My Model Train Set (WARNING many images)

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:13 PM

I started rebuilding mine in Brisbane in Febuary this year. I stripped it down and got it to a stage where i had started hills. Then I got a job in Canberra so had to leave it behind. My Brisbane set is 2400x1200 but I am building a new set in Canberra that is 2400x3600.

My Brisbane set got to the stage where I had just finished getting the track perfect, I had all the points motorised and connected up to the control board and I had started to do the paper mache for the hills.

The set is fully DCC.

My new track is going to be a german/french based HO layout. I have heaps of high speed trains and french trains. My current list is:

Full 10 car Trix TGV
Full 10 car Trix Thayls PABK
4 car Lima Thayls
7 car orange Lima TGV
Roco ICE3 5 car
Switzerland high speed 5 car
2 French single rail cars
2 french 3 car rail cars (TER)
1 x 6 car Corail
Small french shunting diesel

All of the above is DCC with sound. I wish I already had the photos hosted.

I shamelessly took the track layout for my Brisbane set from the first page of this thread and modified it to suit my layout.

Here are the photos of my Brissy set:

The start of the build:

First lot of track:

The underlay has been completed:

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:17 PM

Start of laying the track:

First test run:

The test DC analogue controller:

The inners of my Orange TGV while I was hard wiring the DCC chip:

The track complete with the sides

My first 2 digital trains:

The last point motor:

Control board:

The wire framing before the mache:

The first lot of paper mache layed:

The bridge has been installed:

The paper mache undercoat:

crag_v · 20th September 2011, 8:18 PM

Thanks for sharing this - I love it! I know almost nothing about model trains (apart from drooling over models in hobby stores here and there) but it has always, always appealed to me. If I get the time I may just do it one day, but in the meantime I'll live vicariously through your thread. All the best with the build, it's looking great. Can't wait to see more!!

ED. sorry to interrupt your thread at the start, didn't realise you were still posting!! I really like this pic too

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:19 PM

My brand new Trix TGV:

Installing the Decoder (no sound)

Few pictures of my trains:

My new Trix Loco:

My first 3 digital babies:

Video of my Brissy set:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhAjM2ZBE_8

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:22 PM

From here I moved to Canberra so my Brisbane set it is currently boxed up in storage

Unfortuantely that layout was far too small for the full length passenger high speed trains. So my Canberra set is exactly 3 times the size to cater for all my new trains. My new set is 2400x3600 with a 1200 corner cut.

Here is the Canberra set in progress:

Testing the size of the boards:

Starting laying the boards on the support framing

Few pictures of the trains I bought in France in July 2011 this year:

Full 10 car TRIX TGV

Full 10 cars on the kitchen bench

HUMMER · 20th September 2011, 8:23 PM

wow. nice. love the random weights used to weigh down the track as it was being built.

crag_v · 20th September 2011, 8:25 PM

This is just fantastic. What an exciting new project!

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:25 PM

Pictures of my installing the digital sound decoders into 2 of my locos:

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:27 PM

Yea they were all i could find under the house while i was building it :P But really they did the job. I have to do it all again over the next coming weeks with my new set.

HUMMER · 20th September 2011, 8:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt0

Yea they were all i could find under the house while i was building it :P But really they did the job. I have to do it all again over the next coming weeks with my new set.

was not knocking it. i do something similar all the time. all i can say is great work building this train set.

josh_676 · 20th September 2011, 8:42 PM

Looks like a very expensive hobby! How much time does a layout take to make? What are the modifications you are making the trains?

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 8:50 PM

The layout as you see it there is about $400 in wood.

Then the track i have bought so far is worth over $1500. that is all the points and their motors and all the connectors.

Then i have over $6000 in loco's sitting in the pictures.

The modifications are DCC sound decoders. Basically making analogue trains into digital trains. Means that you have 1 power feed and can control each train individually.

This link explains DCC:
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/n...CC.htm#WhatDCC

I just received 6 sound decoders from the states today. I need to work out what speakers I need and attach them to all the decoders then install them. This way i can control the trains individually and also play the horns individually and play engine sounds.

Annihilator69 · 20th September 2011, 10:32 PM

How fast can you crank these trains?

capt0 · 20th September 2011, 10:34 PM

Not really fast. But as fast as ur usual toy trainset.

And no they can't jump

capt0 · 21st September 2011, 9:42 PM

I have finished putting the legs on the table and with much difficulty lifted it onto them.

