Documenting my journey into model railways.
The Wait is Over... Time to lay some track.
My Aliexpress order of flexitrack finally came through. For £15 I got 5 50cm long lengths of really flexible concrete sleeper style flexitrack with gold rails. Not a huge price difference to PECO track but when you are combining with other orders you can make significant savings on the shipping.
I did not skimp on the points and managed to pick up 2 x ST-5 (RH), 2 x ST-6 (LH) and an SL-E393F short crossing for £50 all in.
Establishing Loop 2 and Casualties of Construction
Putting in the large Loop 2 was the first priority. This goes all the way around the layout and through a tunnel / viaduct and allows rail traffic to move between the loops.
This was also my attempt at laying cork underlay. I bought a roll of self adhesive underlay (that's not going to bite me in the arse in a few years time, LOL) and cut 1 inch strips which I then cut in half about 2 inches from one end. This creates a head and two tails which can be more easily bent to conform to the radius of the track.
I joined two of the flexitrack sections together using the very substantial joiners provided and connected it to one of the RH points. This established the first run of track on the left side of the layout allowing space for the platforms which will eventually service the station and passengers waiting at loop 1 or loop 2. Things went swimmingly until I began fixing the track under the elevated section. I could not get a tool in to drive home the track pins.
With a sigh I proceeded to rip out the elevated section. In truth, I was not 100% happy with it and it will allow me to custom cut a roadbase which conforms to the curve of the viaduct and provide a solid mounting surface for the points which will be needed if I decide to put a small siding on the left. The right side of the viaduct is going to be getting a signal box from which the signalman can see the entire layout.
The First Rail Disaster!!
Everything seemed to be going according to the vague plan I had in my head until I got down to the return set of points which reconnect Loop 1 and Loop 2. I think I got mixed up and ended up putting them too low down on the layout.
However, as Bob Ross might say "It was just a happy accident" and chance purchase of the short crossing changed the direction this layout was going in a big way. Gone was the idea of another set of 4 points connecting loop 2 with loop 3 and back again. Instead the crossing would permanently link loop 2 and loop 3 in a moebius strip like arrangement.
I'm sure you will agree that this introduces a large amount of fun to the layout and saves me £60 in points that I won't have to buy. This will also reduce the number of DC controllers I need to buy to have continuous running throughout the layout. Double Whammy!!
Thanks to this unplanned change the layout lines I had marked on the layout could not be followed and so I strapped on my big boy pants and began cutting underlay and laying track in small sections. I can always trim it down later.
By now I had pretty much used up all my flexitrack, but don't worry I put in another order a couple of days ago just in case.
Obligatory Running Video
This weeks running video showing the layout in its new improved Bob Ross inspired shape.
The archway shopfronts have been removed for photographic purposes but don't worry they will make a return shortly.
No comments:
Post a Comment