Greetings Shelfington and hello Ian 🖐 I would agree with Euan and Chris about closing the gap back in on the curve sections 😇 even though I've wide gaps myself 😳 Bending Code 55 into curves isn't pleasant 😝 so you cricut machine should prove invaluable 😎 Looking forward to seeing the new 37 in a swift soon 🤞 Very best wishes from the Emerald Isle ☘
Good evening Paul! Hmm, I'm definitely in two minds about the gaps now! Makes me wish I'd not asked the question! Lol! Yeah, I'm hoping the templates will help me bend the track to the correct radius, as well as keep it in place while I glue it! The 37 will feature in a Swift next week - although it won't actually be the subject!!! All the best, Ian.
Hi Ian, it's amazing how the plan has changed over time as you have experimented with different things such as points etc however i have two observations: firstly the "S" curve that goes from one side of the layout into Mantelthorpe station, just wondering if the turn to the right in to the station will be fairly sharp for a train with coaches? Also just my preference i prefer track to be uniform in terms of the gap between parallel lines using the peco gauge which marrys up with peco point work configurations, but just my preference. All the best Ian
Hi Chris! Yes, these things tend to evolve over time, which is why I don't like the "just go for it" approach with no planning involved! You raise some good points! That "S" curve going into Mantelthorpe was originally partly implemented using a first radius setrack point, and my first attempt showed that it was a feasible option! I now plan to use 17" radius curves, which are basically twice the radius, so I don't think there'll be a problem! In terms of the gaps between the tracks, I take your point! I think it looks much better when you have long runs of track, but on the west side of the layout, the tracks will be emerging from a hillside, and I thought it may add more options for incorporating scenery! Maybe I'll end up with different configurations on east and west side? Thanks for your observations, it's always good to share thoughts! All the best, Ian.
Good to see the latest version Ian. Mantlethorpe station looks good. Code 55 is meant to be laid closer and provided you se the gauge to check track centres you should be OK. You do need, in my experience to ease apart the two lines distance around curves because of overhang, and personally I like how you’ve reconfigured the track. I don’t know how long you intend the trains to be in the station loops but it might be worth seeing what you can fit and still allow room for a train to run around. You could do that just on the plan without laying track. I think I mentioned before that this caught me out in one of the versions of High Elven. The first and last coach need to be well clear of the turnout to give clearance for the loco, even as in my case, a little pannier. Look forward to seeing how you’re getting on with the experiments with code 55. Stephen.
Hi Ian - track plan looks fine to me. Only question is why are you leaving a much larger gap between the curves on the two main circuits. Mk3s cleared past each other under test conditions with the tracks closer together which looked more prototypical. So my only suggestion is to go back to having them closer - but as we say - rule 1 - its your layout so do what you are most comfortable with 😊.
Hi Eaun! Thanks! Yeah, I get what you're saying about the gap between the loops! I thought making it wider may give me a few more options for adding scenery between the loops as they emerge from beneath a hillside on the west side of the layout! Maybe I'll end up having them wider on one side than the other? Nothing's set in stone yet! Cheers, Ian.
Hi Ian, it looks good to me mate, I do note Euan’s comment about the gap between the curves, if you don’t need to make them wider then don’t bother and it then gives you a bit more room. I also think it might be time to put the track down to see if it actually works in reality. It’s what I done in the end with my first iteration of Exehaven, I had the track plan on paper but I needed to see it in reality and I think you’re getting to that stage mate. Cheers for now Ian, have a good weekend, John
Hi John! Thanks very much! As I explained to Euan - and Chris - on the west side the tracks will be emerging from a hillside, and I thought having the tracks further apart may give me more flexibility when adding scenery, but everyone has me wondering now! Excellent, that's another track plan version required!! Lol! Yeah, the problem with "putting track down" is that it's not that simple when using foam as a base! I can't simply screw it or nail it to the baseboard, it needs to be glued in order to stay in place properly! I know it must be frustrating to watch, but it's a process I need to go through to satisfy myself that when I do glue it down, it will be for good! Enjoy your weekend too mate! All the best, Ian.
