I’ve been working on the railroad, all the live long day
I’ve been laying some track this afternoon. I spent a while fiddling with the curves, and laying things out.
I started at the back, and slowly worked around to the front on the longer sections. Laying the curves wasn’t too bad, but they’ve taken on more of a ‘D’ shape than the original plan.
Not really a big issue, as it means a more sweeping curve, and not only that, it lines things up a bit more nicely for the scissor points.
Notice the slight bodge on the end of the curve though:
I should have started with two lengths from either end, and trimmed them down. Then I would have had a nice join the middle. But no mind. I’ve run some wagons over them, and they go over fine. Due to the fact I’ve pulled the baseboard out and sat it on the bed, it’s a little inclined. I was having great fun sending a little wagon round the full length just by pushing it hard at one end, and letting it make its own way round under its own momentum. I figured if it was binding anywhere, or likely to derail, it’d definitely do it then, and it went round fine each time, even crossing the points when I set them to crazy things, so I’m reasonably happy it’s OK.
There’s a light pencil line which marks a 275mm diameter curve; my curves are a bit more than that, so I’m well within tolerances I think.
Unfortunately I need to wire up the electrofrogs before I can actually get anything running around. I think I also need to look into point motors and their fitment before I go crazy sticking down track. The curve is nailed down, but only because I have no plans in ballasting or doing anything with it (you can’t see it anyway). Long term that might change if it moved to a location where you can see it. The fiddle yard at the back has also been nailed down.
I’m quite pleased with the high difference between the code 80 and code 55 track. I don’t envision it causing a problem as is, but if required I’ll file it to fit. So far, so good though. I might lay a bit more track today. At least my little Woolies Dremel-alike drill is coming in useful for cutting the track.