Jump to content

Andy Glascott

Eurobricks Citizen
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    381

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Andy Glascott

  1. Andy Glascott
    I don't know if anyone else has done this, I did do a (quick) search on this forum and couldn't find any posts, but I've hooked up 2 12v signals to my 9v tracks to get fully operational remotely controlled, albeit old fashioned wire style, signals controlling the 9v track in the station. Here's the pic, with an explanation below. DSC00221 by andyglascott, on Flickr I used the 9v wire/contact piece on the same side of the track with a small piece of paper wedged in the join between two 9v track pieces to break the circuit. The two contact pieces are visible, one in the white wall and one under the platform just in front of my Irish Rail loco. There is a second piece of paper similarly wedged further down the track to create the block of isolated track. To switch between 9v and 12v connections I used 1 of these electric wires, took one of the 2 x 2 connectors off and replaced it with 12v plugs. That connects to a 12v signal switch, connected to a regular 12v transformer. There's video on of it all working, complete with the familiar clicks of the 12v switch in the background.
  2. Andy Glascott
    Yup, that thread helped and the switch is successfully repaired. The copper contact strip had slipped, so it was an easy fix.
  3. Andy Glascott
    Sorry to bump an old thread but thanks where thanks are due, I've just successfully repaired a signal switch, thank you Andromeda. It was a simple fix, the copper contact strip had slipped and needed to be glued back in place.
  4. Andy Glascott
    Thanks Zephyr! I'll have a go over the weekend.
  5. Andy Glascott
    I'm not convinced cutting there will work. The corner of my unit is broken (not surprising given the age of some of the 12v stuff!) Behind that line is solid, effectively the top of a 2 x 8 plate. The image below should show it. IMG_20141125_212830107 by andyglascott, on Flickr
  6. Andy Glascott
    Does anyone know of a way to open a 12v signal switch? This part - The green button doesn't stay down far enough to maintain the circuit inside, I have to press it down and hold it down for power to flow. I suspect it's an easy fix once inside but I can't see how to open it, or even if it can be. Thanks, Andy
  7. Andy Glascott
    Yeah, I'm mulling over downsizing alright and possibly building it into the "hillside" nearby. Trying to work out what that means for platform access. One of the distinct challenges of multi level layouts is a station that works on both levels.
  8. Andy Glascott
    Love it!
  9. Andy Glascott
    @ Selader, I think if we're honest a lot of us are influenced and inspired by Bricktrix and the standard he achieves. I know I aspire to it.
  10. Andy Glascott
    Thanks for the comments, and the doubt now growing in my mind. I don't know what it is about the station, it just doesn't feel right to me. Whatever happens, it will be after Christmas before I do anything to it so it might grow on me.... Anyway, I've been working on video this afternoon, not my strong point, I'd rather be building, but here it is, complete with authentic 12v soundtrack, including I think the sound of signals being switched for those of you old enough to remember the the 12v signal switches that really needed to be pressed solidly to work! PF (and 9v to an extent) just don't sound the same.... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ipncr8uMF98" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> And in case embedding didn't work, here's the direct .
  11. Andy Glascott
    Cheers Duq. Yup, space is certainly available over here!
  12. Andy Glascott
    If two months since the last post counts as bumping an old topic I apologise but I've finally got both levels working, it took a while to get the pieces together PAB was very slow in delivering.... Anyway, on with the pics and the update: DSC00139 by andyglascott, on Flickr The view from one end with all the tunnels etc now covered. DSC00141 by andyglascott, on Flickr And from the other end. The opening is a) to save bricks and b) so I can stick an arm in on rescue duty! So far I've not had any derailments.... DSC00145 by andyglascott, on Flickr I don't like the station, it's going to be rebuilt, I threw it together while waiting for parts to build the viaduct at the back of the layout. I do like the 2-way signals though. Each 12v line has a signal at each end of the platform that work in tandem - when one shows red the other is green. The one at the front end of the train is the controlling light, when it is showing green the red nominally prevents another train from entering the section in the opposite direction. DSC00144 by andyglascott, on Flickr The switches controlling the 12v points and signals are all built into the viaduct at the back which makes it easier to transport the whole layout to shows and so on, it's built in 6 sections and the wiring is contained within each section apart from the wires connecting the paired signals. There are a couple more pics on Flickr, I'll add a video over the weekend hopefully.