Hi Ian The updated track plan looks great the station looks much more manageable now especially with the head shunt. Great to hear your enjoying the code 55. I was wondering if you were going to be using point motors with the unifrog points and if you would be powering the frogs? Happy modelling 🚂 Nat
Thanks Nat! Yes, I'm very pleased with the layout of Mantelthorpe station now! I'll be mostly using micro servo motors to switch my points, and will probably be using an Arduino based solution for driving the motors! I won't be powering the Unifrog points - initially! Cheers, Ian.
That ls one fantastic looking layout ian! I bet your chomping on the bit to get building it now? So much fun to be had running trains in all the different areas. 👌 a quick question if i may, the 2 ends of the loop, what radius curves are they? 19 and 17?
Thank you very much, I'm very pleased with the plan at the moment - and yes, I can't wait to get started! The inner loop is based on third radius and outer loop is based on fourth radius, which are 300mm and 330mm radius respectively! Hope this helps! All the best, Ian.
Track plan looks good Ian. What length trains will go into the loops at Mantlethorpe? I got caught out with an early design of High Elven by the space needed to allow a loco to pass, even with a small pannier. You might want to set up a train on the plan and mark where the carriages will need to sit to give clearance. Stephen
Thanks Stephen! I'm hoping for trains of five or six coaches long as I don't really have the space for longer rakes unfortunately! Yep, I tried the coaches passing in the video, and they passed even on the tightest of the three attempts! All the best, Ian.
@@iansngauge Sorry Ian I think I wasn't sufficiently clear in my comment. By loops I meant the two parallel tracks at Mantlethorp station (and for that matter the loops in the fiddle yard). The closeness of the track at Code 55 means that a loco traversing the point may need the coaches to be well clear of it to get past. Stephen
Hello Ian, the trackplan looks good. The only thing what worries me is that the tracks are so close to the edge of the table in front. Greetings from Hai
Thanks very much! Yeah, the track does get a little close to the front of the baseboard, but there's not a lot I can do about it without having tighter curves, which I don't really want to do! Rest assured that I'll have some sort of scenery, or an edge on the baseboard to stop trains from falling off! All the best, Ian.
You could make a nice little side business there making people mini-tracksettas. Nice one! Cheers -Ed
Haha! You may be onto something there Ed! Cheers, Ian.
Great work it's looking good now Ian the station is much better thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks Clive! Yes, I'm much happier with the layout of Mantelthorpe station now! Cheers, Ian.
Greetings Shelfington and hello Ian 🖐 I would agree with Euan and Chris about closing the gap back in on the curve sections 😇 even though I've wide gaps myself 😳 Bending Code 55 into curves isn't pleasant 😝 so you cricut machine should prove invaluable 😎 Looking forward to seeing the new 37 in a swift soon 🤞 Very best wishes from the Emerald Isle ☘
Good evening Paul! Hmm, I'm definitely in two minds about the gaps now! Makes me wish I'd not asked the question! Lol! Yeah, I'm hoping the templates will help me bend the track to the correct radius, as well as keep it in place while I glue it! The 37 will feature in a Swift next week - although it won't actually be the subject!!! All the best, Ian.
Hi Ian, it's amazing how the plan has changed over time as you have experimented with different things such as points etc however i have two observations: firstly the "S" curve that goes from one side of the layout into Mantelthorpe station, just wondering if the turn to the right in to the station will be fairly sharp for a train with coaches? Also just my preference i prefer track to be uniform in terms of the gap between parallel lines using the peco gauge which marrys up with peco point work configurations, but just my preference. All the best Ian
Hi Chris! Yes, these things tend to evolve over time, which is why I don't like the "just go for it" approach with no planning involved! You raise some good points! That "S" curve going into Mantelthorpe was originally partly implemented using a first radius setrack point, and my first attempt showed that it was a feasible option! I now plan to use 17" radius curves, which are basically twice the radius, so I don't think there'll be a problem! In terms of the gaps between the tracks, I take your point! I think it looks much better when you have long runs of track, but on the west side of the layout, the tracks will be emerging from a hillside, and I thought it may add more options for incorporating scenery! Maybe I'll end up with different configurations on east and west side? Thanks for your observations, it's always good to share thoughts! All the best, Ian.
