A diversion: HOn30 turnout building, and thoughts on trackwork

Yesterday, I had a strange moment that happens occasionally: I had the urge to build a turnout.

I've handlaid many turnouts, all of them up to this point in N scale. One of the big reasons I got into HOn30 is the fact that most of my tracklaying tools can translate seamlessly from N.

I have a secret passion for handlaid track. Track is a model, and should be treated with the same attention to detail and integrity that we give to models of rolling stock and structures. More relevant to my interests is the quest to create "perfect" trackwork; let me explain.

In an idea model world, the rolling stock would glide along the rails and through complicated turnouts and crossovers with the same smooth implication of weight we see in the prototype. Nothing bugs me more than seeing my model rolling stock bouncing through frogs or wobbling over their truck bolsters like bobble head dolls. While there are several aspects to attacking this problem (more on that in another post), step one is trackwork that is constructed with very specific attention to clearances, consistency, and accuracy.

Here are a few tools that really help me in that particular quest:

I've written about it in other places, but this very simple jig helps me fabricate the perfect frog angle. It's just a piece of MDF, with a washer/wignut combo to hold the rails in perfect angle while they are soldered into a single unit. An accurate frog, constructed in this manner, is the heart of a smooth-running turnout.

Here's my other secret weapon: my Mini-Tool-Ginder from Harbor Freight. Best $20 I ever spent. It makes the work of filing point rails, frog angles, and point pockets go from minutes to seconds.

Generally, I knock down my basic rail dimensions with it, then adjust as needed with hand files and wet-dry sandpaper.

While this is the first turnout I've built in a while, I believe I got pretty close to perfect with the dimensions of the frog and wing rails. I'm also being a stickler about cleaning up/filing solder blobs, and I will be filling the gaps in the PCB ties to render them invisible. Little details like this really contribute to a polished, clean-looking finished product.

Another reason for building this turnout is to dry-run an idea that I've been wanting to try out for a while: a hinged throwbar.

I sanded the copper clading off of a PCB tie, then drilled two holes in it. I formed L-shaped "pins" from copper wire, then soldered them to the foot of the point rails. Since there is no cladding on the throwbar, the pins don't solder to it; rather, they "float" in the mounting holes.

Sorry, blurry pic:

Currently, it's not really working the way I want it to; the pins are slipping out and not actuating the points. Getting close, though; I think I need to tighten up the mounting holes. 

While I don't have a specific use for this turnout at the moment, doing fabrication and engineering exercises like this is helping me narrow down my techniques for building better trackwork in the future. It's my plan to fabricate several to have on hand for a future HOn30 switching layout that is rumbling around in the back of my brain...

Moar!

"Moar" stuff done tonight!

A boardwalk and frame for the sign on the Cafe. The planks were stained with India Ink / Alcohol mix, then stained with a dilute wash of burnt sienna. They were stained before being cut or installed to preserve the "random" flavor of the color variations once in place.

I tackled the beginning of the switchstand project; after several failed attempts to make circular targets for the switchstands, I decided to go the "diamond" route, and fabricated four targets out of brass sheet. These were mounted with gap-filling CA to music wire, and trimmed to length.

Here's a dry-run/test-fit. I think they look pretty good so far; need to add the "base" of the stand by simulating two strap-steel "legs" and a handle as well.

Cafe Progress, Switch Throws

More progress on the Cafe. I managed to get the foundation built, signage installed, and window glazing in:

Still left to do: Boardwalk planks and steps for the front, trim for the sign, and an awning to shade the front porch.

I've installed my SPDT switch throws, and the electrical continuity of the layout is MUCH better by comparison. As of this writing, ALL of the wiring is now complete, and the layout is running great.

I'm going to scratchbuild scale-sized switch stands to disguise the slide switches, much like these DR&GW "short" stands.

Finally, I'll get to move on to painting track and tackling scenery, which is my favorite part of the hobby!

Odds and Ends, and a photoshoot

I tend to procrastinate when it comes to mundane, time-consuming tasks; and as such, completing the wiring on the MVRy. layout keeps getting bumped to the bottom of my "to do" list.

With a lengthy day off ahead of me, I decided to tackle the task head-on and put it behind me. I dropped all the remaining feeders, cut the module rail gaps (so that the two halves can be functionally separated, and cleaned up my solder joints.

My Peco power-routing turnouts have been giving me some trouble lately in terms of routing the power through the frog. After doing some research, I discovered that relying solely on the point friction to transfer power through the turnout is a sketchy game at best; better to solder a wire to the frog, and use a routing switch (like a SPDT switch) to route the power.

I dropped wires and soldered in the feeders, placing each feeder on the opposite side of the viewing angle to best disguise them.

Small SPDT switches will be installed next to the throwbars, then shaped and detailed to look like scale switch stands. More on that later.

I finished the Shapeways tender for #2 (with the exception of decals, a coal load, and weathering), and ran it on the layout for a bit.

 It was a nice, sunny day, so I decided to take the test module out and take a few "beauty shots." Really happy with how these came out.

There are a bunch more, but these were some fun picks. I like the effect of the sepia tone on the scene.

More fun and frolic to come, folks! See you soon.

More progress on the Cafe

Making more progress on the Cafe. I decided to do a base stain of India Ink and Alcohol, followed by a thinned wash/drybrush of white acrylic to simulate a weather-worn whitewash. The trim was drybrushed a light cornflower blue.

You can see in the last shot the raw India Ink stain, as I figured the back of the false-front facade wouldn't have been painted.

I installed the roof and dry-fitted the windows. I also began applying the Bar Mills shingles, which look very convincing.

I decided to enlarge the opening for the front door to accommodate a taller door with a transom window above it. The door will be painted white, with the light blue trim.

Getting close to finished on this build. What's left?

-Paint and install the front door

-Finish shingles

-Fabricate and install kitchen smoke-jack

-Fabricate and install Cafe sign

-Fabricate and install front porch awning and boardwalk

This has been a good ramp-up project to get myself excited about completing the structures on the layout. I also have to tackle the Hotel, a small water-tower, and decide which direction I'd like to go on the industrial spur near the depot.