  13. Andy Glascott
    That's really impressive, really good use of the space to get maximum track into it. I've built several multi-level layouts and always struggled to get a working ramp between the them.
  14. Andy Glascott
    That is fantastic, everything about it just works brilliantly together.
  15. Andy Glascott
    I've used cut up bicycle inner tube for years and found it perfect. It's dirt cheap and one inner tube will make hundreds of tyres.
  16. Andy Glascott
    That's cool Dfenz, hope the show went well too.
  17. Andy Glascott
    That is amazing, it's a huge build with a lot of detail too. Looking forward to seeing the public unveiling!
  18. Andy Glascott
    No. With three loops on each level and using 12v and 9v on each level I think it would just be too complicated. If I ever expand the space I'd love to though.
  19. Andy Glascott
    It's 9v. I have a little bit of PF stuff but I'm not a huge fan of it. Eventually the upper level will all connect through a station and another mountain/viaduct section.
  20. Andy Glascott
    Thanks RailCo!
  21. Andy Glascott
    Thank you. I've just tried reducing the size of the image, doesn't seem to work. Maybe I'm just having an off day...
  22. Andy Glascott
    Thanks for the comments and welcomes to the US. I'm making progress, and while I'm waiting for a Bricklink order to arrive I took a few more pics with a bit more effort this time: The second level of track will go over the top of this road tunnel. I'm not a huge fan of PF but it does give a lot of flexibility for "extras", so I've put a set of red/green closed/open lights in the tunnel. Ok, it's not really long enough to warrant such lights but apart from that, why not? DSC00897 by andyglascott, on Flickr The main level crossing is 12v, the switch is buried in the green mound on the left with a wire running under the layout to the control panels. Thanks to a long exposure the barriers are up and down! The lights for the other crossings are run off the old 9v Light & Sound system, no power to the barriers. DSC00900 by andyglascott, on Flickr Lastly, a better pic of the whole layout. PerspectiveDSC00927 by andyglascott, on Flickr PS Not sure why the images aren't embedding, I did the same as last time...? Any ideas?
  23. Andy Glascott
    A few months ago I packed up my entire Lego collection and handed it over to the hopefully trustworthy hands of a shipping company as I prepared to move from the UK to the US, and after 2 months waiting it finally arrived this side of the pond - guess which boxes were unpacked first!? It's the only time in my life I trusted someone else to move my collection, I was very glad it arrived intact! The wait gave me time to find a place to live with enough space for a layout, and after some work in the basement to repair a cracked pipe, I've begun building again. The layout (in rough numbers) is 15' x 4' (4.6m x 1.25m) or 18 x 5 in the "standard" Lego measurement of 32x32 baseplates. It's based on previous multi-level layouts I've done, running 2 x 12v and 1 9v loop(s) on each level. The top level will run approx 2/3 of the length of the bottom level, allowing me to create a bit more landscape this time. As before it's entirely modular, breaking into 6 sections for relatively easy transport. It's still very much a WIP, though as I now have dedicated space I can leave it set up and run trains as it progresses. There are several months of work ahead yet :-) From one end: DSC00872 by andyglascott, on Flickr And the other... DSC00871 by andyglascott, on Flickr I've even found a use for the few 12v rails that I've managed to break, there's a repair crew doing their best to salvage them! DSC00882 by andyglascott, on Flickr I've also made the switch from Brickshelf to Flickr, my apologies of the images/links above don't work properly, the album is here. I'll add more images over the coming weeks/months.
  24. Andy Glascott
    That is simply incredible, everything about it is awesome, the size, detail, everything.
  25. Andy Glascott
    That is beautiful. I'm getting an increasing itch to build an American steam loco now....
×
×
  • Create New...