Demountable leg supports.
Point installation.
Point actuator.
Cork underlay.
Track laying.
Electrics.
Another busy and, at times, 'tense' session as we pressed on with several jobs simultaneously. Laurence continued with the initial demountable leg for the layout supports along the racking. The end blocks were glued in placed and when dry, the panel mount plates were fitted to the racking plate and cross-bar end. Stephen had purchased M8 coach bolts and wing nuts for the joint, which when assembled, allowed a successful test to take place. After checking for levels, the first board was successfully bolted in place. Laurence moved on to the next leg.
Geoff worked on the Y point into the engine shed on adaptor board#1 and trimmed the rails to the correct length, before soldering onto the brass screws.
A large DPDT slide switch was to be used for the mechanical movement of the point blades and the frog electrical switching. Some stiff steel wire was sourced for the rod together with some brass tube for its guide/protector. Whilst an in-line spring was considered at one point, a simple omega loop was finally settled-on for the tensioning/adjustment. Everything was prepared, assembled and satisfactorily tested. (The scenery/hill abutting the bridge will extend over the rodding close to the point).
The day had started with a discussion about electrical connections, distribution and the break-down of control etc. During the lunch break, we had intended to discuss this further, but when Geoff flourished a copy of BRM with a small article on a layout using computer motherboard power supply extension cables, that became the Google/eBay focus of attention. On Cottesmore, we had used an excellent range of robust connectors by RS, but these are no longer available and nothing similar seems to be available. We had used some 'green connectors' (we forget the name) to supplement loom connections, but had to make them up into fly leads. The ATX power cables looked similar in construction and size, and needed no adaptation, and were therefore quite promising.
We'd probably use 50cm extension leads and, as proposed in the article, cut them in half, connecting the loose ends into connector blocks on the layout. They appear to be crimped pins, which we can deal with. More research is required, but an overhaul of the existing loom might be on the cards'.
