Model Railway Forum

You might want to look at DCC Concepts Alpha system this simply uses the DCC bus to power the point motors and transmit the signals from their Alpha control panel which just has simple push buttons. Although it is designed to work ideally with their Cobalt IP point motors. I do not know if it can be...

Number of bolts going into T-nuts in the sides would help with alignment and pulling the layout together. The only issue with that is bolts going through wood will tend to wear the holes and start allowing unwanted movement. A way to get round that is to line the bolt holes with metal tubing but you...

As an after thought. Would it be possible to use some loose spacers on the bearers just to get over the dowels and once having the slide in section positioned pull out the loose spacers allowing the section to drop the last few millimetres onto the dowels? The loose spacers would only need to be sli...

All good suggestions... The layout is a U shape with 2 main boards 12 ft x3 ft, joined at the far end by a bolted in 3 ft drop valley. This means the slide in section open end has a bit of flex, maybe enough to allow engagement of some positive locators, which then clamp tight using over centre adj...

I have found sliding door bolts to allow a bit too much play to give totally reliable location (may also be down to my carpentry!). I now use small overcentre latches for all my board joints, fixed or removable. The tension can be adjusted to give a really firm joint which is strong enough to stop ...

Most people use things like sliding bolts on sector plates for alignment which is something similar to what you want. https://www.screwfix.com/p/straight-door-bolt-polished-chrome-76mm/74947 Could you mount a couple of these somewhere handy but out of sight when viewing from the scenic side? Richard

I know it is a silly question but where does one buy wood these days now that builders merchants don't seem to sell it? Google Timber Merchants. There must be some relatively local as where would builders and carpenters get theirs. Most of our local ones sell online and do deliver. I fortunately li...

As Stese has pointed out most ply comes from the far east even Baltic Pine which is the new Birch Ply tends to be processed out there. If you are looking for sustainable timber production look to see if it FSC certified.

Richard

Hi Thanks for your reply, I have tried uploading some pics of my layout, in the member layout under Bayview Halt, but they keep appearing in a vertical column instead of horizontally, so have you any idea what I am doing incorrectly. I have seen the pics and it is the same for all uploads. If you s...

Sad to hear you are giving up, it seems a few members are finding health and old age is catching up on them recently. If you need to contact Flashbang he has now passed on ownership of the forum but remains a moderator and has changed his moniker to simply Brian.

Richard