RWLR - Robin Wood Light Railway

[Keith S]

That simulated "bounce" is amazing. I wouldn't have thought of it myself, but now I've seen it, I would want my signals to do the same thing. It's one of those little details that would escape the notice of most people but really makes a difference.

[tom_tom_go]

As my line is small and I do not have a continuous run anymore these little operational additions make it more interesting to use.

[jim@NAL]

great use of an ice-cream tub I do like all the rusty weathered bits on your line looking great

[dizzysteamer]

I like your buffer stop, looks far better than those plastic things probably a lot more robust too.

I,m going to copycat your idea on our quarry road track in our garden.
Thanks for posting the picture

dizzysteamer

[tom_tom_go]

Glad you like it dizzy.

The buffer stop still survives today although slightly chewed as my Mother in Law's dog who at the time was a puppy enjoyed jumping up onto the railway and attacking it!

The remaining buildings though needed some TLC after many years outside (although from these photos you would think I have done nothing):





You cannot beat natural weathering

[jim@NAL]

looking good and doing well considering they have been outside what tlc are you planning on them ???

[Big Jim]

Very impressed. They look just the ticket.

[tom_tom_go]

what tlc are you planning on them ???

Erm, I just patched them back to their sorry state

[Sylvian Tennant]

Excellent work there - you've really brought an extra dimension to you line with these.

[ge_rik]

Really effective weathering. Subtle! So easy to overdo it but not in this case.

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

Uncoupling again (stop moaning at the back, it's important when you don't have a continuous loop).

Although the magnets worked you had to get it in the right spot each time and with a live steamer that can be tricky.

Instead, I have had a go at making an uncoupling ramp:


Currently operated by my Deltang transmitter with a servo using a cam to push up the ramp to uncouple.  I plan to have the ramp movement automated using an Arduino as I have done with points.

[LNR]

Nice work Tom, now if the servo was in the loco, it wouldn't matter where it was regarding uncoupling!!
Grant.

[tom_tom_go]

Nice work Tom, now if the servo was in the loco, it wouldn't matter where it was regarding uncoupling!!
Grant.

I debated re-fitting all my locos and stock with Kadee couplers that support either magnetic or onboard servo uncoupling but then gave myself a good talking to while my sanity and wallet decided it was a bad idea as well.

I did find this though while researching and never thought of using actuators which could work with Accucraft choppers:

[tom_tom_go]

Tin roof added to the hut that hides the Arduino:




Not sure whether to paint the roof or let it rust completely or have a mix (paint it after some rust has happened).

[LNR]

Guess it depends on the age of the shed Tom, but remember corrugated iron is galvanized, and only rusts to the extent you often see modeled after many years, unless chemically attacked or damaged.
Grant.

[tom_tom_go]

I managed to play with both my ladies in the sunshine today, yeah you heard me right

[LNR]

Ah, signs of a well used railway, burnt spot at end of the platform. Glad you found the time to enjoy.
Grant.

[tom_tom_go]

Early evening run to test out the new loco's modified choppers with the uncoupling ramp:

[daan]

Instead of a coil to decouple, you could also use a single wind of a thick wire soldered on a driving axle and a sprung wire attatched to the couplerhook following it. When changing direction the wire (with the hook attatched) will be picked up by the thicker part of the axle where the wind is, thus moving away from the axle. This movement can be used to open the coupler.
When changing direction again, the wire gets off the thicker part of the axle again and the coupler closes. It works in both directions and without any electronics, pure on mechanics. Only drawback is that it makes a light clicking noise because the wire passes the pickup point every revolution of the axle when running in constant direction.

It's not my idea, I read it somewhere, but I can't remember where it was. I guess it was something in an old book about the mechanics of toytrains..

[ge_rik]

Instead of a coil to decouple, you could also use a single wind of a thick wire soldered on a driving axle and a sprung wire attatched to the couplerhook following it. When changing direction the wire (with the hook attatched) will be picked up by the thicker part of the axle where the wind is, thus moving away from the axle. This movement can be used to open the coupler.
When changing direction again, the wire gets off the thicker part of the axle again and the coupler closes. It works in both directions and without any electronics, pure on mechanics. Only drawback is that it makes a light clicking noise because the wire passes the pickup point every revolution of the axle when running in constant direction.

It's not my idea, I read it somewhere, but I can't remember where it was. I guess it was something in an old book about the mechanics of toytrains..

Interesting idea

Rik