[berth44]

It's not something that we have mentioned ,but these items come in quite handy!..?
The reason for the 'mention', opportunity knocked on EBay and I purchased myself a couple of Peco 'Long Diamond Crossings' (30 bucks for the two,plus postage) I thought that was a fair price, I noticed each 'box' was labelled 35 dollars,hence the purchase, plus the honest fact is, all I have is Peco turnouts (30 plus year old!!)and not a 'X-ing' in sight..so it's a purchase for a 'future' layout,cough cough...............Dave

[berth44]

The crossings arrived..registered post..perfect condition,just needed a wee clean,now I need to get a couple of boards up and build a wee junction and have some fun!!..............Dave

[SkyFire]

It will be good to have your trains running again.

[berth44]

Well,I'm going to have something, it might not be permanent,but it'll be more than the yard length I have at the moment!!......Dave

[berth44]

These 'new' crossings have inspired me,off to the garage I went last night and found ALL my Peco points,put them into a box and brought them into the hoose.
I've also got umpteen packets of new 'rail joiners' incase they are required I brought them in to. I'm also armed with my cleaning 'rubber thingy' (Peco) and long nosed pliers, I'm ready for the job at hand!
Now, as I've previously mentioned these have not been used for about 28 years,so I'm expecting a few to be 'past it', but after 4 hours I was really surprised that out of a variety of 42 turnouts, (mostly of the long variety, 12 are 'medium'...that's all good!!) Unfortunately though I have to 'scrap' 6 of them (long ones as well...bugger!!) due to 'severe' breakage at the 'workin' ends, it seems that all those years ago I must have literally ripped them out of my layout!!
Actually,quite a few (mostly the 'medium' radius) had chairs broken down 'that end' as well,but with 'superglue' at hand,fixing this problem was not a 'problem',way back in 84/5 when these were 'lifted',this glue was not around to fix them,and more than likely,many a point would end up in the bin,and at 2.35 UK pounds each,it was'nt such a loss!!
Anyhoo,each point was checked,cleaned,repaired if need be, then attached to a straight section and I ran my 'non powered' Derby Lightweight through the crossing to check for 'smooth running'....100% efficiency was acheived..... I was pleased.
Lastly, when I have more time and a' board' in place ,I will check for electrical continuity,I can't see any problems, all the 'touch feely' bits seem to be working fine. All I need to do now is find the point motors and switches, I don't have a lot of them,certainly no where near 42,but I do know where the bank of 'operating levers' (Tri-ang/Hornby)are, point motors are not so hard to come by,I don't know about the 'levers', I see them on EBay,but they are always being bid on...anyhoo, I'm glad I've did this wee job.but a big job in reality, a 'good' start methinks, and guess what,(??) I did have a 'diamond crossing' amongst the many points, I didn't think I had one...anyhoo, that's 3 now!!.....the quest is on!!!...............Dave

[berth44]

Anybody know where I can get 'cheap' cork tiles for track underlay?? It's available in Bunnings, but it's way to thick the stuff that they have,not cheap either with 13 bucks only covering a square metre....Dave

[SkyFire]

Fisher Discounts would probaly have a roll of Ho track cork underlay, would need a bit of cutting for part of it.

[berth44]

I thought about them, but I'm thinking a couple of packets of the square tiles will be better value,but I'm bearing that in mind about Fishers,one never does one??, thanks Anthony..........Dave

[SkyFire]

I do have a sheet of cork underlay, only not sure where it came from, maybe Fisher Discounts.

[berth44]

It has to be out there somewhere Anthony,but I'm not what you might say.. a 'desperado' Once I've got something down on my boards that I like,then I'll start looking..
Meantime,I'm toying with a 'ballast' yard with an adjacent loco shed with the main line disecting it, or maybe just a big loco shed."hmm"..I'm thinking......Dave

[bluedot0]

Have a look here Davey, this is where I sourced my cork from when I did the yard on my big layout, not sure how it goes price wise now tho, or you could hunt around the flooring shops in Fyshwick........Phil

www.ifloor.com.au/viewproduct.php?cid=3172&pid=597079

[berth44]

I'll try some local places first Phil,no great hurry for it yet, just experimenting with different track formations,track cutting/joining,etc etc etc, it's been a while since I've done anything you know,I'm like a beginner all over again!!..........Dave

[berth44]

Work continues,still cannot find my 'point motors' but there is no hurry,nothing is that permanent yet as to justify their usage,all is what you might say a big experiment,trials and tribulations,just thinking to myself out loud and 'running in' locos.
Anyhoo, I did manage to repair 3 long crossovers that would otherwise have been chucked out if it were not for the miracle of the......'shooperglue!!'......nothing around in the 'instant glue' section then to match it in the 60s 70s and early eighties,now where's that 'time machine'......."Hmmmmm".......................................Dave

[berth44]

Well,it's a miracle,I found the 'point motors' (Peco)all 19 of them in an old DJH (kit)box up in the loft!(more coaches as well in a larger box!!)
I also came accross my 2nd H&M 'Duette' and the same companies '3000' controller,this is a single loco controller,with 'electronics' of the day! It has 'LEDs'..Wow!!
With this unit you can actually 'drive' your loco by using the accelerator control ''T'' lever, set it to 'coast' and then you stop it, or just slow down by using another ''T'' lever that is 'the brake', so by easing off and on the brakes you can 'drive' your train into a station, with practise,you can do this 'hands free!!'
To restart you simply let off the brake, if you let it off completely, your train will gradually accelerate up to the pre-set 'coast' speed that you have previously set with your accelerator....or 'half', it'll remain at that lower speed until you've cleared your 'speed 'restriction, or climed your gradient,then you let the brake off fully and go for it!! very clever for it's day,and I'm talking (probably)..the 70s!!
It also compensates for various track conditions etc by having a 'constant', I think it's called 'inertia' (I might be wrong??)control by staying at a 'constant speed',(the 'Duettes do this also).
Unfortunately, by todays standards it is a very large unit,but that matters not a jot,I vill be using it, just for the 'fun' of it !!
Lastly,for all you 'electronic' geeks out there,I've had two of these 'H&Ms' (Duette &the 3000)way back in my Scotland days,both came with me to Oz .(the 'ther Duette,bought here from a friend
Anyhoo these two units gave me sterling performance way back then. Motors??,didn't locos have 'orrible' loco motors, but these were the accepted 'norm' of way back '''then'''.
So far folks, all my 'new' locos with these 'electronic' motors are performing really well with my 'Duette', so I'll continue to use these units. Only when they give up and die on me will I give them up!...Dave

P/S,I have a 'new' unit in the way of a Backmann E-Z, it's OK

[berth44]

It's been a while since I used Ebay but I required 2 left points (long radius)for a new crossover and there was a nice pair,bidding started at 39.95....I entered 40 and as it turned out, I was the only bidder, so I wone!
So, I've got my two points, and with just 2.50 postage, that kept the price reasonable, hopefully, the seller will get these posted out to me soon,and then, I'll be seen as doing something!!, and with a bit of luck I might get my new motor for my 'Pullman',then I'll be doing two somethings!!..........Dave