Good to see the latest version Ian. Mantlethorpe station looks good. Code 55 is meant to be laid closer and provided you se the gauge to check track centres you should be OK. You do need, in my experience to ease apart the two lines distance around curves because of overhang, and personally I like how you’ve reconfigured the track. I don’t know how long you intend the trains to be in the station loops but it might be worth seeing what you can fit and still allow room for a train to run around. You could do that just on the plan without laying track. I think I mentioned before that this caught me out in one of the versions of High Elven. The first and last coach need to be well clear of the turnout to give clearance for the loco, even as in my case, a little pannier. Look forward to seeing how you’re getting on with the experiments with code 55. Stephen.
Hi Ian - track plan looks fine to me. Only question is why are you leaving a much larger gap between the curves on the two main circuits. Mk3s cleared past each other under test conditions with the tracks closer together which looked more prototypical. So my only suggestion is to go back to having them closer - but as we say - rule 1 - its your layout so do what you are most comfortable with 😊.
Hi Eaun! Thanks! Yeah, I get what you're saying about the gap between the loops! I thought making it wider may give me a few more options for adding scenery between the loops as they emerge from beneath a hillside on the west side of the layout! Maybe I'll end up having them wider on one side than the other? Nothing's set in stone yet! Cheers, Ian.
Hi Ian, it looks good to me mate, I do note Euan’s comment about the gap between the curves, if you don’t need to make them wider then don’t bother and it then gives you a bit more room.
I also think it might be time to put the track down to see if it actually works in reality. It’s what I done in the end with my first iteration of Exehaven, I had the track plan on paper but I needed to see it in reality and I think you’re getting to that stage mate.
Cheers for now Ian, have a good weekend, John
Hi John! Thanks very much! As I explained to Euan - and Chris - on the west side the tracks will be emerging from a hillside, and I thought having the tracks further apart may give me more flexibility when adding scenery, but everyone has me wondering now! Excellent, that's another track plan version required!! Lol! Yeah, the problem with "putting track down" is that it's not that simple when using foam as a base! I can't simply screw it or nail it to the baseboard, it needs to be glued in order to stay in place properly! I know it must be frustrating to watch, but it's a process I need to go through to satisfy myself that when I do glue it down, it will be for good! Enjoy your weekend too mate! All the best, Ian.
Lol! I look forward to it mate👍
Hi Ian
The updated track plan looks great the station looks much more manageable now especially with the head shunt. Great to hear your enjoying the code 55. I was wondering if you were going to be using point motors with the unifrog points and if you would be powering the frogs?
Happy modelling 🚂
Nat
Thanks Nat! Yes, I'm very pleased with the layout of Mantelthorpe station now! I'll be mostly using micro servo motors to switch my points, and will probably be using an Arduino based solution for driving the motors! I won't be powering the Unifrog points - initially! Cheers, Ian.
That ls one fantastic looking layout ian! I bet your chomping on the bit to get building it now? So much fun to be had running trains in all the different areas. 👌 a quick question if i may, the 2 ends of the loop, what radius curves are they? 19 and 17?
Thank you very much, I'm very pleased with the plan at the moment - and yes, I can't wait to get started! The inner loop is based on third radius and outer loop is based on fourth radius, which are 300mm and 330mm radius respectively! Hope this helps! All the best, Ian.
Track plan looks good Ian. What length trains will go into the loops at Mantlethorpe? I got caught out with an early design of High Elven by the space needed to allow a loco to pass, even with a small pannier. You might want to set up a train on the plan and mark where the carriages will need to sit to give clearance. Stephen
Thanks Stephen! I'm hoping for trains of five or six coaches long as I don't really have the space for longer rakes unfortunately! Yep, I tried the coaches passing in the video, and they passed even on the tightest of the three attempts! All the best, Ian.
@@iansngauge Sorry Ian I think I wasn't sufficiently clear in my comment. By loops I meant the two parallel tracks at Mantlethorp station (and for that matter the loops in the fiddle yard). The closeness of the track at Code 55 means that a loco traversing the point may need the coaches to be well clear of it to get past. Stephen
@@Elvenhome- Ah! Gotcha Stephen! Now I understand - and I've just seen your other comment in reply to Chris! Yes, I'll check that out! Thanks! Ian
Hello Ian, the trackplan looks good. The only thing what worries me is that the tracks are so close to the edge of the table in front. Greetings from Hai
Thanks very much! Yeah, the track does get a little close to the front of the baseboard, but there's not a lot I can do about it without having tighter curves, which I don't really want to do! Rest assured that I'll have some sort of scenery, or an edge on the baseboard to stop trains from falling off! All the best, Ian.