Andy Glascott

Eurobricks Citizen
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Everything posted by Andy Glascott

  1. Andy Glascott

    Problem with Fx Brick's P40 Switch Track

    I’m not familiar enough with the components to name them accurately but it’s easy enough to make a switch that will isolate a section of track for you in a siding. First, place a piece of tape between two sections of track where they connect, just on one side of the track, then repeat this further down, say 2 track sections or 32 studs, again on the same side of the track. This creates a section without power. Second, connect one end of a wire to the track on one side of one of the pieces of tape, for arguments sake, about 12 inches/30 cm long and connect the other end of it to the track on the other side of the tape. This bypasses the tape and provides power to the “dead” section. Now fit a simple on/off switch in the middle of the length of wire. When it is on, power reaches the dead section of track, when it is off, it doesn’t. Use a longer length of wire to have the switch closer to your control panel. The old 12v track system uses exactly this set up. If you use this in a ladder situation you only need one piece of tape as there is no power reaching the track from the end of the siding.
  2. Andy Glascott

    TRAIN TECH Help, General Questions & Talk to the Staff

    I brought my collection of 9v and 12v trains over from Europe to the US and have run multiple controllers off a voltage converter with no problems.
  3. (Click to skip to the post with the latest photos) The Backstory: For years I've wanted to be able to display my 12v collection at shows/exhibitions/libraries or wherever, but the wiring is a challenge - I reckon on my last full layout there was 250 to 300 feet (75-90 metres) of the stuff, which on a static layout is one thing, but one built in modules for transport is a challenge. Three or four months ago I came up with a solution (more on that below) and the dreaming started. After much playing in Bluebrick, and nostalgic posts appearing here about older era trains, I settled on a plan. I still had a bunch of my old blue track from the 4.5v era, but no motors. Off we go to Bricklink then! The Layout So, here's the plan. Ten years ago I had a small portable layout on 4 modules, each 3x5 baseplates, and over the years have simply added more of these. Following my Bricklink spree, I now have 2 working 4.5v motors, so rebuilt the loco from set 183 and I have the loco from 7720 in progress. These 2 will feature on the 4.5v loop below, which is 3 of those modules. Next to the 4.5v loop will be the showpiece, the main 12v loops. 12v Lower by andyglascott, on Flickr And on the right of the layout will be the 9v loops. Unlike the other 2 eras, I will have 9v track left over, so this is likely to be expanded in due course, particularly as @michaelgale releases motors, power supply etc. 9v Loops by andyglascott, on Flickr Lastly, there will be another 12v loop, elevated, which will run across the back of all three eras. 12v Upper by andyglascott, on Flickr Putting all of those together looks like this (the white baseplates are roughly where the mountains, tunnels etc will be for the elevated sections. The green and grey sections are simply so I could keep track of where the 3x5 modules were to try and avoid having curves/points on more than one module. When it all comes together, in most likely a couple of years, I'll be able to run 6 trains at a time. Whole Layout by andyglascott, on Flickr The Beginning After all the planning, and clearing away of my last (incomplete) layout, I've finally started building the first module, part of the 4.5v loop. I decided to start here as this will be the quickest era to build, and to a large extent, each era can also be displayed as a stand-alone smaller layout. These three modules will be countryside/farmland, and the trains will reflect the farming side of it when they get built. Module 01 Pic 02 by andyglascott, on Flickr The 12v Wiring The solution that I've come up with is fairly simple, but does involve taking a drill to some baseplates.... At each of the 12v points or signals I'll drill a small hole through the baseplate and the wood for each module, thread the wire through and attach either the original Lego plugs or a quick connect/release plug/connector so that when the layout is set up I'll use already measured lengths of wire to go from that point to the control panels, which will be on their own module. This is going to be a heck of a journey, and build, I'll post updates from time to time, particularly at landmark moments such as completing an "era". I always said, growing up, I was keeping my Lego for my kids. It was really only an excuse, and I'm really glad I didn't sell my old blue track even though I didn't, for years, think I'd use it. Sadly my original 4.5v motors, battery boxes, lights and even signals are long gone, but I was only 7 or 8 when I got 7720....
  4. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    Thanks @Murdoch17. I’ve found that working on a section at a time has really helped me focus on getting things like that right, it went through a few changes when I first built it and then again after a couple of shows.
  5. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    Ok, photo update! I had the whole layout at my LUGs show on Saturday, the first time I've seen all nine completed modules together, so yes, I took pics! I had hoped to stitch some together to make a single image with the whole thing from the front but that didn't work out, so here are the 4 pics that would have made that image up: (I'm hoping at this size they'll come out side by side...) These two show the full layout from either end/corner on: And then a few pics of different areas/angles: There are a couple of other images over on Flickr too. I hope you enjoy the images, it's been a fun build so far, with a bit of luck the whole thing might be finished for Brickfair VA in August. Of 2026!
  6. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    Thanks @Electricsteam, I took so,e pics yesterday and will sort through them and get them posted by tomorrow evening.
  7. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    Thank you @zephyr1934
  8. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    Thank you. I'll be setting them all up next weekend at our LUG's show so will take pics of all 9 modules together then. Events are typically the only time I can put it all together.
  9. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    So, 2 years in and I'm officially half way, module 9 of 18 is complete, pics below. It's very satisfying to get this far, there were times I wondered if I had taken on too much... To be honest, I still think that occasionally! I've had to rebuild the storage and transport crates over this past winter too, which slowed progress somewhat. Next week I'll actually get to see all 9 modules together fore the first time at our LUG's annual show in Richmond, VA. This one probably gives the best overall view of the module, the two ends of the upper track will eventually connect to make a loop, the lower section is a siding off the main city loop that will have a small station near a beach are on module 12... From the other end showing some of the internal supports and old baseplates used! It has been a challenge to make sure the profile of this hill section matches the module it will be up against. Lastly, who can resist a few Minions getting up to a bit of mischief?
  10. Andy Glascott

