003 - Shelfington - Track Design Update
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มี.ค. 2022
- Welcome to Ian's N Gauge channel!
In this instalment I talk about how I could possibly incorporate Shelfington into a bigger layout in the future, and share a track plan that would probably work.
I hope you find the video interesting and will join me on my journey as I document my progress in the weeks, months and probably years to come.
Oh, and if you've just got back into the hobby after a long break, the please let me know how you've found the experience. Alternatively, if you're an old hand at modelling in N gauge, then please impart your wisdom, and point me in the right direction please!
Thanks for watching.
Ian
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interesting project and thoughts :)
Thank you very much! :)
Hi Ian - just subbed to you. Stephen Humphreys at Elvenholme gave you a plug. As a fellow N gauger - I'd really encourage you to stick to the smaller scale. The quality of rolling stock is now on a par with OO. The big advantage is you can run scale length trains. You are certainly putting a lot of thought into a track plan. Cheers Euan
Hi Euan, thanks for the sub! I've been lurking on your channel for a while - after a recommendation from Stephen I think! Yes, I think I'll stick with N gauge as I don't have the space for anything bigger! Actually, having already bought some rolling stock, and seeing the quality, if I did have space for bigger, I'd still stick with N gauge so I could fit more in! Can't wait to get my first trains running! :) Ian
Hi Ian. Came across your channel whilst looking at N gauge channels. Like you I have gone from a OO layout when I was younger to absolutely nothing for about 40 years. I have plenty for fairly new OO stock but not a permanent layout. I to have just watched the Hornby series and, like yourself, this has peaked my interest. Again space constraints mean I cannot have a OO layout that fits with my aspirations so I am now looking at N gauge. Really enjoying your channel. Keep up the good work.
Hi Jonothan, thanks for the sub and the kind words! I'd definitely have stayed with OO if I had the space, but N gauge is a new challenge that I'm relishing, so I can definitely recommend the switch! Glad you're enjoying my small contribution to the community! I won't win any awards for speed of progress, but I'll get there eventually, so welcome aboard, and I hope you continue to enjoy my journey, as well as your own! Best wishes and good luck, Ian.
Hi Ian - You are way ahead of the game. I think your idea for incorporating Shelfington into a larger layout is a brilliant idea.
Have you decided what era you wish to follow, because if you are going to have steam trains you may wish to consider moving the engine shed over where to where sill pond is and incorporating a turntable. If you just going to stick with diesels, then a turntable is a mute point.
If you decide to go with one of the big four then choose wisely. Mine is based on Southern rail and sadly there is not much in that area.
If you angling towards BR then you wont have much of a problem.
Otherwise I think you track plan looks great.
Glad you are going to stick with N Gauge, you will not regret it. Your eventual layout will look huge in N gauge.
Regards Chris
Haha! I don't feel way ahead Chris! :)
I'd like my layout to primarily represent the late 70's and 80's, which was a time I travelled a lot by train up and down the east coast mainline, and have a better knowledge of the actual locos that operated then! That means the layout will be primarily BR diesel, but I do like a steam train, so can't see me being exclusively diesel! I hadn't actually thought of incorporating a turntable, but you raise an excellent point, and maybe I should consider one for the bigger picture layout?
Thanks Chris!
Ian
Hi Ian another subscriber from Elevenhome and a fellow N gauge modeller! Really enjoyed the video and your plans! Looking forward to watching it all unfold. Cheers Gary
Hi Gary and thank you for the sub! I only hope I can do my plans justice! I've been lurking on your channel for a while now, and really like how your quarry area has developed as I'm planning on having a quarry somewhere myself! If I can make it look about half as good as yours I'll be delighted! :) Ian
Hi Ian, just found your channel. what an exciting project! love the idea of the upper level incorporating Shelfington. regarding the continuous circuits, I would try to keep the two circuits on the bottom, their is something magical when sitting back watching 2 trains passing each other on a continuous loop. you say the dr5000 maybe over kill but for it's price it has more scope to grow if you want automation in the future or just want dcc controlled points, signals etc, it can run on the z21 app and you can also just plug a Roco/Fleishman handset into it if you want more of a hands on controller rather than a phone/tablet. All the best Tony.
Hi Tony, and welcome! If I can find the space I'll definitely keep the two circuits, but as I only have room for a 30" wide baseboard, and want to have 2nd radius curves as a minimum, I don't think that's possible unfortunately - unless I only have one line running to and from Shelfington! I'll definitely have to play around with the track plan some more, and lets face it, I've got plenty of time!!!! Funny you should mention the DR5000 as I've just ordered one which should be with me in the coming week! You're right, the scope to grow was what made me go for it instead of the NCE powercab! Cheers! Ian
Well done on your forward thinking. It is so easy to race into building your first layout, and then find it is impractical to expand.
It is also good to use your small layout to practice and hone your modelling techniques.
Good luck with the build.
