*yawn* Just finished all my soldering and drilling holes/pulling wires through the board. Next step is to hook on to the wires on the bottom, I have some terminal blocks which I have color coded to attach underneath (more modular for future use than soldering everything underneath).
Terminal blocks attached to all wires on underside, low-temp hot glue applied where wires pass through surface (on underside) to prevent pulling in either direction.
Next step: draw schematic, drill holes, and mount switches for controlling power blocks! I bought a small push plate (piece of aluminum used to protect the edge of a door where they get pushed), intend to use part of it for schematic/switches, and then mount it on my layout (cutting a hole through the plastic/foam board) using glue of some type...
OK.... drilled a few holes to mount the first 3 switches (these are block selectors, for 2 cabs). I've drafted up a schematic on the PC that I will put on the panel to give white lines for the tracks. Here's a few pics... first the panel so far, second the layout looking good with no loose wires, third the underside
Ok, I've drafted up a schematic to go on the control panel (gaps show isolation points, circles are switches). Any comments before I transfer this to my aluminum and start drilling? Thanks The 4 circles on the outside corners are screw holes... board is 8"x3.5"
Nobody seems to be posting any comments on this thread *shrug* but I'll keep posting my updates for my own satisfaction Here is the front of the control panel complete! I used labels from a brother label maker (printed hyphens down the middle --------- and then cut the 1/4" strip in half along them). I know it's not perfect... I goofed up... left off one of the sidings. But it's pretty darn good for a first attempt I think It'll get trashed when I build a larger layout and integrate this module anyway Now I'm off to solder all the commons together... too rainy out to go to the garage to grab the hacksaw.
Update: Didn't get soldering done on the 22nd... and no progress yesterday. This morning: finished soldering the 2 buses (to be fed by 2 controllers) to all the switches. Next step: solder lines from each switch to connect to terminal block, which will then connect to terminal block under track at relevant location.
Soldered all lines, attached to terminal blocks. Also, added numbers to each switch (both on front and rear of panel)
Yea, weird that no one is commenting on progress. Kind of an annoying thing, people didn't really comment on my layout progress either, dunno why. But everything looks pretty good man, progress is good!
I hadn't seen yours... just did some browsing and found it... how's it coming? Thanks for checking in on mine... its nice to know I'm not the only one who thinks I'm doing ok (and not completely nuts).
Hole cut through board, control panel dry fitted... looks good! I only cut the hole a little too big top left :/ I'll cover that with scenery... maybe some excess ballast will get spread from the track lol. Next: carve holes to allow flush mounting of terminal blocks, mount control panel with screws & glue (it came with color matched screws, I'll glue them in for looks lol), then start wiring up blocks (printed labels to tag wires as they leave the terminal blocks for ease of wiring )
Control panel mounted! Screws actually gripped into the plastic top layer better than I imagined, but I still glued it generously from underneath and 'caulked' the top also. Also today, carved tracks in the underside for feeder wires to be run. Hopefully get some wires hooked up Monday!
It's going pretty steady now that classes are done for the summer and I've got some nice internship money coming in. I'll try and do a pretty thorough update on it tonight maybe, I've gotten quite a bit done I'd like to think.
I took the summer off Back to classes @ the end of August I have two kids and a wife who's working tons of overtime right now, so I don't have lots of time to devote to the layout, but I try to make a little progress almost every day...
I've looked over the plans from the start. Looks like you are doing fine despite the lack of comments from others. There are other sites out there as well. Don't get discouraged as you start to run, but you will have some switch issues that will require some delicate work and some fine files! Stalls and derails will be the amin issues. A good N scale gauge will be invaluable. Just keep going like you have and take some time off to enjoy the summer to avoid burnout.
Thanks for such a nice comment I intend to be moving only 1-3 cars at a time generally, and will be using gp-38's, rs-3's or similar longer engines with better pickup than a small switcher (such as the plymouth's). I do need to pick up a n scale gauge both for ensuring my track is correct and fixing some of the old beatup rolling stock I've acquired Summer is my time off... at the end of August I return to my college studies (I'm a father of boys 3 y.o. and a 10 month old, my wife works fulltime at a evening job so I have them whenever I'm home from classes basically... right now she's working 12-14hr days). I try to pace myself by doing a small piece of the project at a time... I just started running wires from the terminal blocks under the control panel to the terminal blocks under the feed wires that are soldered to the track. Thanks again for the nice comment
Wooohooo wiring done! (with the exception of lines to the controllers). All wiring is connected using terminal blocks @ controller and feed location, blocks and wires are secured using low temp hot glue. Next: hook up lines to go to controllers, glue down track. edit: red tape is covering terminal blocks/wires for turnouts... I'm not electrifying them in this layout, but keeping that functionality there for when this gets integrated into a larger layout.
Wooo.... wife took the kids so daddy had a little quiet time... pinned all the track in place, glued down (using low temp hot glue... same as I did for my sons layout). All that's left now is hook up wires to the control panel to feed from the controllers and try to run some trains!!!
First live test today! Two blocks had no power from cab A (only wired in 1 cab)... need to investigate One turnout decided it doesn't want to throw fully... will swap out. Other than that it runs fantastic! Pic attached... ok ok... I didn't run it with all those locos on it, but it was a good photo op!
