Portandoo Updates
October 2020 Update
With a bit of careful use of the available timber, the three revised baseboards came together soon after the last update, and the trackplan fitted quite well.
Then, slowly, I got on with tracklaying. The sector plate came first – basically four nearly-straight tracks, so easing myself in. The tracks are all electrically linked, with one pair of power feeds diving through the baseboard just in front of the pivot.
The rest of the track followed, its pace determined by the fact that bits of real life happened over the summer and needed to be dealt with. Also, I managed to cut track wrong every so often, even after having measured it. However, it is now all laid. Rolling stock seems to be able to cope with the various points, curves and joins between sector plate and baseboards, and between baseboards. Push test only so far, but not making me worry. The boards even come apart and go back together again with track in good alignment, much to my relief.
The next thing I’m doing is putting the bridge on the fiddle yard board that will form the scenic break, because that will form a benchmark for the backscenes for the other two boards and the scenic bit in front of the sector plate. I managed to secure it with a combination of screws, panel pins and glue, because that end of the baseboard is quite congested underneath with timberwork. When I came to putting up the backscene that will hide the sector plate and be the setting for a little warehousing area, I found that the piece of 4mm ply I was intending to use had warped a bit in the changing weather over the last few months – alternating hot and dry, biblically wet, warm and humid, cool and autumnal conditions. Having the “sky” be twisty just looks odd, so I wasn’t happy with that. Because there is very little space between the back of the backscene and the sector plate, bracing wasn’t a practical option and I will be using 9mm ply instead.
I have started the skins of the bridge, based on mounting board with coarse stone plasticard facing. It has taken a few attempts to get to a reasonable painting and weathering regime. There is still a bit of work to do on this; however, at least it can be done indoors (“I have to do this on the table, dear, because otherwise the damp garage will cause the cardboard to warp”)
Then after that will be wiring, one board at a time. All the sections of track have dropper cables already fixed, so all I have to do is connect them to the bus that I will install…and then wire up the point motors and polarity switches…and then fit a few signals. My original intention was two single platform starters, but having to squeeze the layout width makes me think that I’m more likely to end up with a bracket signal.
And after that, buildings, rolling stock and scenery. It’ll keep me out of mischief for a while.
Then, slowly, I got on with tracklaying. The sector plate came first – basically four nearly-straight tracks, so easing myself in. The tracks are all electrically linked, with one pair of power feeds diving through the baseboard just in front of the pivot.
The rest of the track followed, its pace determined by the fact that bits of real life happened over the summer and needed to be dealt with. Also, I managed to cut track wrong every so often, even after having measured it. However, it is now all laid. Rolling stock seems to be able to cope with the various points, curves and joins between sector plate and baseboards, and between baseboards. Push test only so far, but not making me worry. The boards even come apart and go back together again with track in good alignment, much to my relief.
The next thing I’m doing is putting the bridge on the fiddle yard board that will form the scenic break, because that will form a benchmark for the backscenes for the other two boards and the scenic bit in front of the sector plate. I managed to secure it with a combination of screws, panel pins and glue, because that end of the baseboard is quite congested underneath with timberwork. When I came to putting up the backscene that will hide the sector plate and be the setting for a little warehousing area, I found that the piece of 4mm ply I was intending to use had warped a bit in the changing weather over the last few months – alternating hot and dry, biblically wet, warm and humid, cool and autumnal conditions. Having the “sky” be twisty just looks odd, so I wasn’t happy with that. Because there is very little space between the back of the backscene and the sector plate, bracing wasn’t a practical option and I will be using 9mm ply instead.
I have started the skins of the bridge, based on mounting board with coarse stone plasticard facing. It has taken a few attempts to get to a reasonable painting and weathering regime. There is still a bit of work to do on this; however, at least it can be done indoors (“I have to do this on the table, dear, because otherwise the damp garage will cause the cardboard to warp”)
Then after that will be wiring, one board at a time. All the sections of track have dropper cables already fixed, so all I have to do is connect them to the bus that I will install…and then wire up the point motors and polarity switches…and then fit a few signals. My original intention was two single platform starters, but having to squeeze the layout width makes me think that I’m more likely to end up with a bracket signal.
And after that, buildings, rolling stock and scenery. It’ll keep me out of mischief for a while.
Main boards set up
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Sector plate complete, photo is rotated sideways, unless Michael is up to something...
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All trackwork laid, with droppers
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The road over-bridge, taking shape
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Bridge skin under construction
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Lockdown Update
The best-laid plans…Though clearly my plans hadn’t actually been that well laid.
About a month ago, baseboards had progressed to the point where I could think about starting to lay track. One of the conditions of planning permission for the layout from the domestic authorities was that it had to able to be stowed away in the loft. So boards had been sized to fit through the loft hatch. Just to check, I tried putting the boards in the loft – and they wouldn't fit. They fit through the hatch (just), but because of the position of a few significant items like roof joists, I couldn't turn them to store them in the intended place.
