All track is in place, ballasted, wired and working. Control is by DCC. [FONT=verdana, arial]Control of the layout is by DCC. The handset is an NCE Powercab. This plugs into the black socket above. The spare socket is for a second handset, but this will not be needed. To the right of this is a switch to divert power to either the main layout (left position) or to the programming track (right position). To the left of the DCC panel is a switch to change the input to either the DCC control (right position) or from a DC controller (left position) for testing new locos before fitting decoders. Above right is the home made DC controller.[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]Above left is the method of point operation. I wanted to keep it simple so use slide switches, the contacts are wired to stock rails and the frog, this ensures power through the point without relying on blade contact. The operating rods and switches will be disguised by scenery as much as possible. On the right is one of the points in the lower staging sidings. These use microswitches to power the frogs.[/FONT]
Very few items of rolling stock are available lettered for Slovenske Zeleznice, but the first wagons I acquired were four Eas-z which are in very widespread use. In the picture above are also two Austrian versions. As Slovenia has borders with Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, many wagons from these and other european countries regularly pass through the country, making it a very interesting place for train watching.
The first locomotive I acquired was not a Slovenian one, but an Italian E.655. These run through into Ljubljana Zalog yard with freight so I can justify this impressive loco! To obtain a "Brigitte" clas 363 I bought a French CC6500 which the 363 is based on with several detail differences. This will be converted and repainted in due course.
Another French loco will become an SZ class 642. This is a Roco SNCF BB63400 as bought. Conversion is underway and will be described in a seperate thread.
One of my favourites is the articulated electric class 362. This is being converted from an Italian model and will also be described in a seperate thread. Here is the prototype, photographed from a train on which we were travelling.
More later, when I will show and describe some trees made using Paul Cassar's (Colonel's) method as shown in his article in N Scale Magazine. Yes Paul, it also works in HO!
Well I cannot claim to fame the actual process of making the trees that was shown to me by my friend Jason. Look forward to seeing the trees though.
Not sure I can get sound for the electrics, but one loco I will have is a class 664 "Reagan". These have the same power unit as SD40-2, so no problem getting sound in that one! The French one is more difficult as there really is no space for a speaker, and I don't know if the sound chip is available for them. I had sound in my British locos and loved it.
Yes, Bob. I have just bought some samples of catenary posts, fittings, etc. and will use these to scratchbuild the catenary. Most in Slovenia is Italian style, so parts are available from Sommerfeldt. I will leave the catenary until most other work is done so it is not damaged whilst working on something else.
I will show the tree making later. But suffice to say that the Jason/Paul system works well in any scale.
This photo shows the typical scenery in Slovenia, so obviously I need as many trees as possible on the layout.
[FONT=verdana, arial] On the left is a piece of dried natural foliage after spraying brown. The other pictures show some which have been rolled in diluted white glue then sprinkled with ground foam. I have quite a few of these so can have a good 'forest' on the layout! [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial] I am also making some conifers. The string I am using is very old and was used for binding wheat into sheaves! (Binder twine). But any fibrous stranded hemp-type rope can be used. It is cut into suitable lengths then twisted the opposite way to seperate the strands. These are laid between wire hooked arond a nail on a plank of wood, the ends of the wire are then twisted together to hold the string in place. The end of the wire is gripped in a vice and the wire coiled using a power drill, trapping the strands in place. (Bottle brush method). The strands are then simply clipped to shape with scissors. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial]The result is shown below left. On the right, the trees have been sprayed a brown/grey colour ready for application of foliage. [/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial]Some of the trees after coating with diluted wood glue and sprinkling with scatter materials. I need many more, so will make further batches. [/FONT][/FONT]