We're going to Warley!

We're going to Warley!

- And not just to visit, the layout will be exhibited as part of the 2017 Warley National Model Railway Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.

Excitement levels are high, now that we've had confirmation we're stupidly excited. We now have less than twelve months to get everything perfect ready for what will undoubtedly be two of the hardest working days we've ever experienced when exhibiting.

Only 363 days to go...

Revamping the upper loop - part three

Time to start laying track...

No loose tracks this time, everything will be screwed down and cut to length properly.

We're actually starting to run out of track!

As we fitted the curves during the last session, we didn't need to setup the entire layout, hopefully if we've done our sums right, this lot will still line up!

The centre section is 6ft long, this equates to six full straights and one quarter straight for each siding. 

The tracks on the adjoining boards were cut using a dremel & cutting disc.

Once we were happy with the positioning, all the tracks were screwed into position.

 The dowel pins and catches, along with the new three-sectional rear section (instead of four sections) should improve reliability.

Once completed, the boards were separated and re-connected several times to ensure that everything still lines up.

Next job - wiring...

Revamping the upper loop - part two

With the timber cut and checked for alignment, the side protection is added...

This should stop anything from flying off the top!

Then the new sections were painted in grey primer... 

Time for another test fitting before we fit the dowel pins, the previous rear section had no pins fitted so this should keep everything nicely lined up...

Finally catches were added, although these are a bit weak so some stronger ones have been ordered... 

Some sanding required before the track can be laid, then the electrical work will commence to wire the additional points required.

More to follow...

Revamping the upper loop - part one

Having been planned for some time, and then repeatedly put off, we finally commenced the long overdue task of replacing the rear section of the upper loop as we have no more scheduled outings until January!

Although it's worked reasonably well over the last two years, there are a number of problems with it:

1. It uses inner radius curves, which causes issues with longer trains
2. It's primarily constructed from 6mm MDF, which is warping
3. It's currently in four sections - more sections equals more problems
4. It has only two sidings, We're running out of space!

So in order to conduct this task properly, we needed to fully assemble the layout first to ensure that the new upper section is accurately marked out and cut...

As we're using the large radius curves, some ballast on the front section had to be removed...

The new, wider radius is test fitted to ensure that it won't overhang too much...

This we can live with...

The replacement section is being fabricated from 9mm plywood - much stronger and less prone to warpage,,,

The track is laid onto the board so that we can draw around it...

And we can now fit a four road siding in place of the original two road...

Two coaches were used for gauge checking...

We could then draw the outline ready for cutting...

Space for a cup holder - essential!

Then out with the power tools...

The downside of this process it that lots of timber will be wasted...

Lots of timber wasted...

The track is then reinstated to check that everything still fits...

And then it's time to do the same thing at the other end...

 Marking out the other end...

Mid-way through cutting, the inner section is removed...

And the other end is now cut and tested...

We're now ready to install the middle section...

The kitchen legs from the original rear section proved really successful, so these were reclaimed but had to be located in different positions so that they don't interfere with the fiddle yard tracks...

The middle section is then cut to size - this is now one complete section. Currently this is in two parts and there's a pronounced sag in the middle. The single section, coupled with the wider and stronger timber should make the top loop a whole lot more reliable...

But the process generated a fair amount of mess!

Now the tracks and legs have to be removed so that the new sections can be painted to match the rest of the layout. Then the wiring will have to be altered and allowance made for three points at each end so the switch panel will also have to be updated.

More to follow...