Re: West Mersea

[eastsidepilot]

Dunno if you got my message before you went to Sudbury Col - there was no way I could make the drive. Peter C's embryonic layout looks like it has much potential, and it's good to see that it will be completed.

PJH really needs to get the shop front cleared!

Yep, always look's as if a bombs hit it under neath all that stuff in the shop is a Singer car engine and an old film editing machine !
With regards to the layout because it is in the groups custody, as it were, it means that who ever feels like a bit of exhibition work then it can be taken out for an airing.

Col.

 

[eastsidepilot]

Today, Wednesday, a small gathering( Three Pete's, Steve, John and me himself ) and repairs underway to the pointwork in the west side yard of West Mersea.
A layer of foam rubber and two layers of cork stuck down with p.v.a. to make up the thickness as the foam we had was not as thick as the original, template and sleepers fixed in position.
The crossing vee and switch blades have been made with just the closer rails to be cut in, then it will be the rest of the connecting sidings and the point and crossing of the kick back spur off the cattle dock road to sort.

Working Wednesdays (phone Pete first) if anyones interested, , and you want to poison yourself on Peter's coffee
Next Monthly meet is Sunday July 29th.

ATB, Col.

 

[S-Club-7]

Don't forget to raid the shop for some check-rail chairs! I've still got some gauge-widened ones if needed.

If you can wait until the 29th then I'm hoping to bring along the first samples of 1:6 crossing chairs; that's if I can get the rest of the virtual modelling done and the 3D prints delivered in time!

 

[eastsidepilot]

Don't forget to raid the shop for some check-rail chairs! I've still got some gauge-widened ones if needed.

If you can wait until the 29th then I'm hoping to bring along the first samples of 1:6 crossing chairs; that's if I can get the rest of the virtual modelling done and the 3D prints delivered in time!

Dave,
I don't think I'll be there before the monthly meet, so it would be great if you do have those chairs ready.

Col.

 

[S-Club-7]

...it would be great if you do have those chairs ready.

Col,

Nearly ready to be converted from pixels into triangles and then posted to Shapeways. That's tomorrow's job. What would you prefer: keys fixed to the chairs or loose keys to insert as required?

Sorry about the image quality; I'm more concerned about getting it 3D printed at the moment.

 

[eastsidepilot]

Col,
...................... What would you prefer: keys fixed to the chairs or loose keys to insert as required?......

Looks superb Dave, I think fixed keys would be preferable, I could see us loosing loose keys !......don't tell Pete he'll be asking for real chair bolts to screw 'em down

If you have plans for other angles which are you consideringnext ?

ATB, Col.

 

[S-Club-7]

Looks superb Dave, I think fixed keys would be preferable, I could see us loosing loose keys !......don't tell Pete he'll be asking for real chair bolts to screw 'em down
If you have plans for other angles which are you consideringnext ?
ATB, Col.

Bolts aren't used to screw them down (unless you're GWR); it's more like a wood screw. Don't think Screwfix or B&Q sell the right size though!

The plan is to do everything needed to enable me to regauge Lumpy Sidings to S7 so that will include a 1 in 6 single slip, 1 in 5 and 1 in 4 common crossings, then there's the switch chairs, and the tandem, and the diamond which is about 1 in 2½. Not forgetting Steve's GER chair for Kelvedon. And then there's the ones we need for West Mersea. I did count over 120 different chairs -- these four have taken me 8 months so far so I might be done before I reach 75!

 

[eastsidepilot]

Col,
What would you prefer: keys fixed to the chairs or loose keys to insert as required?

.

...........What are your thoughts on assembly Dave ? as we wont be able to slide chairs on in the normal way once a vee is made up, it would work with loose keys, with fixed keys the chairs would have to be cut.

Col.

 

[Stevesopwith]

I think I'd prefer loose keys, so as not to have to cut the chairs. They'd be 3.5mm long.... quite manageable compared with some of the stuff we handle!

Steve.

 

[Buckjumper]

I think I'd prefer loose keys, so as not to have to cut the chairs.

Perhaps Dave will print off a 1:43.5 hammer for you to knock them in with

 

[eastsidepilot]

Perhaps Dave will print off a 1:43.5 hammer for you to knock them in with

"SSSHH"......PJH might be listening .

With solder assembly of the vee we'll have to put the brass tie strips under the the spacer block positions and the dropper wire under the knuckle perhaps.

Col.

 

[S-Club-7]

Perhaps Dave will print off a 1:43.5 hammer for you to knock them in with

The cunning plan is to (eventually) produce two versions. One with fixed chairs: primarily to be used for cosmetic purposes (samples should be at the next meeting). The second version will have loose keys for those of us who want to do it properly; I believe these chairs and loose keys will be fully functional so no soldering required (apart from a dropper wire to each piece of rail).

The loose keys will be tapered (like the prototype) so if you thump or squeeze them in too hard the chair jaw will snap off (unlike the prototype) -- what we need are rubber hammers...

 

[Buckjumper]

what we need are rubber hammers...

Mallets, old chap, mallets.

 

[Dog Star]

Mallets, old chap, mallets.

Now they will really test the PW..... spreading the track of the WMR no doubt!

 

[marsa69]

Those chairs look the mutts nuts. I'd probably take some for my next O gauge project, and no, I'm not converting I just prefer better looking rail components

 

[eastsidepilot]

The cunning plan is to (eventually) produce two versions. One with fixed chairs: primarily to be used for cosmetic purposes (samples should be at the next meeting). The second version will have loose keys for those of us who want to do it properly; I believe these chairs and loose keys will be fully functional so no soldering required (apart from a dropper wire to each piece of rail).

The loose keys will be tapered (like the prototype) so if you thump or squeeze them in too hard the chair jaw will snap off (unlike the prototype) -- what we need are rubber hammers...

Excellent Dave,
I know it takes some time to draw all this up Dave, are you likely to produce the larger angles, 8's & 9's at all ?

Col.

 

[tomstaf]

Hi Dave,

Now they look ever so good. Just one issue - if only they were for flat bottom rail

Cheers

Tom

 

[S-Club-7]

UPS have just delivered the first 1 in 6 crossing chairs. Sorry about the focus of the photo, the camera here at work isn't designed to be used for photographing 7mm scale chairs!
From left to right we have: the 6X chair; the knuckle block, washer-blocks and bolt-heads; a point rail holding-down-block (for those who shape their point rails properly, for the rest of us there's also one fixed to the 6A chair); the 6A chair; the A blocks; bolt-head and washer-block to hold the end of the splice rail to the point rail (left and right variants); wing blocks (left and right variants) and washer-blocks; more washer-blocks to join the point and splice rails (some companies also had a rivet or two as well); the 6B chair; and finally the 6C chair. See the image in post 187 above to see how it should all fit together.

Come to West Mersea HQ on Sunday if you want to see the real thing (bring a magnifying glass!) being installed.

Edited to add link to previous post.

 

[Dog Star]

UPS have just delivered the first 1 in 6 crossing chairs..

Ther drawing in post #187 indicates that the 6A is modelled on a "slab-and-bracket" style which is too modern for some of us! What chance that you might include the "block" style of chair on future prints?

regards, Graham

 

[S-Club-7]

The drawing in post #187 indicates that the 6A is modelled on a "slab-and-bracket" style which is too modern for some of us! What chance that you might include the "block" style of chair on future prints?

This is only the first draft (first 3D draft that is, there have been dozens of virtual drafts since last November). When I get my new PC (you may all have to buy some chairs to help fund it...) then there's no real reason why not, except I really should concentrate on the chairs needed to convert Lumpy Sidings to S7 in time for the "33 sq ft challenge".