Happenings: Issue #8
First of all I had better welcome Andrew Wells back to New Zealand. He is
settling in the Auckland area and will no doubt enliven the NZI20 scene in that
city. With all his shifting and international travel his layout plans and kit
production have had to be put on hold. However the etched Dc is close to
shipping now and will definitely be at the Easter Convention in Christchurch.
I have done another run of urethane 4 wheel wagon kits. New items are a steel Q
hopper wagon and improved Yh ballast wagon. These and Lb, Lc's, Kc and Kp are
all available with Peco chassis included. Lineside Relay boxes, Yard Telephone
boxes and Yard sheds are also available for trackside beautification. Five Dx
loco kits to fit the Bachman Dash-S chassis are ready. These went quickly last
time, as they only need painting, handrails etc and mounting on a chassis to
complete.
Convention 2000:
Reuben Romany would like to organise a get together of interested NZI20
modellers during the convention. Bring along something you have made in the
scale, building, wagon, coach or loco for others to see and perhaps get
inspiration from. There will be other displays and items on sale also, so plan
to add to your rolling stock. If you are a lone modeller and have not heard of
the plans for Easter 2000 then ask at a local club or visit the Internet site at
wvvw.railmodel.org.nz for some information and registration forms.
GreyTrainz have added to their range of buildings, Engine Sheds (2), Coal
Bins (bottom loading) and Amenities block,Transformer room and Oil store all on
one sheet. I will be reviewing these in the next issue.
Contact: Graham Baker, 67 Nelson Quay, Greymouth, (03) 768 7858.
Rolleston Progress:
All modules are now wired and have been run. It has even been erected in the
back yard and run for a bit (until the wind got up) The amount of electronics
and electrics on board is a bit of a worry as the more complex it is, the more
posssibility for failure at the most embarassing time.
The aim of Rolleston is to have a portable layout that can show off the best
qualities of the NZ120 scale; namely to allow large trains to run through
protypical scenery without dominating it. The layout is six metres long and the
station and yards nearly 3 metres in length. It will be DCC with a DC option on
one track and fully signalled.
It should be on display at the 'Convention 2000' in Christchurch at Easter next
year and will be available for modellers to run NZ120 consists on. There will be
both DCC and plain controllers on the layout.
N scale to NZR conversion
There is several suitable N scale that will convert to nearly right NZ120 with a
little kit bashing work.
Kato: 2001 - DSG, 8010 a Zp wagon, 8024 - ZPa, 8008 - Ue tank wagon, 8078 Ks
wagon, 8017 Rb (ends)
821 steel refrigerator wagon (roof), 8016 Coal Hopper (sides)
2002 an M2-6-4 tank loco to Ww class, 2001 a 2-6-0 to Ub loco, 2010 a 2-6-2 to a
steam C loco
2003 to a 4-6-4 Wab, 2007 to a 4-6-2 Ab and 2006 to a 2-8-2 Mikado
Roco: 25007 flat top M wagon, 25084 La, 25169 bogie open Rb, 25051 Sheep (new
roof)
Minitrix: 2003 to a Dh or De diesel, 2007 converts to a Dx.
Bachman: Great Northern for Kb with metal valve gear
Ibertren: 244 open platform coach
Thanks to Reuben Romany for permission to print this list.
Standards -
These are still in the formulation stage. I can provide a recommended practice
that is working well for me.
Track: PECO Finescale is readily available and looks right for track height
although the sleepers, length
and spacing, are not right. Still ballast hides most of them.
Points: PECO Finescale again with the live frog do a good job. Take care with
geometry as they all have
a 10 degree turnout angle. And do add a switch to supply frog power separately.
Wheel Sets: Using, PECO trackwork means that English wheels must be used. These
have a back-to-back
of 7.48mm. If you plan to run USA bogies be aware that they might not work as
well on PECO points.
Tracklaying Notes
For a Quiet track - lay on a cork base. I have used the precut cork (3.Omm
thick) available from the Hobby shop or you can buy sheet rubberised-cork from
Repco the motor wholesalers in the same thickness and cut it yourself. To get
round curves easier cut two half-width pieces - also easier to lay to the center
line. Coat base and cork with Ados F3 (thixotropic) lay and roll down to adhere.
Paint the cork grey or some other dark colour a near match to the ballast.
I prefer Latex (Carpet Latex) to hold the track down. Use pins to keep it in
position until the latex dries. Lightly spray the cork and track with wet water
(2 drops detergent added) every 5 cm. and spot the latex into 2 sleeper gaps. It
should work its way under the sleepers and out to the edge. Leave to dry
overnight then remove the pins and test.
When you are happy that trains will run well on the entire track it is time to
get the ballast on. First paint the sides of the rail with a red/brown rust
colour, spot matt black into the turnout centers near the tie rod as this area
is never ballasted and shows the oil and grease colour of the lubricators. If
you want to contain the ballast at the sides of the track then pin down some
balsa strip alongside the track. Now spread the ballast (your choice of colour)
using a part folded sheet of paper to run it out along the center and sides. I
make a template to the cross-section of the rails and sides and pull this along
the rail to spread out the ballast in the right places. Finally a spray with wet
water over all the ballast and then drops of Resene "Multishield" Flat
over it to secure the ballast. Carpet Latex can be obtained from Carpet shops
and is useful in many areas of the layout.
A Neat Sprayer can be made from a nasal sprayer (Beconase Sprayer as used for
anti-allergy) Take it to pieces and bend the tube that goes to the bottom into a
loop so it sits near the top of the container, fill with water, use upside down
for a fine spray.
Electronics for signals
There was no response to my offer of signal drivers in the last newsletter. I
know that electronics and wiring up switches, block detectors etc. is not
everyones cup of tea but it is not as hard as it sounds if you take it one
signal at a time. I will be giving a clinic at Convention 2000 on practical
aspects of signalling the layout. There are several ways you can use signals:-
1. Wire them to a switch located under a turnout so they show green when the
points are set correctly and red if they are reversed or green if set for the
main route and yellow if set to enter the yards. Use a toggle switch to hold the
red aspect, as for a departure signal at a station.
2. A little more complex and out on the main line you could use one of my
delaying signal drivers to change to red when the train passes then go back to
yellow and green automatically. This needs only 3 track wires and a power
supply, batteries will do.
3. For the more skilled there are block detectors that can be used to hold red
aspect while a train is occupying the block ahead, and yellow while in the next
block ahead. Green if the 2 blocks ahead are both clear. Of course turnouts can
also be used to control these signals too and show yellow if the train is to go
into the loop or red if a turnout is set against the train.
4. Combined with 3 above could be power control relays also so that a train is
automatically stopped if there is a danger of running into a train on the block
ahead. Thought needs to be given to train lengths etc when designing for power
control.
5. DCC offers very sophisticated signalling and control possibilities but will
also cost you in research time and money.
More information on the net site at http://www.actrix.gen.nz/users/murgatroyd/module.htm
Coming Up
I have been working with a local manufacturer who is planning to release NZI20
bogie wagons in December. These will include a flat top, container, cement,
logging and tanker wagons. Types. Ub, Uc, Url, Rb, Us, Usb, Usl and Usd are
being prepared now. I hope to do a review early in December for you as a special
newsletter. More in the Journal for December.
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