That is just some incredible modeling!! I've never seen working locks, much less in such a small scale!!
While the layout is currently frozen in its almost-complete state, I have been working feverishly on the trains. All the locos and passenger stock are now done, including milk tankers and mail coaches that ran at passenger speeds and were often attached to passenger trains. A total of 19 locos of 10 classes, and 63 carriages and other vehicles of about 18 types. Next job: nearly 200 goods wagons. Arghh!! All the models are 3D printed in ABS on a common hobby FDM printer, then hand painted and with paper coach sides. Home-made decals were used for the milk tankers. As usual, the video is cruel and shows all the defects.
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.
The scenic detailing is mostly done, just waiting on a few extra bits and pieces to arrive (people, better signals, etc.). I'll do a final video or two then.
"Yes" and "Some". A total of 5 points/switches on the layout are functional, partly because this layout was the test-bed for that feature, but mainly because the very small computers I used have a limited number of outputs to control the stop and switching sections. The next layout will use a much more capable device, use a better design of the switching tracks, and be significantly more ambitious that way. There is an under-construction video earlier in this thread showing the trains running early test software with reversing and shunting, before the scenery was added. I plan to do the definitive video (or set of videos) for this layout in a couple of weeks' time, after some etched brass people I have on order finally arrive - the last piece of scenic detailing.
The layout is now more or less complete, with just a few scenic details, minor software updates and another heap of goods wagons still to do. They will be postponed until nearer its first exhibition showing. So, here is the last planned video with all the pieces working together. I simply let the layout do its own thing while moving around with the camera, and kept just missing out on some good shots - just like the prototype!
Strictly speaking, they don't actually couple or uncouple. Each vehicle is self-propelled, so uncoupling is done by parking the train across a section break then turning off power to one of the sections. Coupling up is the exact reverse, with the wagons waiting at the section break, and everything moving off as one train when power is restored. A train in motion is really a collection of independent vehicles moving in close formation. This also means that there is no maximum train length or haulage limit with small locos. The coupler pins are actually alignment pins, needed with the short wheelbase UK stock to reduce unwanted side-to-side yawing motions. With longer US stock or modern UK stock they would probably not be necessary at all, since the drive magnets can be split into two widely-separated groups, identical to a bogie/truck arrangement.
That's insanely fantastic. No motors in the conventional sense, no couplers, and the thing runs like a regular train. Plus actual boat traffic with a functioning lock. All that in 1:450 scale. When one thinks one has seen everything, this sort of thing crops up and wows the heck out of us. Great work.
Martink, Finally read thru this post as well. Very impressive on many levels. The tiny details are working and the imperfections can be forgiven. Your scene is very nice with a good blend to the 2D artwork. The overall look and feel is excellent. I am glad I found your posts! Scott