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"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.

Post your non-O scale stuff here!

Hi George,no,the O scale layout will be completely confined to the partitioned off raised back section of the garden between the two back fences.Wont be all that wide but will still have good long runs,and if I get the rockwork and planting right should be well pleasing to the eye too... . This job will be no quick fix. Will take a fair old bit of material and time to complete. I want to try and keep the G scale and O gauge as scenically seperate entities as possible in this section. I'd gladly keep the G scale out of view in this area in one big tunnel if possible however being practical access to the g scale is of course mandatory in case of derailments. But i'll try to keep it as obscure from the O as much as possible. 

 

 

 

Hi Guys well started at 7am this mornin and pushed on with the O gauge layout base,got on quite good before I had to go to work. The curving mainline will sweep back in towards the fence ,then  will cross the G scale track again before curving back to join the line along the back fence. Hoping to pull off the look of a mainline cutting thru mountain/hill country. 

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Last edited by Davy Mac

Hi Guys, Larry...,thanks for your thumbs up and encouragement its always  appreciated. .  Mark (Boyce) thankyou too and glad you're liking the project. As for the curves , I don't know exactly what curvature they are Mark, everything pretty much is done by the eye and guesswork estimation except for the essential  use of a spirit level.  The verticle boards on the fence are 6  inches wide so I reckon that back area is about 10 feet wide on the left side and narrows down to about 7ft on the right. I have never actually measured the length of the plot. I'd reckon the end curve on the layout L/H side already in situ must be around 4 feet radius or thereabouts ?? ....when I get to the right hand side the curvature will be tighter. The biggest O gauge loco I have is a B&O EM1 articulated so hopefully the finished curves will accomodate it. I also have a UP FEF 4-8-4 with a fairly long wheelbase so hopefully they'll have enough side play in their chassis . Pretty sure they'll be fine on the left hand side curvatures but the right hand side curvatures will of physical necessity be tighter.They'll be no problem for diesels or short wheelbase steam engines but the bigger steamers ...fingers crossed  ..... I'll just make the R/H end curve as wide as I can and hope for the best. If they go round the curves good and well if not ...well they'll be goin on ebay... .  (AFTERTHOUGHT>>>> when I'm refering to left and right I'm always meaning relative to looking out from the house). 

 

 

Last edited by Davy Mac

Hi Mark, this is 2 rail O the larger the steam engine with fixed drivers the larger the curve, 8' diameter might work I don't know about 6' diameter. 3 rail this would work with no issues, 2 rail is a different beast.

Davy, 10' would be better. Give it a try with your current curves & see how your engines work.

Seacoast posted:

Hi Mark, this is 2 rail O the larger the steam engine with fixed drivers the larger the curve, 8' diameter might work I don't know about 6' diameter. 3 rail this would work with no issues, 2 rail is a different beast.

Davy, 10' would be better. Give it a try with your current curves & see how your engines work.

Thank you George!  Yes 2 rail is a different story.

Hi Davy , Glad to see that you are making good progress on the upper back end . You seem to get a lot of rain showers in your local area , I'm just wondering if you have allowed for any kind of drainage in the O gauge area , or is this not an issue.  Everything is looking great and I like all the different flowers that you have planted . It's a pleasure to follow your work . Jim

Hi Jim, glad you're liking the project ,thanks. ......" a lot of rain showers"..., .... ha ha ,in Scotland we get the "odd sunny spell" would be more accurate... in the bible it says it was a "disaster" when it rained for "40 days and nights", in Scotland thats what we call the "summer"...lol .  On a serious note though, drainage isn't a problem Jim, that whole section is built up with rubble ,any wee pools appear its a simple case of drilling a hole and the water's gone. Theres a whole load of rubble and stone ,plants and stuff yet to be imported to dress that back section once the track base is finished. The landscaping will be dressed right to the edge of the blockwork.  

 

Davy Mac posted:

Hi Guys, 10ft diameter is a definite impossibility on the right side of the plot . So if the max curves prove too tight for the bigger locos then I'll sell them off, nothing else for it.  Got nothing done today  other than bringing in another 20 blocks ,however ,better weather forecast for tomorrow, 

 

Never fear Davy, I'm sure you will make it work. You have a great dilemma both G and O scale, it will be great fun.

That's a lot of good work you did today.

