Good afternoon Stephen. Highly informative video around the intricacies of control panel planning and building. The momentary switches - make sure you leave sufficient room between switches and lights on the underside of the panel display - just in the same way as you mentioned re the topside. If I could offer any advice I'd move the LED'S a bit away from the switches. When they are close together they tend to merge together ( mind you could just be my eyes 👀). This leads to the route nor being clear to see. Great to see the trains running not once but twice ! The Heathcote Electronics are great bits of kit. Clive drew me a wiring diagram to allow me to wire in a CR Signals 3 aspect with two route indicators - could never have done it without his help. Just three weeks to MRS !! Cheers Euan
Hi Euan and thanks. Your comments arrived just as I had finished punching out all the holes in the template to see if there was enough space. I had almost kidded myself that it was probably OK when I read your comment. So they were both timely and helpful (as usual). I have however confirmed that the red circle is the right diameter for the retaining nut and the diameter of the LED fascia caps. So I have spent the last hour moving things around the mimic diagram. I think I am there now but will punch them out tomorrow and see. Thanks for your advice. Tony from the Heritage Line is free between 11-12 on Friday so maybe we can arrange to meet up as we did last year. Donald is coming over too I think and Nat from Austin Valley is up on the Friday. Stephen
Thanks for the heads up Steven on the Heathcote Electronics Point Indicators. My layout is N guage DC. So I'm well used to lots of wiring. I thought I had LED indicator lights for the points which are powered by the track. I then remembered that the LED's only work in one direction but only have provision for one LED. I then found some LED's which have two filaments. Wonderful, one LED that that lights up red for one direction and green for the other. Sounds good but then gets quite confusing, of which I'll spare you the details. Heathcote Electronics could well have the answer. Thanks againSteven, and keep up the good work.
Hi Stephen, Great update! plenty of different projects coming on. In regards to the control panel, When I designed mine for Goathland I did exactly what you did, but the thing that caught me out was the nuts that hold the switches, I had some switches to close to each other and had to slightly alter my design, so if you haven't already, make sure the switches and lights actual will fit. I agree with the code 55 for the underground those inspection pits seem to be the best route to go, but you will see better once you mock up one track for the station. In regards to Glasgow I will be free between 11:00 -12:00 if you fancy a meet up on Friday. All the best Tony.
Hi Tony. Thanks for the warning. I punched out the template this afternoon and one thing I was able to confirm is that the retaining nut does sit within the red circle. However you may have seen Euan's comment so I have now moved everything around to give more space. I would dearly loved to have built the Underground layout in Code 40 but the Inspection Pits make everything so much easier that going with Code 55 is a no brainer. Happy to meet up on the Friday at MRS. WE may do the same and meet near the AMRSS stand with Euan and a few others. I'll drop you a message on messenger as we firm up the plans. Stephen
Thanks Lloyd. I'm looking forward to starting this once I can be sure I have the design of the control panel mimic diagram right. I can't wait to loose all those messy wires. Stephen
Looking forward to seeing your control panel taking shape it is very daunting for myself to do mine i havea the leds on a test panel but cannot manage the plan.
Good afternoon Stephen. Highly informative video around the intricacies of control panel planning and building. The momentary switches - make sure you leave sufficient room between switches and lights on the underside of the panel display - just in the same way as you mentioned re the topside. If I could offer any advice I'd move the LED'S a bit away from the switches. When they are close together they tend to merge together ( mind you could just be my eyes 👀). This leads to the route nor being clear to see. Great to see the trains running not once but twice ! The Heathcote Electronics are great bits of kit. Clive drew me a wiring diagram to allow me to wire in a CR Signals 3 aspect with two route indicators - could never have done it without his help. Just three weeks to MRS !! Cheers Euan
Hi Euan and thanks. Your comments arrived just as I had finished punching out all the holes in the template to see if there was enough space. I had almost kidded myself that it was probably OK when I read your comment. So they were both timely and helpful (as usual). I have however confirmed that the red circle is the right diameter for the retaining nut and the diameter of the LED fascia caps. So I have spent the last hour moving things around the mimic diagram. I think I am there now but will punch them out tomorrow and see. Thanks for your advice. Tony from the Heritage Line is free between 11-12 on Friday so maybe we can arrange to meet up as we did last year. Donald is coming over too I think and Nat from Austin Valley is up on the Friday. Stephen
Thanks for the heads up Steven on the Heathcote Electronics Point Indicators. My layout is N guage DC. So I'm well used to lots of wiring. I thought I had LED indicator lights for the points which are powered by the track. I then remembered that the LED's only work in one direction but only have provision for one LED. I then found some LED's which have two filaments. Wonderful, one LED that that lights up red for one direction and green for the other. Sounds good but then gets quite confusing, of which I'll spare you the details. Heathcote Electronics could well have the answer. Thanks againSteven, and keep up the good work.
Your's very welcome Jim. I was so pleased to come across them while I was looking at the shuttle unit. Hope they do turn out to help you too. Stephen
Hi Stephen, Great update! plenty of different projects coming on. In regards to the control panel, When I designed mine for Goathland I did exactly what you did, but the thing that caught me out was the nuts that hold the switches, I had some switches to close to each other and had to slightly alter my design, so if you haven't already, make sure the switches and lights actual will fit. I agree with the code 55 for the underground those inspection pits seem to be the best route to go, but you will see better once you mock up one track for the station. In regards to Glasgow I will be free between 11:00 -12:00 if you fancy a meet up on Friday. All the best Tony.
Hi Tony. Thanks for the warning. I punched out the template this afternoon and one thing I was able to confirm is that the retaining nut does sit within the red circle. However you may have seen Euan's comment so I have now moved everything around to give more space. I would dearly loved to have built the Underground layout in Code 40 but the Inspection Pits make everything so much easier that going with Code 55 is a no brainer. Happy to meet up on the Friday at MRS. WE may do the same and meet near the AMRSS stand with Euan and a few others. I'll drop you a message on messenger as we firm up the plans. Stephen
Great vid Steven I'll be watching this closely as I've yet to start all the electronics on my layout....and like you I've masses of wiring!
Thanks Lloyd. I'm looking forward to starting this once I can be sure I have the design of the control panel mimic diagram right. I can't wait to loose all those messy wires. Stephen
@Elvenhome yeah getting the planning done right the first time is gona help and save a lot of headaches.....and yards of wire 😄
Looking forward to seeing your control panel taking shape it is very daunting for myself to do mine i havea the leds on a test panel but cannot manage the plan.
Hi Peter. I do hope I manage to do this. I think it should all work, and it would be even better if it helped you settle your plan. Stephen