“Oh dear me, how disappointing”, I said (or words to that effect).
To be store-able, the layout has had to shrink a bit; from 10’ to 9’ overall length, and from 2’ wide to about 19”. I warmed up the brain cell and pondered various options for next steps, including some radical revisions to station design. After consultation with the others, I concluded that I can keep essentially the original trackplan, without too much squeezing. The street scene behind the station will have to go on separate add-on boards, which will make it easier to work on away from the layout. I’m OK with that; I like the idea of that street – it will hopefully be reminiscent of Portrush and will help set the scene. There should still be room for at least one siding in front of the sector plate.
The sector plate itself has to be shortened by about 6”, which will limit the maximum train length a bit, but won’t affect the everyday railcars. The plate will stick out further behind the backscene when in operation, so I will need something to stop hard-to-get stock plummeting to the floor because I put the wrong number in the controller. I have some initial thoughts for a restraint, which will have to get refined as work goes on.
Over the last few weeks, I have started trying to salvage as much of the material of the original baseboards as possible to make the smaller versions. To add to the challenge, I am trying to do this with the minimum requirement for new wood, etc. so that I don’t have to break lockdown for the relatively trivial purposes of shopping for my hobby.
So far, I have managed to rebuild the fiddle yard board, as seen in the photos. A backscene will go in between the sector plate and the flat triangle ‘in front’ of it, but my thinner plywood has warped, so that will have to wait for a while. I definitely have enough timber for the next board, and it’s looking a bit tight for the third board, so that shopping trip might have to happen at some point, hopefully when lockdown restrictions ease a little in the future.
Still, it makes a nice change from sitting on a computer all day.
About a month ago, baseboards had progressed to the point where I could think about starting to lay track. One of the conditions of planning permission for the layout from the domestic authorities was that it had to able to be stowed away in the loft. So boards had been sized to fit through the loft hatch. Just to check, I tried putting the boards in the loft – and they wouldn't fit. They fit through the hatch (just), but because of the position of a few significant items like roof joists, I couldn't turn them to store them in the intended place.
“Oh dear me, how disappointing”, I said (or words to that effect).
To be store-able, the layout has had to shrink a bit; from 10’ to 9’ overall length, and from 2’ wide to about 19”. I warmed up the brain cell and pondered various options for next steps, including some radical revisions to station design. After consultation with the others, I concluded that I can keep essentially the original trackplan, without too much squeezing. The street scene behind the station will have to go on separate add-on boards, which will make it easier to work on away from the layout. I’m OK with that; I like the idea of that street – it will hopefully be reminiscent of Portrush and will help set the scene. There should still be room for at least one siding in front of the sector plate.
The sector plate itself has to be shortened by about 6”, which will limit the maximum train length a bit, but won’t affect the everyday railcars. The plate will stick out further behind the backscene when in operation, so I will need something to stop hard-to-get stock plummeting to the floor because I put the wrong number in the controller. I have some initial thoughts for a restraint, which will have to get refined as work goes on.
Over the last few weeks, I have started trying to salvage as much of the material of the original baseboards as possible to make the smaller versions. To add to the challenge, I am trying to do this with the minimum requirement for new wood, etc. so that I don’t have to break lockdown for the relatively trivial purposes of shopping for my hobby.
So far, I have managed to rebuild the fiddle yard board, as seen in the photos. A backscene will go in between the sector plate and the flat triangle ‘in front’ of it, but my thinner plywood has warped, so that will have to wait for a while. I definitely have enough timber for the next board, and it’s looking a bit tight for the third board, so that shopping trip might have to happen at some point, hopefully when lockdown restrictions ease a little in the future.
Still, it makes a nice change from sitting on a computer all day.
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NIR 80 Class DEMU
The first tentative steps have been taken to create a stalwart of the NIR passenger carrying fleet, the 80 Class DEMU
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The first vehicle, a driving trailer, takes shape. 2 Hornby BR Mark 2a coaches have given up their plastic, along with a scratchbuilt plasticard cab. Obviously there is a lot more to do, I'll post updates as and when progress is made.
February 20 Update
Work on Portandoo has been slow over the last few months, not helped by the fact that the "railway work room", aka garage, hasn't been the nicest place to spend time over the winter.
However, creating a short test track (see pics below) has been possible in more indoors conditions, and has let me fit DCC chips to some stock and try them out. The photos show the test board and a couple of Murphy Models' fine products.
Also, a bit more track planning has been going on.
However, creating a short test track (see pics below) has been possible in more indoors conditions, and has let me fit DCC chips to some stock and try them out. The photos show the test board and a couple of Murphy Models' fine products.
Also, a bit more track planning has been going on.
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Progress
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Whilst layout planning is continuing, a start has been made on the rolling stock...a 'Brown Van', which in typical Irish style, will be maroon. Of course.
The Chassis with the right wheelbase from a Hornby Railroad van, scratchbuilt plasticard body and roof from an old Mk. 1. Still some work to do but its getting there |
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