I am curious how much trouble you have with freezing and thawing where you live in Scotland.  Here in Pennsylvania, it can go down to -20 degrees F, then a week later be just above freezing.  It looks to me you are on top of that problem, but I have a soft spot for Scotland, since my ancestors were from Scotland.

Mark Boyce posted:

That's a lot of good work you did today.

I am curious how much trouble you have with freezing and thawing where you live in Scotland.  Here in Pennsylvania, it can go down to -20 degrees F, then a week later be just above freezing.  It looks to me you are on top of that problem, but I have a soft spot for Scotland, since my ancestors were from Scotland.

Hi Mark, its only very occasionally we see real hard frost in this area ,frost heave not really an issue. I worked on tonight and pushed the block work on to the point where the G scale passes under the O gauge on the opposite side. Lots of Scots ancestry in the states and Canada. 

 

Anyway guys, worked till lunch time on the O gauge formation then headed out to a scrap yard to see if I could get my hands on an old bus water pump. Thats what I used for the mechanism for my turntable on the G scale line, luckily the guy in the scrappies had one in stock . I took it to a welder's workshop to get a turntable-bridge welded on.So I will have it back next week. Ordered the bridge at 32" so it can take my B&O EM-1. Hope the EM1 can handle the curves on the new layout....fingers crossed. The welder is goin to weld a tube onto the pulley spindle and then the bridge. Haven't made up my mind yet where to locate the turntable on the layout but its a must for a steam nut like myself. Wee video of the pump and a photo of the layout work at the end of play tonight.... DSCN4619

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Last edited by Davy Mac
Davy Mac posted:
rail posted:

Nice progress. I haven't started mine, and it doesn't look good for this summer.

Don

Hi Don, never mind I'm sure you'll make a start when the bug bites hard enough !

 

I spent much of my time working on a 12" to 1' switching shanty that is now nearly complete. No I have to jump on some home projects. Maybe a start in the fall to have a head start for next year.

Don

Davy,

I thought you didn't have much frost problem, but wanted to confirm.  Parts of my paved driveway will heave up over an inch at times, but I thought you wouldn't have to worry.

Very good idea to use the pump.  I couldn't get the video to play, but it may be because I'm looking at my smart phone that is smarter than me.  I'll take a look see at home later.

 

Hi Guys, sorry the video isn't playing ???? . I've sent you it by Email Jim. Maybe you can get it to work. Whatever heres some pics of how I did the previous turntable using another old water pump mech. This one I've just bought will be simpler to level because it has a nice flat base with bolt-holes.  1st pic is the new one. next three pics are pics of the turntable on the G scale line when under construction. DSCN4618turntable construction Aturntable construction BTurntable construction C 

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Hi Guys,well spent the early morning puttin together that wee garden furniture set which arrived in boxes last night.  Pic is my wife and her pal christening it ! ....  soon hopefully I'll be sittin there relaxed controlling my G scale by DCC from my new tablet !.  Also have another comfy perch planned for the O scale layout behind the fence !!DSCN4623

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Hi Guys ,well, hopefully I took delivery of what will be the last or at least almost the last major delivery of hardscaping materials. Also sourced a load of 2nd hand demolition brick which is ideal for building up the sides of the blocked O scale trackbed . I've lost count of how many tons of stuff I've humphed from the side of the road out front thru the house and into the back garden. I have no vehicular access at the back ,which is good from a security point of view but bad when it comes to shiftin stuff from front to back. Oh well no point sittin here moaning ....better get on with it ! DSCN4627DSCN4626

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Gi Guys, well put a good shift in today, right hand corner now more or less levelled off with hardcore, trackbase built up another tier along the back fence and a start made to the landscaping support brick work along the back of the middle fence....,plus armoured electric cables installed by an electrician friend of mine 

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mike g. posted:

Great looking work! It my just be me but the video is just black screen.

Hi Mike, thanks for the thumbs up, not sure what the problem is with the videos.Working fine this end, you're not the first to have the problem,seems to work for some guys and not for others. ???? I'm afraid I'm pretty useless with anything at all complicated computer-wise. However the video is no big deal, just shows the turntable bridge spinning.  It will be set level in the ground and the well built round it. However I still haven't made up my mind exactly where yet . Once I get the main track circuits complete I'll get the turntable installed. I need to take a few things into consideration ,like 1 to 1 scale foot access from one end of the back section to the other, how it will all fit in with the G scale line etc. However gettin there slow but sure ! 

 

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