Thanks very much Andrew! Exactly my thoughts! There doesn't seem to be any point in rushing into a project that is clearly going to take years to come to fruition! Ian
Light bulb moments always end up being expensive, but an excuse to visit a model shop is always a good thing (if also always expensive). The longer term plans look interesting and I think you should definitely incorporate Shelvington in them as you suggest. The only thing I couldn't quite see was how you intend to preserve the continuous running loop. I think you need a junction for the descending line to join the main lines in the loop. Look forward to seeing Shelvington take shape. Stephen
I'm beginning to think everything in this hobby is relatively expensive Stephen, not only the light bulb moments! :)
Ah, yes, I didn't really go into the double loop thing in much detail. Of course you're right. With the plan in the video there is only one loop preserved, but (at the moment) I'd happily sacrifice the second loop to have the operational possibilities with the good service.
In the plan I've placed Shelfington three inches above the main board, and with such limited space it's difficult to get a sensible gradient running between the two boards - I think it's just under 3% as it stands. It also makes it difficult to maintain sensible radiuses for inner loops.
This was only the first iteration though, and at least flipping Shelfington around gives me the best chance of incorporating it at all in the future.
Ian
Another subscriber coming from Elvenhome's recommendation and I can already feel a kinship. I've constrained my layout by following the railroading classic book "HO Railroad That Grows," but I'm building it in N gauge, and I too am also thinking about what lies beyond this current layout and how I can incorporate it into a bigger layout eventually. I look forward to seeing your design get developed. Cheers!
Hi there, and thank you for the sub! I look forward to seeing how you incorporate your current layout into a bigger layout too! Ian
Hi Ian - you mentioned before about having foam on the base board. I did this but found that because of the foam I couldn't find point motors with a strong enough "throw" to fit under the board and go through the base, foam, cork and track so ended up with surface mounted motors from Gaugemaster. The mistake I made was using 25mm insulation foam and should I have the choice again I would use a much thinner foam or none at all.
Regards
Steve
Hi Steve, now this is interesting! I plan on using Shelfington to test a number of different point motors! I've currently got three surface mounted ones from Rails of Sheffield which will operate on DCC current, but was also planning on using points under the baseboard too! I've currently got some 25mm XPS type foam that I was planning to use on top of the baseboard, but maybe that's a mistake? I'd seen somewhere that you could modify the point motor with strong piano wire to increase the throw of some point motors, but I'd need at least 40mm to get through the baseboard, foam and cork and then it would need to get to the base of the point motor, so maybe 60mm is too far? Thanks for the advice! Ian
@@iansngauge yes Ian, that would be too far, hence why I've had to use surface mounted ones. I tried the piano wire method and that didn't work either. I'm now currently struggling on getting the DR4018 to operate properly so am back on the phone to DCCTrainautomation and James for advice. Who knew how tricky this all is!
Oh dear! I'm wondering how other people do this? I'm certain I've seen people with point motors below 25mm foam and ply! Although saying that, I've watched so many videos in the last few months, I'm not completely sure any more! Just to let you know, I'm currently working my way through your channel, and am just up to the point where you're about to wire up the DR5000! All good stuff so far as it's pretty much what I'll be doing in the next couple of weeks! Hope you get your DR4018 issues sorted! Yes, it's all tricky indeed! Good luck! Ian
Hi Ian, Might I suggest checking out "Boomer Diorama". He is a Canadian guy that has a very thought oriented along with excellent how-to. He has a ton of videos and walks you through every step that he uses. th-cam.com/users/BoomerDioramasTheImmersiveModelRailroad
From your last video, I started playing with DCC++ using a Raspberry Pi for the computer and also an old laptop and using JMRI. The newer version is the DCC++EXE that can run headless. It cost a lot less. I later got the NCE Power Cab. There is a learning curve with all of it.
Best wishes on you travels in Model Railroading.
Hi John, I actually just started following him a couple of weeks ago! He does some really cool stuff doesn't he? and explains it all very well! I also looked into DCC++ control, and had a controller lined up for purchase, but at the last moment decided against it as the protocol didn't support hardware throttles! I've eventually gone with the Digikeijs DR5000, but it was a very close run thing with the NCE Power Cab! Many thanks for your suggestions, and the sub! :) Ian
Hi Ian foam works if you are going to use servos. I do i cut the servos in to the foam. but if you are going to use under board point motors then don't. But there are more things you can do with a foam top. You are looking for a nse power cab I started with one and the are excellent it is for sale. I can send you a link to Facebook or twitter if you use them and then we can chat on the phone. Colin
Hi Colin! Yeah, I'm a bit undecided about using a foam layer now after a couple of comments I've received! I like the idea that I can cut into foam to provide a river / canal without having to raise the track, but am worried about the distance point motors beneath the baseboard would have to travel! As far as the NCE powercab, thanks very much for the offer, but I've just purchased a Digikeijs DR5000! Thanks for the advice! Ian