Welcome to JRail Layout

I will post images and construction comments for my new N scale layout.  In Japan, the term is Diorama.

Commenced construction:  April, 2012.

Looked around for some clean Bandai logo images.

Combined into this:

Both Parent and Sub-branch logos

Tool tidy mini-project

Inspired by the Armchair Modellers workbench tidy.

barrack-model.at.webry.info/201406/article_1.html
 
Purchased storage bins and desk organisor (x2) from KMart - total $20
Spare 7mm ply sheet and 19mm stick and assembled with a few bolts and screws.

Japanese Artist and Modeller - Ichiro Hirai

Ichiro Hirai - Armchair Modeller

He has drawn a manga story including himself as a scale-model sized man fixing trains.  His wife is normal sized.  Typical Japanese sense-of-humor.

Armchair Modeller - barrack-model.at.webry.info

First Run of a train and Testing

Time to power up and test all-circuits.  Connected my old DIY controller to the CONTROL PANEL. I have a new Morley controller but did not wish to blow it up during testing. Most circuits were good. Needed to remove a few metal peco joiners at locations where I intended isolated track. I put feeders on all tracks pieces and turnouts to ensure solid power coverage.

Vesta N - morleycontrollers.com

First Train !

little heavy on the glue :-(

The Shinkansen blur

Wiring the first stage of track

The power bus consists of three pairs of multi-strand wire.
Main [M], Loop [L] and Signal power [S]

This "Loop" designation is for the complete loop-circuit.  I can run one train on this circuit while operating another on the rest of the "Main".  Later, I am referring to the reverse-loop wiring which is part of the Loop power bus.  [clear-as-mud]

The feeders were spliced into the bus wires using "suitcase" connectors.  They squeeze the inner copper core but do not cut it.

bottom view of layout

The CONTROL PANEL was a lot of work.  [subject for another post]  It provides isolation blocks for the 9 track segments.  The rest of the segments are directly connected to the Main or Loop bus wires. The Loop & Main circuits (labelled MAIN on the panel face) and reversing-loop section (labelled LOOP) can be toggled in polarity so that operator (me) can turn the train completely.  The yellow toggle is for splitting the power into two areas, Loop path and Main tracks (the rest).  In the ONE TRACK position means the controller is connected to all tracks.  TWO TRACKS means a second controller will be powering the Loop path.

The design is based on single operator.  I park a train in a block and isolate it using the mini-toggle.  I then place on-line another block with a second train parked on it and operate that train.  I did not wish to go down the path of DCC controlled chips.  Bandai [BTrain] models are tiny.  Only spare room for lead weights.

Control Panel

closer view of rear control panel

Blank Canvas - start the work

The foundation work completed.  Frame, diorama box, lighting and track design completed.
First step is to mark the key track geometry ie road centers and turnouts from the full-scale [1:1] drawing onto the foam. see drawing to the left of the layout.

Next - glue down foam road bed and flexi-track [recycled peco 80].  All the track was washed with degreaser, pre-wired with feeders, primed with gray paint.

my old peco code 80 with some new bits

The reversing loop has down grade to the rear main line.  Needed a gentle cutting of the foam, and filled with spack.

The cat supervising me.

Tri-hobby trait

I have the dyslexia traits therefore many males gravitate to the classic tri-hobby group ie Astronomy, Radio and Model Railway.

I have a 8inch DOB telescope with star tracking platform,
SW Radio [JRC NRD-535] and my shelf layout.

Research paper on the topic.

http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011AAS...21821508S

First painted signal

First painted signal

N scale (1:150) Greenmax ABS

N scale (1:150) Greenmax ABS

Next attempt:  I will try to tie the POF fibres more closely to the ladder.
The POF (plastic optical fiber) PMMA is 0.25mm in diameter (like human hair).
The four strands go through the base of the layout to LEDs mounted under
the base board.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10169342

Analogue signal driver (design proposal)

Proposed design of inexpensive signal driver.

Schematic diagram of signal driver for small layout

Why ? Costly in cash and time, signal TTL logic circuits and detector wiring etc etc

was a major factor in choosing my design. Designing full circuits for MY layout would

have taken months. This design is a compromise. Modelling is about "Suspending Dis-belief." 

