Testing for continuity
Have made up all the jumper cables the other evening, the last remaining electrical job was to solder the dropper cables on the corner boards. These hadn’t been done because I wasn’t happy with the track alignment. However, with the first exhibition looming …
Track and wiring
Progress on the modules has been slow, for which read non-existent. With the looming date of the Seaboard Southern show in September, at which these are expected to not only appear but be operational, it’s high time to extract the digit!
The Extension Begins
Erik’s been incredibly patient, his test track not being particularly testing. However, work has now begun on the centre board, on which the points and sidings will sit. Some of the sidings will cross the joins onto the outer boards but, in test track mode, this will just provide track on which to sit rolling […]
Replacing The Electrics
The wiring on Erik’s layout was not what was originally planned, implemented solely to facilitate an operating session. Sure, it worked, but it could not be described as robust. It has therefore been completely replaced and Erik assisted with the tasks.
Installing the Gapmasters
Tim Horn‘s board kits have the centre line marked accurately* on the top surface to aid in laying track. The Frem0n30 standards demand that the track is laid right to the baseboard edge, which obviously makes it vulnerable in transit. This is where the Gapmasters come in, both aligning and anchoring the track at the interface.
Corner Boards Assembled
Flushed with the success of the straight boards, it was time to tackle the corner boards. As a precaution, which proved to be unnecessary, the sides were thoroughly wetted and bent, in the hope that they wouldn’t crack or split during assembly.
Baseboard Joints
Everyone who’s ever built a sectional or modular model railway layout knows not to rely on pins or glue to hold the track down at the baseboard edges, as it’ll tear or break eventually.
Finishing Soldering Droppers
As mentioned previous, I’d started soldering feeder wires, often referred to as droppers, but I only got eight pieces of track finished before I packed it all away, and there it stayed!
Power Bus Wiring
As mentioned at the close of my last post, I’d ordered some wire for the power bus from an ebay supplier. Well, it arrived and it’s perfect!
Soldering Dropper Wires
Having acquired two 100m rolls of wire 10/0.1mm, one with red insulation, the other black, at a clearance price from Kyte’s Lights at the Woking REC show on Saturday, I’ve started to solder dropper wires from each of the pieces of track so that power supply is not reliant on just the rail joiners.