nevard_101106_wycrail_IMG_8340_web, a photo by nevardmedia on Flickr.
Wycrail, 6 November 2010. Note the cast of 'Last of the Summer Wine' in the foreground.
Combwich is 30 years old now, and whilst the layout has been contantly updated to give the impression of being far more youthful than it appears, the wiring dates right back to the early 1980's and is very overdue for a full replacement. For this reason, the show will most likely be the layout's last outing for the time being until that gastly job takes place.
Fingers crossed everything will hold out for this one day show, it's rather like running an old English sports car with Lucas electrics, TLC being the best tool in the bag. However, if you see a lack of activity and hear rude language from under the baseboard, that will be me cursing some failed solder joint or wire!
Thankfully, two youngsters in the photo, hopefully they will be inspired by Combwich.
ReplyDeleteHaving just returned to modelling after a 20 year gap it's great to see a hugely informative and brilliant site. Very well done
ReplyDeleteJerry Birkbeck
Hey that's me operating :)
ReplyDeleteDon't forget where you've put your glasses, all will be fine .....
Are you going to convert it to DCC to cut down on the wiring (LOL)
ReplyDeleteI've thought of DCC but there's little point for me...
ReplyDelete1/ Much of my stock would be a nightmare to convert along with the cost and I have other things to be getting on with and splashing out on.
2/ With handlaid track there will be little reduction in wiring.
3/ Prototypically there would only be one or two engines on the layout at any given time.
4/ There would in fact be more button pressing, all I have to do now to get a train out of the fiddle yard is to align the road (which also completes the circuit), with DCC I would have to select the loco as well.
5/ With clean well laid track, properly serviced engines and a good feedback controller DC runs as well as DCC.
I get to see a huge number of layouts with my Model Rail commissions, and the ones that have the most operational problems are DCC ones with incorrect selected locos, momentary shorts mainly caused by Peco points, with the wheel backs shorting on the switch blade which often does not effect running with DC but will turn everything off with DCC.
But, it would be nice for sound and probably an advantange for engine shed layouts. I might consider it for Cement Quay, most of the modern stock is easily converted and often there are several locos on the layout at any given time.