Remote control for points - change of mind...

After talking to Laurie about powered point changing, I conceded to myself that pneumatics have serious advantages. Not least that I have several compressors, storage vessels and regulators.

So each point will be powered by a small double acting ram operating at about 350 kpa (50psi) with about 16mm bore, 15mm stroke. The point movement is 10mm, so pressure will be held on the blades.

A 12VDC 3 way servo solenoid will switch each one. A small accumulator will be buried new each setup. The 12V will be wirelessly controlled and signals switched by the same relays...

So I have purchased several cylinders, solenoids, push on 6mm tube fittings and some tube. (Cheap Chinese, cost about $25 each setup). The relays and remote have arrived. And have made a couple of accumulators from 50mm PVC pressure piping.

Retiring the track Jig... now available for loan...

I have cleaned up the track jig, and hung it up, literally. It has done its job.

Points, turnout #4 is nearly finished.

Feel like redoing the first two now it is neater and been easier...

99% of track!!

I reckon 99% now - not counting sleepers... ( the panorama photo function not so good with blending the track... I will try again!)

This is how I have jigged the joins for welding. Bar clamped on and re-inforcing fishplate or baseplate to be
clamped in place. Easy to check that the track is level and the curve smooth at the join. Along side are the adjustment devices...

98%...

This afternoon I tackled the Y. Bit the bullet and cut off the straight end at the first tie past the nose of the points and attached enough pre-curved bar to complete the whole bend. One end of that bend is welded to points number 2 and now jigged for welding to points #3 (the Y) - tomorrow...

Its more important that the main track curves are smooth bends. The Y not so much...

Also only assembled enough of points #4 to lay it out properly, so I better get on with the frog and installing the blades, which are ready to go..

So I have a 1.2m length of straight to finish, a few other bits of track to finish and several ties to weld in...

97% of a track...

Welding, cutting, bending, straightening, cutting and drilling more ties... nearly there!!! 

Still need to modify the 'Y' point - the straight bit needs to be curved a bit from the point nose - like a "Y", der... I just can't get the curves to blend properly.

Aside from that, just a few short bits to cut and shut!!

Next video will be from the carriage!!

More (the rest of the) curves...

Had a bender of an afternoon with Laurie at Wunghnu on Thursday... Thank you Laurie!

Rolled the rest of the curved bar that we need ... AND an 'S' bend! I need a right and left bend to displace about 350mm to go down the side of the house and around the water tank!

One more 1/8 curve to go... and a few bits.

Sleepers

Whilst waiting to curve the last bars for the backyard, go on with cutting more sleepers. The old Jarrah balcony floor was cut into pieces about 350-400mm long and I am trimming to 300. The hard part is trimming the tongue and grooves from the sides...




Also a better shot of the rail jig with a 3m straight with ties in place awaiting welding.

The Layout !!

Now that I have some real track and real dimensions, it's time to work out exactly how much more track I need to make, and what... So today I have laid out what I have made, moved it around, straightened joins and marked it out properly. I am staying away from the slopes down to the lake and the boat ramp. The red line is what the track layout will be! So I am about 60% of track made...

An operating point - turnout - switch!!!

 First LH set of point together today. The inner rails and blade just tacked for the moment.

My standard bogie/truck runs through cleanly. But it really needs the check rail on the curve... It works! The motion is a bit draggy, but I’ll work on that.

I eventually decided to grind a relief nudge in the outer rails to seat the blades - which were machined from the 10mm width to nothing over 280mm. I have cut the fine end off at 1.5mm width.

So one (nearly) down. One half done, Two to go. I have all the blades...

Joins in the 'Curve Jig'

 Made a second curve and used the jig to weld the two, 3 metre lengths together. So now have about a quarter circle in one piece. The join is smooth and even!!

Next time though I will put the jig on the ground, or at least out on the grass. Hard work getting the big piece out of the jig and around the veranda posts...

The weld still needs a little work now its out of the jig. Really could do with a gas MIG welder...

Oh and I have 8 600mm lengths of 'rail' with Pete at McBurnie's to be machined for 275mm into blades for the points...