'Cameo Callaton'

Callaton

Simpas

Western Thunderer
Thank you very much Chris, I'm certainly going to enjoy it. I've just set up and now sitting on a campsite a couple of miles away from the venue. Callaton seems tiny compared to the other cameos in the hall...! Ah well - that's 2 mil.

Mick S.
 
Callaton at the Cameo Competition

Simpas

Western Thunderer
For those who don't know. Congratulations to Newton Heath 1st, and Midland in Bristol 2nd and the rest if us who came joint third. Nice way to do it. Thoroughly enjoyable day with lots of positive comments about mine and everyone else's contribution to the event.

Good all round show which I hope to have a another good look round tomorrow.

"Aa love Railex me, even tho itza lang way from yaem.... al see if a kin get some pitches on me foan the morra an post the mora neet. All Etta see how that gains cos av nivva done from me foan afore"

I do like Railex a lot notwithstanding it is some considerable distance from home...I will try and take some photographs using my mobile and post them tomorrow evening, not something I'm accustomed to doing.

Mick S
 

76043

Western Thunderer
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Cameo competition

Simpas

Western Thunderer
Tony,

Thanks for posting the picture, apologies for blinking.... that's what happens though isn't it?

As you will see from my post above, I finally managed work out how to do the 'quote' thingy on my mobile. Should add in here that I don't do any of that social media stuff so Western Thunder was my first experience of 'likes' etc. I was a virgin....!

I'm not particularly luddite, "just got nee time - ower many otha things tae dee an layoots tae build."

(time is limited and I have other things I need to do, not to mention layouts to build)

Mick S
 
Callaton

Simpas

Western Thunderer
It was good to see this layout in the flesh so to speak, excellent details.

Thanks Dave, you may have seen I still haven't managed the bus depot security lights. I did start to make them but wasn't happy so will fix when I and something suitable.

Oh, yes...

"A maita myn teltiz the day me street leet's in the wrang place...!"

(A friend today informed me my one and only street light is incorrectly positioned....!)

I think he's right because in its current position light will shine onto the railway which, he says, would be avoided. In addition to which the flood of light would not light up the bend safely. Very likely the lamp's position should behind the permanent deviation markers facing away from the railway and illuminating the area in front of it with perhaps a reflector preventing light pollution of the railway which might prove a distraction to loco drivers. What a wonderful hobby this is - thanks Richard, watch the space because I will alter this when convenient.

Mick S
 
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Cameo competition

Simpas

Western Thunderer
As promised,a couple of phone camera shots of the winning entrants. I'll trying put up the rest tomorrow.

Below - the winner, 'Newton Heath Works' and below that 'Midland in Bristol' which took first and second place respectively. Not very good pictures admittedly but I was operating Callaton at the time I nipped out to take these rather rushed shots, but you'll get the flavour.

Mick S

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jonte

Western Thunderer
Well done, Mick.

Callaton makes an appearance about 13 minutes in on this video of the event I found on YouTube

With thanks to the creator of the vid, of course :)

Best wishes,

Jonte
 

steve50

Western Thunderer
Really enjoyed Callaton at Railex on Sat, just had a look through the thread and what a stunning little layout it is! I love the details and the way you built the retaining walls and bridge. The allotment has got so much to look at, the whole thing looks great, well done, you must be pleased with it.
Steve.
 
Callaton

Simpas

Western Thunderer
Really enjoyed Callaton at Railex on Sat, just had a look through the thread and what a stunning little layout it is! I love the details and the way you built the retaining walls and bridge. The allotment has got so much to look at, the whole thing looks great, well done, you must be pleased with it.
Steve.

Steve,

That's very kind of you, thank you very much. There are one or two very minor things that need attention but you are quite right, I'm satisfied enough with the result especially since some aspects of construction I had not attempted before, such as trees and stonework - not to mention carving Atlantean buses up...!

Mick S.
 
Callaton

Simpas

Western Thunderer
I can't believe it's so long since I posted on here. Humble apologies.....

The only thing of any consequence that has happened since Railex (apart from this dreadful virus and all that came with it) is I have now managed to motorise the gate into the explosives siding using a MERG kit from their Pocket Money Projects range. (Oh yes, the real allotment has been tended like never before during our confinement)

I'd thought about a hand cranked system involving wheels, gears and very manual handle, which would have been quaint, but because I had not been able to devise what I really wanted a chance encounter with a MERG Pocket Money kit started me off on a different route. Through the good offices of a friend I bought a couple of these and found the kit relatively simple to put together - alright, I need to improve my electronics soldering technique but I do have a result. This little board allows control of a servo throughout 180 degrees and also has two controllable end stops. At around £1.50 the cost of the kit is negligible but it does do exactly what I want it to do. If MERG offered taster kits like the 2mm Scale Association sells wagon starter kits, this would attract many more new members to their ranks; as it is I don't think they do.

This picture below shows the components on the board, electronics students will immediately identify the bits but in simple terms some of them are; a voltage regulator, three potentiometers, a few resistors, a PIC controller and some other bits. You will gather this is not a strong subject of mine!

On the left an AA battery pack loaded with 8 x 1.5volt batteries; for test purposes a 9 volt PP3 type would be just as good but not last for very long. In use I notice that even a stack of 8 x 1.5 AAs doesn't last too long either but if a separate switch is included, once the unit has done its bit it can be switched off until needed next time with no drain on the batteries.

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Below is the servo mounted very simply on a piece of shaped plywood. It has a 64DP gear force fitted over the shaft that normally has the operating arm attached to it and this meshes with the gear wheel that can be seen. The relatively large diameter piece of brass has a grub screw which enable attachment/detachment from the hidden part of the gatepost seen just protruding. It seems to be adequate and the grub screw does allow some more adjustment.

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Now if I've done this correctly it should be possible to see the gate operating here. I wasn't sure how to mute the sound so you get warts and all!


Mick S.
 
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Tim Watson

Western Thunderer
It certainly won’t be heard at a show. iPhones are really good at picking up the sound of gearboxes and mechanisms.

Tim
 
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