And same with signalling, if my layout has twenty four twinkling signal lights and I am ask to

stop at a red which then changes to double yellow – all is good.

What ? The materials list should be obtainable from a local electrical/hobby shop.
Terminal blocks to join wires to LED lamps and contacts. Cog gears to turn the drum
(a metal can of sweet corn). Uses layout 12V DC power supply. POF - polymer optic fiber,

an inexpensive light transmission to the scale signal head. $1.00 high luminosity LED diodes

are becoming more available. A inexpensive 3V motor with gear reduction is available
from Tamiya http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10099038

How ? The main feature of the design, is the drum. The drum pattern revolves under

the row of contacts. Sticky cloth tape will give open circuit and bare metal section

will close the circuit. This action generates a sequence of signals. One revolution

should be approx. 30 seconds. (scale time = 5 min). The drum box will have six

terminal blocks connected to a row of contacts (see 8 tag strip in image below). A

4-aspect and 3-aspect signal each row. This can be double to provide 24 signals by

wiring two runs to each terminal hole. Arranging the location of each signal so that

the sequence is followed will provide some realism. A 60 tooth gear will be fixed to

the drum and 12 tooth gear will be driven by the low speed motor at a final two rpm.

Note that the 3aspect signal pattern on the drum does not need to have the same

start point as the 4aspect. I have only drawn it that way for clarity. Regarding the wiring

of the LEDs, you will need to insert resistor for each LED depending on its volt drop.

see LED tutorial http://talkingelectronics.com/projects/30 LED Projects/30 LED Projects.html

My diagram uses a common resistor for all but not practical.

Downsides ? The gears may be noisey. (foam box cover may help) The sticky tape
may wear off. Contacts to and from drum may get dirty.
Credit for POF idea :-
http://nscaleaddiction.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/cheap-simple-n-scale-signals-using.html

Future mini-project will be a digital option based on this mechanical design. More 1980s than 1880s.

Using cyclic 7555 CMOS timer chips...

Track drawing (full-size)

The CAD drawing was printed to a A3 sheet.  I marked a grid on the copy and then enlarged 200% then
184% onto 20 x A3 sheets.  Glued together into 2000mm full-size map.  I placed it here on the foam.

Rolling-stock so far

Bandai B-Shorty was chosen.  (cost, tight-curves, short
leads on the zig-zag tracks)

Tomix and Kato also offer light-rail vehicles which can be
doubled on a small layout.

The layout is a mix of rural and metro railway activity.

Commenced construction:  April, 2012.

Completed diorama unit

The signage (top-centre) is a like a destination / service
board and like a roll sign.
The blue curtain hide the storage shelf and power supply.
The backdrop image consists of ten A3 laser colour prints.
They were placed on a 3 meter roll of clear book cover with
adhesive backing.  Other backdrops will be printed and hung
on top of this map backdrop.

The Tokyo metro map was sourced here... (Anthony Mangonon)

English (10.9 MB): https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B4E0ENIwk8gdYmY0YzQzMjUtMjUyZC00MmMwLTllMzEtYmFlYWNjZGQxYzA1

Japanese 日本語版 (6.6 MB): https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B4E0ENIwk8gdMTJkNTM5ZjgtMDI3OS00MjMzLWI3NDYtMzFhYzlmNTI4MzFm

The detail of the end loops.  The main line runs to the back
behind the scenery foam.  The visible portion of the trackwork
will be elevated at the rear.

Top cover

The fluoro modules and downlights provide mix of lighting.
The modules plug together in series of three. (240VAC)  The four LED
lights are 4 watt 3000K warm feel.  12 volt for model railroad power bus.

Backdrop infrastructure

The challenge was to place the backdrop frame close to the wall.  If the backdrop is wide
then the shelf frame will need be to further out over the steel brackets.

The corners are curved using 3mm plastic sheet like real estate signs.  Aluminium bar is for strength.

First photo of shelf layout



Steel brackets, frame and 8mm ply benchwork with 25mm builders foam.

Track Plan in 3D

Track Plan

The track plan N scale (using SCARM CAD software)

The main line loops at each end (not shown).  The front track will be a subway.

Overall dimensions: 2000mm x 600mm ;  max. track height 100mm.