    LEGO #21344 - Orient Express

    That’s a radically different loco from the original submission…
  11. Andy Glascott

    [MOC] Dublin Luas - Alstom Citadis tram

    Why am I not surprised by this….? 😂 🇮🇪
  12. Andy Glascott

    [MOC] Dublin Luas - Alstom Citadis tram

    Very impressive @Duq, instantly recognizable and you’ve done a good job on the cab too with the different angles involved.
  13. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    So, module 8 is complete. Not a huge amount of track on this one as it's in the middle of the city section of the project but it was challenging working out how to do the curved section of raised track. As well as crossing the lower level track it's also a point where the curve goes to another module so in the end I decided to build a 4-track section that drops in when the 2 modules are next to each other rather than try and fix it in pace and line the two sections up that way. DSC03225 The full module. DSC03228 The classic 7740 poses under the viaduct with my MOC Duchess of Sutherland loco (which is on the list for a full rebuild) on the viaduct. DSC03231 My Irish Rail G Class shunter has a static display space on the module and will probably run on the full layout occasionally.
  14. Andy Glascott

    Crimson Lake & Cream

    Really nice carriages there!
  15. Andy Glascott

    Connecting 12V Motor to 9V RC Motors

    My guess is the 9v motors will cope with 12v of power. I asked a similar question a few years ago and it’s safe to run a PF motor at that voltage so it may well be ok for the RC ones too.
  16. Andy Glascott

    Irish Rail/CIE Class 601 Shunter

    A couple of years ago I picked up a pair of these 9v motors to see if I could use the motor inside to repair my 9v train motors - short story, no - but they sat on my desk on and off ever since and I pondered how to use them. A couple of weeks ago I started playing with the idea of an Irish Rail (or CIE back in the day) Class 601 shunter: CIE G613 (This and other reference pics from the Irish Traction Group and Downpatrick Railway). The 0-4-0 wheel arrangement and relatively simple body shape looked like a good fit for the motor powered by a 9v Light and Sound battery box sitting on top of it. IMG_1411 A couple of Bricklink orders later and I'm very happy with the finished product, even if the color matching on the stickers to cover the battery box is a little off. Finished It's a fun little engine to run, though it only goes in one direction thanks to the limits of the 9v battery box, but I wanted a pure Lego loco. (The only butchery I had to do was to the connector from battery box to motor, like most of them the insulation was crumbling so I cut it short and tidied it up). Overall, I'm really pleased with it and thought I'd share.
  17. Andy Glascott

    What is the best Lego train control system?

    But but but… 12volt…? Yeah, I’m living in the Lego past… 😂
  18. Andy Glascott

    [MOC] ALCO PA

    That’s very impressive, particularly for a 6 wide loco!
  19. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    In terms of 12v sets/trains @Reker1000000 I have a 7740 and 7745 as well as 5 MOC locos/trains. @GoHabsGo I haven’t got the space for this either, it only gets set up in full at events.
  20. Andy Glascott

    A Layout in Three Eras - 4.5v, 9v and 12v - Photo update!

    Well, that took longer than expected! I finally got started on the next module about a month ago after a 6 month or so break for other stuff (more on that later), but am back online with a couple of pics to update anyone following this thread. This loop will be the centerpiece so to speak of the whole project, a 12v loop with three trains featured though only one running at a time. Here's the plan for the loop, which when it's finished will have 2 other lops one the left and 1 more on the right (see previous posts). City Loop The first complete module is for the bottom left of that, and includes a simple single platform station. DSC02301 Also included is my first ever modular, which will connect the two blocks of modulars that will be the main part of the city. It's been good to get back to building Lego again, after a couple of shows last year I realized I had to revamp my transportation system for getting the layout to events and so spent the winter building storage crates for each of the first 6 modules which double as the base for setup at shows. The next few modules shouldn't take too long to build so hopefully there'll be some more updates over the next few months.
  21. Andy Glascott

    [WIP] Gondol-Rail

    You could cross brace the towers easily enough, if you’re at Ashland train day I can show you how I brace the mountaintops on my layout.
  22. Andy Glascott

    12V level crossing 7866 - lights don't flash

    Good points about the different buttons @HoMa, I knew there were differences but don’t know the internals well enough.
  23. Andy Glascott

    12V level crossing 7866 - lights don't flash

    Does sound like the control unit alright. Do you have any other switches, for points or signals? It might be worth trying the flash unit with one of those to see what happens. It would at least confirm if it’s the control unit.
  24. No idea about the workings of the motor, but having 2 locos going in opposite directions on separate loops is always fun, and this way you can run 2 with only one power supply.
  25. Andy Glascott

    [MOC/MOD] 12v Train Collection

    That’s a wonderful collection of 12v locomotives and trains, and in great condition. Great to see the system looking so good.