20th September 2011, 8:13 PM	#1
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	My Model Train Set (WARNING many images) I started rebuilding mine in Brisbane in Febuary this year. I stripped it down and got it to a stage where i had started hills. Then I got a job in Canberra so had to leave it behind. My Brisbane set is 2400x1200 but I am building a new set in Canberra that is 2400x3600. My Brisbane set got to the stage where I had just finished getting the track perfect, I had all the points motorised and connected up to the control board and I had started to do the paper mache for the hills. The set is fully DCC. My new track is going to be a german/french based HO layout. I have heaps of high speed trains and french trains. My current list is: Full 10 car Trix TGV Full 10 car Trix Thayls PABK 4 car Lima Thayls 7 car orange Lima TGV Roco ICE3 5 car Switzerland high speed 5 car 2 French single rail cars 2 french 3 car rail cars (TER) 1 x 6 car Corail Small french shunting diesel All of the above is DCC with sound. I wish I already had the photos hosted. I shamelessly took the track layout for my Brisbane set from the first page of this thread and modified it to suit my layout. Here are the photos of my Brissy set: The start of the build: First lot of track: The underlay has been completed:

20th September 2011, 8:18 PM	#3
crag_v Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: 3095 Posts: 1,626	Thanks for sharing this - I love it! I know almost nothing about model trains (apart from drooling over models in hobby stores here and there) but it has always, always appealed to me. If I get the time I may just do it one day, but in the meantime I'll live vicariously through your thread. All the best with the build, it's looking great. Can't wait to see more!! ED. sorry to interrupt your thread at the start, didn't realise you were still posting!! I really like this pic too __________________ Need data recovery? Email or call OCAU sponsor Data Retriever on 1300 749 443 & speak with Craig. Main rig: i7-3770, P8Z77-V, 8GB DDR3 2133, ATi6970, 2TB FYYS, 2x 2TB HDS723020BLA642, Win7x64 Last edited by crag_v; 20th September 2011 at 8:24 PM.

20th September 2011, 8:23 PM	#6
HUMMER Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: sydney Posts: 8,932	wow. nice. love the random weights used to weigh down the track as it was being built. __________________ Originally Posted by Randy_Chuggs - I just get down on all fours and suck it out Originally Posted by Subcommandante - Who are DVDA? Just a bunch of guys hanging out and having fun... Originally Posted by Agg - You seem to be confusing OCAU with some kind of democracy. Originally Posted by Spyfox - mount it on the rear like a brokeback cowboy

20th September 2011, 8:25 PM	#7
crag_v Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: 3095 Posts: 1,626	This is just fantastic. What an exciting new project! __________________ Need data recovery? Email or call OCAU sponsor Data Retriever on 1300 749 443 & speak with Craig. Main rig: i7-3770, P8Z77-V, 8GB DDR3 2133, ATi6970, 2TB FYYS, 2x 2TB HDS723020BLA642, Win7x64

20th September 2011, 10:32 PM	#13
Annihilator69 Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bull Creek, Perth Posts: 5,415	How fast can you crank these trains? __________________ Intel i5 2500k @ 4.5Ghz \|\| Gigabyte Z68X-UD5-B3 \|\| 8GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1600mhz CL7 \|\| ATi Sapphire 5870 \|\| Corsair Force 3 120GB SSD + 2x 1TB Seagate 7200.12 Raid 0\|\| 27" Dell OCAU Extreme Cooling Club H²O Member Koolance 370, Bix3, XSPC 5870 Full Cover Block, Swiftech MCP-350 Pump Trades List

20th September 2011, 8:17 PM	#2
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	Start of laying the track: First test run: The test DC analogue controller: The inners of my Orange TGV while I was hard wiring the DCC chip: The track complete with the sides My first 2 digital trains: The last point motor: Control board: The wire framing before the mache: The first lot of paper mache layed: The bridge has been installed: The paper mache undercoat:

20th September 2011, 8:19 PM	#4
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	My brand new Trix TGV: Installing the Decoder (no sound) Few pictures of my trains: My new Trix Loco: My first 3 digital babies: Video of my Brissy set: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhAjM2ZBE_8

20th September 2011, 8:22 PM	#5
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	From here I moved to Canberra so my Brisbane set it is currently boxed up in storage Unfortuantely that layout was far too small for the full length passenger high speed trains. So my Canberra set is exactly 3 times the size to cater for all my new trains. My new set is 2400x3600 with a 1200 corner cut. Here is the Canberra set in progress: Testing the size of the boards: Starting laying the boards on the support framing Few pictures of the trains I bought in France in July 2011 this year: Full 10 car TRIX TGV Full 10 cars on the kitchen bench

20th September 2011, 8:27 PM	#9
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	Yea they were all i could find under the house while i was building it :P But really they did the job. I have to do it all again over the next coming weeks with my new set.

20th September 2011, 8:50 PM	#12
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	The layout as you see it there is about $400 in wood. Then the track i have bought so far is worth over $1500. that is all the points and their motors and all the connectors. Then i have over $6000 in loco's sitting in the pictures. The modifications are DCC sound decoders. Basically making analogue trains into digital trains. Means that you have 1 power feed and can control each train individually. This link explains DCC: http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/n...CC.htm#WhatDCC I just received 6 sound decoders from the states today. I need to work out what speakers I need and attach them to all the decoders then install them. This way i can control the trains individually and also play the horns individually and play engine sounds.

20th September 2011, 10:34 PM	#14
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	Not really fast. But as fast as ur usual toy trainset. And no they can't jump

21st September 2011, 9:42 PM	#15
capt0 Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brisbane Posts: 168	I have finished putting the legs on the table and with much difficulty lifted it onto them.