Update - No.26 - 29.01.12

 

Originally emailed to friends and family only in Jan 2012

 

Me again....you lucky lucky people!

 

Corky has once again been very busy but this time going around in circles...."quite literally mate!"

 

Not a clue what I'm doing!

Ben "tickle my ivories do" Andrew has recently emailed me and expressed his amazement at my extraordinary soldering dexterity.  He refers to the photo showing a pair of soldering irons in use at the same time and wonders if I am in fact blessed with enough tentacles to complete the wiring tasks whilst spinning said irons as a gun-slinger would in the wild west...Oh my Lordy Lords!!  Sorry to disappoint you Ben but not only can I only handle one iron at a time, I normally end up soldering myself more than the track.....ouch!! 

Mrs Corky and I headed to Brighton at the start of the week to visit "Pinkie"...our offspring!  I have included a couple of shots taken from the Pier of the sunset and some typical Sussex birds...no, not that sort, although they were showing off and displaying quite a lot....Hellfire!!

Brighton sunset

Brighton sunset

The sane members of the Corky family

Construction Progress
 

Take a look at the photos this time and you'll see I have now added the flyover section to the Lower Yard north end which will allow trains from the return loop to access the branch line to the Docks.  Whilst I have no intention of working on the Docks area yet, I did need to get the line running to it installed as it goes around the back of the main helix and trying to lay the track once the main helix was installed would be difficult to say the least.  You can see I mocked up the flyover then laid trackbed, track, wiring and finally joined everything up to the outer helix boards.

 

Docks Branch flyover

Docks Branch flyover

Docks Branch flyover

Docks Branch flyover

The outer helix is in fact a single level of track which will run around the back of the main helix at different levels as construction of the layout progresses.  Some sections will be main line and others will be storage or sidings for trains which have gone"off scene" from the main layout.  My system for installing the levels and gradients is to use a total of 28, 1m long threaded rods with trackbed supported on nuts and bolts.  This is the same system I will be using for the main helix.  The images will no doubt make it clearer...I hope!  Because the outer helix occupies an area 5ft x 9ft, the trackbed sections are split in half with metal joiners used to ensure the track remains level.

 

The Outer Helix

The Outer Helix

The Outer Helix

The track laying system has been refined.  I now use baked beans for the straight sections and soup tins for the curves.  The soup is obviously far more flexible and therefore better suited for the bendy bits...ha ha!...radical dude!  Oh, incidentally, all those Corkettes with North American tendencies...you know who you are...be aware!  The installation of the Docks Branch flyover now means instant disaster if you bring along your "double stacks" to play with.  Oh My Lords - crunch-tastic mate!

Tin Train!

Tin Train!

New Arrivals on the Corkscrew-Lines
 

You'll notice from the photos that I have received a pretty eclectic selection of items over the last week or so.  The most exciting purchase was another Dapol Baby Warship, number D6313 joins the already established D6320 on shed.  Having been so impressed with the first model it was inevitable I'd get another.  After all, with only 1100 bhp available, I'll need to double head them on the grades if they are to get anywhere with a decent sized train on the Corkscrew Lines.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Goodies!

Every year I eagerly look forward to receiving Model Railroad Planning from the USA.  This year's edition is not as good as previous ones but there are still some pretty inspiring articles for those of a more ambitious model railway bent.....Dreadful!  I have collected every edition for the last 10 years or so and I suppose the model railroads featured have shaped my plans and ideas into the Corkscrew Lines you see today.  Thoroughly recommended if only to see some of the basement filling empires our American friends can construct.

It became obvious during the recent running session with that well known firm of solicitors - Rooster & Wibble, that I needed to think about beefing up the DCC system on the layout.  So far I have managed with a NCE power-cab and a solitary throttle panel.  Well I now have another 3 panels with 3 throttle holders and enough cords to place them strategically around the lower level so you can follow a train around and be in full control.  I'll start installing them once current projects are completed.  At some stage in the future I'll need to upgrade to a more powerful Powerhouse-Pro system but finances dictate that will not be any time soon.

Other sundries include more threaded bolts for the helix, track connectors (fish-plates), roofing bolts for the splice plates on the helix boards and a bottle of isopropanol for track cleaning.

 

In the next thrilling instalment...

 

You may have noticed some new entries in the Corkscrew Totaliser.  Yes my little chums, I have started to tackle the most crucial element in the whole project.  I am currently laying track and preparing to install the first turn of the central helix...and about bloody time too I hear you all cry!  I have today installed another 26 threaded rods ready for a trial fitting of the lowest section tomorrow...Oh My Lords!...fingers crossed eh?  If things go badly wrong then it was nice knowing you all and I'll be getting my coat!

Tea....ah, wonderful!

That's all for now folks!!

Corky