANT A MAIN PLUG THAT HAS MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS , GET ONE WITH ENOUGH CONNECTIONS AND YOU'LL ONLY NEED TWO AT MOST
Sorry Bill for some reason I called you niel!!!