[berth44]

I got the two lengths of wood from Bunnings that I needed for the girder bridge last night.... as I said I 'would'. I reduced the size of the bridge by about 3 inches to fit in with the plates (every 5th plate is different)..and that's one side done!
The 'other' bridge came from Melbourne yesterday, that's going to be an over bridge 'somewhere' to carry 'light farm traffic'..I had also bid on EBay (Monday) for a couple of 3 aspect colour lights,I wine! (yesterday) and got the pair for under 10 bucks..... posted from Honky Kong..they look the part,now I need to find out how they work, once I get them that is!.....I only ever had 2 aspect in a previous train life!!...Dave

P/S, I didn't order my Metcaff stuff from Rails as I thought,it seems I didn't complete the 'order' form,so I re-ordered them yesterday with an extra sheet of 'Grey stone',I'm thinking I'll use that on my bridge pylons......Dave

[bluedot0]

A cuppa n biccie for the grand opening to traffic.......Phil

[berth44]

And the good news is,(apart from the cuppa and bicccciiiies)I just aquired 'double fluro' from the 'light technician' here at work, for 'free!!' (I've been at him for weeks)so I'll now be able to see up at the 'dark end'..guess where my bridge is???.....just wish it were warmer so I could get more done!......Dave

[bluedot0]

I'm impressed, you have seen the light........Phil

[berth44]

Last night....One more side of my bridge glued together and ready for it's 'wood' supports. I left the other side in the garage overnight 'under weights' with the glue drying,but it didn't dry,probably way too cold in there,so I brought it into the house,it's dry now!, I had a look at it this morning,it seems fine, it's gone 'clear'..that's dry!!
I'm doing this bridge as 'cheaply' as I can, but it's cost way over 80 bucks already!....that's cheap, "Hmmm??" Another so called 'cost saver' is the use of 'matchsticks' to simulate what looks like 'square' blocks (of steel??) that support the real thing.
These seam to be placed at regular intervals between the 'base' of the top part (track bed)and the top of the girder,every 'second' one is also connected by what looks like a steel plate to the top side 'base' parts, on my bridge this is represented by the wooden strips that I already have in place, atop of these go the handrails.
I was going to use plastic strips,but I would require a lot of them, all that's seen of these 'blocks' is their ends anyway, that's all I'm doing anyhoo,bugger with the undersides, so I'll give the 'sticks' a go, if I don't like them ,I'll revert to plastic. These will be glued to the 'base',then the 'girder' will be glued to them,so I have a 'plan'..........."I always have 'a plan!!"..whether it works or not,that is a ze question my friends!!......Dave

[berth44]

The above 'plan' is working fine, but it's quite tedious work so I've temporally bridged the gap to 'test run' my locos while I complete 'my bridge' in the comfort and heat of my lounge!
I fitted the 'new fluro' to throw some light 'doon the back', nearly killed myself as well attempting to screw the new unit to the wooden joist in the roof,god it was heavy, with one foot on my ladder,one on my board (I tried 2 feet on the latter,no worries,it didn't even creek!!)
So there I was, with this 4 foot fluro balanced on my head, I'm holding the drill in one hand,screw driver in the other and 4 screws in me gub.........go figure!!!
Anyhoo,got it up,plugged it in and it worked "yee ha!"....let there be light!!,but when I switched on the 'original' 2 fluros to light up the garage, one of them decided not to work, and it was the 'middle one', that's the one that lit up my layout, the twin fluros have gave up,now one half of my layout is back in the dark??....."Humph!!"
Anyhoo,off to 'Bunnings' for two new replacement 'tubes' and the starter thingies, but could I get it to work,nope..what the **** I thought??, I tried everything I new,and that's not much regarding these things, it didn't help mind you that one of the 'brand new' tubes was bust, so back for a replacement I did go...
After much farting around, I got it to work, but I still can't figure out what was wrong as the two original fluros still worked, as did the starters, "bugger!"..but I reckon the two new fluros that I put in place (in any case) are shining much more light on the subject.....that's good!!
Lastly, I rearranged my steam 'shed' layout once again utilizing my 3rd diamond crossing, but I require more points, I'll need to try and roughly figure how many I might need,I require at least 2 new 'crossovers',so that's 2 right and 2 left long radius (probably curved) straight up, and as I'm now planning a diesel depot, several medium right handers are now required with some 'righties' for good measure, and here was me thinking that I'll just use what I've got, 43 points,3 diamonds, 50 yard lengths of Peco, already I've use over half of a new box,with the use of other 1/2 already planned out,(and I'll require more!!)all I need is my 3 packets of fishplates (144) from Rails to continue track laying.... and we're laughing..not really.but it's fun!!.........Dave

[berth44]

