Progress so far...

[Ste..]

I think Karyn is preparing a step by step report on her progress so i will just post a few pics of my progress so far.
It's been enjoyable putting the kit together,this is as far as i intend to go until the switch blades arrive.
Happy to answer questions if i can help anyone not involved in the Beta Testing.....











Cheers..................Ste...

[Wayne Kinney]

Hi Ste,

Glad to see that you have made a start

A few things to mention if I may:

The chairs that you have cut the inner lug from, these should be slide chairs (to allow the switch blades to slide across). I can see you have used normal chairs in this area:


Also, the chairs have an inner and outer lug, as shown in the assembly diagram. The inner lug is smaller, and should sit on the inside of the rail where the wheel flange will ride against. I have highlighted chairs that to me look the wrong way around. The result is the wheel flanges will hit the chairs that are the wrong way around (i know its hard to see as they are tiny ).

[Wayne Kinney]

Here is another pic showing chair orientation, note the large lug on the outer side of the rail, the smaller lug on the inside where the wheel flange rides:

[Ste..]

Thanks Wayne.....it is quite easy to see,now that you have pointed it out.Will check and amend.

[ntrain]

Quick questions

1. Do we have to file the rail flat next to switch blades

2.. How do we wire or is rail soldered to frogg

3. Should we kink each end of check rail

[Wayne Kinney]

Great questions, I am slowly adding to the assembly notes...

If the cast switch blades come out how they should be, there should not be a need to file a flat or bend a joggle into the stock rails. I believe that the switch blade will be sharp enough without this.

A wiring diagram is next on the list, but one wire needs to be solders to the cast frog, in between the timbers. This wire would go to a switch or microswitch to change frog polarity. It is important that the frog not be joined to the other bits of rail, but a small gap be left. Then, the 2 stock rail and 2 switch blades need a wire soldering to them. If using method one of installing the chairs, it is important where you solder this wire as not to prevent the rail from sliding into the chairs.

You must bend one end of the check rail, slide into the checkrail chairs, and then bend the other end. I will detail my method of doing this when I add to the notes.

[ntrain]

I take it we need some holes in the base for wires to go through, will these be ready drilled on the production base.

[Wayne Kinney]

I would like input on this actually. I intended for the wires to go from the rail to the side edge of the base between the sleepers/timbers.

The reason for this is, I believe that the prefered assembly method for most will be threading the rail through the chairs after the chairs have been installed onto the base. If this is the case, then the wire needs to be soldered onto the very end of the rail, as it would not pass through the chairs otherwise.

The exception being the switch blades, where the wire needs to be solder directly after the last normal chair (will be noted on the wiring diagram).

[ntrain]

and the frog.......