The permanent way

 So, finally after 9 months or so the track has been pinned and glued for the entire layout and I've also painted the baseboards.

In hindsight I probably should have done that to begin with, but hey ho. 

I need to take a break for a while as I've started a new job and my credit card needs some relief from buying things but my next steps are as follows:

1. Point control - I've decided to do this manually but there's a couple of approaches; wire in tube method or something like the Ratio 138 Point Control Unit set. I'm going to buy one of the ratio kits first to try out as it may require lifting the point work again so I want to get this sorted before I move onto the next step.
2. Ballast, paint and weather the track - I've never ballasted track before so this will be interesting I'm sure. I intend to do a test section on one of the fiddleyards to begin with just to get my technique right.
3. Finish off the signal box and buffer stops - this needs paints and interior detail so will require a few more purchases. I am tempted to try the Ratio N gauge kit for the interior details. The size difference isn't as big as it is to OO but I'll have to see how it looks. I also have some other Ratio N gauge kits on my wishlist to buy - telegraph poles and wooden plank sheeting with which to build the level crossing. I found on eBay some TT scale crossing gates too so that should come together nicely. There is a Noch crossing kit if the gauge difference is too big to look okay.

 And in other news:

My A4 from The Easterner set is poorly; since fitting the HM 7000 decoder for DCC control I wasn't happy with the noise and vibration during slow speeds. 

So I disassembled it to try and figure out where the issue was.

At first I found a random screw which I thought might be catching on the mechanism:

But removing this didn't improve things. So I diassembled it further until I got to the motor and it became clear this was the issue:

You may need to turn it up to appreciate the difference. Basically the motor is only smooth in operation above speed setting 25 in the HM DCC app. Now as my layout is end to end it's unlikely to spend most of it's time above this speed.

So I've emailed Hornby technical services for their advice and to see if they can repair it for me with a new motor.

In the process of the above (and removing the decoder to test it on DC vs DCC) I've also managed to break off the plastic lugs that hold the tender in place so it permanently sits skewiff now:

So I'm hoping they can help fix that too.

On the upside, they replaced my power track sharpish and I've sent the Hornby Select controller that I won on eBay for £30~ to them for a firmware upgrade so at least even if there are problems, Hornby's customer service is at least pretty good in resolving them.

More testing and wiring

 So today was pretty productive.

The track is still not fully permanent but dropper fishplates have been installed, wiring has been permanently connected and I even added a convenient little holder for the controller.

I've decided to stick with the included R7229 controller, because despite all of its faults its just plain nicer to use than the HM DC bluetooth app and even after fiddling around with all of the circuit PWM settings I'm not convinced its doing any better. I may upgrade to a nicer gaugemaster combi or similar at some point but it's not a priority now.

I'm pleased with how easy the wiring turned out, and I can easily add in the HM 7000 adapter cable in the same way too when I go to DCC.

Just awaiting a pin vice drill from Amazon and then I'll be sticking the track down permanently. I also want to paint the non-scenic areas with some primer just so it doesn't look quite so unfinished.

 

Track testing

 I've spent the last few days measuring and cutting track, attaching fishplates (which I hate!) and today testing the layout with DC power for the time being.

So, running from the left fiddleyard, down through the halt over what will be a level crossing before the points, past the entrance to the works sidings, and then out onto the right fiddleyard.

There's enough room either side for the Class A4 and 3x BR mk1 coaches so basically any train that would've been seen passing through this section can be accommodated.

And best of all, due to the modular nature - I can always add in a loop and expand the layout further in the future when I have space.

Tomorrow's job is to pin the track down permanently, wire it up for permanent DCC and DC power which thanks to the simple track plan is relatively straight forward. I may then start building the Peco signal box and buffer stops that have been sat on my shelf for months now.

 I've also ordered the ballast, spreader and PVA so at least the layout is finally taking shape.

 For point control, I've decided that wire in tubes will be sufficient for the 4 points - motors would be overcomplicated I think.  So I also need to work out how I'm going to accomplish that.

My only criticism so far is that the fiddleyard baseboards from Scalemodelscenery are a different height to the main baseboards. I've improvised and added some feet to elevate it to the same level but I've no idea why they didn't just standardise the height. They must have assumed people would use them together.

Let's start simple

Another week, another change to the plan.

But first some footage of the A4 in operation:

 

 

I'm pleased with the quality now - despite an incident with a loose screw on the driving wheels that required repair. I've preordered the HM7000 sound decoder which I hope will improve running quality further than the HM6000 is capable of (although will continue using that to provide power since it can do two circuits).

I decided to ditch the round and round for now and concentrate on end to end operations for the sake of getting it built more quickly.

The plan is now shown below:

 Another pair of Scale Model Scenery twin track fiddle yards have been ordered - two in length is just enough to hold the Class A4 and 3 coaches so should be plenty of space for a realistic approximation of the kinds of operations seen at Vulcan Halt.

On the left, a road bridge will cover the entrance to the layout. I'm not sure yet what to do about the right hand side. Perhaps some large-ish trees in place will be enough?

The track leading off the mainline into the works will be partly paved over as seen in the historical photographs I've found. I'm not yet sure how I'll accomplish that but time will tell.

So track has been ordered per the plan above; 5 lengths of Peco flexi track, and the small Peco points added to my wishlist so I can order them as soon as they become available. I have the two larger points already as well as making use of the straights and radius 6 curve included with The Easterner set.

In addition, I ordered some N gauge cork underlay strips measuring 28mm wide. I sometimes feel these are too wide when balast is completed on top so with the track measuring 22mm wide this should give a more realistic look.

