Dauntsey

[martink]

A bit more progress on the scenery - trees, hedges and a bit of a cleanup. I was going to do the fences, but as they are quite delicate they will be delayed until the final detailing phase at the end of the project. So, now it is back to the moving bits...

[martink]

With most of the scenery done, it is now time for the moving bits. The canal is the first part to be brought up to its near-final form, with a small fleet of 8 narrowboats and improved software.

https://youtu.be/2VCJt3OyS1I

[martink]

I have had a couple of people ask me how the canal lock works, so here are a couple of CAD images. Both the scenic bits and the working parts are 3D printed, and the whole thing is driven by 3 servos. The structure and supports were designed for 5 servos to handle the more common double gates, but that was just getting too crowded. The assembled view gives the green elevator piece stretched legs to show how it all fits together.

Progress is continuing on the layout itself, with the trains currently under construction. The locos (19 of 10 classes) and passenger stock (63 of 19 types including milk tankers) are nearly finished, and I am plucking up courage to start the goods wagons (180-200 in total). These figures should be about 20% more than I actually need, but allows some choice when setting up trains and sequences. Why oh why didn't I pick a one-train-a-day branch line?

With this one nearing completion, I have pretty much settled on the basic concept for layout #4 - Penzance circa 1913 on a 6' x 2' board. This will feature basic terminal operation including the small loco depot and turntable that closed the following year, running to an out-and-back reversing loop. I can even fit in most of the long-vanished Penzance viaduct. And, most importantly, reuse a lot of the new GWR stock!

[FreddBloggs]

Looking excellent, did you make the points yourself or?

[martink]

... did you make the points yourself or?

Points, track, trains, controls, scenery, all DIY. It isn't standard T, so not commercially available.

[martink]

Here is a representative parade of the new passenger trains. Now I have to start on the goods trains...

https://youtu.be/Vx8ANnJ3u94

[FreddBloggs]

Love the video, did you make the coach sides as a sticker/decal or painted on?

And if a sticker/decal would they be available to other people?

[martink]

The coach sides are just plain paper, printed out on a standard inkjet printer and glued on.

I posted some of the images in an earlier thread: "GWR Steam" in the "Rolling Stock" category.

[FreddBloggs]

Thank you.

[msimister]

Great stuff Martin. Very impressive.

[martink]

About 2/3rds of the planned goods wagons have now been built. This is enough to run the layout, but with shorter trains than it is designed to handle. I'll do the rest at the very end of the project. They are built the same way as the buildings and passenger stock: simple 3D printed body shells, roof and underframes hand-painted, with paper sides for the detailing. I tried decals, but this approach proved more effective. One of the big advantages of the linear motor drive is that it can run very long trains. One of the big disadvantages is that I then have to build them! Next step: the software, bringing it all to life.

https://youtu.be/SFjZZBc5erU

[martink]

The layout is now pretty much complete. A few bits and pieces are still to arrive (people, better signals, nets for the TPOs) and I need to make another batch of wagons, but that is about it.

[martink]

I finally got around to doing another video of the layout, this time with everything running. There are still some minor odds and ends to do on it, but they will be postponed until an exhibition is imminent. Meanwhile, on to Penzance!

https://youtu.be/JDTnPqq-rGk

[barneyadi]

How did you make your buildings?

[martink]

How did you make your buildings?

3D printed structures with indentations for doors and windows, done on a standard FDM printer. Then paper cutouts glued in for the window and door detail.

[msimister]

Martin,
That is so impressive; congrats.
I assume you dubbed the video with sound rather than have speakers on the layout itself. I've often thought the latter would be more realistic than just having locos with sound as with that there is no background noise of birds tweeting, station announcements, cars in the distance and so on, and no sound from carriages.
Looking forward to seeing your next layout.
Just out of interest, could you model a maglev with your technology?
Cheers,
Malcolm

[martink]

Thanks. Yes, the sounds are from the online BBC sound library, but my synchronisation is not great - just like a poorly dubbed foreign film. It is a first attempt, I learned a lot, and I plan to do better next time.

I have done sound with layout mounted speakers before, and with sufficient computer support it works well - in some ways even better than DCC sound. It would be extremely effective in conjunction with linear motor technology, since by definition the controller always knows exactly where each train is and what it is doing, which is where traditional implementations tend to be weakest. However, this layout is intended purely for exhibition use, and cranking up the volume enough to be heard over the general exhibition hubbub is usually considered anti-social by neighbouring exhibitors (think: angry lynch mobs armed with pitchforks). Also, the computers I used on this one are very basic with no spare capacity for any other jobs. My next layout, Penzance, will use much more capable electronics so I am already considering adding an extra manual mode so it can be operated as a home layout, so sound is a definite additional possibility.

Maglev? In theory, yes, but the tradeoffs I built into this system largely preclude it. The main issues are needing LOTS of static levitation magnets in the track plus the air gap between the drive magnets in the track and the train. FWIW, there is a commercial maglev train set on the market now.