I got me Peco turntable from Rails, + me 3 packets of Peco Rail joiners,I thought I'd ordered a different brand with 48 in a packet,but it seems not,3X24 is all I've got in the Peco packet,but still,the cost was way cheaper, 1 pound 20p,that is 1 dollar 80c,Fishers and Toyworld..6.90..per packet!!!
So, in my next order, (that wont be long) another couple of packets...for sure!,and the next order is....points!!
I made an inquiry re these yesterday to Rails, I was in half a mind yesterday to order what I thought was an 'Aussie' bargain,a pack of 10 Peco medium radius points for only 176 bucks...posted from a seller on EBay, they were 'Aussie cheap',but even at 17.60 each,still too dear I think (know!!)
Anyhoo,I sent an Email to Rails to get a full run down on the price, the vat deduction and postage,and that information came back promptly to me, 10 points=82 quid,that's 125 bucks,so no guessing where I choose to buy..is there???,I'm just waiting on their reply re the stock situation.
Anyhoo,the turntable, remember that??,I had a quicksquiz at it,it's a kit of many pieces,as per the Dapol,but way better,it's a 'well' type,that part comes in three pieces that interlock into each other,so it looks interesting and challenging.
I couldn't wait,I got into it after dinner,and while watching my usual TV progs,I finished it,yes, finished it, this will be the 'first' kit I've finished in years I might add!!!
,All the 'stuff' comes with the kit for electrifying it and it's very simple to fit, there are two holes on the top of the 'track bed',into these you drop the two brass 'plungers', and then into the holes you drop a spring.
Next you take the supplied steel track and slide it into the finely moulded 'chairs ', as you reach the middle, very slight pressure is required on the spring to compress it so as the rail slides over it (I used a small screw driver,it was at hand!)
This is first step in the simple 'electric' contact with the track. Next there is a round plastic 'bush',this is what the 'table' part spins on,but first the 'brass' contacts must be fitted to it.
These are simply two separate flat bits of curved brass that form the circumference of the 'bush',and with an easy bit of bending at their edge, (3 bends per half) IE, one part of each is bent to form the 'tab' onto which you fit the 'wire' and the 'other' ends are bent to form the tabs that secure it to the plastic 'bush' .
I must mention the fine 'slits' in this 'bush' through which you push these 'bent' edges of the brass parts..brilliant Peco,all so very well thought out!!
OK, by now you must realize that I'm loving this wee build,to finish it off,the bush is fitted into the centre of the well, it is firmly secured by two plastic pins fitted into holes that 'surround' the centre hole on the well, this makes sure it stays there and the only thing that spins is the turntable!!
Lastt bit of the build, the 'turny' bit is now introduced to the well, the plungers on the 'table' are now in costant 'electrical' contact as the turntable spins, and to make sure it all stays there 'as one unit', a simple plastic ring is glued,but only (and carefully) to the end of 'tables' shaft,all that is now required is a big hole in the baseboard and the two wires from the 'table' connected to the 'running line'
.
Dave

[bluedot0]

Well researched there Davey, the points here are quite expensive.....I think I shall purrr-chase some as well, but not right now, I will need a set or two soon metinks......

It sounds like your turntable....turned out ok......Phil

[berth44]

Thanks Phil,it's the way to go for sure.. I've since did a wee bit reading about the 'turntable' mostly all are favorable and pretty helpful re motorizing it.
It seems it's 'weakness' lies in the well being unsupported to 'heavy locos' The 'bridge' apparently can be 'wobbly' on the job,but with me just sort of testing it prior to installing,I find it working quite fine,I've been 'birling' my 'Falcon' diesel round and round and it all seems very smooth in its operation.
If it shows any of these traits when installed,I'll know how to remedy them,and fortunately,it's not hard,motorizing it??,well,I used to have a nice motor with 'gears' lying around,unfortunately,as per your story on the ship parts,I can't for the life of me find it!!...Dave

[SkyFire]

I'll be needed some more points sometime too and mabye a crossing or 2 sometime.

Good to hear that the turntable has turned out well and you won't have to take it for a spin.

[berth44]

Thanks Anthony,I like that...Dave

[berth44]

All is quiet on the forum,very quiet,anyhoo,just an update, two more loops put in,the 'shed' area straightened up,some bad joints lifted and fixed,more work done on my bridge,but still heaps to do,it's proving to be a big time consuming effort,really trying my patience,but I'll get there!
I've almost run out out of my 3rd box of Peco track,4 lengths left,I'll probably need another as I've got some fairly long sidings to lay, so more 'fish plates' definitely required and I'm requiring a long right hand curved point 'now' to finish off another loop,so it'll be a wee look on EBay to see what's there......Dave

[SkyFire]

Always the way, that you end up using more track than you ever thought possible.

[berth44]

Seems the way Anthony,I'll hang on till the Malkara thing,that shouldn't be far off,you never know I might pick up a box there 'on sale' I doubt that very muchly,but there is no hurry anyway,plenty things to do up till then, like save up the cash!!....Dave

[SkyFire]

Saving up the cash sounds like a good idea.