Finally, I've ordered some LMS colour paints and other modelling tools since this is underway and will require some alterations to look like the real thing:

And I came across a website that can provide customised LMS style station signs like the kind in use at Vulcan even through BR operations until closure. That'll do nicely.

New plans for TT

I've been inspired to change my plans for my layout by the baseboard built on Sam's Trains YouTube channel for his TT layout.

Partly - as I was also testing the HM6000 controller in the week with a loop of track set up on the bed temporarily and realised pretty quickly that the track needs to be properly pinned down to get any decent running with these locomotives.

So, I'm about to order some cut to size timber to construct a double track loop on that can be left assembled, but put away as and when I want it. 

The layout then will have two modes of operation - round and round or end to end, using the ScaleModelScenery fiddle yards.

I'm still playing around with the track plan but it should be something like this:

 

 

With a cut out in the board for the scenic section to drop in and out of. This also provides scope to have plenty of sidings in the middle of the board for storage when I running the layout.

 

In other news - more preorders made this week for the locomotives below and I've decided to jump on the exciting HM7000 DCC train with a sound decoder for the Class A4 (as well as any other locos I get with a Next18 fitting). 

TT3011M BR Princess Coronation 'Duchess of Montrose'

TT3001M BR Class 08 08489

TT3014M BR Class 50 50040 'Leviathan'

Baseboards built and the Easterner arrives

The excitement was palpable this week when I received the email notification from Hornby that my preordered Easterner set had arrived in the warehouse and was awaiting despatch. It only ratcheted up a notch when I then got the DPD notification Saturday morning that it was out for delivery.

It would've been nice to have had the set at Christmas but this actually worked out better in a way.

First impressions of TT:120 are very good - the size is "just right", and the detail Hornby have achieved is excellent. Definitely on a par with the best N and OO models as we'd expect.

However, the first stumbling block that I ran into is with the included controller - the R7229 and P9000 transformer.

Why Hornby chose to include this with their new sets instead of bumping the price slightly and including the HM 6000 or something is beyond me. 

Upon first connecting it, I wondered whether it was broken as there's no indication of power being fed to the track until you turn the wheel about 30%. Then you're met with an extremely annoying and worrying buzzing sound from the locomotive. From reading online, the controller is the culprit as the same complaints have been made about the Scotsman set.

So not much playing with trains so far, as I gave up and ordered the HM6000 and P9100 transformer instead.

Whilst HM 7000 DCC is very exciting and probably what I'll eventually buy; 1) it isn't available yet and 2) remains to be tested thoroughly. The HM6000 and HM DC app have been well regarding since launch (with some claiming it matches Gaugemaster controls) and my layout plan is relatively simple making DC control a better solution to begin with at least. 

In addition, the P9100 transformer can be later used with HM 7000 DCC when I do upgrade.

So what else have I done?

I built the baseboards and put up the shelf brackets to hold it when not in use:

 

 The desk below will become my craft area for building scenery items and whatnot. I'm really impressed with the sturdyness of the ScaleModelScenery baseboard kits now it's fully assembled and glued. For someone with not a lot of space like me, they're ideal.

I then positioned the Easterner rolling stock to get an idea of things:

When in use with the full loop connected this gives an idea of what it look like with a stopping train at the halt, as unlikely as it is for an A4 to have visited Vulcan!

The bracket holding the back boards together will be covered by a custom BR style station sign in due course.

Width is definitely going to be an issue for the layout, so I'll need to be creative with the scenery in order to create a sense of depth in a small space.

I'm thinking of bringing down the road bridge in real life that crosses the line north of Vulcan to hide the transition out of the left side of the layout. The right side will need to be covered by a tree or two unfortunately.

That's it so far for now.

Initial Layout Ideas for Vulcan Halt

Vulcan Halt in TT 120

This is my current plan for the layout of Vulcan Halt. It is a compressed version of the original track plan for the stopping station between Winwick Quay and Earlestown stations, following the junction for access to the Vulcan Foundry.

Although originally compromising a small turntable and more sidings, this point layout is similar to the eventual layout of the track prior to the ending of locomotives manufacturing at the site in 1970.

Vulcan Halt (or just Vulcan as it was often named) was itself closed in 1965 following the Beeching Report, with the last train between St Helens and Warrington running on Saturday 12 June, 1965.

The layout will use Scale Model Scenery's baseboard kit 'Layout-in-a-box', measuring 110cm x 22cm with a 25cm high backscene board, as well as two of their twin track fiddleyard attachments for the points at either end to connect to a temporary loop to allow for the round and round operations when desired. 

This setup rather than a permanent baseboard fits my current living space and allows for convenient storage and transportation in one or more of the 77L Really Useful Boxes.

The layout will be set from Era 4 to Era 6 to allow the running of the widest variety of locomotives both produced by the factory and in operation by British Railways and British Rail respectively.

The up and down lines from the left hand side will be flanked by narrow platforms before a road crossing and signal box, which allowed access between Wargrave Road and Hey Lock on the Sankey Canal. Behind the platform fence on the up line is a siding used by the factory for wagon storage and operations. The crossing points beyond the signal box where used by the factory to accept deliveries as well as facilitate the transportation of locomotive stock from the curved track crossing the road into the Foundry.

At the present time, the following Vulcan locomotives are planned by Hornby in the TT:120 range:

• LMS/BR Black 5 (100 built at Vulcan)
  
• J94 (50 built at Vulcan, 13 of which made up the 75 purchased by LNER)
• Class 50 (50 built at Vulcan)
• Class 37 (309 built in total split between Vulcan and RSH)
• Class 73 (49 built in total, 43 at Vulcan and 6 at Eastleigh Works)

I hope that the launch of UK TT scale will result in more models becoming available from other manufacturers, as well as further announcements by Hornby of future models.