Building the new Anderslej

By the time you come next winter, we should be able to have good operating sessions

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Got a fair bit done, but not spent too much time on it - always other things need doing

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Made a start on the catenary for the front of the layout. I am making this with twin contact wires which complicates it a little, but figured out the construction sequence eventually!

The twin wires are taped down over drawn lines, then the droppers, which are pre-prepared using a simple jig to form the different lengths are dipped in solder paint and pushed between the wires and touched with the soldering iron. Next the complete assembly is taped alongside a straight edge and the messenger wire soldered to the tops of the droppers. A quick wipe with tissue to remove excess solder paint and the tape is removed to retrieve the completed catenary section. The 'standard' length I am using is 300mm, although shorter lengths will be needed for curves.

 

Alan-

Are you making all of the parts for your catenary? Or are there any commercial pieces? Such as the hangers for the contact wires, where they attach to the support wire- Are those each individually made? (Yikes!) If so, you'll be busy for some time to come.

 

Matt- What is Belgian catenary? Can you link a photo or two?

 

Ken, I am making all the parts for the catenary wires. The droppers are made using a simple bending jig (shown on my website). Complete wires are available from Sommerfeldt, but are very expensive. The only Sommerfeldt parts I purchased were insulators and and brackets to hold the registration arms.

 

Here is a picture from my Belgian layout of many years ago. The catenary has an extra horizontal wire making the bottom section like a ladder, with the droppers and messenger wire above that. It also had twin contact wires, so it was quite rigid when tensioned.

semange41 by andersley2010, on Flickr

 

Is being rigid also why the prototype had this practice? Or was there another reason, other than perhaps conductivity?

 

Catenary progressing nicely, will soon have one track completed, then will do the loops. More basic greenery added to bare baseboards, will fine tune over time but don't like to see bare boards! Almost all track now ballasted just needs "weathering" with airbrush, plus adding weeds, etc on sidings. A number of trees made and ready for 'planting', so more progress pictures shortly.

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[FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial]Started grade crossing to give access to station area. This will be largely screened by trees to hide the fact
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[FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial]More trees awaiting 'planting'
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[FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial]A cardboard mock-up of the proposed metal fabrication factory has been placed to judge size, etc.
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[FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial]Just arrived from Mini Model Shop in Bulgaria is this MAV coach for cross border workings with Hungary. Model is by ACME
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[FONT=verdana, arial][FONT=verdana, arial]First arrival of a Hungarian V63 "Gigant" at Anderslej
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I think the girl on the platform is saying "Look! A Gigant!"




Seeing this picture made me realise I had not yet fitted the rear view mirrors!


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Layout progressing slowly. Keep making more lengths of catenary wires. Although we have had some roof windows fitted, these give a lot more light and ventilation, but we are awaiting delivery of blinds and insect screens for them, so the hot sun is actually heating up the space as much as the ventilation is cooling it! Should be much better when we can screen the sunlight. Then I can work on the layout in more comfortable temps. Maybe some aircon would be beneficial for the hottest season.

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